Walking After You

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"Walking After You"

Single by Foo Fighters
from the album The Colour and the Shape
Released	June 29, 1998
Format	CD
Recorded	Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA
Genre	Alternative rock
Label	Elektra Records
Producer(s)	Jerry Harrison
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"My Hero" (1998)	"Walking After You" (1998)	"Learn to Fly" (1999)

"Walking After You" is a 1998 single from the soundtrack album to the X Files movie. The Foo Fighters re-recorded the song, which originally appeared on their 1997 album The Colour and the Shape, specifically for the movie's soundtrack. While none of the X-Files album songs are prominently featured in the movie itself, "Walking After You" is played during the end credit sequence, following Noel Gallagher's "Teotihuacan." The single's B-side is Ween's "Beacon Light."

Foo Fighters had previously contributed a cover of Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" (1979) to the compilation album, Songs in the Key of X: Music From and Inspired by the X-Files (1996). Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is an avid "X-Files" fan.

Before the song's release as a tie-in to the movie, another song off of The Colour and the Shape, "Hey, Johnny Park!," had been slated to be that album's fourth and final single. Although recorded for the X-Files soundtrack, "Walking After You" is also considered an official Foo Fighters single.

The song was performed during the Foo Fighters' acoustic tour, and can be found on the live concert CD and DVD, "Skin and Bones" (2006).

1 Version differences
2 Music video
3 Track listing
4 Chart positions
5 Notes

[edit] Version differences

The original album version was created in December 1996 at WGNS Studios in Washington, D.C., in between recording sessions for The Colour and the Shape. It was performed by Grohl on vocals (in one take) and all instrument parts, and was produced by Gil Norton.

The soundtrack/single version was performed by the full band, including then-recent additions Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl, with guest backing vocals from Shudder to Think's Craig Wedren. It was recorded in early 1998 at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, and was produced by Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison. As a result of trying to muster as much emotion as possible, Grohl broke down during the recording of the vocal take which ended up being used in the final mix.^[1]

The new version also utilizes the addition of a piano part during the bridge, performed by Harrison. Stylistically, it employs more intricate drumming and guitar work than the original, which is much more sparse and runs about a minute longer.

[edit] Music video

The song's music video features a nattily-attired Grohl interacting with a woman (played by Spanish actress Arley Jover) in what appears to be an asylum or institution, where the two are separated by plate-glass windows. A stack of vintage television sets displays clips of retro fare such as Bela Lugosi films and Betty Boop cartoons.

It was directed by fashion photographer Matthew Rolston, who had also done videos for artists such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Lenny Kravitz. Grohl, the only band member to appear in the video, has since jokingly described it as "embarrassing."

Before Rolston's involvement in the video, X-Files star David Duchovny had expressed an interest in directing it, but was quick to admit his inexperience, saying "I wouldn't know what the hell I'm doing." ^[2] The concept was also initially considered to have more of a direct relation to The X-Files in some way, which the finished video does not bear.

[edit] Track listing

Foo Fighters: "Walking After You (edited single mix)"
Ween: "Beacon Light"

[edit] Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1998	Official UK Singles Chart	No. 20
1998	Modern Rock Tracks	No. 12
1998	Adult Top 40	No. 35
1998	Official New Zealand Singles Chart	No. 48
1998	Official Euro Hot 100 Singles	No. 87