"The New Year" is a song recorded by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie. The song was released in February 2004 as the second single from the group's fourth studio album Transatlanticism (2003).

"The New Year"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album Transatlanticism
ReleasedFebruary 2004 (2004-02)
Length4:06
LabelBarsuk
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chris Walla
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"Title and Registration"
(2003)
"The New Year"
(2004)
"The Sound of Settling"
(2004)

Background

edit

Gibbard crafted the song's fictional protagonist as a mix of several different women he had met: "This song is about a person who came to me one day and said she wanted to be written about. So it's not really my story as much as it is hers." Lyrically, the song revolves around a melancholic New Years' party. Gibbard also has noted the song originated as more a folk song, but was expanded upon.[1]

Reception

edit

The band's international distribution was split through several different labels, a common experience for indie groups. In the Netherlands, it was distributed by Munich Records. The 7" single was distributed in the United Kingdom through the label Fierce Panda. The single charted for one week on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 86 on February 28, 2004.[2]

Charts

edit
Chart (2004) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 86

References

edit
  1. ^ Beviglia, Jim (January 5, 2014). ""The New Year" by Death Cab For Cutie". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2020.