Closing Time (Semisonic song)

"Closing Time" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, Feeling Strangely Fine, and began to receive mainstream radio airplay on April 27, 1998. The ballad^[5] was written by Dan Wilson and produced by Nick Launay.

"Closing Time"
Single by Semisonic
from the album Feeling Strangely Fine
Released	March 10, 1998 (1998-03-10)
Studio	Seedy Underbelly (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Genre	Alternative rock[1] post-grunge[2] power pop[3] pop rock[4]
Length	4:33 (album version) 3:49 (single version)
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Dan Wilson
Producer(s)	Nick Launay
Semisonic singles chronology
"F.N.T." (1996) "Closing Time" (1998) "Singing in My Sleep" (1998)
Audio sample
file help
Music video
"Closing Time" on YouTube

The single reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the top 50 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It is certified gold in the UK and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1999.^[6][7] The song reappeared on the charts of three countries in 2011 after being featured in the 2011 movie Friends with Benefits and an episode of the television sitcom The Office;^[8][9] it attained its highest chart peaks in Australia and Ireland during this period.

While the song is about people leaving a bar at closing time (also called last call), and widely interpreted as such, drummer Jacob Slichter has also indicated that the song was written by Wilson "in anticipation of fatherhood" and that it is about "being sent forth from the womb as if by a bouncer clearing out a bar".^[10][11]

Background and composition

Prior to composing "Closing Time", Semisonic usually ended their concerts with the song "If I Run". The band grew tired of playing this song every night and so Wilson set out to write a new song that they could play at the end of their set.^[12] Wilson's girlfriend was pregnant at the time and although Wilson did not set out consciously to write a song about giving birth, he has stated that "Part way into the writing of the song, I realized it was also about being born."^[12]

Jacob Slichter, the drummer for Semisonic, said in 2006 that payola was how they turned "Closing Time" into a hit. Slichter stated: "It cost something close to $700,000 to $800,000 to get 'Closing Time' on the air."^[13]

Critical reception

Billboard magazine described "Closing Time" as an "instantly memorable rock ditty", saying, "...the core of 'Closing Time' is pure pop with a sticky chorus that will have you singing along before the end of your first listen. This could be the jam that establishes Semisonic as the top 40 heroes they deserve to be."^[14] Doug Reece of the same magazine called the song "impossibly hooky".^[15] "Closing Time" was placed at number 19 on Rolling Stone's 2007 list of the "20 Most Annoying Songs".^[16]

Music video

The music video was directed by Chris Applebaum.^[17] It involves a split screen in which Wilson and the band performing the song together are on the right side while his wife working in a laundromat she's about to close down for the night is on the left trying to call him--only for their performance to mean that he doesn't hear the phone ring or the message she left. Both Wilson and her then each leave their respective locations and make their way through the streets to the exact same club. His wife gets there first, looks around a bit for him and leaves. She walks just past Wilson as he's coming in--neither of them seeing the other, he also then looks around for her too and then leaves. The video then ends as Wilson meets the band outside by the car and shrugs.

Usage in other media

This song is frequently used by some radio stations as their last song before changing formats, mostly alternative rock stations. Most notably on November 16, 2016, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas-based alternative station KDGE (102.1 FM) played a continuous loop of "Closing Time" while redirecting its listeners to its area sister mainstream rock station KEGL (97.1 FM). This continued until 5 p.m. on November 17, 2016, when the station flipped to Christmas music then full-time to a mainstream adult contemporary format on December 26.^[18]

Track listings

Australian CD single[19] "Closing Time" (Bob Clearmountain mix) – 3:50 "F.N.T." (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 3:29 "Made to Last" – 5:03 "Closing Time" – 4:34 European CD single[20][21] "Closing Time" (radio edit) – 3:49 "Delicious" – 3:58 European maxi-CD single[20][22] "Closing Time" (Clearmountain mix) – 3:49 "Delicious" – 3:58 "Gone to the Movies" – 3:52 "Closing Time" (album version) – 4:35 UK CD1[23] "Closing Time" (remix edit) – 3:49 "Falling" (live) – 3:31 "Long Way from Home" – 5:20

UK CD2[24] "Closing Time" (album edit) – 3:52 "F.N.T." (live acoustic) – 3:16 "Air That I Breathe" – 4:21 "Closing Time" (video) UK cassette single[25] A. "Closing Time" (remix edit) – 3:49 B. "Air That I Breathe" – 4:21 Japanese CD single[26] "Closing Time" "F.N.T." "Made to Last" "Closing Time" (album version video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Feeling Strangely Fine liner notes.^[27]

Studios

• Recorded and produced at Seedy Underbelly (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Mixed at Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• Dan Wilson – writing, lead vocals, guitar, piano
• John Munson – vocals, bass, Moog
• Jacob Slichter – vocals, drums
• Nick Launay – production, recording
• Brad Kern – additional recording
• Alex Oana – assistant recording engineer
• Richard Werbowenko – assistant recording engineer
• Shane Washington – assistant recording engineer
• Jack Joseph Puig – mixing
• Jim Champagne – assistant mixing engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[20] 50 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[28] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 84 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 50 Scotland (OCC)[31] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 25 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[33] 11 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[34] 4 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[35] 4 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[36] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[37] 13 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[38] 8 Chart (2011) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[20] 40 Ireland (IRMA)[39] 48 UK Singles (OCC)[40] 76 Chart (2012) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[41] 71

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[42] 33 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[43] 15 US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[44] 27 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 15 US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[46] 33 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 27 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[46] 3 US Triple-A (Billboard)[48] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[49]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	February 23, 1998	Mainstream rock modern rock triple A radio	MCA	[50][51]
Europe	March 10, 1998	CD		[20]
United States	April 27, 1998	Top 40 radio		[52]
Japan	July 23, 1998	CD		[53]
United Kingdom	October 25, 1999	CD cassette		[54]

See also

• Number one modern rock hits of 1998

References

1. Price, Walter (January 7, 2019). "A Take Me Home Three-Way: SEMISONIC – "Closing Time" (1998)". Global Texan Chronicles. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
2. "Classical Cover: Semisonic's Closing Time". Alto Riot. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
3. "Dan Wilson On Mountain Stage". NPR. October 29, 2014. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
4. Mitchell, Collin (April 5, 2001). "Semisonic All About Chemistry MCA". Daily Nexus. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
5. Verna, Paul (March 28, 1998). "Reviews & Previews – Albums". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 13. p. 55.
6. "41st Grammy Awards – 1999". Rock on the Net. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
7. Wood, Olivia (January 15, 2020). "Episode 176: Semisonic". Song Exploder. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
8. Hyden, Steven (November 30, 2011). "We Are All 'Closing Time': Why Semisonic's 1998 Hit Still Resonates". Grantland. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
9. Halperin, Shirley (December 7, 2010). "Semisonic revists "Closing Time" thanks to movie". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
10. A Hit Single and the Heart-Wrenching Story Behind it Archived February 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, by Claudia Ricci, The Huffington Post, posted February 8, 2011, retrieved February 27, 2011
11. "Perennial Co-Writer Returns With An Album Of His Own". NPR.org. April 15, 2014. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
12. Schlansky, Evan (October 14, 2019). "Semisonic Success Story: An Interview with Dan Wilson". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
13. Ross, Brian; Walter, Vic (February 16, 2006). "Paying to Make It to the Top of the Charts". ABC News Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
14. Flick, Larry (February 21, 1998). "Reviews & Previews – Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 8. p. 64.
15. Reece, Doug (April 4, 1998). "Popular Uprisings". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 14. p. 12.
16. "The 20 Most Annoying Songs". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2007. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007.
17. "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 19. May 9, 1998. p. 80.
18. KDGE Dallas Drops Alternative After 27 Years; Flips to Mainstream AC as "Star 102.1"
19. Closing Time (Australian CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCD-49071.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. "Semisonic – Closing Time". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
21. Closing Time (European CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCD-49091.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. Closing Time (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCD 49076.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. Closing Time (UK CD1 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSTD 40221, 155645-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
24. Closing Time (UK CD2 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSXD 40221, 155646-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
25. Closing Time (UK cassette single sleeve). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSC 40221, 155 645-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
26. Closing Time (Japanese CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MVCE-9009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
27. Feeling Strangely Fine (US CD album liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCAD/11733.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
28. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3543." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
29. "Semisonic – Closing Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
30. "Semisonic – Closing Time". Top 40 Singles.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
33. "Semisonic Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
34. "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
35. "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
36. "Semisonic Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
37. "Semisonic Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
38. "Semisonic Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
39. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Semisonic". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
40. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
41. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
42. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
43. "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
44. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-46.
45. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-96.
46. "The Year in Music 1998". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
47. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
48. "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
49. "British single certifications – Semisonic – Closing Time". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
50. Bell, Carrie (February 21, 1998). "Semisonic's 'Feeling Fine' on MCA Set". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 8. p. 17.
51. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2192. February 13, 1998. p. 50.
52. Reece, Doug (May 9, 1998). "MCA's Semisonic Strikes a Chord with 'Closing Time'". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 19. p. 93.
53. "クロージング・タイム | セミソニック" [Closing Time | Semisonic] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
54. "New Releases – For Week Starting 25 October, 1999: Singles". Music Week. October 23, 1999. p. 31.

External links

• "Closing Time" on Song Exploder