Ana's Song (Open Fire)

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band Silverchair. It was released in May 1999 as the second single from their third album, Neon Ballroom. The song is about lead vocalist Daniel Johns' struggle with anorexia nervosa. "Ana's Song" peaked at No. 14 on Australia's ARIA chart, at No. 12 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay and at No. 28 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. It was nominated for two Aria Awards in 1999: Single of the Year and Best Video.[1] The track also earned Silverchair a Comet Award in Germany.[2]

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)"
Single by Silverchair
from the album Neon Ballroom
ReleasedMay 1999 (1999-05)
Recorded1998
GenreAlternative rock, grunge
Length3:42
LabelMurmur
Songwriter(s)Daniel Johns
Producer(s)Nick Launay
Silverchair singles chronology
"Anthem for the Year 2000"
(1999)		 "Ana's Song (Open Fire)"
(1999)		 "Miss You Love"
(1999)

Background

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" is a single issued in May 1999 by Australian alternative rock band, Silverchair. It was written by the group's lead singer, Daniel Johns. In 1999, Johns announced that he had developed the eating disorder anorexia nervosa due to anxiety/depression.[3] Johns noted that the lyrics to "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" dealt with his disorder, where he would "eat what he needed ... to stay awake".[4] Ana is the nickname given to anorexia nervosa by people affected by it. He revealed that his eating problems developed from the time of Freak Show (May 1996) and when Neon Ballroom was written he "hated music, really everything about it", but felt that he "couldn't stop doing it; I felt like a slave to it."[5] Johns sought therapy and medication but felt "It's easier for me to express it through music and lyrics". Johns eventually overcame the disorder, realising that he would never be cured of the disease, but could live a fulfilled life by learning to cope with it.[3]

Reception

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks.[6] On the ARIA Singles Chart it reached No. 14.[7] According to 100 Best Australian Albums, by three Australian journalists, John O'Donnell, Toby Creswell and Craig Mathieson, "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" directly focused on Johns' eating disorder, "[it] became a hit all over the world and opened up for discussion the fact that males could also be affected by anorexia".[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Cate Anderson, who also made the band's video for the song "Emotion Sickness". Australian actress Sarah Aubrey played the girl at the sink washing her hands, while having a distorted image of their cleanliness through the mirror. The video was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Video in 1999.[8]

Reception

AllMusic critic Jason Anderson thought that "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" was one of the three highlights from Neon Ballroom.[9]

Track listing

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 34
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 45
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] 28
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 12

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Platinum 70,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  2. Ali Khan, Mishal (26 August 2004). "Silverchair - All you need to know about the band". The Daily Star.
  3. O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). "25: Silverchair – Neon Ballroom". 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  4. Fisher, Blair R (11 July 1999). "Silverchair Frontman Reveals Battle with Anorexia". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  5. Sams, Christine (6 June 2004). "Anorexia almost killed me: Daniel Johns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  6. "Silverchair Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – Silverchair – Ana's Song (Open Fire)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  8. "ARIA Nominees". Billboard. 16 October 1999. p. 66.
  9. Anderson, Jason. "Neon Ballroom – Silverchair | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. "Charts.nz – Silverchair – Ana's Song (Open Fire)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  12. "Silverchair Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  13. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2020 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
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