"Big Blue" is a song by American indie pop band Vampire Weekend. It was the second single from their fourth studio album Father of the Bride, and was released on March 6, 2019 by Columbia Records as a double A-side with "Sunflower".[1]
| "Big Blue" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Vampire Weekend | ||||
| from the album Father of the Bride | ||||
| A-side | "Sunflower" (double A-side) | |||
| Released | March 6, 2019 | |||
| Length | 1:49 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriter(s) | Ezra Koenig | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Vampire Weekend singles chronology | ||||
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Composition
editThe guitars on the track have been compared to those of the Beatles' guitarist George Harrison,[2][3][4] while the sparse electronic backdrop has been likened to Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak (2008).[5]
Critical reception
editThe song received mostly positive reception from critics, with some criticisms of its short length. Eric Krebs of The Yale Herald praised Big Blue for its sound, saying of the song, "It’s sweet — maybe a bit sugary — and it feels like someone thawed and diced a track or two from their last album, Modern Vampires of the City, threw in some sunshine for flavor, and pureed it in their NutriBullet," but noted its brevity, stating it "just doesn't quite satisfy."[4] Will Gottsegen of Spin gave the track a positive review, stating that it "feels fully realized," but also noted of the song's length, saying, "At less than two minutes, it’s a concise counter to the decidedly knottier 'Sunflower.'"[6]
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Father of the Bride's liner notes.[7]
- Ariel Rechtshaid – engineering, mixing
- Chris Kasych – engineering
- John DeBold – engineering
- Hiroya Takayama – engineering
- Takemasa Kosaka – engineering
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Chris Allgood – mastering assistance
Charts
edit| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] | 33 |
References
edit- ^ DeVille, Chris (March 6, 2019). "Vampire Weekend – "Sunflower" (Feat. Steve Lacy) & "Big Blue"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (March 22, 2019). "Watch Vampire Weekend Play "Big Blue" Live For The First Time". Stereogum. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ Powell, Mike (May 3, 2019). "Vampire Weekend: Father of the Bride". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ a b Krebs, Eric (March 8, 2019). ""Sunflower" and "Big Blue"". The Yale Herald. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ O'Connell, Sharon (June 2019). "Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride". Uncut. London: TI Media. p. 35.
- ^ Gottsegen, Will (March 6, 2019). "Vampire Weekend Dive Deeper on "Big Blue"". Spin. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ Father of the Bride (liner notes). Vampire Weekend. New York City: Columbia Records. 2019. 19075930141.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Vampire Weekend Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2019.