Been a Long Time
Encyclopedia
"Been a Long Time" is a song by Australian recording artist Wes Carr
. It was released for digital download
on 10 June 2011.
wrote "Been a Long Time" in Los Angeles
, California
, in which took him 10 minutes to write. It was produced by Scottish
musician Gary Clark
. Speaking on how the song came about, in an interview with The Australian
, Carr said
In an interview with Adelaide Now, Carr revealed while he was on his way to Nashville in August 2010 to write songs, he told flight attendants he had to get off the plane. He said, "I was having a full-blown panic attack, people were taking photos of me with their phones and I had to get off the plane. It was horrible." Carr also revealed that the song details some of the desperation he felt as he tried to figure out why he felt so alienated and panicked all the time. "Been a Long Time" was sent to Australian contemporary hit radio
and adult contemporary radio on 12 May 2011. A week later, it became the most-added song to Australian radio. The song was released for digital download
on 10 June 2011.
to the song was filmed in Byron Bay, New South Wales
, and was premiered on Vevo
on 11 May 2011. The video opens showing Carr playing the ukulele
in a bedroom while singing the first verse. The video is then intercut with scenes of Carr playing the guitar
on the back of a ute. He then heads towards the beach and continues singing the song with the guitar to a group of friends. Carr can then be seen standing on the train tracks located in a forrest. The video is then intercut with scenes of Carr playing the piano
at a party, and the guitar in the backseat of a car. The last scene sees Carr back on the beach with a group of friends singing to the song together and having fun.
aboard the Sydney ferry
for unsuspecting passengers. He also performed the song on Sunrise
on 22 June.
on 27 June 2011.
Wes Carr
Wes Carr is an Australian singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album Simple Sum independently in 2008 shortly before entering Australian Idol. In November 2008 he was announced as the winner of the sixth season of Australian Idol...
. It was released for digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on 10 June 2011.
Background
Wes CarrWes Carr
Wes Carr is an Australian singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album Simple Sum independently in 2008 shortly before entering Australian Idol. In November 2008 he was announced as the winner of the sixth season of Australian Idol...
wrote "Been a Long Time" in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in which took him 10 minutes to write. It was produced by Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
musician Gary Clark
Gary Clark (musician)
Gary Clark is a Scottish musician who formed a band with his brother Kit Clark, and long time friend, Ged Grimes in 1984, initially under the name of Spencer Tracy...
. Speaking on how the song came about, in an interview with The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
, Carr said
"I was living in the heart of LA on the Sunset StripSunset StripThe Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
, and feeling bombarded with the bustle of the city, so I drove into the desert, towards the Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act , it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree forests native to the park...
. I got lost, but all the stuff I'd loaded on myself in the previous two years seemed to slip away and my mojo began to flow again. It was like it had 'been a long time' since I had felt that free."
In an interview with Adelaide Now, Carr revealed while he was on his way to Nashville in August 2010 to write songs, he told flight attendants he had to get off the plane. He said, "I was having a full-blown panic attack, people were taking photos of me with their phones and I had to get off the plane. It was horrible." Carr also revealed that the song details some of the desperation he felt as he tried to figure out why he felt so alienated and panicked all the time. "Been a Long Time" was sent to Australian contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
and adult contemporary radio on 12 May 2011. A week later, it became the most-added song to Australian radio. The song was released for digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on 10 June 2011.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to the song was filmed in Byron Bay, New South Wales
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located north of Sydney and south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a headland adjacent to the town, is the easternmost point of mainland Australia. At the 2006 Census, the town had a...
, and was premiered on Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
on 11 May 2011. The video opens showing Carr playing the ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
in a bedroom while singing the first verse. The video is then intercut with scenes of Carr playing the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on the back of a ute. He then heads towards the beach and continues singing the song with the guitar to a group of friends. Carr can then be seen standing on the train tracks located in a forrest. The video is then intercut with scenes of Carr playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at a party, and the guitar in the backseat of a car. The last scene sees Carr back on the beach with a group of friends singing to the song together and having fun.
Live performances
In June 2011, Carr was interviewed by Take 40 Australia, and later performed an acoustic version of "Been a Long Time". On 10 June, Carr performed the song with a ukuleleUkulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
aboard the Sydney ferry
Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries is an agency of the New South Wales Government Department of Transport, providing ferry services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia....
for unsuspecting passengers. He also performed the song on Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
on 22 June.
Chart performance
"Been a Long Time" debuted at number thirty-three on the ARIA Singles ChartARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
on 27 June 2011.
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
33 |