Foreign Land (song)

"Foreign Land" is the first single by Eskimo Joe, taken from their fourth studio album Inshalla. It was released on 3 April 2009 on the Australian iTunes Store and was released 17 April 2009 as a digital EP and physical single. The single contains elements of traditional Turkish folk music from Adiyaman, Turkey.

"Foreign Land"
Single by Eskimo Joe
from the album Inshalla
Released	3 April 2009
Recorded	2008
Genre	Alternative rock, hard rock
Length	4:30
Label	Warner
Songwriter(s)	Eskimo Joe (Joel Quartermain, Kavyen Temperley & Stuart MacLeod), Steve Parkin
Producer(s)	Gil Norton
Eskimo Joe singles chronology
"London Bombs" (2007) "Foreign Land" (2009) "Losing Friends Over Love" (2009)

The single was the most added song on Australian radio in April 2009,[1] and debuted at #40 on the ARIA Top 40 Digital Track Chart.[2]

The song was written as a tribute to Australian actor Heath Ledger, who died in January 2008.[3]

Background

The lyrics were borne from a poignant day in New York City when an emotionally drained Temperley stepped out for a walk.

It had just started snowing. It was a magical moment. That night we had to do this Australia gig, and when we got to it we found out that Heath Ledger had died. He'd died two blocks from where I was walking and at the time I was walking and it started snowing. He was from Perth and we were in New York City, this big foreign city, and I felt this immense loneliness of this kid from my hometown dying by himself there.

— Kav Temperley[4]

The song has been used on TV shows such as The World's Strictest Parents and Sunday Night.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Eskimo Joe.

iTunes single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Foreign Land" (Radio Edit)	4:02

CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Foreign Land"	4:29
2.	"Falling Too Fast"	4:36
3.	"Sinners and Saints"	3:50

iTunes EP

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Foreign Land"	4:28
2.	"Falling Too Fast"	4:35
3.	"Sinners and Saints"	3:50
4.	"Foreign Land" (Demo)	4:49

Charts

Charts (2009)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	13[5]
ARIA Digital Tracks	13[6]
ARIA Physical Singles	16[7]
ARIA Australian Singles	1[8]
Australian Airplay Chart	1[9]

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalogue
Australia	3 April 2009	Warner, Mushroom	Digital download	-
	17 April 2009		CD, Digital download	5186538032

References

1. Eliezer, Christie (21 April 2009). "Radio leaps over new Eskimo Joe track". The Music.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
2. "Top 40 Digital Track Chart". ARIA. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
3. Te Koha, Nui (19 August 2009). "Eskimo Joe write Foreign Land as a tribute to Heath Ledger". News.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
4. "Foreign Land | Music , Music Genres, Pop/Rock : JB HI-FI". Jbhifionline.com.au. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
5. "Top 50 Singles Chart - Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
6. "Top 40 Digital Track Chart - Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
7. "Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
8. "Top 20 Australian Singles & Albums Chart - Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
9. Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine