Times Like These

Album: Single release only (2020)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Live Lounge is a BBC Radio 1 segment where well-known artists perform one song of their own and one by another artist in an acoustic format. In April 2020, BBC Radio 1 organized "the biggest ever Live Lounge," with a multitude of artists gathered in their homes to cover The Foo's Fighters' 2002 song "Times Like These" in support of the global effort to stay safe and stay home during 2020 coronavirus crisis.
  • It's times like these you learn to live again
    It's times like these you give and give again


    The BBC chose the song as the lyrics fit how people reached out to others more in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's a funny feeling for me because it's a song I wrote at a strange time in my life where I was scared but hopeful and I think it applies to today," Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl told the BBC's Zoe Ball.
  • The artists that took part were: AJ Tracey, Anne-Marie, Bastille, Biffy Clyro, Celeste, Chris Martin, Dermot Kennedy, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Five Seconds of Summer, Grace Carter, Hailee Steinfeld, Jess Glynne, Mabel, Paloma Faith, Rag N Bone Man, Rita Ora, Royal Blood, Sam Fender, Sean Paul, Sigrid, Yungblud and Zara Larsson. Dave Grohl and Foo drummer Taylor Hawkins also participated in the fun.
  • The Andy Hines-directed video features a shot of every artist who joined in remotely to sing and play the song. Each singer and musician filmed their part at their own homes, including Paloma Faith, who plays up to her kooky persona by singing next to her ironing board.
  • Fraser T. Smith helmed the track. The producer, who has worked with the likes of Stormzy, Adele, and Dave, said:

    "Our vision was to create a stay at home version using phones, pots, pans and acoustic guitars that would honor the brilliance and honesty of the artists and song, rather than the trickery of an expensive recording studio. We tried to make this single in a totally different way artistically, relevant to today. The lyrics particularly resonate with us all at this challenging time."
  • All profits from the single are being shared between the Children in Need and Comic Relief charities in the UK and WHO's COVID-19-Solidarity Response Fund for international income.
  • The song climbed from #5 to #1 its second week on the UK singles chart. It became the first Foo Fighters song to reach the summit in the UK – their previous best was #4 with "Best Of You" in 2005. "Times Like These" originally peaked at #12.
  • Many were surprised that most of the artists on the single don't have recording studios at home, but Fraser T. Smith had anticipated they would have to record their vocals on a phone. He told NME: "We had to sort of downplay the fact that it would feel pretty awkward and weird for artists to record Voice Notes or use whatever recording techniques that they could, but I really wanted to use the campfire-type approach so that it felt very warm, had a lot of integrity and was all about the sentiment of the song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."