Flowers in the Window

2002 single by Travis

"Flowers in the Window"

Single by Travis
from the album  The Invisible Band
B-side|

* "Here Comes the Sun" (live)
* "A Little Bit of Soul"
* "Central Station"
* "No Cigar"

Written| June 1998 (France)
Released| 25 March 2002 (2002-03-25)
Studio|

* Ocean Way (Los Angeles)
* AIR (London, England)

Length| 3:41
Label| Independiente
Songwriter(s)| Fran Healy
Producer(s)| Nigel Godrich
Travis singles chronology
| "Side"
(2001)  | "Flowers in the Window"
(2002)  | "Re-Offender"
(2003)

|
|

"Flowers in the Window" is a song from Scottish rock band Travis' third studio album, The Invisible Band (2001). Frontman Fran Healy wrote the song during recording sessions for the band's previous album, The Man Who (1999), coming up with the title by looking at British audio engineer Mike Hedges' flower garden. Released as the album's third and final single on 25 March 2002, the song debuted and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, reached number 35 in Ireland, and also charted in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland. Several formats of the single contain a live cover version of the Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun".

## Background

[edit]

According to Fran Healy, he wrote "Flowers in the Window" during June 1998 in France, at Mike Hedges' recording studio while Travis were recording their previous album, The Man Who. When Hedges told Healy that every artist who had recorded at his studio wrote a song there, Healy refused to do so because he "didn't feel like it".[1] Healy had previous written songs alone in his room, but one day, he sat at Hedges' piano and composed the opening riff. He then transferred this riff to his guitar and came up with most of the song's melody and its hook, which he wanted to be six syllables. Upon looking outside at Hedges' garden, he came up with the hook and title: "Flowers in the Window".[1]

Later that night, Healy stayed at the studio while the rest of the band were out drinking. After they returned inebriated and went to sleep, Healy heard what he thought was someone choking on vomit, and he ran around the chateau searching for whoever was making this noise. Eventually, he found bassist Dougie Payne vomiting out his bedroom window. Perturbed by this incident, Healy returned to his room, wrote the song's lyrics on the back of an envelope in 10 minutes, and cried when he recited them. He explained on the band's website, "I was aware for the first time that a good distraction is necessary in writing lyrics. Or not being con[s]cious of what I'm doing is required if it is to have that magic."[1]

Although uncredited on the album, "Flowers in the Window" was co-written by Paul McCartney. In an interview for Rate Your Music, Healy explained, "I met McCartney whilst recording a television programme and I played him an unfinished track from the new album. He said: 'That's a great little song.' He helped us finish the ending, but we didn't give him a credit on the sleeve."[2]

## Music video

[edit]

The video features the band walking around a small town where all the residents are pregnant women. The band enter a clinic where women are staying and begin to perform the song. A chained-up man in distress appears at the end of the video. An alternate version of the video also uses clips from the movie Saved!.

## Live performances

[edit]

During live performances of the song, it is typically dedicated to members of the band or stage crew who have reached a significant moment in a relationship. For example, during the 12 Memories tour in 2003, it was dedicated to the lighting manager who had just had a child. In 2007, whilst playing at the Hammersmith Apollo, it was dedicated to their touring pianist Claes Björklund, who had become engaged the day before.[citation needed]

## Track listings

[edit]

UK CD1[3]

1. "Flowers in the Window"
2. "Here Comes the Sun" (live at the Top of the Pops Awards 2001)
3. "A Little Bit of Soul"

UK CD2[4]

1. "Flowers in the Window"
2. "Central Station"
3. "No Cigar"

UK 7-inch single[5]

A. "Flowers in the Window"
B. "Here Comes the Sun" (live at the Top of the Pops Awards 2001)

UK cassette single[6]

1. "Flowers in the Window"
2. "A Little Bit of Soul"

European CD single[7]

1. "Flowers in the Window"
2. "No Cigar"

Australian CD single[8]

1. "Flowers in the Window"
2. "Here Comes the Sun" (live at the Top of the Pops Awards 2001)
3. "A Little Bit of Soul"
4. "No Cigar"

|

## Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from The Invisible Band album booklet.[9]

Studios

* Recorded at Ocean Way Studios (Los Angeles) and AIR Studios (London, England)
* Mixed at Ocean Way Studios (Los Angeles)
* Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Los Angeles, California)

Personnel

* Fran Healy – writing
* Nigel Godrich – production, mixing
* Darrell Thorp – assistant engineer at Ocean Way Studios
* Jon Bailey – assistant engineer at Air Studios
* Bernie Grundman – mastering

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2002)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[10] | 92
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 100
Germany (GfK)[12] | 98
Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 35
Scotland (OCC)[14] | 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] | 93
UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 18

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[17] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United Kingdom  | 25 March 2002  |

* CD
* cassette

| Independiente | [18]
1 April 2002  | 7-inch vinyl  | [19]
United States  | Triple A radio  | [20]
15 April 2002  | Hot adult contemporary radio  | [21]
Australia  | 6 May 2002  | CD  | [22]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "The Invisible Band : Tracklisting". travisonline.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2022. To view information, click Preview, then Tracklisting | Song Info.
2. ^ "Flowers in the Window – (Song Lyric Sunday)". The Hidden Edge. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
3. ^ Flowers in the Window (UK CD1 liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56MS.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. ^ Flowers in the Window (UK CD2 liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56SMS.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. ^ Flowers in the Window (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56S.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. ^ Flowers in the Window (UK cassette single sleeve). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISOM 56CS.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. ^ Flowers in the Window (European CD single liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. ISM 672237 1.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. ^ Flowers in the Window (Australian CD single liner notes). Travis. Independiente. 2002. 672526.2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. ^ The Invisible Band (UK CD album booklet). Travis. Independiente. 2001. ISOM 25CD, 5030502011.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. ^ "Issue 637" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 16\. 13 April 2002. p. 13. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
12. ^ "Travis – Flowers in the Window" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
13. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Travis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
15. ^ "Travis – Flowers in the Window". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
17. ^ "British single certifications – Travis – Flowers in the Window". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
18. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 25 March 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 March 2002. p. 29. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
19. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 1 April 2002: Singles". Music Week. 30 March 2002. p. 31.
20. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1446\. 29 March 2002. p. 32. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
21. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1448\. 12 April 2002. p. 31. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
22. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th May 2002" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 May 2002. p. 26\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Travis

* Fran Healy
* Dougie Payne
* Andy Dunlop
* Neil Primrose

Studio albums|

* Good Feeling
* The Man Who
* The Invisible Band
* 12 Memories
* The Boy with No Name
* Ode to J. Smith
* Where You Stand
* Everything at Once
* 10 Songs
* L.A. Times

Compilation albums|

* Singles

Extended plays|

* More Than Us EP

Singles|

* "All I Want to Do Is Rock"
* "U16 Girls"
* "Happy"
* "Writing to Reach You"
* "Driftwood"
* "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?"
* "Turn"
* "Coming Around"
* "Sing"
* "Side"
* "Flowers in the Window"
* "Re-Offender"
* "The Beautiful Occupation"
* "Love Will Come Through"
* "Walking in the Sun"
* "Closer"
* "Selfish Jean"
* "My Eyes"
* "J. Smith"
* "Something Anything"
* "Song to Self"
* "Where You Stand"
* "Moving"

Other songs|

* "Another Guy"

Related articles|

* Discography
* List of recorded songs
* "Boulevard of Broken Songs"
* Wreckorder

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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