Contenidos
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers (1988)
Scottish folk-rock anthem written in 45 minutes. Resurged as a global hit thanks to the film Benny & Joon (1993) with Johnny Depp.
Historical Context
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" was released in August 1988 by Scottish twins Charlie and Craig Reid. Craig Reid wrote the complete song in just 45 minutes while waiting for transport to a concert in Aberdeen.
On its original release it reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in Australia, Iceland and New Zealand. However, the true global phenomenon came five years later in 1993, when it was included as the main theme for the film Benny & Joon with Johnny Depp, reaching the top 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Musical Characteristics
The song is in E major, with a tempo of 132 BPM in 4/4 time. The harmonic structure is remarkably simple, based on three chords: E, A and B (I, IV, V). The recorded version uses power chords with palm-muting technique giving it that percussive, marching sound.
Pete Wingfield's production is deliberately spartan: no synth gloss, built on driving acoustic guitar, straightforward drums (Dave Mattacks) and the powerful vocals of the Reid twins singing with their undisguised Scottish accents. This combination of folk, Celtic rock and alt-pop with almost punk-like intensity is what makes it distinctive.
Trivia
- "Havering" caused confusion in the US. In "I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you," the Scottish word "havering" means "babbling." However, several US radio stations refused to play the song thinking it meant something much more risque.
- Marshall Eriksen's Fiero. The song became a pop culture icon through How I Met Your Mother, where Marshall has it on a stuck cassette in his Fiat Fiero. Craig Reid has stated that earnings from this single song are approximately five times greater than the rest of their entire catalog combined.
- The Comic Relief version outsold the original. In 2007, The Proclaimers re-recorded it with Peter Kay and Matt Lucas for Comic Relief. This version reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, surpassing the original 1988 single.