Ana's Song (Open Fire)

Did You Know?

• The music video was directed by Cate Anderson, who also directed the band's video for Emotion Sickness.
• Australian actress Sarah Aubrey played the girl at the sink washing her hands, with a distorted mirror image of their cleanliness.
• The video was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Video in 1999.

Background

Daniel Johns wrote the song and later disclosed that he had developed anorexia nervosa due to anxiety and depression. He explained that the lyrics addressed his disorder, describing how he would eat only what he needed to stay awake. The nickname Ana is used by those affected by anorexia nervosa. Johns stated that his eating problems began around the time of Freak Show (May 1996) and that by the writing of Neon Ballroom he hated music but felt enslaved to it. He sought therapy and medication but found it easier to express his struggles through music. He eventually learned to cope with the disorder, accepting that he would never be cured.

Reception

The song peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks and No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart. According to the book 100 Best Australian Albums, the song directly focused on Johns' eating disorder and became a hit worldwide, opening discussion about males being affected by anorexia. AllMusic critic Jason Anderson considered it one of the three highlights from Neon Ballroom.