Hang Me Up to Dry

Last updated
"Hang Me Up To Dry"
Cold war kids hang me up to dry.jpg
Single by Cold War Kids
from the album Robbers & Cowards
B-side "Every Valley Is Not A Lake"
ReleasedJanuary 29, 2007 (2007-01-29)
July 9, 2007 (2007-07-09)(re-release)
Recorded2006 at Tackyland in Long Beach, California
Genre Indie rock, blues rock
Length3:38
Label Downtown, V2
Songwriter(s) Cold War Kids
Producer(s) Matt Wignall
Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids singles chronology
"We Used to Vacation"
(2006)
"Hang Me Up To Dry"
(2007)
"Hospital Beds"
(2007)
Music video
"Hang Me Up to Dry" on YouTube

"Hang Me Up to Dry" is a song by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. Written and co-produced by all four band members and Matt Wignall, it originally came from their third EP Up in Rags (2006) and is the second track off their debut album Robbers & Cowards (2006). Lyrically, the song tells a story of a 'one-sided relationship' and uses the action of hanging wet clothes on a clothesline as a metaphor for the relationship.

Contents

It was released as a single on January 29, 2007 by Downtown and V2 Records, charting at number 57 in the UK and number 26 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The song was re-released (using the same catalogue number and track listing) on July 9, 2007 but failed to break back into the charts. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by The Malloys and plays out like a trailer for an avant-garde film.

Composition

According to the digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is set in 4/4 time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. [1] It is composed in the key of E minor with lead singer Nathan Willett's vocal range spanning from the low-note of E3 to the high-note of B4. [1]

Music video

Directed by The Malloys, the video is styled after an avant-garde film trailer. Shot in black-and-white, the video features fictitious reviewer quotes and film festival nominations. The video was uploaded on their record label's YouTube page on January 23, 2007.

Live performances

Cold War Kids made their U.S. television debut performing "Hang Me Up To Dry" on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 21, 2006. [2] They performed the song again on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on April 10, 2007. [3] They made their U.K. television debut performing "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "Tell Me in the Morning" on Later... with Jools Holland on May 18, 2007. [4]

Accolades

The song ranked at number 46 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2006 [5] and was voted number 8 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2007, alongside "Hospital Beds" which was voted number 37. [6]

Formats and track listing

Charts and Certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [10] 57
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [11] 22
US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 26

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Crossfade</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Crossfade

Crossfade is the debut album by American rock band Crossfade. It was released on April 13, 2004, by Columbia. The album reached number 41 on the Billboard 200 and spawned three singles: "Cold", "So Far Away", and "Colors". It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over a million copies in that country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Minor</span> Hip hop side project of Mike Shinoda

Fort Minor was a hip hop side project by American musician Mike Shinoda, who is better known as the rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, producer, and rapper of the rock band Linkin Park. The project's only album, The Rising Tied, was released in 2005. The album's fourth single "Where'd You Go" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Way You Make Me Feel</span> 1987 single by Michael Jackson

"The Way You Make Me Feel" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 9, 1987, as the third single from his seventh studio album, Bad. It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity Skin (song)</span> 1998 single by Hole

"Celebrity Skin" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, released on August 31, 1998 as the first single from their third studio album of the same name. It is their only single to peak at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In October 2011, NME ranked it the 126th best track of the past 15 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You and Me (Lifehouse song)</span> 2005 single by Lifehouse

"You and Me" is a song by American alternative rock band Lifehouse. It is the first single released from their third studio album, Lifehouse (2005). The track was written by lead singer Jason Wade and American record producer Jude Cole. It was recorded and produced by John Alagía at his home studio in Easton, Maryland. The song was first released via digital download on January 28, 2005. It was then solicited to mainstream radio on March 15, 2005. An extended wedding version of the song was then released on July 26, 2005.

"Invisible" is a song written by Kira Leyden and Jeff Andrea, members of the Ohio-based unsigned band Jaded Era, and recorded for the band's second album, Invisible (2003). It was covered by American singer Ashlee Simpson for the re-release of her second album, I Am Me, and was released as the album's third single in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold War Kids</span> American indie rock band formed in 2004

Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Band members are Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, David Quon, Matthew Schwartz, and Joe Plummer. Former members of the band include Dann Gallucci, Matt Aveiro, and Jonnie Russell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Malloys</span> American film and music video directors

The Malloys is the working name of music video and film directors and brothers Emmett Malloy and Brendan Malloy. They have been with Superprime Films since 2010.

<i>Robbers & Cowards</i> 2006 studio album by Cold War Kids

Robbers & Cowards is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. It was released on October 10, 2006 by Downtown Records. The album received a generally positive reception from critics who praised the band's blues rock production and morose lyrics. Robbers & Cowards peaked at number 173 on the Billboard 200 and spawned three singles: "We Used to Vacation", "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "Hospital Beds". To promote the album, the band spent most of 2007 touring across North America and Europe through appearances at music festivals and talk shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icky Thump (song)</span> 2007 single by the White Stripes

"Icky Thump" is a song recorded by the American alternative rock band the White Stripes. Written by Jack White, it was the first single released from their sixth and final album of the same name. The song is a heavy garage-rock piece whose lyrics challenge anti-immigration pundits for their hypocrisy. It was recorded and mixed at Nashville's Blackbird studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple J Hottest 100, 2007</span>

The 2007 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2008. It was the fifteenth countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station Triple J.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whoa Oh! (Me vs. Everyone)</span> 2008 single by Forever the Sickest Kids

"Whoa Oh! " is the debut single by Forever the Sickest Kids, released on April 1, 2008. It is from their debut album Underdog Alma Mater. The song's video aired on MTV's TRL on June 24. The song reached No. 38 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. The remix version was released on May 26, 2009 on iTunes and features Selena Gomez. The song has been featured in numerous Nerf commercials, as well as on the American reality television series, The Hills and on the 2009 film, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish.

<i>Loyalty to Loyalty</i> 2008 studio album by Cold War Kids

Loyalty to Loyalty is the second studio album by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. It was released on September 23, 2008, by Downtown Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kids (MGMT song)</span> 2008 single by MGMT

"Kids" is a song by American rock band MGMT. It was released as the third and final single from their debut studio album Oracular Spectacular (2007) on October 13, 2008. The version of the song that appears on Oracular Spectacular is updated from earlier versions that appear on the band's EPs Time to Pretend (2005) and We (Don't) Care (2004). A track entitled "Kids " appears on the album Climbing to New Lows (2005). On December 1, 2009, the track was announced as a nominee at the 52nd Grammy Awards in the category Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<i>Mine Is Yours</i> 2011 studio album by Cold War Kids

Mine Is Yours is the third studio album by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. It was released on January 25, 2011, by Downtown Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me (Kid Ink song)</span> 2013 single by Kid Ink

"Show Me" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kid Ink. The song was released on September 17, 2013, by Tha Alumni Music Group, 88 Classic and RCA Records as the lead single from his second studio album, My Own Lane (2014). The song, produced by DJ Mustard and Mike Free, features a hook by American recording artist Chris Brown. The song peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Is Not Right with Me</span> 2008 single by Cold War Kids

"Something Is Not Right with Me" is a song by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. It serves as the fourth track and debut single off their second album Loyalty to Loyalty (2008). The song was released online in July 2008 by the band on their Myspace page. It was given an official release on September 1, 2008, on iTunes. Lyrically, it describes a person facing a dilemma about living in a world that's constantly changing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miracle Mile (song)</span> 2013 single by Cold War Kids

"Miracle Mile" is a song by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. The song was written by lead singer Nathan Willett and produced by Lars Stalfors and Dann Gallucci. It was the sole single off their fourth album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts (2013) and was released on February 5, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Cold Blood (alt-J song)</span> 2017 single by alt-J

"In Cold Blood" is a song by British indie rock band alt-J. It is the second track and second single from their third studio album, Relaxer, and was released as a digital single on 29 March 2017 by Infectious Music and Atlantic Records. The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, and Thom Sonny Green and produced by Charlie Andrew. It features a brass section recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and a Casiotone the band purchased for £1.05 on eBay. The song's title is a reference to the novel of the same name by American novelist Truman Capote. The song's composition dates back to when the band started during their studies at the University of Leeds.

<i>Kid Krow</i> 2020 studio album by Conan Gray

Kid Krow is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Conan Gray. It was released on March 20, 2020, through Republic Records. The album is a "coming of age" record inspired by elements such as his rough childhood experiences of poverty, abuse, and discrimination. The album was supported by the singles "Checkmate", "Comfort Crowd", "Maniac", "The Story", "Wish You Were Sober", and "Heather".

References

  1. 1 2 "Cold War Kids Hang Me Up To Dry Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Sony/ATV Music Publishing . Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  2. "Cold War Kids: From Blogs to Bonnaroo". Jambands.com. December 22, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  3. "Cold War Kids Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien Hang Me Up To Dry". Idobi. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  4. "BBC Two Later... with Jools Holland, Series 29, Episode 3". BBC . British Broadcasting Company . Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  5. "The 100 Best Songs of the Year". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. December 8, 2006. p. 5. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  6. "Hottest 100 2007". Triple J . Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  7. Gilliland, Ryan (February 5, 2015). "Royal Blood cover Cold War Kids 'Hang Me Up To Dry'". Sonic 102.9 . Rogers Radio. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  8. "Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (CD)". Discogs . Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  9. "Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  10. "Cold War Kids – Artist Chart History". British Phonographic Industry and Entertainment Retailers Association. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  11. "Cold War Kids – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  12. "Cold War Kids – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  13. "American single certifications – Cold War Kids – Hang Me Up to Dry". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 13, 2021.