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You Are a Tourist

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"You Are a Tourist"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album Codes and Keys
ReleasedMarch 28, 2011
Genre
Length4:46
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Ben Gibbard
Producer(s)Chris Walla
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"Meet Me on the Equinox"
(2009) 		"You Are a Tourist"
(2011) 		"Home Is a Fire"
(2011)

"You Are a Tourist" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie, the first single from their seventh album Codes and Keys, released on March 28, 2011.

The single topped the US Billboard Alternative Songs, Adult Alternative Songs, and Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles charts, as well as reaching number three on the US Billboard Rock Songs chart. "You Are a Tourist" is Death Cab for Cutie's first number one alternative hit, and their highest charting single on the US alternative chart along with fellow chart-topper "Here to Forever".[1]

Background

The song's original demo contained a sample from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's Dazzle Ships (1983), and was shared online by Gibbard via SoundCloud in 2016.[2] The song was developed late in the recording process for Codes and Keys, after much of the album had been completed. The band immediately took to the song, and knew quickly it would be the album's lead single. Gibbard called the verses of the tune catchy, light affirmations that are expanded upon in the bridge,[3] which encourages the listener to relocate: "If you feel just like a tourist/ In the city you were born/ Then it’s time to go/ And define your destination/ There’s so many different places to call home".[4]

Release and reception

The song debuted on Seattle radio station 107.7 The End on March 28, 2011,[5] and was available for digital download the following day.[6] The band performed the song live on VH1 Storytellers on May 27, 2011.[7]

Billboard reviewer Ryan Reed said the track "crackles with psychedelic sunshine. Strands of reversed noise bubble under drummer Jason McGerr's impeccable time-keeping, and an army of effects-smeared guitar overdubs wiggle together in an irresistible groove."[8] Larry Fitzmaurice at Pitchfork felt the song sounded like a "generic version of the band from an earlier era."[9] David Malitz of The Washington Post considered the sentiment of the tune "nothing new, but at least it sounds fresh."[10]

Music video

The official music video for "You Are a Tourist" was filmed live, and streamed online on April 5, 2011. The clip was shot on a soundstage at 204 Studios in Hollywood, California.[11] The idea for the video stemmed from the band's longtime collaborator, Aaron Stewart-Ahn. According to the band, "You Are a Tourist" was the first ever live, scripted, one-take music video shoot.[12] Though previous videos had been filmed live, "You Are a Tourist" utilizes complicated choreography and camera moves. The video was directed by Tim Nackashi and accomplished in one take, using multiple cameras, and no edits or re-takes. The production employed dancers, actors, and projected images.[13][14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[15] 18
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[16] 1
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[18] 16

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Alternative Songs, Billboard.com, issue date July 9, 2011
  2. ^ Maine, Samantha (June 24, 2016). "Death Cab For Cutie share first demo for 'You Are A Tourist'". NME. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Montgomery, James (April 7, 2011). "Death Cab For Cutie Tell Story Behind 'You Are A Tourist'". MTV.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Caffrey, Dan (April 1, 2015). "Revisiting Death Cab for Cutie's Codes and Keys". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 28, 2011). "New Death Cab for Cutie: "You Are a Tourist"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  6. ^ You Are A Tourist: Death Cab for Cutie: MP3 Download. Amazon.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Death Cab For Cutie 'You Are a Tourist' on 'Storytellers'". Rolling Stone. May 23, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Death Cab For Cutie, "You Are a Tourist"". Billboard. Vol. 123, no. 11. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 23, 2011. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (June 1, 2011). "Death Cab for Cutie: Codes and Keys". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Malitz, David (May 31, 2011). "Album reviews: My Morning Jacket, "Circuital" and Death Cab For Cutie, "Codes and Keys"". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Quan, Denise (April 12, 2011). "Death Cab for Cutie gets personal, political". CNN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Death Cab for Cutie - You Are A Tourist (Official Video) on YouTube. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  13. ^ Montgomery, James (April 5, 2011). "Death Cab For Cutie Pull Off Live 'You Are A Tourist' Video". MTV. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  14. ^ Nackashi, Tim. Death Cab For Cutie. Tim Nackashi. Retrieved 21 September 2011. archive
  15. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  17. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  19. ^ "American single certifications – Death Cab For Cutie – You Are a Tourist". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
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