Geronimo (Sheppard song)

"Geronimo" is the second single released, in February 2014, by Australian indie pop band Sheppard. It was written by three of its members, Jason Bovino with the siblings, George and Amy Sheppard, and was produced by Stuart Stuart at Analog Heart Studios, Brisbane. It is the first number-one single ever recorded in Brisbane[1] and reached number one on the Australian Singles Chart in April 2014.[2] Having held the position for three weeks, the song became the longest stay at the top of the charts for an Australian artist or band since "Battle Scars" by Guy Sebastian in August 2012.[3] "Geronimo" also held the longest stay at number one on the Australian Singles Chart for any independent release.[4] Furthermore, the track reached the top ten in eleven additional countries.

"Geronimo"
Australian version
Single by Sheppard
from the album Bombs Away
Released	28 February 2014
Recorded	Early 2014
Studio	Heart Studios, Brisbane
Genre	Indie pop indie rock
Length	3:39
Label	Empire of Song
Songwriter(s)	Jay Bovino Amy Sheppard George Sheppard
Producer(s)	Stuart Stuart
Sheppard singles chronology
"Hold My Tongue" (2013) "Geronimo" (2014) "Something's Missing" (2014)
Music video
"Geronimo" on YouTube
US release
Band members (L to R): Dean Gordon, Emma Sheppard, Jason Bovino, George Sheppard, Michael Butler, Amy Sheppard.

The title is a reference to the famous Apache military leader Geronimo and the custom of yelling his name before doing a courageous act. In the song, the courageous act is diving down a waterfall. It is also a reference to the Eleventh Doctor's quote "Geronimo!" in the popular sci-fi British drama Doctor Who.[5] It was certified 6× platinum in Australia.[6] It was also featured as the trailer theme for the 2015 Australian family film Paper Planes and appears in the 2015 film Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip and its soundtrack. It was also briefly used in Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave, Underdogs and Norm of the North. Sheppard performed the song in the 13th episode of the second season of the television series Girl Meets World, called "Girl Meets Semi-Formal", which aired on Disney Channel on 14 August 2015.[7][8][9][10] The song was a sleeper hit in the United States, which peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2015.

Composition

"Geronimo" is written in the key of G major, with a tempo of 142 beats per minute.[11]

Music video

In the official music video, a Frankenstein-like version of Geronimo appears, as the central motif, and is shown as the secret creation of a group of rebels.[12] The video, which incorporates many costumes and props made from cardboard, tells the story of a rebellion and two war-torn lovers, one played by the band's lead vocalist George Sheppard. The rebels bring to life a Frankenstein-like creature, based on the real Geronimo, to aid their army. Amidst the chaos, the two lovers reunite and share a kiss. The video was published on YouTube on 1 August 2014 and had received over 39 million views as of March 2019.[13]

An alternate video for the song shows the band performing the song in a warehouse, with various props spelling the word "Geronimo", and clips of George running on a treadmill as various backgrounds are projected behind him and shadow puppets are used to spell out the lyrics.

Track listing

• Digital download[14]

1. "Geronimo" – 3:37

• Remixes (US Digital download)[15]

1. "Geronimo" – 3:38
2. "Geronimo" (Benny Benassi Remix) – 4:30
3. "Geronimo" (Matoma Remix) – 3:32
4. "Geronimo" (D-Wayne Remix) – 4:57

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014–2015) Peak position scope="row" Australia (ARIA)[16] 1 scope="row" Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 9 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[19] 11 scope="row" Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 74 scope="row" Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[21] 1 scope="row" Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 5 scope="row" Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 3 scope="row" Ireland (IRMA)[24] 38 Italy (FIMI)[25] 3 Mexico (Monitor Latino)[26] 8 scope="row" Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 10 scope="row" New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 8 scope="row" Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[30] 2 Poland (Video Chart)[31] 2 scope="row" Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[32] 8 scope="row" Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[33] 6 Slovenia (SloTop50)[34] 17 scope="row" Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 27 scope="row" Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 8 scope="row" Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 15 scope="row" UK Singles (OCC)[38] 36 scope="row" US Billboard Hot 100[39] 53 scope="row" US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[40] 25 scope="row" US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 10 scope="row" US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 26 scope="row" US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[43] 43

Year-end charts "Geronimo" was the highest selling single in Australia by an Australian artist in 2014, fourth overall.[44] Chart (2014) Position Australia (ARIA)[45] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[46] 52 Germany (Official German Charts)[47] 42 Italy (FIMI)[48] 26 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 65 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 37 Poland (ZPAV)[52] 33 Chart (2015) Position Italy (FIMI)[53] 89 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[54] 51 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[55] 64 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[56] 37 Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position Australia (ARIA)[57] 73 Australian Artist Singles (ARIA)[57] 9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6]	5× Platinum	350,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[58]	Gold	15,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[59]	Gold	200,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[60]	2× Platinum	60,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61]	Platinum	15,000^*
Netherlands (NVPI)[62]	2× Platinum	40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[63]	Silver	200,000
United States (RIAA)[64]	Platinum	1,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Geronimo Brisbane band Sheppard leap Ahead". Michael Koziol. Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
2. Byron, Tim (17 April 2014). "Number Ones: Sheppard 'Geronimo'". Vine Music. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
3. Ryan, Gavin (19 April 2014). "Sheppard's "Geronimo" Is Still #1 On The ARIA Singles Chart!". ARIA Charts. MCM Media. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
4. Newstead, Al (28 April 2014). "This Aussie Band Just Scored The Longest Local Independent #1 Ever". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
5. "Instagram photo by Sheppard • Aug 18, 2014 at 8:54am UTC".
6. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
7. "Becky G, Pentatonix, The Vamps & More Headed to Disney's Sounds of Summer: Exclusive".
8. "First Look: Sheppard Appears on Disney's "Girl Meets World"". 29 July 2015.
9. IBTimes. "'Girl Meets World' Season 2 Spoilers: Jack and Eric are Still Best Friends; Will Episode 13 See 'Rucas'? [POLL]".
10. "First Look At Jack's Big Return On Girl Meets World - CINEMABLEND". 11 August 2015.
11. Sheppard "Geronimo" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
12. "Sheppard on Instagram". Retrieved 27 April 2015.
13. SheppardVEVO (1 August 2014). "Sheppard - Geronimo". Retrieved 9 March 2019 – via YouTube.
14. "Sheppard Geronimo". 23 April 2014.
15. "Sheppard Geronimo Remixes". 22 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
16. "Australian-charts.com – Sheppard – Geronimo". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
17. "Austriancharts.at – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
18. "Ultratop.be – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
19. "Ultratop.be – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
20. "Sheppard Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 20143 into search. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
22. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201444 into search. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sheppard – Geronimo". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
24. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sheppard". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
25. "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 39 (dal 22-09-2014 al 28-09-2014)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
26. "Charts monitorLATINO Mexico". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sheppard" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
28. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
29. "Charts.nz – Sheppard – Geronimo". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
30. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
31. "Top 5 Airplay TV". Polish Video Chart. ZPAV. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
32. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20151 into search. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
33. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201444 into search. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
34. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
35. "Spanishcharts.com – Sheppard – Geronimo" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
36. "Swedishcharts.com – Sheppard – Geronimo". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
37. "Swisscharts.com – Sheppard – Geronimo". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
39. "Sheppard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
40. "Sheppard Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
41. "Sheppard Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
42. "Sheppard Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
43. "Sheppard Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
44. "INXS, Sheppard Top Selling Aussie Acts Of 2014". themusic.com.au. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
45. "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
46. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2014". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
47. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
48. "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
49. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2014". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
50. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2014" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
51. "Top Selling Singles of 2014". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
52. "Utwory, których słuchaliśmy w radiu – Airplay 2014" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
53. "Classifiche "Top of the Music" 2015 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
54. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2015". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
55. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
56. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
57. "2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
58. "Austrian single certifications – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in German). IFPI Austria.
59. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sheppard; 'Geronimo')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
60. "Italian single certifications – Sheppard – Geronimo" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Geronimo" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
61. "New Zealand single certifications – Sheppard – Geronimo". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
62. "SHEPPARD". paard. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
63. "British single certifications – Sheppard – Geronimo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 January 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Geronimo in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
64. "American single certifications – Sheppard – Geronimo". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Full Lyrics at LyricsOnDemand.com