The Dolphin's Cry

"The Dolphin's Cry"
"The Dolphin's Cry"
Single by Live
from the album The Distance to Here
Released	August 24, 1999
Studio	The Site; Village Recorder; A&M; The Plant;
Genre	Alternative rock; post-grunge; hard rock;
Length	4:25 (album version); 4:02 (radio edit);
Label	Radioactive; Universal Australia;
Songwriter(s)	Ed Kowalczyk
Producer(s)	Jerry Harrison; Live;
Live singles chronology
Music video
	"The Dolphin's Cry" on YouTube

"The Dolphin's Cry" is a song by American alternative rock band Live, released on August 24, 1999, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, The Distance to Here. The song was co-produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, and features Adam Duritz of Counting Crows on backing vocals. It reached number one on the Canadian RPM Top 30 Rock Report and number two on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Internationally, "The Dolphin's Cry" peaked at number one in Iceland, number seven in Flanders, and number 10 in the Netherlands while reaching the top 50 on the Australian and New Zealand music charts.

Chart performance[]

In the United States "The Dolphin's Cry" reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.^[1]^[2]^[3] In Canada, the song topped the RPM Top 30 Rock Report.^[4] The single also reached number one in Iceland, number seven the Flanders region of Belgium, number 10 in the Netherlands, number 25 in Australia, number 48 in New Zealand, and number 62 in the United Kingdom.^[5]^[6]^[7] In the latter country, it topped the UK Rock Chart.^[8] In Australia, the single earned a Gold certification for shipments in excess of 35,000.^[9]

Music video[]

The music video, directed by Martin Weisz,^[10] features the band playing in an alley as successively larger waves of water flow towards them. The other people in the alley grow more panicked as the waves get larger. Towards the end of the song, the largest wave sweeps through the alley and knocks the band down, but they get back up and resume playing.

Track listings[]

US promo CD^[11]

"The Dolphin's Cry" (radio edit) – 3:58
"The Dolphin's Cry" (album version) – 4:23
"The Dolphin's Cry" (suggested callout hook) – 0:20

South African and Australian CD single^[12]^[13]

"The Dolphin's Cry" (radio edit)
"Vine Street"
"Sun" (loop version)

European CD single^[14]

"The Dolphin's Cry" (radio edit)
"Vine Street"

UK CD1^[15]

"The Dolphin's Cry"
"Vine Street"
"Lakini's Juice" (Sippin on Lakini's Juice remix)

UK CD2^[16]

"The Dolphin's Cry" (album version)
"Sun" (loop version)
"Turn My Head" (recorded live in Melbourne, Australia 1997)
"The Dolphin's Cry" (video)

Credits and personnel[]

Credits are lifted from the US promo CD liner notes and The Distance to Here album booklet.^[11]^[17]

Studios

Recorded at the Site, Village Recorder, A&M Studios, and the Plant
Mixed at South Beach Studios and Encore Studios
Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Live

Ed Kowalczyk – lyrics, music, lead vocals, guitar
Chad Taylor – lead guitar
Patrick Dahlheimer – bass
Chad Gracey – drums
Live – production

Other personnel

Jerry Harrison – production
Gary Kurfirst – executive production
Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
Karl Derfler – engineering
Doug McKean – additional engineering

Ted Jensen – mastering
David Sestak – management
Peter Freedman – management
Sagmeister Inc. – art direction
Motoko Hada – artwork design and illustration

Charts and certifications[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1999–2000)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	25
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[18]	7
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[4]	1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[5]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[21]	48
Scotland (OCC)^[22]	65
UK Singles (OCC)^[7]	62
UK Rock and Metal (OCC)^[8]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[1]	78
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[23]	18
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[3]	3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[2]	2

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1999)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[24]	85
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[25]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	58
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	94
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[28]	31
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[28]	25

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[9]	Gold	35,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	August 24, 1999 (1999-08-24)	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	Radioactive	^[29]
United Kingdom	January 24, 2000 (2000-01-24)	CD	Radioactive	^[30]

In popular culture[]

This song was featured in The Sopranos episode University when Caitlin Rucker interrupts Meadow Soprano and Noah Tannenbaum kissing and was also used in the film Urban Legends: Final Cut.^[31]^[32]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7272." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (10.2 – 16.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 11, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Australian-charts.com – Live – The Dolphin's Cry". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ "Live – The Dolphins Cry" mvdbase.com
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b The Dolphin's Cry (US promo CD liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAR5P-4406.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Dolphin's Cry (South African CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. MAXCD 187.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Dolphin's Cry (Australian CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records, Universal Music Australia. 1999. 155 632-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Dolphin's Cry (European CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. 155 631-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Dolphin's Cry (UK CD1 single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAXTD 39, 155642-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Dolphin's Cry (UK CD2 single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAXXD 39, 155644-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Distance to Here (US CD album booklet). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. 088 111 966-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Ultratop.be – Live – The Dolphin's Cry" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Live – The Dolphin's Cry" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Charts.nz – Live – The Dolphin's Cry". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ "Live Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "1999 – The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. 138. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1313. August 20, 1999. pp. 94, 100, 169. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 24 January, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 25. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
^ "Soundtracks for The Sopranos – University (2001)" IMDb
^ [1]

[hot100-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[usmr-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[usalt-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Live Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.

[canrock-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7272." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[ice-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (10.2 – 16.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 11, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2019.

[charts-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Australian-charts.com – Live – The Dolphin's Cry". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[uk-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[ukrock-8] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[auscert-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[10] "Live – The Dolphins Cry" mvdbase.com

[uspcd-11] Jump up to: ^a ^b The Dolphin's Cry (US promo CD liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAR5P-4406.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[12] The Dolphin's Cry (South African CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. MAXCD 187.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[13] The Dolphin's Cry (Australian CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records, Universal Music Australia. 1999. 155 632-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[14] The Dolphin's Cry (European CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. 155 631-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[15] The Dolphin's Cry (UK CD1 single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAXTD 39, 155642-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[16] The Dolphin's Cry (UK CD2 single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. RAXXD 39, 155644-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[17] The Distance to Here (US CD album booklet). Live. Radioactive Records. 1999. 088 111 966-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Flanders_Live-18] "Ultratop.be – Live – The Dolphin's Cry" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Dutch40_-19] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[sc_Dutch100_Live-20] "Dutchcharts.nl – Live – The Dolphin's Cry" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Live-21] "Charts.nz – Live – The Dolphin's Cry". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Scotland_-22] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_Live-23] "Live Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[24] "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[25] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.

[26] "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

[27] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[usrockye-28] Jump up to: ^a ^b "1999 – The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. 138. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[29] "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1313. August 20, 1999. pp. 94, 100, 169. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[30] "New Releases – For Week Starting 24 January, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 25. Retrieved July 29, 2021.

[31] "Soundtracks for The Sopranos – University (2001)" IMDb

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hide v t Live
Ed Kowalczyk Patrick Dahlheimer Chad Gracey Chad Taylor Chris Shinn
Studio albums	The Death of a Dictionary (as Public Affection) Mental Jewelry Throwing Copper Secret Samadhi The Distance to Here V Birds of Pray Songs from Black Mountain The Turn
EPs	Four Songs Local 717
Compilations	Awake: The Best of Live Radiant Sea: A Collection of Bootleg Rarities and Two New Songs
Live albums	Live at the Paradiso – Amsterdam
Singles	"Selling the Drama" "I Alone" "All Over You" "Lightning Crashes" "White, Discussion" "Lakini's Juice" "Freaks" "Turn My Head" "Rattlesnake" "The Dolphin's Cry" "Run to the Water" "They Stood Up for Love" "Simple Creed" "Overcome" "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" "Heaven" "Sweet Release" "Run Away" "We Deal in Dreams" "The River" "Mystery"
Related articles	Discography The Gracious Few (album) Jerry Harrison Adam Kowalczyk