"Lydia" is a song by New Zealand band

Fur Patrol Fur Patrol is a rock band, originally from Wellington, New Zealand. The band formed in Wellington in 1996. Their debut EP, ''Starlifter'', was released on the independent Wellington label Wishbone in 1998. Their debut album ''Pet'' was produced ...

from their debut studio album, ''

Pet A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive appearances, intelligence ...

'', released in 2000. Written by lead vocalist Julia Deans, the song is about a woman who observes that her ex-lover is in a new relationship with another woman—Lydia. The song spent 19 weeks on the

New Zealand Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ( mi, Te Papa Tātai Waiata Matua o Aotearoa) is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The Music ...

, peaking at number one on 24 December 2000. In 2001, it was voted the 19th best New Zealand song of all time by APRA. The song also won two awards at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards: Single of the Year and Best Songwriter (awarded to Deans). "Lydia" was released in Australia on 18 March 2002 but did not chart.

Background and release

Deans said of the song, "It's a classic story. The jilted ex, and it's not necessarily an ex, walks into a cafe or bar and sees the significant other at a table with another other. We have all been there. It was drawn as much from one's own relationships as it was from other people's. When you are young, you end up being that person sitting in a bar and watching your recent beloved getting cosy with someone else. So I guess the song is about that moment when you know a relationship is over but are faced with the reality of it, that someone you thought you loved and thought loved you, has moved on." In New Zealand and Australia, "Lydia" was issued as a CD single containing four tracks: the original version of "Lydia", an acoustic version as the closing track, and two other songs from ''

'' recorded during sessions with New Zealand radio manager Helen Young—"Andrew" and "Holy".

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the ''Pet'' liner notes. Studio * Recorded and mixed at Marmalade Studio A (

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

, New Zealand) * Mastered at 301 Sydney (Sydney, Australia) Fur Patrol * Fur Patrol – writing ** Julia Deans – writing, vocals, guitar, keyboards ** Steven Wells – guitar ** Andrew Bain – bass keyboards ** Simon Braxton – drums, percussion Other personnel * David Long – production * Mike Gibson – recording * Sam Gibson – mixing, mastering * Steve Smart – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lydia (Song) 2000 singles 2000 songs APRA Award winners Number-one singles in New Zealand Warner Music Group singles