:Step (Vampire Weekend song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Step
| type = single
| cover = Vampire Weekend Step.jpg
| border = yes
| artist = Vampire Weekend
| album = Modern Vampires of the City
| A-side = "Diane Young"
| released = March 19, 2013
| recorded =
| genre = * Indie pop
- baroque pop{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/09/vampire-weekend-modern-vampires-review|title=The Guardian - Modern Vampires of the City review|work=The Guardian|date=January 10, 2015}}
| length = 4:11
| label = XL
| composer = * Rostam Batmanglij
- Ezra Koenig{{efn|name=Sample|Contains elements from "Aubrey" by David Gates and interpolates YZ's "Who's That Girl" in its hook, "every time I see you in the world you always step to my girl".}}
| lyricist = * Ezra Koenig{{efn|name=Sample}}
| producer = * Rostam Batmanglij
| prev_title = Diane Young
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Ya Hey
| next_year = 2013
| misc =
}}
"Step" is a song by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend. Written and composed by band members Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Batmanglij, the song was released as the fourth and final single from the band's third studio album Modern Vampires of the City. The song was inspired by American hip hop group Souls of Mischief's song "Step to My Girl".{{cite web|title=Vampire Weekend - Step|url=https://musicbrainz.org/recording/507ecc4d-e166-41e5-a833-3378f189dba8|publisher=MusicBrainz|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Vampire Weekend: Step, as Inspired by Souls of Mischief's Step to My Girl|url=http://somuchsilence.com/?p=6476|website=somuchsilence.com|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}
Composition
The lyrics and other elements of "Step" were inspired by the song "Step to My Girl" which was recorded as a demo by the Oakland-based hip-hop group Souls of Mischief. The hip-hop group was contacted by Vampire Weekend's legal team to sample and use one of the lines from "Step to My Girl". One of the members of Vampire Weekend also spoke directly to Souls of Mischief about the song's sample.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/rational-conversation-souls-mischief-discuss-their-vampire-weekend-connection-and-why-93-til-infinity-endures/ |title=A Rational Conversation: Souls of Mischief On Their Vampire Weekend Connection and Why '93 'Til Infinity' Endures... |last=Ducker |first=Eric |website=The Daily Swarm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130256/http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/rational-conversation-souls-mischief-discuss-their-vampire-weekend-connection-and-why-93-til-infinity-endures/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2014}}
When Souls of Mischief member Tajai finally heard "Step" after it was completed, he expressed his approval stating that "it was so good; I was just happy we were able to be part of that." Impressed with the song's outcome, Souls of Mischief are contemplating on doing a collaboration with Vampire Weekend.
The Souls of Mischief's song ,"Step to My Girl", samples Grover Washington Jr.'s saxophone cover of Bread's 1973 single, "Aubrey". This is why David Gates, founder of Bread and songwriter of "Aubrey", is credited as a songwriter of "Step".{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2013/04/29/179854416/vampire-weekend-on-new-york-souls-of-mischief-and-the-secrets-of-its-new-album|title=Vampire Weekend On The Secrets Of Its New Album|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-11-16}} The song also contains lyrical references to the musician Jandek and the band Modest Mouse.{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Pat |date=2013-09-12 |title=Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend: The gloves are off – Metro US |url=https://www.metro.us/ezra-koenig-of-vampire-weekend-the-gloves-are-off/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.metro.us |language=en-US}}
Release
"Step" was initially released as a double A-side single with "Diane Young" on March 18, 2013, with both songs being promoted as the lead singles taken from the band's third studio album Modern Vampires of the City.{{cite web|title=Vampire Weekend reveal new songs 'Diane Young' and 'Step' – listen|url=https://www.nme.com/news/vampire-weekend/69269|website=nme.com|publisher=NME|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Vampire Weekend Reveal Two New Songs, 'Diane Young' And 'Step'|url=http://live105.cbslocal.com/2013/03/18/vampire-weekend-reveal-two-new-songs-diane-young-and-step/|website=live105.cbslocal.com|publisher=CBS Local|accessdate=August 31, 2014}} "Step" premiered with "Diane Young" on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show in the UK.
Remix
Vampire Weekend composed a remix of "Step", featuring guest verses from American rappers Danny Brown, Heems and Despot. The remix was released December 31, 2013.{{cite web | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/12/listen-danny-brown-jumps-on-remix-of-vampire-weekends-step/|title=Listen: Danny Brown jumps on remix of Vampire Weekend's "Step"|work=Consequence of Sound|date=December 31, 2013}}
Commercial performance
Critical reception
"Step" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. Paste and Far Out ranked the song number four and number eight, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Vampire Weekend songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/vampire-weekend/the-10-best-vampire-weekend-songs|title=The 10 Best Vampire Weekend Songs|first=Steven|last=Edelstone|work=Paste|date=January 25, 2019|accessdate=April 27, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/10-best-vampire-weekend-songs-ranked-ezra-koenig/|title=The 10 best Vampire Weekend songs|first=Joe|last=Taysom|work=Far Out|date=April 8, 2021|accessdate=April 27, 2023}}
Music video
The lyric video to "Step" was uploaded on March 18, 2013 on YouTube and VEVO. The background of the video shows various shots of New York City with the lyrics being shown over the top.{{cite web|title=Vampire Weeking – Step (Official Lyrics Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mDxcDjg9P4|website=youtube.com|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}
Personnel
Vampire Weekend
- Chris Baio – bass
- Rostam Batmanglij – piano, guitars, banjo, vocal harmonies and backing vocals, drum and synth programming, keyboards, shaker
- Ezra Koenig – lead vocals
- Chris Tomson – drums
Technical
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Chris Kasych – mix assistance, Pro Tools engineering
- Eric Isip – assistance
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2013–2014) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|4|artist=Vampire Weekend|song=Step|rowheader=true|refname=Flanders}} |
| {{single chart|France|170|artist=Vampire Weekend|song=Step|rowheader=true|refname=France}} |
| scope="row"|Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/vampire-weekend/chart-history/min/ |title=Vampire Weekend Chart History |work=Billboard |accessdate=January 10, 2019}}
|align=center|45 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|35|artist=Vampire Weekend|song=Step|rowheader=true|refname=BillboardAlternative}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Vampire Weekend|title=Step|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2021|access-date=January 27, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}