Song:Secret Smile
Album:Feeling Strangely Fine
The 1998 CD Feeling Strangely Fine went Platinum so it looked like Semisonic was going to be around for a long time. But it didn't last and they split up in 2001. They're from Minneapolis and started after the breakup of the popular band Trip Shakespeare in 1992. Lead singer songwriter guitarist Dan Wilson (born May 20, 1961 in Minneapolis) was in Trip Shakespeare with his brother Matt and bassist John Munson. When the brothers split up, Dan Wilson and Munson formed Semisonic with drummer Jacob Slichter. They released an EP independently in 1995 and earned a contract with Elektra Records. But a change in management at Elektra forced Semisonic to go elsewhere and they signed with MCA Records. Their 1996 debut The Great Divide did OK but Feeling Strangely Fine did really well. It reached #43 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was certified Platinum in 1999. The singles Feeling Fine & Secret Smile also did well on the charts. Dan Wilson wrote all the songs including Secret Smile and British producer Nick Launay (Kate Bush) did a good job. It's good solid pop. They looked like they were on their way but the 2001 CD All About Chemistry didn't chart at all. Semisonic has never officially split up but other than a couple of reunion gigs, the guys are all doing other things. Dan Wilson currently records for American Recordings and his latest CD Free Life was released in Oct. 2007. He has also produced albums for Mike Doughty formerly of Soul Coughing. And he's worked a lot with The Dixie Chicks including writing Not Ready To Make Nice. John Munson currently has a jazz band called The New Standard. Jacob Slichter wrote a book about Semisonic in 2004 called So You Want To Be a Rock & Roll Star. Here's the video for Secret Smile by Semisonic.
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