Little Talks
{{Short description|2011 single by Of Monsters and Men}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Little Talks
| cover = LittleTalkssong.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Of Monsters and Men
| album = My Head Is an Animal
| released = 20 December 2011
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
- Indie folk
- alternative rock{{cite web |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-11-22-30-alternative-rock-songs-that-defined-the-2010s/ |title=30 Alternative Rock Songs That Defined the 2010s|publisher=iHeartMedia |last=Nattress |first=Katrina|date=22 November 2019|access-date=16 June 2022}}
| length =
- {{Duration|m=4|s=26}} (album version)
- {{Duration|m=4|s=12}} (radio edit)
| label = Universal Republic
| writer =
- Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir
- Ragnar Þórhallsson
| producer =
- Of Monsters and Men
- Aron Þór Arnarsson
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Dirty Paws
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|ghb6eDopW8I|"Little Talks"}}}}
}}
"Little Talks" is the debut single by Icelandic indie rock band Of Monsters and Men. The song was released as the lead single from their debut studio album, My Head Is an Animal (2011). It was also released on the band's EP Into the Woods. It was written by primary vocalists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, and produced by Aron Þór Arnarsson.
Background and content
According to Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, the song describes two loving people talking past each other and implies one is deceased, saying "maybe one person isn't really hearing the other one." The song was inspired by an old house she moved into.
Critical reception
USA Today described the song as a "monster hit", noting its "galloping chorus" and "reverb-heavy production".{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/ontheverge/story/2012-03-28/of-monsters-and-men-iceland/53875746/1 | title=On the Verge: Of Monsters and Men |work= USA Today |last=Mansfield|first=Brian |accessdate=26 February 2013 |date=30 March 2012}} PBS Arts described the song's "rolling, infectious energy" and foreboding lyrics.{{cite news |title= Of Monsters and Men – "Little Talks" |work= PBS Arts |publisher= Public Broadcasting System |url= https://www.pbs.org/arts/gallery/sound-tracks-quick-hits/ofmonstersandmen-littletalks/ |access-date= 4 September 2017 |archive-date= 2 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150502155545/http://www.pbs.org/arts/gallery/sound-tracks-quick-hits/ofmonstersandmen-littletalks/ |url-status= dead }}
Commercial performance
In August 2011, Philadelphia's Radio 104.5 began playing "Little Talks" and propelled the band to nationwide popularity in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.indierockcafe.com/2012/04/of-monsters-and-men-the-lumineers-max-and-the-moon-lux-twin-steps/ |title=Best New Releases, April 3rd, Vol. I – Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers, Max and the Moon, Lux, Black Mountain, Twin Steps | Best new indie rock music songs, albums, bands, artists and festivals |work=Indie Rock Cafe |date=April 2012 |accessdate=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406093028/http://www.indierockcafe.com/2012/04/of-monsters-and-men-the-lumineers-max-and-the-moon-lux-twin-steps/ |archive-date=6 April 2013 |url-status=dead }} It had sold over 2 million copies in the US as of March 2013.{{cite news | url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-march-3-2013-songs-record-1-231209252.html | title=Week Ending March 3, 2013. Songs: Is The Right Song #1? | date=6 March 2013 |work=Chart Watch | publisher=Yahoo Music | first=Paul | last=Grein | accessdate=14 March 2013}}
"Little Talks" reached number 12 in the UK charts and re-entered the UK Top 40 in 2013. In Ireland, the song debuted at number 28 on 26 July 2012 and reached the number-one spot on 16 August, spending two weeks at the top position. The song has peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming their first top 20 single in the US. The song holds the record for the longest climb to reach the top 40 of the chart with 30 weeks.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/hot-100-chart-moves-nicki-minaj-passes-madonna/|title=Hot 100 Chart Moves: Nicki Minaj Passes Madonna, 'Voice' Finalists Debut|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=26 December 2014|magazine=Billboard}} "Little Talks" is also the highest-charting single to date on that chart by an Icelandic artist. On 21 July 2012, it topped the Alternative Songs list and remained for a second week, and ultimately ranked as the third most successful song on the year end list. "Little Talks" was later certified Platinum in the United States, becoming their first song to do so. The song was listed for 48 weeks. In Australia, where the song reached number 7, the song reached number 2 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2012 on 26 January 2013. Elsewhere, the single reached the top 10 in New Zealand and several European countries, including Austria, Flemish Belgium, Germany, and Italy.
Music video
The music video was released to the public via YouTube on 2 February 2012.{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I&list=UUNqs2VoY5KXMeOm4wo5U2Lw&index=4 | title=Of Monsters and Men — Little Talks | date=2 February 2012}}
It starts with five sky-sailors (played by the male members of the band) spotting something falling from the sky. When they investigate, the object splits open to reveal a beautiful female creature (played by the band's lead singer Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdóttir). She joins the sailors on their sky ship, but they are attacked by an enormous two-headed bird. The lady magically vanquishes the bird, but the ship is wrecked, forcing the sailors and the lady to continue on foot into a cave. When they emerge, they are confronted by another beast, which is once again defeated by the lady. They push onwards, but as they are crossing a frozen body of water, the ice breaks, plunging them into the frigid depths and into the clutches of a sea monster. The lady dispatches the monster, and they use a floating iceberg to ascend into the skies, where they are met by an enormous animal clad in the same colors as the female creature, who smiles and rejoins her people as the song ends.{{cite web|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-of-monsters-and-men/ |title=Discovery: Of Monsters and Men — Page |date=19 January 2012 |publisher=Interview Magazine |accessdate=20 June 2013}}
The video was created by the production firm WeWereMonkeys{{cite web | url=http://weweremonkeys.com/vid_littletalks.php | title=WeWereMonkeys — Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks | accessdate=13 April 2013}} who also produced the video for the band's 2013 single "King and Lionheart".{{cite web | url=http://weweremonkeys.com/vid_kingandlionheart.php | title=WeWereMonkeys — Of Monsters and Men: King and Lionheart | accessdate=13 April 2013}} The music video was nominated in the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Art Direction in a Video but lost to Katy Perry's "Wide Awake".{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2012/best-art-direction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802233832/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2012/best-art-direction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2012|title=Best Art Direction Winner 2012 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA)|year=2012|publisher=MTV|accessdate=17 November 2012}}
A lyric video was released in 2014 in the presence of the video. The video features the sailors in their sky ship with the woman following behind them.{{fact|date=February 2022}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Little Talks" !Chart (2011–2014) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|7|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|9|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|3|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|11|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadianhot100|55|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|37|artist=Of Monsters and Men|access-date=23 January 2022|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|33|artist=Of Monsters and Men|access-date=23 January 2022|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|13|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|2|year=2012|week=38|accessdate=28 September 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Czechdigital|63|year=2014|week=25|accessdate=3 July 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (Euro Digital Songs){{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/14118587 | magazine = Billboard | accessdate = 4 November 2012 | title = Chart Search Results — Euro Digital Songs 2012-09-15 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|style="text-align:center;"|9 |
|---|
| {{single chart|France|29|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|5|songid=960501|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| Iceland (Tónlist){{cite web |url=http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/456/ |title=Netlistinn viku 40, 2011 |publisher=Tonlist.is |accessdate=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315035554/http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/456/ |archive-date=15 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}
|style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|access-date=22 January 2020|refname=ire|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Italy|3|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|72|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/14106027 | magazine = Billboard | accessdate = 4 November 2012 | title = Chart Search Results — Luxembourg Digital Songs 2012-08-04 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| scope="row"|Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine | url =http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2012-12-08/mexico-ingles | magazine = Billboard| title = Mexico Ingles Airplay — December 8, 2012}}
|style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| scope="row"|Mexico Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/albums/14300727 | magazine = Billboard | accessdate = 1 November 2012 | title = Chart Search Results — Mexico Airplay 2012-11-10 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|style="text-align:center;"|43 |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|16|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|18|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|4|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Poland|4|chartid=747|year=2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|12|date=20130817|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Slovakia|6|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|year=2013|week=06|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Spain|25|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|21|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|24|artist=Of Monsters and Men|song=Little Talks|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|12|date=20120908|refname=uk|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|20|artist=Of Monsters and Men|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|20|artist=Of Monsters and Men|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|6|artist=Of Monsters and Men|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|3|artist=Of Monsters and Men|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|18|artist=Of Monsters and Men|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Venezuela Top 200 (Record Report){{cite web|title=Nuevas Esta Semana |url=http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=nuevas |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031074426/http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=nuevas |work=Record Report |publisher=R.R. Digital C.A |date=13 October 2012 |archivedate=31 October 2012 |language=Spanish |url-status=dead }}
| style="text-align:center;"|108 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2011 year-end chart performance for "Little Talks" ! Chart (2011) ! Position |
| scope="row"|Iceland (Tónlist){{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016083410/http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/471|archive-date=16 October 2012|url=http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/471|title=Árslisti Tónlist.is 2011|language=is|publisher=Tónlist|access-date=26 May 2022}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 |
|---|
=Decade-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2010s-end chart performance for "Little Talks" ! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/hot-rock-songs|title=Decade-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=18 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216120649/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/hot-rock-songs|archive-date=16 December 2019|url-status=live}}
| style="text-align:center"|38 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Triple J Hottest 100 of the Decade{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/decade/2010s/#/home|title=Decade-End Charts: Hottest100|work=TripleJ|accessdate=25 March 2020}}
| style="text-align:center"|30 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Little Talks"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=6|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2015|access-date=1 October 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=10 November 2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2024|access-date=14 July 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=5 October 2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2012|digital=true}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=1 July 2024|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2024|id=14026}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|number=3|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=21 August 2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2014|id=2804|access-date=10 January 2015|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|id=2013-03-08|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Platinum|id=of-monsters-and-men-little-talks|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2024|access-date=18 February 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2013|certweek=8|certref=|access-date=19 November 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=8 December 2012|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=24 February 2024|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters & Men|certyear=2024|id=11222-3398-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=7|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=19 October 2023|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters & Men|certyear=2023}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=1 October 2022|title=Little Talks|artist=Of Monsters and Men|certyear=2013|id=6126|streamsonly=true|refname=S137}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|access-date=1 October 2022|certyear=2014|certweek=12|streamsonly=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|streamsonly=true}}
In popular culture
In 2013, YouTube star Kurt Hugo Schneider and Coca-Cola teamed up to create music videos featuring creative covers of two 2011 hits namely "Little Talks" and Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" for a campaign called "The Sounds of AHH". "Little Talks" shows Schneider playing only Coca-Cola bottles, glasses and cans. Featured in the version are the vocals of Kevin Olusola. Commercial edits of the video aired on season 13 premiere of American Idol on 14 January 2014 on FOX.{{cite web|url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/behind-the-bottles-5-questions-with-kurt-hugo-schneider|title=Behind the Bottles: 5 Questions With Kurt Hugo Schneider|work=The Coca-Cola Company|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506094112/https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/behind-the-bottles-5-questions-with-kurt-hugo-schneider|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Of Monsters and Men}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Animated music videos
Category:Of Monsters and Men songs
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Iceland
Category:Universal Music Group singles