"Seventeen Going Under" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender. It was released on 7 July 2021 as the lead single from his second studio album of the same name.[2] The song was written by Fender, and produced by Bramwell Bronte. It was a sleeper hit, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart on 7 January 2022, becoming Fender's highest-charting career single to date.[3]
"Seventeen Going Under" | ||||
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Single by Sam Fender | ||||
from the album Seventeen Going Under | ||||
Released | 7 July 2021 (2021-07-07) | |||
Recorded | North Shields | |||
Genre |
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Length |
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Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sam Fender | |||
Producer(s) | Bramwell Bronte | |||
Sam Fender singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Seventeen Going Under" on YouTube | ||||
"Seventeen Going Under" was named Hottest Record of the Year 2021 by BBC Radio 1 listeners[4][5] and was voted number sixteen by Australian radio Triple J listeners on the Triple J Hottest 100 chart.[6] It was also voted number one by more than 14,000 Radio X listeners for the Best of British 2022.[7] In May 2022, the song won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.[8]
The song chronicles Fender's life at 17 when his mother was afflicted with fibromyalgia and depressed because she could no longer work after 40 years of service as a nurse.[9] She had become the owner of her apartment at 19 and had never missed a workday. Nevertheless, the Department for Work and Pensions began harassing her with letters and treating her unjustly. Fender was trying to help his mother financially but could not due to his young age. Fender recalled: "That's when my rose-tinted glasses fell off."[1] He told Rolling Stone that it is "a letter to [his] 17 year old self", explaining: "17 is when all the challenges begin: you're not a baby, but you're definitely not an adult, I'm not even sure it'll happen at all for you, but growing up is for fools and the near dead, so stop being so serious all the time".[10]
On 7 July 2021, Fender shared the song and announced it would be the title song from his forthcoming album.[10] It also went viral on TikTok, with users utilising the song to "convey their personal tales of abuse and mistreatment". About the phenomenon, Fender stated to Radio X: "I'm honoured that Seventeen's kind of resonated with people in that way. It's a very special moment for me as a songwriter".[11]
Rolling Stone called the song a "five minutes of glorious, life-affirming rock and roll".[1] Retro Gazing commented that the song "feels nostalgic and melancholic", and stated It's "a song that so many people can relate to, regardless of what age they're in, though possibly especially for those who have finally had the chance to clearly see their youth in a new, possibly more realistic and understanding, light".[12] Georgie Holland and Scott Colothan of Absolute Radio described "Seventeen Going Under" as an "emphatic, soaring guitar song that collates the struggles of unemployed life, but also the daftness of age where you otherwise have little to fear and the world at your feet."[13]
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
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NME | The 50 best songs of 2021 | 4 | [14] |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Seventeen Going Under" | 5:03 |
2. | "Howdon Aldi Death Queue" | 1:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Seventeen Going Under" | 5:03 |
2. | "Seventeen Going Under" (Edit) | 3:57 |
3. | "Howdon Aldi Death Queue" | 1:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Seventeen Going Under" (Explicit) | 4:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Seventeen Going Under" (Acoustic) | 5:11 |
Credits adapted from AllMusic.[19]
Chart (2021–2022) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[20] | 69 |
Canada Rock (Billboard)[21] | 43 |
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[22] | 14 |
Ireland (IRMA)[23] | 4 |
Netherlands Single Tip (MegaCharts)[24] | 1 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[25] | 13 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] | 96 |
Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 79 |
UK Singles (OCC)[28] | 3 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[29] | 24 |
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[30] | 27 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Platinum | 600,000![]() |
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Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | 7 July 2021 |
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Polydor | [32] |
United States | 31 January 2022 | Triple A radio |
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[33] |
1 February 2022 | Alternative radio | [34] |
Sam Fender | |
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Discography | |
Albums | |
Extended plays | |
Singles |
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Related articles |
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Ivor Novello Awards – Best Song Musically and Lyrically | |
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*Awarded as The Best Song |