:Congratulations (MGMT song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Congratulations
| cover = MGMT_congratulations_single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = MGMT
| album = Congratulations
| released = November 26, 2010
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Psychedelic folk|psychedelic pop|indie rock}}
| length = 3:55
| label = Columbia
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = {{flatlist|
- MGMT
- Sonic Boom
}}
| prev_title = It's Working
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Alien Days
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{External music video|1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB7IAXrCkO8 "MGMT - Congratulations"] at YouTube}}
}}
"Congratulations" is a song by the American rock band MGMT, released as the fourth and final single and the title track from their second studio album Congratulations (2010) on November 26, 2010. The single was released as a limited edition 7" vinyl record with a special 20-page illustrated booklet.{{cite web |url=http://www.whoismgmt.com/us/news/congratulations-7-vinyl-available-friday |title=User account | the Official MGMT Site |accessdate=2010-11-24 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120918041934/http://www.whoismgmt.com/us/news/congratulations-7-vinyl-available-friday |archivedate=2012-09-18 }} On November 2, 2010, Record Store Day announced the limited edition 7" of the single as one of their Black Friday exclusives, containing the Erol Alkan rework of the song.{{Cite web|url=http://www.recordstoreday.com/Page/958|title = Page | RECORD STORE DAY}} A music video for the song was released on August 25, 2010. "Congratulations" was released to radio on September 28, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated |accessdate=October 31, 2016 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |archivedate=March 22, 2013 }}
The song was featured during the credits of the 2010 Oscar-winning documentary Inside Job.{{cite AV media|first=Charles|last=Ferguson|author-link=Charles Ferguson (filmmaker)|year=2010|title=Inside Job|medium=Motion picture|publisher=Sony Pictures Classics|section=Closing credits}} American hip hop recording artist Kid Cudi, sampled the song for his third album Indicud (2013), on the song "Immortal".
Music video
The video for "Congratulations" features the two lead members of MGMT, Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, journeying through the desert with a strange four-legged creature that Stereogum described as a "sad-eyed Duck-dog-o-saurus".{{cite web|url=http://stereogum.com/484422/mgmt-congratulations-video/top-stories/lead-story/|title=MGMT – "Congratulations" Video|date=24 August 2010|website=stereogum.com}} Throughout the video, the creature gradually falls apart, losing a leg and then its beak, each body part sinking into the sand. Stopping to rest, VanWyngarden attempts to comfort the creature. Nearing the end of the video, the creature loses its footing and tumbles down a large sand dune. The two pick up what is left of the creature, and as dusk settles in, they come upon a portal-like structure. Just before reaching the structure, the creature's head falls off and sinks into the sand. From the sand, a cluster of lights rises towards the sky, blending with the stars, and shimmering in sync to the music. The song ends with the two men gazing up to the sky and applauding.
The video was filmed at Dumont Dunes in California’s Mojave Desert,{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2010/10/band-mgmt-shoots-on-location-in-mojave-desert|title=error|website=www.thelocationguide.com|access-date=2012-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425233856/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2010/10/band-mgmt-shoots-on-location-in-mojave-desert/|archive-date=2011-04-25|url-status=dead}} and was directed by Tom Kuntz and edited by Steve Gandolfi.{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=19197|title=Congratulations by MGMT Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com}} The creature was created by Legacy Effects. Vance Hartwell, of Legacy, said: "The puppet was made of materials including foam latex and fibreglass. We had an actor inside. His legs fitted into the hind legs of the puppet and his head was at the base of the neck. With the heat of the desert and the wear and tear of the conditions, there was always someone with him, both to make sure he was ok and to hold up the puppet head."
Track listing
{{tracklist
| headline = 7" vinyl{{cite web |url=http://www.whoismgmt.com/us/news/congratulations-7-vinyl-available-friday |website=www.whoismgmt.com |title=Who is MGMT |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120918041934/http://www.whoismgmt.com/us/news/congratulations-7-vinyl-available-friday |archivedate=2012-09-18 }}{{sup|{{anchor|ref_A}}[A]}}
| title1 = Congratulations
| note1 = album version
| length1 = 3:55
| title2 = Congratulations
| note2 = Erol Alkan remix{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/erolalkan/mgmterol|title=MGMT - 'Congratulations' (Erol Alkan Rework) [Radio Edit]|website=soundcloud.com}}
| length2 = 6:35
}}
Notes
- A {{anchor|endnote_A}}^ The remix on the 7" is 6:30 long and the remix as digital download is 4:03 long (radio edit version).
Personnel
- Andrew VanWyngarden – vocals, guitar, drums, bass
- Ben Goldwasser – synths and samples, percussion
- Gillian Rivers – strings
References
{{reflist}}
{{MGMT}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Congratulations (Mgmt Song)}}
Category:Record Store Day releases
Category:Songs written by Andrew VanWyngarden
Category:Columbia Records singles