Harmony Hall (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Harmony Hall

| cover = Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hall.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Vampire Weekend

| album = Father of the Bride

| A-side = "2021" (double A-side)

| released = January 24, 2019

| genre =

| length = 5:08

| label = * Spring Snow

Columbia

| writer = Ezra Koenig

| producer = * Ariel Rechtshaid

Ezra Koenig
Rostam Batmanglij ({{abbr|add.|additional production}})

| prev_title = Unbelievers

| prev_year = 2013

| title2 = 2021

| next_title = Sunflower" / "Big Blue

| next_year = 2019

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Vampire Weekend - HarmonyHall.ogg

}}{{External music video

| type = single

| 1 = {{YouTube|IlkTVMMkCP4|"Harmony Hall"}}

}}

"Harmony Hall" is a song by American indie pop band Vampire Weekend. It is the lead single from their fourth studio album, Father of the Bride, and was released on January 24, 2019, by Columbia Records as a double A-side with "2021".{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/vampire-weekend-new-song-harmony-hall-783785/|title=Vampire Weekend Return After Six Years With 'Harmony Hall,' '2021'|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=January 24, 2019|website=Rolling Stone|accessdate=January 27, 2019}} It is the band's highest-charting single on the U.S. Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts, peaking at No. 8 and No. 5, respectively. It also received a nomination for Best Rock Song at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Music and lyrics

The "rolling country-soul"{{cite magazine|last=Lynskey|first=Dorian|date=June 2019|title=Marital Bliss|magazine=Q|location=London|publisher=Bauer Media Group}} and indie pop{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bee88248-6b41-11e9-80c7-60ee53e6681d|title=Vampire Weekend: Father of the Bride — a fussy muddle of country, experimental and indie-pop|last=Hunter-Tilney|first=Ludovic|date=May 3, 2019|website=Financial Times|access-date=May 10, 2019}} of "Harmony Hall" has been compared to the Grateful Dead, specifically their song "Touch of Grey".{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/01/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-track-review/|title=Vampire Weekend Made It a Hot Line, Then Made it a Hot Song|last=Cush|first=Andy|date=January 24, 2019|website=Spin|accessdate=January 28, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall/|title="Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend Review|last=Larson|first=Jeremy D.|date=January 24, 2019|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=January 28, 2019}} The song's release saw the band once again receive comparisons to the music of Paul Simon.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/vampire-weekend-share-harmony-hall-2021/|title=Vampire Weekend share "Harmony Hall" & "2021"|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|date=January 24, 2019|website=BrooklynVegan|accessdate=January 28, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/youve-gotta-check-out-vampire-weekends-first-new-songs-in-six-years/|title=You've Gotta Check Out Vampire Weekend's First New Songs in Six Years|date=January 24, 2019|website=Relevant|accessdate=January 28, 2019}} The track's piano groove, percussion, and breakbeats are influenced by British baggy, rave, and Madchester music from the 1990s, such as "Unbelievable" by EMF, while the piano and strings in the bridge exhibit a Baroque style.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/vampire-weekend/radio-x-soundcheck-session-live/|title=Vampire Weekend talk new music & perform Harmony Hall, This Life & A-Punk in Radio X Soundcheck Sessions|publisher=Radio X|date=May 11, 2019|access-date=May 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/01/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-song-review-uncool-joy/581449/|title=The Thrilling Uncoolness of Vampire Weekend's 'Harmony Hall'|last=Kornhaber|first=Spencer|date=January 19, 2019|website=The Atlantic|access-date=May 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://bristolinstereo.com/releases-of-the-month-may-3/|title=Releases of the Month // May|last=Wright|first=Danny|date=May 2, 2019|website=Bristol in Stereo|access-date=May 17, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202111347/https://www.bristolinstereo.com/releases-of-the-month-may-3/|url-status=dead}}

The song's lyrics present a feeling of dread, contrasted against its upbeat sound. The song's chorus features the lyric "Anybody with a worried mind could never forgive the sight/Of wicked snakes inside a place you thought was dignified." The single's artwork features a snake. The chorus also features the lyric "I don’t wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die," an interpolation of the same lyric from Vampire Weekend's song "Finger Back" from their third album, Modern Vampires of the City.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-song-you-need-to-know-783485/|title=Song You Need to Know: Vampire Weekend, 'Harmony Hall'|last=Tijerina|first=Daniela|date=January 27, 2019|website=Rolling Stone|accessdate=January 28, 2019}}

Title

The song shares the name of an undergraduate dormitory at Columbia University, where Vampire Weekend formed.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/vampire-weekend-new-music-harmony-hall-2021-1203119117/|title=Vampire Weekend's New Music Nods to Steve Martin, the Dead and the Band's College Roots|last=Gopalan|first=Nisha|date=January 25, 2019|website=Variety|accessdate=January 27, 2019}} Frontman Ezra Koenig has, however, said that the title is not a reference to the dormitory. The title has also been interpreted as a synonym for "echo chamber".{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/01/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-song-review-uncool-joy/581449/|title=The Thrilling Uncoolness of Vampire Weekend's 'Harmony Hall'|date=January 29, 2019|website=The Atlantic|accessdate=January 30, 2019}}

Critical reception

Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork described the song as "buoyant, filled with the kind of sunlit energy created when throwing open the shutters," but described its similarity to "Touch of Grey" as "a bit out of step". Will Richards of DIY praised the new upbeat sound, saying, "Of all the experimentation five and a half years could've brought for Vampire Weekend, 'Harmony Hall' simply sees them refining, expanding their palate subtly and gorgeously."{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2019/01/24/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-track-review|title=Track review: Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall|last=Richards|first=Will|date=January 24, 2019|website=DIY|accessdate=January 28, 2019}} Raisa Bruner of Time called the song "sweet and nimble" and said its "rich guitar and piano riffing" would please longtime fans.{{cite web|url=https://time.com/5512427/5-songs-you-need-to-listen-to-this-week-71/|title=5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week|last=Bruner|first=Raisa|date=January 25, 2019|website=Time|access-date=January 31, 2019}}

Music video

A music video for the song was released on February 20, 2019. It features Koenig preparing pancake art using a spirograph, and cutaways featuring a green tree python slithering around a kitchen, the band performing in front of pyrotechnics, and cameo appearances from Jonah Hill, Ariel Rechtshaid, Dev Hynes, and Danielle Haim.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-vampire-weekend-new-harmony-hall-video/|title=Watch Vampire Weekend's New "Harmony Hall" Video|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|date=February 20, 2019|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=February 22, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Joyce |first=Colin |title=The Snake Is the Star in Vampire Weekend's "Harmony Hall" Video |website=VICE |date=February 20, 2019 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vampire-weekend-harmony-hall-video/ |access-date=February 18, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Innes |first=Katia |title=Vampire Weekend's misplaced nostalgia trip |website=The McGill Tribune |date=February 26, 2019 |url=https://www.thetribune.ca/a-e/vampire-weekends-misplaced-nostalgia-trip-02262019/ |access-date=February 18, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Doyle |first=Patrick |title=Watch Vampire Weekend's Breakfast-Themed Video for 'Harmony Hall' |website=Rolling Stone |date=February 20, 2019 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-vampire-weekends-breakfast-themed-video-for-harmony-hall-796697/ |access-date=February 18, 2024}} It was directed by Emmett Malloy, who previously directed videos for the band's singles "Giving Up the Gun" and "Holiday".{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8499213/vampire-weekend-video-harmony-hall|title=Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig Makes Pancakes, Jonah Hill Cameos in 'Harmony Hall' Video: Watch|last=Acevedo|first=Angelica|date=February 20, 2019|website=Billboard|accessdate=February 22, 2019}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from Qobuz and Tidal.{{cite web |url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/harmony-hall-2021-vampire-weekend/tlqv1jqrgvsfb|title=Harmony Hall / 2021 {{!}} Vampire Weekend|website=Qobuz|accessdate=January 27, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/102908920|title=Harmony Hall / 2021 / Vampire Weekend|publisher=Tidal|accessdate=January 25, 2018}}

Musicians

Ezra Koenig – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Chris Baio – background vocals
Danielle Haim – vocals
Tommy King – piano
Greg Leisz – electric guitar, steel guitar
David Longstreth – electric guitar, vocals
Benji Lysaght – guitar
Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass guitar
Garrett Ray – drums
Buddy Ross – keyboards, synthesizer
Ariel Rechtshaid – bass guitar, percussion, programming, synthesizer, background vocals
Chris Tomson – background vocals

Engineers

Ariel Rechtshaid – recording
Dave Schiffman – recording
John DeBold – recording
Chris Kasych – recording
Manny Marroquin – mixing
Chris Galland – engineering
Chris Allgood – assistant engineering
Robin Florent – assistant engineering
Scott Desmarais – assistant engineering
Emily Lazar – mastering

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{single chart\|Flanders\|50\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|song=Harmony Hall\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 2, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia\|45\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|song=Harmony Hall\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=April 5, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardcanadarock\|19\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|access-date=September 22, 2022\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row" \| China Airplay/FL (Billboard){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboardchina.cn/top/radiocharts/2019-05-13.html\|title=China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language - 13/05/2019\|work=Billboard China\|language=Chinese\|accessdate=September 22, 2022\|archive-date=2019-05-23\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523190837/http://www.billboardchina.cn/top/radiocharts/2019-05-13.html\|url-status=dead}} \| 42
scope="row"\| Iceland (Tónlistinn){{cite web\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508143838/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/\|archivedate=May 8, 2019\|url=http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/\|title=Vika 18 – 2019\|language=is\|website=Plötutíðindi\|access-date=September 29, 2022}} \| 20
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-02-01\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=February 4, 2019\|access-date=February 1, 2019}} \| 25
{{single chart\|Scotland\|63\|date=20190322\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 23, 2019}}
scope="row"\| Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/airplay/09-2019\|title=Schweizer Airplay Charts 09/2019 - hitparade.ch \|publisher=hitparade.ch \|access-date=February 23, 2022}} \| 73
{{single chart\|UKdownload\|62\|date=20190322\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=13 May 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultalternativesongs\|1\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 18, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|8\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 18, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrockairplay\|7\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 18, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|5\|artist=Vampire Weekend\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=February 5, 2019}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2019)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/adult-alternative-songs|title=Adult Alternative Songs – Year-End 2019|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 12, 2019}}

| 6

scope="row"| US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/alternative-songs|title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 2019|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 12, 2019}}

| 39

scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 12, 2019}}

| 35

scope="row"| US Rock Airplay Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/rock-airplay-songs|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2019|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 12, 2019}}

| 33

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Vampire Weekend|title=Harmony Hall|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|access-date=November 24, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

References

Category:2019 songs

Category:2019 singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Ariel Rechtshaid

Category:Song recordings produced by Rostam Batmanglij

Category:Songs written by Ezra Koenig

Category:Vampire Weekend songs