"Say Goodbye" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1997 as the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Cheap Trick. The song was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen, lead vocalist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and was produced by Cheap Trick and Ian Taylor.[1]
| "Say Goodbye" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Cheap Trick | ||||
| from the album Cheap Trick | ||||
| B-side | "Yeah Yeah" | |||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Rock, power pop | |||
| Length | 3:30 (Cheap Rock mix) 3:34 (album version) | |||
| Label | Red Ant Entertainment | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Cheap Trick singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative Cover | ||||
 Australian/Japanese cover of "Say Goodbye" | ||||
"Say Goodbye" reached number 19 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart and number 39 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[2]
Release
edit"Say Goodbye" was released as the lead single from Cheap Trick. In the US, Red Ant began promoting the song to a number of different radio formats, including commercial alternative and triple-A, from March 24, 1997.[3]
Music video
editThe song's music video was directed by Doug Freel. It features the band performing in front of an audience at the Rockford Theater in Rockford, Illinois, with interspersed footage shot on location in Chicago.[4][5]
Critical reception
editOn its release, Larry Flick of Billboard described "Say Goodbye" as "gloriously melodious" and "one of Cheap Trick's best ever bits of Beatlemania", adding "that's saying something, considering the[ir] past achievements in that area". He added that the song had "warmth and personality" and felt its "distillation of power pop verities makes it an obvious add for both modern and mainstream rock outlets". Flick also praised "Yeah, Yeah" as a "hard rockin' highlight" from Cheap Trick that "wouldn't have sounded out of place" on Heaven Tonight.[6] In a review of the single, Doug Stone of AllMusic described the song and its B-side as "two first-class tunes" from the band's "artistically-pleasing but ultimately ill-fated revival". Stone commented that "Say Goodbye" "delivers an irksome send-off which quotes Dylan and the Beatles" whereas "Yeah Yeah" is a "strong and snarly album cut".[7]
Track listing
editCD and cassette single (US)
- "Say Goodbye" (Cheap Rock Mix) - 3:30
- "Yeah Yeah" (LP Edit) - 3:12
CD single (US promo)
- "Say Goodbye" (Cheap Rock Mix) - 3:30
CD single (Australia)
- "Say Goodbye" (Album Version) - 3:34
- "Yeah Yeah" (LP Edit) - 3:12
3-inch CD single (Japan)
- "Say Goodbye" (Cheap Rock Mix) - 3:30
- "Yeah Yeah" (Album Version) - 3:14
Personnel
editCheap Trick
- Robin Zander - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Rick Nielsen - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Tom Petersson - bass, backing vocals
- Bun E. Carlos - drums, percussion
Production
- Cheap Trick – producers
- Ian Taylor – producer, engineer, mixer
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
Charts
editReferences
edit- ^ "Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ^ a b "Cheap Trick - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ Christman, Ed (March 29, 1997). "Cheap Trick wants to be wanted - Red Ant set May mark vintage act's revival" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 13. pp. 16, 38. Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Baron, Neil (March 23, 1997). "No surrender - Cheap Trick hang on during up and down career". Reno Gazette-Journal.
- ^ Kassulke, Natasha (April 10, 1997). "For openers, it's Cheap Trick". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 3, 5.
- ^ Flick, Larry (April 26, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 17. p. 73. Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Stone, Doug. "Say Goodbye - Cheap Trick; Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3238." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1997". RPM. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
