So Much (Peter Gabriel song)

"So Much" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in July 2023 as the seventh single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Gabriel described "So Much" as a "simple song" that was "easy to digest but still had a bit of character to it".[1] He claimed in the Full Moon Update that the song was a bit polarizing, that "it will split an audience" "about 50/50" with those who love it and those who don't care for it.[2] According to Gabriel, Tchad Blake called it "the best thing that he has ever done."[2] Gabriel said that the song is about "mortality" and "getting old".[1]

"So Much"
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album I/O
Released
  • 3 July 2023 (dark-side mix)
  • 17 July 2023 (bright-side and in-side mixes)
  • 19 July 2023 (guitar version)
Studio
Length4:50
Label
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Road to Joy"
(2023)
"So Much"
(2023)
"Olive Tree"
(2023)

Gabriel first revealed the song's title in 2020 when he responded to an article by Phillip Collins in The Times. In his response, Gabriel described "So Much" as a "getting old song".[3] The cover artwork is called Somewhere Over Mercia and was created by Henry Hudson.[1] Merica refers to an ancient name for a region located near the birthplaces of Gabriel and Hudson[4]

Personnel edit

Orchestra
  • Orchestral arrangement: John Metcalfe and Peter Gabriel
  • Violin: Everton Nelson, Ian Humphries, Louisa Fuller, Charles Mutter, Cathy Thompson, Natalia Bonner, Richard George, Marianne Haynes, Martin Burgess, Clare Hayes, Debbie Widdup, and Odile Ollagnon
  • Viola: Bruce White, Fiona Bonds, Peter Lale, and Rachel Roberts
  • Cello: Ian Burdge, Chris Worsey, Caroline Dale, William Schofield, Tony Woollard, and Chris Allan
  • Double bass: Chris Laurence, Stacy Watton, and Lucy Shaw
  • French horn: David Pyatt and Richard Bissill
  • Trumpet: Andrew Crowley
  • Euphonium: Andy Wood
  • Tenor trombone: Tracey Holloway
  • Bass trombone: Richard Henry
  • Tuba: David Powell
  • Orchestra conductor: John Metcalfe
  • Orchestra leader: Everton Nelson
  • Sheet music supervisor: Dave Foster
  • Orchestra contractor: Lucy Whalley and Susie Gillis

Charts edit

Chart performance for "So Much"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[5] 69

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "So Much". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Peter Gabriel Full Moon July 2023". YouTube. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Peter Gabriel is working on a new song". 11 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Song 07: "So Much"". Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2023.