Breezeblocks (song)
| "Breezeblocks" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Breezeblocks" is a song by British indie rock band alt-J from their debut studio album An Awesome Wave (2012). The song was released on 18 May 2012 as the album's second single. The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury, Thom Green, Murad Merali and produced by Charlie Andrew.
Songwriting
The song's lyrics make direct reference to Maurice Sendak's book Where the Wild Things Are. Newman sings, "Do you know where the wild things go?" In addition, the repeated refrain at the end of the song is a modified version of a portion of the book. Breezeblocks' lyrics are "Please don't go. I'll eat you whole. I love you so." Sendak's words are "Oh, please don't go — we'll eat you up — we love you so!".[1]
Music video
Directed by Ellis Bahl and starring actors Jonathan Dwyer, Jessica DiGiovanni, and Eleanor Pienta, it is the band's first official music video and was created to accompany the release of the song. The video features a violent fight in a darkened apartment between a male and a female character shown in reverse, beginning with the death of the female character at the hands of the male character, who bludgeons her with a breeze block (not in reference to the single's title). As the fight progresses backwards, it is revealed that the female character is the aggressor in the fight, having ambushed the male character by restraining and concealing a second female character, implied as being his wife, in a place where he would be distracted with her while she crept up on him with a knife. The video aired for the first time on YouTube on 23 March 2012 and as of June 2016 has over 100 million views.[2] The video won a UK Music Video Award (UKMVA) for "Best Alternative Video" on 8 November 2012.
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Breezeblocks" – 3:47
- Tom Vek's Remix – 3:59
- Digital download – single[3]
- "Breezeblocks" – 3:47
- Digital download – remixes[4]
- "Breezeblocks" – 3:47
- Tom Vek's Remix – 5:18
- B-Ju Remix – 3:59
- Rockdaworld Remix – 4:41
Credits and personnel
- Lead vocals – Alt-J (∆)
- Producers – Charlie Andrew
- Lyrics – Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury, Thom Green
- Label: Infectious
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Radio and release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 18 May 2012 | Digital download – single[3] | Infectious |
| Digital download – remixes[4] |
References
- ^ https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4489.Maurice_Sendak
- ^ alt-J (∆) Breezeblocks. YouTube
- ^ a b iTunes - Music - Breezeblocks - Single by Alt-J (∆)
- ^ a b iTunes - Music - Breezeblocks (Remixes) - EP by Alt-J (∆)
- ^ "Alt-J – Breezeblocks". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Alt-J: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Alt-J Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Alt-J – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Rock Airplay". Billboard. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "Alt-J Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ "British single certifications – Alt-J – Breezeblocks". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 1, 2016. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Breezeblocks in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American single certifications – Alt-J – Breezeblocks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
External links
- Breezeblocks at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Template:MetroLyrics song