Surfacing

Album: Palace (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Chapel Club is a British indie/alternative rock band from London, England. The five-piece comprises singer Lewis Bowman, guitarists Michael Hibbert and Alex Parry, bassist Liam Arklie and drummer Rich Mitchell. The name "Chapel Club" was inspired by Bowman's interest in religion and religious imagery and by the proximity of the band's rehearsal space to St. Luke's Church on London's Old Street.
  • "Surfacing" was the first song recorded by the band. It was laid down with US producer Chris Zane at London's Strongrooms studio. Despite significant radio play it wasn't initially released because of copyright issues over the chorus borrowing lyrics from the standard "Dream a Little Dream." The band claimed that they merely use the song as a "quotation" in the way a poet might and the copyright wrangle was eventually resolved enabling Chapel Club to include the song on their debut album, Palace.
  • Bowman told The Sun about the song: "Surfacing twists a part of 'Dream a Little Dream' with Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' and is about someone I know, who is obsessed by the celebrity life in London. She doesn't know it's about her but there's plenty of sarcasm in the song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.