FEATURE:
Too Good to Be Forgotten: Songs That Are Much More Than a Guilty Pleasure
Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
___________
HERE is a song that can divide people…
and I have seen it mentioned on some pages that list guilty pleasure songs. Released on 12th February, 2002, Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles is a song that was popular at the time but, maybe, some feel has not aged too well! I have a lot of time for the song, and the energy of Carlton’s piano and vocal definitely invests you and means that it stands up to repeated listens. Produced by Curtis Schweitzer and Ron Fair, the song was released as the lead single for Carlton's album, Be Not Nobody (2002). This song was a huge hit for Carlton and, in 2002, you heard it everywhere on the radio! To date, it remains her biggest hit in the United States - and her only single to reach the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100. I am not surprised A Thousand Miles got to the top-ten in many countries – including the U.K. – and went to the top of the charts in Australia. I always see the year 2002 as a year being dominated by heavy albums and more experimental artists. The likes of The Streets, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, and Red Hot Chili Peppers brought out great albums, but there was this band of great Pop and slightly lighter music that was providing a good balance – Coldplay released A Rush of Blood to the Head in 2002.
Interestingly, Vanessa Carlton wanted the song to be called Interlude, but she faced resistance from the head of A&R Records, Ron Fair. There must have been some doubts from the record label when it came to releasing A Thousand Miles as a single. In July 2002, Norah Jones released her piano-led song, Don’t Know Why, and that was a huge success and features vulnerable and tender vocals. I think some would have wanted Carlton to release a different single because A Thousand Miles is piano-led and quite vulnerable but, clearly, there was something about this type of music that resonated with fans and critics at the time! The charm and sweetness of the song was felt by critics; there were a lot of positive reviews for A Thousand Miles in 2002 and, whilst it is the standout from her Be Not Nobody album, she did release other terrific songs like Ordinary Day - there was a definite hunger and demand for her music. Because there were quite a few songwriters producing more downbeat and tormented songs, having artists like Carlton provided a great option away from slightly heavier music. Those critics who disliked A Thousand Miles in 2002 and continue to do so remarked how there is little substance to the song; she does not have much to say and it doesn’t have the emotional weight and songwriting sharpness one might look for. I really appreciate A Thousand Miles and, in a music scene of 2002 that was varied and exciting, there was plenty of room for Vanessa Carlton and her terrific sound.
I feel the track sound good now and it is not one of those songs from the time that has aged badly and only captured a particular moment. With Pop music still providing ample misery and anxiety, we do need more music that has a sense of spirit and optimism! One cannot doubt the sincerity and conviction with which Carlton delivers A Thousand Miles, and Be Not Nobody is full of solid songwriting and quality. Some reviewers have noted how there are songs on the album that evoke songwriters like Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, and whilst Carlton did not have the same sort of edge and sexuality as contemporaries like Christina Aguilera, I think she was a refreshing artist who was honest and earnest – and did not feel the need to get raunchier or change her style to adapt to the times/mainstream! For anyone who feels that A Thousand Miles is a bit weak and a guilty pleasure then I would advise them to have a rethink. The song is instantly catchy and it can definitely put you in a better mood! It sounded brilliant and original in 2002 and, even though musicians like Tori Amos and Regina Spektor are a little more compelling and varied when it comes to their music, it is unfair to make comparisons. A Thousand Miles is a quality song - and one that should be played and covered a lot more! Her sixth studio album, Love Is an Art, was released in April and it received some positive reviews. Rather than judge the song or write it off as a guilty pleasure, play A Thousand Miles and…
SURRENDER to its charms.