Highway Tune
{{short description|2017 single by Greta Van Fleet}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Highway Tune
| cover = Greta Van Fleet Highway Tune.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Greta Van Fleet
| album = Black Smoke Rising {{noitalic|and}} From the Fires
| released = {{Start date|2017|03|31}}
| recorded = 2015–16
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|blues rock{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/greta-van-fleet-feeling-the-love-along-the-success-highway/|title=Greta Van Fleet feeling the love along the success 'Highway'|work=Chicago Sun-Times|first=Selena|last=Fragassi|date=November 24, 2017|accessdate=May 21, 2018}}}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=01}}
| label =
| writer = *Jacob Kiszka
- Joshua Kiszka
- Samuel Kiszka
- Daniel Wagner
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Safari Song
| next_year = 2017
}}
"Highway Tune" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was their first single from their debut EP Black Smoke Rising. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in September 2017. The song, and the rest of its respective EP, is also part of the band's double EP From the Fires, released on November 10, 2017.
Background
"Highway Tune" was the first song the band Greta Van Fleet had ever written and recorded together. The song's initial guitar riff was cited by guitarist Jake Kiszka as being written as early back as 2010—seven years prior to the song's release as a single, and two years prior to the band even being formed.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/greta-van-fleet-jake-kiszka-black-smoke-rising-ep-british-invasion-influence-more/|title=Greta Van Fleet's Jake Kiszka Talks 'Black Smoke Rising' EP + More|website=Loudwire.com|date=14 June 2017 |accessdate=22 September 2017}} The riff was then brought to early writing and recording sessions upon the band forming in 2012, and was later reformatted and demoed twice before being recorded in its final form.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/greta-van-fleet-highway-tune-exclusive-video-premiere/|title=Greta Van Fleet, 'Highway Tune' - Exclusive Video Premiere|website=Loudwire.com|date=18 April 2017 |accessdate=22 September 2017}} The song was initially used in an episode of the television show Shameless in January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2016/01/showtimes_shameless_to_feature.html|title=Showtime's 'Shameless' to feature song by Frankenmuth's Greta Van Fleet|website=Mlive.com|date=3 January 2016 |accessdate=22 September 2017}} The song was officially released as one of four songs for the band's debut EP, Black Smoke Rising.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/greta-van-fleet-mn0003612630/biography|title=Greta Van Fleet - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=22 September 2017}} The song was released on March 31, 2017 as a single,{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/gretavanfleet/highway-tune-1|title=Highway Tune|website=Soundcloud.com|accessdate=22 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://m.axs.com/the-future-of-rock-and-roll-is-here-with-greta-van-fleet-116955|title=The future of rock and roll is here with Greta Van Fleet|website=M.axs.com|accessdate=22 September 2017}} and on the EP on April 21, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://crypticrock.com/greta-van-fleet-black-smoke-rising-ep-review/|title=Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising (EP Review) - Cryptic Rock|website=Crypticrock.com|date=21 April 2017 |accessdate=22 September 2017}} The song's music video was released 2 days prior to the EP's release, and is mostly a performance-based video, with the band playing in an abandoned warehouse.{{cite web|url=http://shockwavemagazine.com/greta-van-fleet-debuts-music-video-for-highway-tune/|title=Greta Van Fleet Debuts Music Video for "Highway Tune"|website=Shockwavemagazine.com|accessdate=22 September 2017}}
Themes and composition
The song has received many comparisons to the work of Led Zeppelin,{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/greta-van-fleet-vocalist-on-led-zeppelin-comparisons-well-take-it/|title=GRETA VAN FLEET Vocalist On LED ZEPPELIN Comparisons: 'We'll Take It'|date=16 September 2017|website=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=22 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wqlz.com/2017/08/14/its-not-led-zeppelin-its-greta-van-fleet-highway-tune-video/|title=It's Not Led Zeppelin, It's Greta Van Fleet 'Highway Tune' [Video] - 97.7 QLZ - Anything That Rocks|website=Wqlz.com|accessdate=22 September 2017}} including comparison to the vocals of Robert Plant.
Reception
The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock stations in September 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/greta-van-fleets-highway-tune-claims-1-spot-at-u-s-active-and-mainstream-rock-radio/|title=GRETA VAN FLEET's 'Highway Tune' Claims #1 Spot At U.S. Active And Mainstream Rock Radio|date=6 September 2017|website=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=22 September 2017}} The Mainstream Rock chart was topped in just 14 weeks. Billboard magazine noted that, outside of solo musicians breaking away from their original band, Greta Van Fleet with "Highway Tune" was the fastest for a band to top the Mainstream Rock charts with their debut single since Tantric's 2001 single "Breakdown" and 3 Doors Down's 2000 single "Kryptonite".{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7957553/greta-van-fleet-highway-tune-number-one-mainstream-rock-songs|title=Greta Van Fleet Rides 'Highway Tune' to No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Songs Chart|website=Billboard.com|accessdate=22 September 2017}} Loudwire named it the second best hard rock song of 2017.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/25-best-hard-rock-songs-of-2017/|title=25 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2017|website=Loudwire.com|date=5 December 2017 |accessdate=16 January 2018}} HelloMusicTheory ranked the song as the 8th best rock song of the 2010s.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=23 Of The Best Rock Songs Of The 2010s |url=https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/best-rock-songs-of-the-2010s/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=hellomusictheory.com |language=en-GB}}
Personnel
- Joshua Kiszka – vocals
- Jacob Kiszka – guitar
- Samuel Kiszka – bass guitar
- Daniel Wagner – drums, tambourine, shaker
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (2017)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}
| 83 |
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2022}}
| 48 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=Highway Tune|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2017|relmonth=3|certyear=2024|access-date=March 12, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=Highway Tune|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|access-date=January 22, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Greta Van Fleet|title=Highway Tune|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=April 6, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Greta Van Fleet}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Greta Van Fleet songs