Trying to Be Cool
| "Trying to Be Cool" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Phoenix | ||||
| from the album Bankrupt! | ||||
| Released | 9 July 2013[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2011–12 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:48 (album version) 3:33 (radio edit) 3:35 (remix) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Thomas Pablo Croquet, Christian Mazzalai, Laurent Mazzalai, Frederic Moulin | |||
| Producer(s) | Phoenix | |||
| Phoenix singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Trying to Be Cool" is a song by the French band Phoenix from their fifth album Bankrupt!. It was released as the second single from the album on 8 July 2013.[1] The official remix features R. Kelly. The song became Phoenix's third top-ten hit on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, after "1901" and "Lisztomania". The song's cover includes a mint julep, which is said in one of the song's lines, "mint julep testosterone". Frontman Thomas Mars told Spin magazine the lyrics to "Trying to Be Cool" mainly analyze "the beauty of the fake".
Music video
The single's music video, which was directed by CANADA[2] and produced by The Creators Project, was released on YouTube on 2 July 2013.[3] The music video includes a "surprise" made every 20 seconds.
The version of the song used in the music video is more guitar-driven and less synthesizer-driven than the album version. In addition, the video version is a medley with "Drakkar Noir." This combination has become the typical live-performance of the song for Phoenix's concerts.
In popular culture
"Trying to Be Cool" was used in one episode of MTV series Catfish: The TV Show.
"Trying to Be Cool" was used in a season one episode of Multishow series Vai Pra Onde in Brazil.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[4] | 31 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[5] | 16 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[6] | 10 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2013) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[7] | 30 |
References
- ^ a b Levine, Nick (2013-07-05). "Phoenix - 'Trying To Be Cool'". NME. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
- ^ Marc Hogan (2 July 2013). "Phoenix's 'Trying to Be Cool'-'Drakkar Noir' Video Overflows With Creativity". SPIN. SpinMedia. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ "Phoenix's 'Trying To Be Cool' Video Debuts Off Of 'Bankrupt!'". The Huffington Post. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
- ^ "Phoenix Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Phoenix Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Phoenix Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
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