Released January 12, 1998 Recorded 1996–1997 | Format Promo-only CD single Label Columbia | |
Genre Alternative rock, Post-grunge Length 3:30 (radio edit)
4:17 (album version) | ||
"4am" is a song by Canadian alternative rock band Our Lady Peace. It was released in January 1998 as the fourth single from their second album Clumsy.
Contents
Background and writing
The band has stated that the song title has double meanings, that it was entirely written at 4:00 am, and it stands for Raine Maida's father's initials, Anthony Maida.
Content
The song was about a dream that Raine Maida had. In the dream, his father was dying in the hospital, but he arrives too late to say that he loved him. The song thoroughly explains it in direct context.
Critical reception
The song was reviewed negatively by Billboard Magazine who said, "To warrant a snail-paced tempo. a song should ideally deliver pleasing vocals or poetic lyrics, and this overwrought ballad by Our Lady Peace unfortunately does neither."
Music video
The music video was directed by Tony Pantages and was filmed in early December 1997 in Los Angeles during El Niño. It premiered on MuchMusic on January 23, 1998. In the video, the band is shown riding in a black 1958 Cadillac Series 75 limousine. There is also an edited version of the video made for airing in the U.S. The edited version is similar to the original, except it is shorter and features different camera shots at different times than the original. For example, in the original, Maida sings the majority of the song in the car, while in the edited version, he sings mostly on an empty street.
US promo single
CSK 41071
- "Radio Edit" – 3:30
- "Album Version" – 4:15
- "Callout Hook #1" – :10
- "Callout Hook #2" – :05