Northern Lights (Death Cab for Cutie song)

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"Northern Lights"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album Thank You for Today
ReleasedNovember 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Length3:56
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Ben Gibbard
Producer(s)Rich Costey
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"I Dreamt We Spoke Again"
(2018) 		"Northern Lights"
(2018) 		"When We Drive"
(2019)

"Northern Lights" is a song recorded by the American rock band Death Cab for Cutie for their seventh studio album, Thank You for Today (2018). It was released as the third single from Thank You for Today on November 16, 2018,[1] through Atlantic Records.

Background[edit]

"Northern Lights" is one of many tracks on Thank You for Today that coincidentally use seasons as metaphors for titles, alongside "Summer Years" and "Autumn Love".[2] In the tune, Gibbard mentions Dyes Inlet, an inlet in western Washington, near Bremerton, where Gibbard grew up. In one live performance of the song, Gibbard dedicated the song to those living in Bremerton.[3] In writing the track, Gibbard wanted to "write a song that was like a John Hughes movie that takes place in my hometown, about two people in this suburban wasteland with nothing to do who spend their time on this body of water, one pining for the other, yet both knowing that this place will be a temporary stop in a much longer life."[4] The song features guest vocals from CHVRCHES vocalist Lauren Mayberry. Bassist Nick Harmer recalled that "She’s just got such great energy and her voice is incredible. She strolled into the studio one afternoon and just nailed it."[5] Mayberry has since performed the song live with the band; their first time together was at the Anthem in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 2018.[6]

Release and reception[edit]

The song references the aurora borealis.

The song became the band's sixth number one hit on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart; the song rose to the position in the week ending February 9, 2019.[7] The band promoted the song with a performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on January 22, 2019.[8]

"Northern Lights" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Tyler Clark at Consequence felt Mayberry's guest spot ruled the song in a good way,[9] while Joseph Longo at Entertainment Weekly felt her appearance boosts the tune "with a much-needed buoyancy."[10] Kory Grow of Rolling Stone considered it evocative of Joy Division or U2,[11] and Jeff Terich at Spin felt it more vital or "immediate" than other moments on the album.[12] Ian Cohen, writing for Uproxx, opined that the song was "the least grating but also the most anodyne single" the band could have picked for the LP.[13]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Northern Lights"
Chart (2018–2019) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[14] 19
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 27

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie - Northern Lights [BT Remix] Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. November 16, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Davidson, Chris K. (August 17, 2018). "Death Cab for Cutie - Ben Gibbard on "Thank You for Today"". Under The Radar Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Rietmulder, Michel (February 25, 2020). "Review: Death Cab for Cutie plays sentimental show at the Showbox — its first time there in 7 years". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Wild, Stephi (September 23, 2022). "Death Cab For Cutie Comes to Arts Centre Melbourne". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Interview: Death Cab For Cutie". The Public. June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Kamp, Justin (October 18, 2018). "Watch CHVRCHES' Lauren Mayberry Join Death Cab for Cutie Onstage". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (February 8, 2019). "Death Cab for Cutie's 'Northern Lights' Shines at No. 1 on Adult Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  8. ^ DeVille, Chris (January 22, 2019). "Watch Death Cab For Cutie Play "Northern Lights" On 'Seth Meyers'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Melis, Matt (August 15, 2018). "Album Review: Death Cab for Cutie Fall Flat on Thank You for Today". Consequence. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "'Thank You for Today' is Death Cab for Cutie's midlife crisis record". EW.com. August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Grow, Kory (August 17, 2018). "Review: Death Cab For Cutie Get Reborn on 'Thank You For Today'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Terich, Jeff (September 16, 2022). "Every Death Cab for Cutie Album, Ranked". SPIN. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "The Best Death Cab For Cutie Songs, Ranked". UPROXX. June 25, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
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