Ocean Avenue (song)

"Ocean Avenue"
Single by Yellowcard
from the album Ocean Avenue
Released February 24, 2004
Format Audio CD/digital download
Recorded 2003
(Sunset Sound, Hollywood, California, U.S.)
Genre Pop punk[1]
Length 3:18
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Ryan Key, Ben Harper, Peter Mosely, Longineu W. Parsons III, Sean Mackin
Producer(s) Neal Avron
Yellowcard singles chronology
"Way Away"
(2003)		 "Ocean Avenue"
(2004)		 "Only One"
(2005)

"Ocean Avenue" is a song by American pop punk band Yellowcard. "Ocean Avenue" was released to radio on December 16, 2003.[2] It was released in February 2004 as the second single from the album Ocean Avenue. The song is notable for having launched the band into the mainstream, receiving numerous spins on MTV and heavy crossover airplay on alternative and mainstream radio. It was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.[3]

The title and lyrics refer to a street in Jacksonville, Florida, the band's original stomping grounds.[4] The street is in close proximity to the band's high school, the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts,[5] as well as another street mentioned in the song, Cherry Street.

The song was featured on the Much Music compilation album Big Shiny Tunes 9, and was also featured in Thrillville: Off The Rails.

Background

According to former guitarist Ben Harper, "Ocean Avenue" is written about Jacksonville, Florida. "It’s this place where we used to hang out in Jacksonville. Instead of talking about a girl, it’s talking about a scene and a feeling that we want to get back to: hanging out and writing, before we moved to California."[6]

Track listing

  1. "Ocean Avenue" – 3:18
  2. "Way Away" (Acoustic Version) – 3:47
  3. "Firewater" – 3:27

Music video

The music video depicts frontman Ryan Key facing his fate in different ways before starting over again using a time loop device (similar to that of the film Run Lola Run), each scenario beginning with Key waking face down on the sidewalk surrounded by broken glass, and ending with his fateful encounter with a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. The video became a TRL favorite, reaching number 1 on the countdown, and later received the MTV2 Award at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.[7]

The briefcase featured in the video features adorned with a lamb symbol, the same symbol featured in the video for Brand New's "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades". Both videos were directed by Marc Webb, who used the lamb as his trademark. The briefcase appeared again in video for Yellowcard's "Rough Landing, Holly", also directed by Webb.

This was the last music video to feature Alex Lewis as the band's bassist.

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (2004) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] 65
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 37
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 27
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 21
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 13


Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
U.S.[3] Gold October 22, 2004 500,000 +
U.S.[3] Platinum June 28, 2013 1,000,000 +
U.S.[3] 2x Platinum June 28, 2013 2,000,000 +

References

  1. ↑ Chesler, Josh (August 31, 2015). "10 Best Pop-Punk Songs of All Time". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "RIAA Gold & Platinum - August 19, 2010: Yellowcard certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Bio". Yellowcard. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Sean Mackin of Yellowcard". Punkmusic.about.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ Richardson, Sean (April 2004). "Stomping grounds". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  7. ↑ Jones, Tekindra (September 23, 2004). "CD Review: Yellowcard – "Ocean Avenue"". The Daily Vidette. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Yellowcard: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Yellowcard – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Yellowcard. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Yellowcard – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Yellowcard. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Yellowcard – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Yellowcard. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Yellowcard – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Yellowcard. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
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