Reflektor (song)

Last updated

"Reflektor"
Reflektorsingle.jpg
Single by Arcade Fire
from the album Reflektor
B-side "Instrumental version"
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2013 (2013-09-09)
Recorded2013
Studio Sonovox (Montreal)
Genre
Length
  • 7:34 (album version)
  • 4:59 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Arcade Fire singles chronology
"Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
(2011)		"Reflektor"
(2013)		"Afterlife"
(2013)

"Reflektor" is a song by the Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was released on September 9, 2013, as the first single from and the title track to the band's fourth studio album. Produced by James Murphy, Markus Dravs and the band itself, the song features a guest vocal appearance by David Bowie and was released on a limited edition 12" vinyl credited to the fictional band The Reflektors. Two music videos were made for the song, one regular and one interactive, both being released on the day of the song's release. "Reflektor" was met with positive reviews, with critics often complimenting its musical approach. It also came second in NME 's list of best singles of 2013. The song had a positive commercial performance, charting in several countries.

Contents

Background and composition

David Bowie performed backing vocals on "Reflektor". David-Bowie Chicago 2002-08-08 photoby Adam-Bielawski-cropped.jpg
David Bowie performed backing vocals on "Reflektor".

The band began working on the track in 2011, with vocalist and guitarist Win Butler noting, "We recorded a little bit in Louisiana with the Haitian percussionists [Willinson Duprate and Verrieux Zile] and we kind of lived with that. It's an incredibly long process." [1] Regular Arcade Fire collaborators Owen Pallett and Colin Stetson provided instrumental parts, alongside English musician David Bowie who provided vocals for the song. [2] [3] Regarding Bowie's guest appearance on the track, multi-instrumentalist Richard Reed Parry noted, "It was just after The Next Day had come out. He basically just came by the studio in New York while we were mixing, just to have a listen to the stuff we were doing. He offered to lend us his services because he really liked the song. In fact, he basically threatened us – he was like, 'If you don't hurry up and mix this song, I might just steal it from you!' So we thought, well why don't we go one better, why don't you sing on our version? Thankfully he obliged, and we were really happy about that." [4]

"Reflektor" is a dance-rock, [5] indie rock, [6] and disco song. [7] The track's lyrical content is, in part, influenced by the differences between Haitian life and that of the Western world, with vocalist and guitarist Win Butler noting, "I think that life [in Haiti] is incredibly difficult and it's more amazing to see people that don't have access to food or clean water throw a party. It's not like I'm trying to sing about their experiences. I was more learning from what I saw and applying it to my own life, lyrically. I'm not trying to tell other people's stories. We're just trying to allow an experience to change you." [1]

Reception

Critical

"Reflektor" received widespread critical acclaim. Paste awarded the song a 9.1/10 rating, commenting that it "pretty much kicks ass". [5] Pitchfork awarded the song the "Best New Track" tag, labelling the song a "sleek, dark disco epic that doesn't belong to the 1970s, '80s, '90s-- or any decade". [7] Rolling Stone praised it, saying "Arcade Fire are the most important band of the last decade, and the music lives up to their universe-affirming mandate. "Reflektor" turns a shared sense of isolation into communion with a sleek, surging track that seamlessly integrates arty rock and diagonal funk, breaking down [Arcade Fire]'s epic sound without scrimping on its essential cathartic thrust." [8] American Songwriter also praised the song saying "All seven-plus minutes of the song feel absolutely vital, even if the arrangement suggests something more hedonistic. It's a neat trick they pulled there." [9] NME placed the song at number two on their "50 Best Tracks of 2013" list, with only Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" finishing above it. The song also made Sam Skuse's prestigious 'Top 20 Songs of the Decade' list, placing at number 11. [10]

Commercial

"Reflektor" charted in several countries, peaking within the top 20 in Canada and Ireland. The song was the band's highest-charting song in Canada, [11] their home country, and their first song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 99. [12]

Music video

A still from the regular "Reflektor" music video, displaying each band member wearing an oversized papier-mache head. Arcade Fire - Reflektor music video still.png
A still from the regular "Reflektor" music video, displaying each band member wearing an oversized papier-mâché head.

A music video for "Reflektor" was released on September 9, 2013 through YouTube. [13] It was directed by Anton Corbijn, [13] with art direction done by Anastasia Masaro. [14] The video won the Best Art Direction award at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. [14] Katie Hasty of HitFix summarized the video, stating that "Corbijn's black-and-white version of the "Reflektor" experience has its own quirks, too, as the band dons oversized papier mache heads like puppet versions of themselves, hunting down the Disco Ball Man and putting the doll versions of themselves in a shiny coffin." [13] An interactive music video was also made available to the public, which was directed by Vincent Morisset. However, it was made only accessible through the web browser Google Chrome. For this video, the user oversees dancer Axelle Munezero's journey through the streets of Haiti. [13]

Packaging

Artwork

The single's cover artwork makes no mention of the band's name, and is instead credited to the fictional band The Reflektors. The front cover features a silhouette image band's core members. The album's back cover features a woman touching one of the band's Haitian veve images, used previously in a guerrilla marketing to promote Reflektor's forthcoming release. [15]

Fictional track listing

The remainder of the 12" vinyl's artwork suggests that it is a full-length album by The Reflektors. A fictional album track listing, inspired by the song's lyrical content, is featured on its back cover. [15]

Track listing

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Reflektor"7:42
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Reflektor" (Instrumental)7:42

Credits and personnel

Personnel adapted from the single's liner notes. [16]

Chart performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Placebo (band)</span> British rock band

Placebo is a British alternative rock band, formed in London in 1994 by vocalist–guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal. Drummer Robert Schultzberg joined in late 1994, but left in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko, and was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt. Molko was born in Belgium and Olsdal and Schultzberg in Sweden; remaining members Molko and Olsdal both grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and are both British citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arcade Fire</span> Canadian indie rock band

Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band from Montréal, Quebec, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member Sarah Neufeld and multi-instrumentalists Paul Beaubrun, Dan Boeckner and Eric Heigle. Each of the band's studio albums features contributions from composer and violinist Owen Pallett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fame (David Bowie song)</span> 1975 single by David Bowie

"Fame" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released on his 1975 album Young Americans and was later issued as the album's second single by RCA Records in June 1975. Written by Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, it was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City in January 1975. It is a funk rock song that represents Bowie's dissatisfaction with the troubles of fame and stardom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Murphy (electronic musician)</span> American musician

James Jeremiah Murphy is an American musician, DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His most well-known musical project is LCD Soundsystem, which first gained attention with its single "Losing My Edge" in 2002 before releasing its eponymous debut album in February 2005 to critical acclaim and top 20 success in the UK. LCD Soundsystem's second and third studio albums, Sound of Silver (2007) and This Is Happening (2010) respectively, were met with universal acclaim from several music review outlets. Both albums have also reached the top 50 in the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Gara</span> Canadian drummer from Ottawa, Ontario

Jeremy Gara is a Canadian drummer from Ottawa, Ontario. He is most well known as the drummer of the band Arcade Fire. Gara is an active performer in a number of other projects, including work as a solo performer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">"Heroes" (David Bowie song)</span> 1977 song by David Bowie

"'Heroes'" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 12th studio album of the same name. Co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno and co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song was recorded in mid-1977 at Hansa Studio 2 in West Berlin. Using a G–D chord progression, the backing track was recorded fully before lyrics were written; Bowie and Eno added synthesiser overdubs while Robert Fripp contributed guitar. To record the vocal, Visconti devised a "multi-latch" system, wherein three microphones were placed at different distances from Bowie and would open when he sang loud enough. Like other album tracks, he improvised lyrics while standing at the microphone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Dance (David Bowie song)</span> 1983 single by David Bowie

"Let's Dance" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally included as the title track of his 1983 album of the same name. Co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic, it was recorded in late 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. With the assistance of engineer Bob Clearmountain, Rodgers transformed the song from its folk origins to a dance number through studio effects and new musicians Bowie had yet to work with. Bowie hired then-unknown Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who added a blues-edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)</span> 2003 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Maps" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell (2003). The song is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O. Released in September 2003, the song reached number nine on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 26 in the United Kingdom. The band performed the song at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, and the music video received extensive play on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wake Up (Arcade Fire song)</span> 2005 single by Arcade Fire

"Wake Up" is an indie rock song by Canadian rock band Arcade Fire. It was the fifth and final single released from the band's debut album, Funeral. The single was released as a one-sided 7" vinyl record on November 14, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arcade Fire discography</span>

The Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire has released six studio albums, three extended plays and twenty-four singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are Young</span> 2011 single by Fun

"We Are Young" is a song recorded by American pop rock band Fun, featuring American singer Janelle Monáe. It is the third track on the group's second studio album, Some Nights (2012). The song was released on September 20, 2011 as the lead single from the album. The song quickly received acclaim from music critics, with many noting the song as a breakthrough for the indie genre and praising the song's catchiness. "We Are Young" attained commercial success worldwide, reaching number one in several countries.

<i>The Suburbs</i> 2010 studio album by Arcade Fire

The Suburbs is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on August 2, 2010. Coinciding with its announcement, the band released a limited edition 12-inch single containing the title track and "Month of May". The album debuted at No. 1 on the Irish Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200 chart, and the Canadian Albums Chart. It won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, Best International Album at the 2011 BRIT Awards, Album of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards, and the 2011 Polaris Music Prize for best Canadian album. Two weeks after winning Grammy's Album of the Year, the album jumped from No. 52 to No. 12 on the Billboard 200, the album's highest ranking since August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)</span> 2012 single by Arcade Fire

"Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" (also known simply as "Sprawl II") is a song by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was released as the sixth and final single from their third studio album, The Suburbs, on April 21, 2012. Two music videos were released for the song, one "traditional" and one interactive, both of which were released on December 13, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stars (Are Out Tonight)</span> 2013 song by David Bowie

"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" is a song by English musician David Bowie; it serves as the second single from his twenty-fourth studio album The Next Day. The song's official music video was released on 25 February 2013 and the song itself was released for digital download the following day. In the UK it joined BBC Radio 2's Playlist in the B list in March 2013, "The Next Day" was also the album of the week beginning 11 March, the week in which it was released. The song was released with "Where Are We Now?" – the album's first single – on a limited edition 7" 45 vinyl record on 20 April 2013 in celebration of Record Store Day. In December 2013 the song was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the category 'Best Rock Performance'.

<i>Reflektor</i> 2013 album by Arcade Fire

Reflektor is the fourth studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on October 28, 2013, through Sonovox Records internationally and Merge Records in the United States. A double album, it was recorded between 2011 and 2013 at studios in Montreal, Jamaica, and Louisiana. It was co-produced by LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy, regular Arcade Fire producer Markus Dravs, and the band themselves.

"Afterlife" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was released on September 28, 2013, as a single from the band's fourth studio album, Reflektor. The song was debuted on Saturday Night Live.

"We Exist" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire from their fourth studio album, Reflektor (2013). It was released digitally as the third single from the album on 26 May 2014 via Sonovox. The music video for the song, starring Andrew Garfield, was released on 16 May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Me (The 1975 song)</span> 2015 single by the 1975

"Love Me" is a song by English band the 1975 from their second studio album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). The song was written by Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Mike Crossey handled the production alongside Daniel and Healy. It was released on 8 October 2015 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the lead single from the album. Written two years before its release, the song was inspired by the band's adjustment to their newfound celebrity status, having found themselves in a scene where fame was prized as currency. The track's production was inspired by the music of the 1980s, specifically the work of Trevor Horn, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Oingo Boingo.

<i>Blackstar</i> (album) 2016 studio album by David Bowie

Blackstar is the 26th and final studio album by English musician David Bowie. It was released worldwide on 8 January 2016, coinciding with Bowie's 69th birthday, through his ISO label, Columbia Records and Sony Music. The album was primarily recorded in secret between the Magic Shop and Human Worldwide Studios in New York City with Bowie's longtime co-producer Tony Visconti and a group of local jazz musicians: saxophonist Donny McCaslin, pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Mark Guiliana; guitarist Ben Monder joined the ensemble for the final sessions, while James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem contributed percussion. The album contains re-recorded versions of two songs, "Sue " and "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore", both of which were originally released in 2014. It was preceded by the singles "Blackstar" and "Lazarus", both of which were supported by music videos. The album cover, designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, features a large black star with five star segments at the bottom that spell out the word "BOWIE".

"Don't Chase the Dead" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on September 10, 2020 by Loma Vista Recordings as the second single from the band's eleventh studio album We Are Chaos. The single was issued as a one-track digital download a day ahead of the album's release. A music video for the song was directed by Travis Shinn, and featured actor Norman Reedus and Manson's wife Lindsay Usich. The track peaked at number 29 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock, making We Are Chaos the band's first studio album since 1998's Mechanical Animals to contain more than one top thirty single on that chart. It was the final single released by the band through Loma Vista before they were dropped by the label in February 2021 following accusations of abuse made against the band's vocalist, allegations he has denied.

References

  1. 1 2 Doyle, Patrick (October 22, 2013). "Win Butler Reveals Secret Influences Behind Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Jenn, Pelly (September 9, 2013). "David Bowie Confirms Arcade Fire "Reflektor" Collaboration". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ Coulehan, Erin (September 10, 2013). "David Bowie Sang on Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'". Rolling Stone. Brian Szejka. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bychawski, Adam (September 18, 2013). "David Bowie 'threatened to steal' 'Reflektor' from Arcade Fire". NME . Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Deusner, Stephen M. (September 9, 2013). "Arcade Fire - Reflektor". Paste . Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ ""Reflektor" (CD Single) Music Review". Common Sense Media. September 25, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Cohen, Ian (September 9, 2013). "Arcade Fire: "Reflektor"". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  8. ↑ Dolan, Jon. "Jon Dolan's Four-and-a-Half Star Review of Reflektor". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  9. ↑ Terich, Jeff (September 10, 2013). "Arcade Fire, David Bowie Triumph On "Reflektor"". American Songwriter . Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  10. ↑ "NME's 50 Best Tracks Of 2013". NME. November 26, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart history". Billboard . Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Arcade Fire – The Hot 100 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Hasty, Katie. "Arcade Fire's new single 'Reflektor' in full: Watch two music videos". HitFix. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Nostro, Lauren (August 24, 2014). "2014 MTV VMA Winners". Complex . Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "The Reflektors – Reflektor". Discogs. September 9, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Reflektor" (single liner notes). Arcade Fire. Merge Records / Sonovox Records. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Issue 1230 (Week Commencing 23 September 2013)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Charts : The Week of September 28, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor : Chart search". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  22. ↑ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Reflektor" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic . Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 37, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Arcade Fire: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.