Sunflower (Vampire Weekend song)

"Sunflower" is a song by American indie pop band Vampire Weekend featuring singer and guitarist Steve Lacy. 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 "Big Blue".[1] In response to Post Malone and Swae Lee's identically-titled single, the band covered the song as a part of their BBC Live Lounge session.[2]

"Sunflower"
Single by Vampire Weekend featuring Steve Lacy
from the album Father of the Bride
A-side"Big Blue" (double A-side)
ReleasedMarch 6, 2019
Genre
Length2:18
Label
Songwriter(s)Ezra Koenig
Producer(s)
Vampire Weekend singles chronology
"Harmony Hall" / "2021"
(2019)		 "Sunflower" / "Big Blue"
(2019)		 "This Life" / "Unbearably White"
(2019)
Steve Lacy singles chronology
"4Real"
(2017)		 "Sunflower"
(2019)		 "N Side"
(2019)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Sunflower" on YouTube

Composition

The track has been characterised as psych-soul,[3] jam rock[4] and jazz-funk.[5] Of the song's composition, Michelle Kim of Pitchfork stated, "Koenig’s love for the Dead and Phish is obvious in the proggy bass scales that open the track, the frantically curling guitar licks, and even… the harmonized scatting that’s done in unison with the instruments. It’s kind of like Stevie Wonder’s "Sir Duke" by way of Guster."[6]

Critical reception

Upon release, Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called Sunflower, "Perhaps the best, and certainly the most weirdly-grooving of the four tracks Vampire Weekend have trickled out in advance of their forthcoming Father of the Bride LP".[7]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on March 13, 2019. It was directed by Jonah Hill, who had previously appeared in the video for Harmony Hall. This was Hill's second music video after directing the video for Danny Brown's "Ain't It Funny" in 2017. It was filmed at Zabar's on the Upper West Side, Manhattan and features a cameo appearance from comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Father of the Bride's liner notes.[8]

  • Ariel Rechtshaid – engineering, mixing
  • Chris Kasych – engineering
  • Dave Schiffman – engineering
  • John DeBold – engineering
  • Hiroya Takayama – engineering
  • Takemasa Kosaka – engineering
  • Emily Lazar – mastering
  • Chris Allgood – mastering assistance

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] 24

References
  1. DeVille, Chris (March 6, 2019). "Vampire Weekend – "Sunflower" (Feat. Steve Lacy) & "Big Blue"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  2. Monroe, Jazz. "Watch Vampire Weekend Cover Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower"". Pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  3. Phares, Heather. "Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  4. Sackllah, David (May 4, 2019). "Vampire Weekend Start a New Chapter on the Ambitious Father of the Bride". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  5. Collinge, Miranda (May 2, 2019). "Vampire Weekend Have Gone And Made Another Masterpiece". Esquire. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  6. Kim, Michelle (March 6, 2019). "Vampire Weekend "Sunflower" [ft. Steve Lacy]". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  7. Hermes, Will (March 17, 2019). "Song You Need To Know: Vampire Weekend, 'Sunflower'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. Father of the Bride (liner notes). Vampire Weekend. New York City: Columbia Records. 2019. 19075930141.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "Vampire Weekend Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
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