High (Feeder song)

"High" is a song by Feeder, released as the band's fourth and final single from the album Polythene. This track was not included on the album until its re-issue in October of the same year, and is seen as a fan anthem.

Reception

It was the first Feeder single to be playlisted on BBC Radio 1, reaching #24 in the UK making it their first top 40 hit. It also got extensive radio play, and made the B-list. Frontman Grant Nicholas was once quoted saying that the song is about friendship and the drawbacks of relationships. It's been strongly hinted that the line "I'm going out for a while, so I can get high with my friends" is a reference to marijuana.^[1] It also is regarded as the song that kept the band in the USA for 11 months during 1998, touring with Everclear.

The track was featured in the film Can't Hardly Wait in 1998, and reached #24 and #36 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. Because of Billboard chart rules at the time, the song was ineligible to chart on the Hot 100 due to a lack of commercial single release. The soundtrack album of "Can't Hardly Wait", was however certified gold by the RIAA for 500,000 units shipped,^[2] and "High" was one of the most requested tracks on US college radio during the summer of 1998.^[3]

Legacy

Two days after drummer Jon Lee committed suicide at his home in Miami, on the 7 January 2002 BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq broadcast a tribute show to him, as part of his then show titled The Evening Session. Many fans earlier on in the day contacted Steve to play "High" as a tribute to Jon at the end of his show, which he did. When the band returned to the live stage in August of that year, all live performances of "High" saw Grant Nicholas play an acoustic guitar instead of an electric guitar as with all performances prior to this. Touring guitarist Dean Tidey played all the electric parts of the song. This was the only year the song was performed with this arrangement. The band's appearance at the Reading and Leeds festivals saw them play the second stage, to reflect the low-key profile to their shows. The second stage to this festival at the time was called The Evening Session Stage, the same name as Steve Lamacq's show at the time. In May 2010 the track was played under much happier circumstances as part of Chris Moyles Tedious Link. On 16 July 2011 the track was chosen by Comedy Dave on Radio 1's Golden Year show as his own personal choice.

Track listing

CD1

1. "High" - 4:34
2. "Wishing for the Sun" - 3:30
3. "Women In Towels" - 2:31
4. "Cement" (video)

CD2

1. "High" - 4:34
2. "High" (acoustic) - 3:49
3. "Sweet 16" - 3:28
4. "Crash" (video)

7" vinyl (light blue)

1. "High" - 4:34
2. "Wishing for the Sun" - 3:30

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics