1901 (song)

Last updated
"1901"
Phoenix - 1901.jpeg
Single by Phoenix
from the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
B-side
Released23 February 2009 (2009-02-23)
Recorded2008
Studio Motorbass (Paris)
Genre Synth-rock [1]
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Phoenix singles chronology
"Consolation Prizes"
(2006)
"1901"
(2009)
"Lisztomania"
(2009)

"1901" is a song by French indie pop band Phoenix. It was released on 23 February 2009 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009). It peaked at number 73 in Canada and number 84 in the United States, making "1901" the band's first song to chart there. It also reached number one on the US Alternative Songs chart. The song has been covered by English singer Birdy and also featured in the UK comedy series Friday Night Dinner.

Contents

Origin and description

It was released in February 2009 as the album's lead single, originally as a free download from the band's official website, but was issued as a retail single due to the song's popularity. A black-and-white music video for the song was released in May. [2] In July, the song entered the U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs chart, where it later reached number one, [3] becoming only the fourth independent label single to achieve the feat. [4] The single was re-issued in the UK in February 2010. [5] According to lead singer Thomas Mars, the song is about Belle Époque Paris. Mars said, "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris." [6]

Phoenix performed "1901" on television programs such as The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien , [7] Late Show with David Letterman , [8] Saturday Night Live , [9] and MTV's It's On with Alexa Chung . [8]

Critical reception

The song has received very positive reviews from music critics; Pitchfork's Jason Crock chose the song as a "Best New Track" and added that it's "just as smooth and spirited and dementedly catchy as any of their best singles." [10] The Village Voice 's Pazz & Jop critics' poll ranked "1901" at number two to find the best music of 2009, after Jay-Z 's "Empire State of Mind". In October 2009, "1901" ranked number 228 in Pitchfork's list of "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s", [11] the fifth-highest placement on the list amongst 2009 songs. [12] The NME's Gavin Haynes praised the song's "rave-like stop-go guitars," [13] while Evan Sawdey of PopMatters said it might be Phoenix's "finest song to date." [14] Philadelphia Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca described the song as "joyously exultant riff-happy pop." [15] The song was ranked number two on Spin magazine's list of the "20 Best Summer Songs of 2009". [16]

Usage in Media

The song was featured in the 2011 video game Test Drive Unlimited 2 as a song on the in-game radio station, RoadRock, it was also featured in the 2012 racing video game Forza Horizon in the in-game radio station, Horizon Pulse, NHL 2K10, and NBA 2K13, which the latter was picked by Jay-Z.

In 2024 Phoenix performed the song at the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Paris.

Track listing

Promo CD single
  1. "1901" – 3:13

Charts

For the week ending December 19, 2009, "1901" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 90. It peaked at number 84 for the week ending January 23, 2010. The single reached number 73 on the Canadian Hot 100. The single topped the Billboard alternative chart for two weeks and became the second longest running song on the chart at the time at 57 weeks.[ citation needed ]

Chart (2009–11)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [3] 73
Canada Rock (Canadian Rock) [3] 28
UK Physical Singles ( OCC )31
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 84
US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [3] 1
US Rock Songs (Billboard) [3] 3
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard) [3] 6
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) [3] 34

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [17] Silver200,000
United States (RIAA) [18] Platinum1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Spin U.S.Best Songs of 2009 [19] 20092
Pitchfork Media U.S.Top 100 Tracks of 2009 [20] 20093
Slant Magazine U.S.Top 25 Songs of 2009 [21] 20093
Consequence U.S.Top 50 Songs of 2009 [22] 20091
Rolling Stone U.S.Best Songs of 2009 [23] 20095
Rolling StoneU.S.Best Songs of the Decade [24] 200980
PitchforkU.S.Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s [11] 2009228
Triple J AustraliaHottest 100 Countdown 2009 [25] 201013

Birdy version

"1901"
1901Birdysong.jpg
Single by Birdy
from the album Birdy
Released9 March 2012 (2012-03-09)
Recorded2011
Genre Indie folk
Length5:11
Label Warner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Rich Costey
Birdy singles chronology
"People Help the People"
(2011)
"1901"
(2012)
"Wings"
(2013)

English singer Birdy released a cover version of the song on March 9, 2012 as a digital download in the United Kingdom.

Music video

The music video for "1901" was uploaded to YouTube on October 25, 2009. [26] Featured artists include Helen George and Ian Roe.[ citation needed ]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."1901"5:11

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [27] 12
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [28] 11

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United Kingdom9 March 2012 Digital download Warner

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 (song)</span> 1996 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"1979" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released in 1996 as the second single from their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. "1979" was written by frontman Billy Corgan, and features loops and samples uncharacteristic of previous Smashing Pumpkins songs. The song foreshadows the synth-pop sound the band would embrace more openly on Adore and its tracks "Ava Adore" and "Perfect". The song was written as a nostalgic coming-of-age story by Corgan. In the year 1979, Corgan was twelve, and this is what he considered his transition into adolescence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix (band)</span> French indie pop band

Phoenix is a French indie rock band from Versailles, formed in 1995. Their line-up, which has remained unchanged since their formation, comprises Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz. Thomas Hedlund has been the band's session and live drummer since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where's Your Head At</span> 2001 single by Basement Jaxx

"Where's Your Head At" is a song by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released as the third single from their second album, Rooty, on 19 November 2001. The song is based on samples from Gary Numan's songs "M.E." and "This Wreckage". The song peaked at number nine in Canada and the United Kingdom, number 16 in Australia, and number 39 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, the band's only charting single on a non-dance music chart in the United States. The song ranked at number 83 on Pitchfork Media's list of the "Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate Love Song</span> 1994 single by Stone Temple Pilots

"Interstate Love Song" is a single by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Released in 1994, the song was released as the third single from the band's second studio album, Purple. One of the band's biggest hits, "Interstate Love Song" reached number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart on September 17, 1994, replacing the band's previous single "Vasoline". The song stayed at number one for 15 weeks, a record at the time, and gave the Stone Temple Pilots 17 consecutive weeks at number one. It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and in Iceland as well as number 20 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Meets Body</span> 2005 single by Death Cab for Cutie

"Soul Meets Body" is a song recorded by the American rock band Death Cab for Cutie for their fifth studio album Plans (2005). It was released as the lead single from Plans in 2005, through Atlantic Records. Death Cab for Cutie emerged from the Pacific Northwest in the early aughts and built a following with its confessional lyricism and straightforward indie rock sound. "Soul Meets Body" was their first single for Atlantic, the major label with which they signed in 2004. The song is thematically existential, examining the intersection of soul and body though a relationship metaphor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart</span> 1996 single by Stone Temple Pilots

"Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart" is a song by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots, featured on their third album, Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop. An alternative rock tune, it was recorded in 1995 and released as the album's second single the following year. The track is also on the greatest hits album, Thank You. It was the most played song on Active rock radio stations in the United States in 1996.

Stereogum is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vampire Weekend</span> American indie rock band

Vampire Weekend is an American rock band formed in New York City in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson, and bassist Chris Baio. Batmanglij departed the group in early 2016 but has continued to occasionally contribute to subsequent albums as a songwriter, producer, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pork and Beans (song)</span> 2008 single by Weezer

"Pork and Beans" is a song by the American alternative rock band Weezer, released on the group's 2008 self-titled album Weezer, also known as the Red Album. It was released to radio on April 22, 2008 and released in digital form on April 24. The track debuted at number 19 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart, and spent eleven weeks at number one. The song charted in many countries such as Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Happen</span> 2015 single by Tame Impala

"Let It Happen" is a song by the Australian rock artist Tame Impala. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album, Currents (2015), on 10 March 2015. The song centers on accepting personal transition, and was worked on in various locations around the world. The song runs at nearly eight minutes long, and its second half contains a section of the song repeating akin to a scratched Compact Disc, and stripped-down lyrics consisting of gibberish. It also has vocoded-like vocals in the second half, which were actually manipulated with a keyboard sampler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use Somebody</span> 2008 single by Kings of Leon

"Use Somebody" is a song recorded by the American rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night, and it entered American and British charts in early December 8, 2008, three weeks after the album release. The single was augmented with a music video released a month later.

<i>Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</i> 2009 studio album by Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the fourth studio album by French indie pop band Phoenix. It was released on 25 May 2009 by V2 Records. While the band's previous work enjoyed a moderate underground following, the release of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix drew the attention of a more mainstream audience. In the US, Phoenix began a promotional tour including performances on several late night talk shows. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix continued to gain momentum with the increased exposure of the tour. The album received critical acclaim with many publications calling it one of the best albums of 2009. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards held on 31 January 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)</span> 2009 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Zero" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released as the lead single from their third studio album, It's Blitz! (2009). The song received critical acclaim from music critics for its production, and was named the best track of 2009 by both NME and Spin magazines.

<i>Teen Dream</i> 2010 studio album by Beach House

Teen Dream is the third studio album by American dream pop duo Beach House. It was released on January 26, 2010 as the band's debut album on the record label Sub Pop. Internationally, the album was released by Bella Union in Europe, Mistletone Records in Australia, and Arts & Crafts in Mexico. The album was produced by the band and Chris Coady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washed Out</span> American singer-songwriter and record producer (born 1982)

Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr., known professionally as Washed Out, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Commonly associated with the chillwave genre in the 2010s, Pitchfork dubbed him "the godfather of chillwave".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Karlsson (DJ)</span> DJ and record producer

Lars Christian Karlsson, also known by his stage name Bloodshy, is a Swedish DJ, percussionist, record producer and remixer known for his work with the musical groups Bloodshy and Avant, Miike Snow, Ingrid, and Galantis. He started his international music career as one half of the electro pop duo Bloodshy & Avant with Pontus Winnberg, producing and co-writing tracks for pop stars such as Madonna, BoA, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry. Bloodshy & Avant notably co-wrote and produced Britney Spears' single "Toxic", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2005. While continuing to work with Bloodshy and Avant, Karlsson also became a member of the indie pop band Miike Snow around 2007. Miike Snow, the group's debut album, was released in 2009, and peaked at number 11 on the Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. Miike Snow won the 2011 European Border Breakers Award, and their second album Happy to You reached No. 1 on the Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart and 43 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix discography</span> Discography

French indie pop band Phoenix has released seven studio albums, two extended plays, one live album, twenty-three singles, and nineteen music videos. Their first three albums, United (2000), Alphabetical (2003), and It's Never Been Like That (2006), were released through Source, Virgin Records, and Astralwerks. The band received major commercial success following the release of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009), which was released through V2 Records, Glassnote, Loyauté, and Cooperative Music. It was certified gold in Australia, Canada, and the United States. "1901", the album's lead single and "Lisztomania" the second single from the album were certified platinum in the US by the RIAA. After signing with Atlantic Records, the band released Bankrupt! (2013), which peaked at number three in the band's home country of France, making it their highest-peaking album there. The band's sixth album, Ti Amo (2017), had a positive commercial performance. The band's seventh album Alpha Zulu was released on 4 November 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back 2 the Wild</span> 2013 single by Basement Jaxx

"Back 2 the Wild" is a song by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx, released on April 12, 2013, via London-based independent label 37 Adventures. The song was written and produced by group members Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton while Korean artists Baby Chay and Miss Emma Lee contributed the vocals. At the time of the release, "Back 2 the Wild" was intended to be the lead single of their then-upcoming seventh studio album entitled Music, but the idea was eventually scrapped. The group instead released Junto (2014), which deluxe edition features the song's Korean version and remixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ghosts of Beverly Drive</span> 2015 single by Death Cab for Cutie

"The Ghosts of Beverly Drive" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie. It is the second single from their eighth studio album Kintsugi. The driving, uptempo track explores themes of loss in the aftermath of heartbreak. Frontman Ben Gibbard wrote the song after his divorce from actress Zooey Deschanel, and the lyrics of the song directly reference Beverly Hills and what he viewed as its vapid celebrity culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Thief</span> American indie folk band

Big Thief is an American indie folk band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 2015. The band consists of Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek and James Krivchenia (drums). Between 2015 and 2024, the band also included longtime bass guitarist, Max Oleartchik.

References

  1. Payne, Chris (15 April 2013). "Phoenix, 'Bankrupt!': Track-by-Track Review". Billboard . Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. "New Phoenix Video - '1901'". Stereogum. 2009-05-14. Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "'1901' - Phoenix". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  4. "Chart Beat Wednesday: Phoenix, Black Eyed Peas, Kutless". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  5. "Phoenix Add Extra London Date". Clash . Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  6. "12 Best Spin Sessions of 2009". Spin . 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  7. "Phoenix Play Conan, Cadillac Crossover Commercial". Stereogum. 2009-09-16. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  8. 1 2 "Phoenix Play '1901' For Alexa Chung, David Letterman". Stereogum. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  9. "Uninspired SNL At Least Yields Extra Phoenix". Stereogum. 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  10. Crock, Jason (2009-03-08). "Track Reviews - Phoenix - '1901'". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  11. 1 2 "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork Media. 2009-08-17. Archived from the original on 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  12. "Pitchfork's 20 Greatest Songs of the '00s (and 15 Greatest Songs of 2009 So Far)". Stereogum. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  13. Haynes, Gavin (2009-05-15). "Album review - Phoenix". NME (IPC Media). Archived from the original on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  14. Sawdey, Evan (2009-05-27). "It's Not a Miracle They Needed..." PopMatters . Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  15. "A Playlist of the Best for Your Summer Mix". The Philadelphia Inquirer . 2009-07-05. Archived from the original on 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  16. "20 Best Summer Songs of 2009". Spin . 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  17. "British single certifications – Phoenix – 1901". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  18. "American single certifications – Phoenix – 1901". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  19. "The 20 Best Songs of 2009". Spin . Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  20. "Pitchfork Staff Lists: The Top 100 Tracks of 2009". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  21. "2009: Year in Music". Slant Magazine . Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  22. "CoS Year-End Report: The Top 50 Songs of '09: 25-1 - Consequence" . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  23. "The 25 Best Songs of 2009". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 21, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  24. "100 Best Songs of the Decade". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  25. "Hottest 100 Countdown 2009". Triple J. January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  26. "Phoenix - 1901". YouTube.com. October 25, 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  27. "Birdy – 1901" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  28. "Birdy – 1901" (in French). Ultratip.