Login
Login

Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)#Freya Ridings version

{{Short description|2003 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Maps

| cover = Maps (song) cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Yeah Yeah Yeahs

| album = Fever to Tell

| B-side =

  • "Countdown"
  • "Miles Away"

| released = {{start date|2003|9|22}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

  • Indie rock{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/10/hit-charade/403192/|title=The Elaborate Charade to Obfuscate Who Writes Pop Music|last=Rich|first=Nathaniel|date=October 2015|website=The Atlantic|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113201815/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/10/hit-charade/403192/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.treblezine.com/top-150-songs-of-the-2010s/|title=Top 150 Songs of the 2010s|date=January 6, 2020|website=Treble|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-date=May 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504232226/https://www.treblezine.com/top-150-songs-of-the-2010s/|url-status=live}}
  • art punk{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110527|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 386 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps|date=April 7, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220659/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110527|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title= 100 Best Songs of the 2000s |website= Rolling Stone |date= June 17, 2011 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-songs-of-the-2000s-153056/ |quote= How often do we get a fiery soul ballad and an art-punk classic in the same song? |access-date= November 4, 2022 |archive-date= December 27, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211227063358/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-songs-of-the-2000s-153056/ |url-status= live }}
  • soul

| length = 3:40

| label = Interscope

| writer =

| producer = David Andrew Sitek
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

| prev_title = Pin

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = Y Control

| next_year = 2004

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song - audio sample).ogg

| description = Maps

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|oIIxlgcuQRU|"Maps"}}}}

}}

"Maps" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell (2003). The song, a ballad, is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O.{{cite magazine | title = Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Goth, Nerd, Slut | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/yeahyeahyeahs/articles/story/9596960/yeah_yeah_yeahs_goth_nerd_slut | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121164904/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/yeahyeahyeahs/articles/story/9596960/yeah_yeah_yeahs_goth_nerd_slut|archivedate=November 21, 2007| date = April 7, 2006 | accessdate = July 5, 2007 | last = Sheffield | first = Rob | author-link = Rob Sheffield | url-status = dead | magazine = Rolling Stone}} Released in September 2003, the song reached number nine on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 26 in the United Kingdom. The band performed the song at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8390253/yeah-yeahs-maps-pop-indie-anniversary-since-u-been-gone|title=How The Yeah Yeahs' 'Maps' Helped Change the Way We View the Relationship Between Pop and Indie|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219213608/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8390253/yeah-yeahs-maps-pop-indie-anniversary-since-u-been-gone|url-status=live}} and the music video received extensive play on MTV. The song experienced a resurgence of popularity when it went viral on YouTube and TikTok in 2024.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = Maps

| writer1 = {{hlist|Brian Chase|Karen Lee Orzolek|Nick Zinner}}

| length1 = 3:34

| title2 = Countdown

| length2 = 3:39

| title3 = Miles Away

| note3 = John Peel Session Originally from the band's debut EP

| length3 = 2:30

}}

Music video

The video shows the band playing in an audition in a high school gymnasium, with different light filters changing the color of the room. Karen O's crying in the video was not staged. She explains: "They were real tears. My boyfriend at the time (Angus Andrew) was supposed to come to the shoot – he was three hours late and I was just about to leave for tour. I didn't think he was even going to come and this was the song that was written for him. He eventually showed up and I got myself in a real emotional state."{{cite web|title=Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Karen O's Video Crying Was For Real|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/karen-os-video-crying-was-for-real_1037190|work=contactmusic.com|accessdate=November 22, 2010|date=July 12, 2007}} Some have suggested the song title stands for "My Angus Please Stay," although this was never confirmed by the band.{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Brian |title=mysteries of the Scatman |url=https://bnet.substack.com/p/mysteries-of-the-scatman |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=bnet.substack.com |date=May 30, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031144203/https://bnet.substack.com/p/mysteries-of-the-scatman |url-status=live }}{{Citation|title=How Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Transcended the Post-Punk Revival| date=October 2, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FbNJWS0l4Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/1FbNJWS0l4Q |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=February 25, 2020}}{{cbignore}}, minute 4:32 The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards at the 2004 ceremony: Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the MTV2 Award.{{cite news | title = 2004 VMA Winners | url = http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2004/ | access-date = March 10, 2009 | work = MTV | archive-date = September 8, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080908111554/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2004/ | url-status = dead }} It was directed by Patrick Daughters.

Notable cover versions

  • The White Stripes at the Reading Festival 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.whitestripes.net/September-2004.php | title = ARCHIVES // SEPTEMBER 2004: 08.29.04 // THE READING FESTIVAL | publisher = WhiteStripes.net | date = August 29, 2004 | accessdate = November 19, 2007 | quote = A stellar set was played with the addition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's tune, Maps. | archive-date = October 28, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071028013418/http://www.whitestripes.net/September-2004.php | url-status = live }}
  • Arcade Fire, on The Jo Whiley Show's Live Lounge.{{cite web | url = http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2005/09/arcade_fire_cov.html | title = Arcade Fire Cover Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs | publisher = BrooklynVegan | date = September 9, 2005 | accessdate = November 19, 2007 | archive-date = November 17, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071117113756/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2005/09/arcade_fire_cov.html | url-status = live }}
  • Ted Leo as part of a medley with Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."{{cite web | url = http://www.turntablekitchen.com/2012/02/served-three-ways-three-covers-of-yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps/ | title = Served Three Ways: Three Covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps | work = Turntable Kitchen | date = February 27, 2012 | access-date = February 27, 2012 | archive-date = July 27, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200727060330/https://www.turntablekitchen.com/2012/02/served-three-ways-three-covers-of-yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps/ | url-status = live }}
  • Macy Gray on her album Covered.
  • The Bad Plus on their album It's Hard.
  • Camp Cope covered the song for Triple J's Like A Version{{Citation|last=triple j|title=Camp Cope cover Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Maps' for triple j's Like A Version|date=September 22, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFQpT04Z-c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/vWFQpT04Z-c |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=July 31, 2018}}{{cbignore}}
  • Anderson Paak on his 2013 EP Cover Art{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8HzawCKgrQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Q8HzawCKgrQ |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Anderson .Paak - Maps|last=Stelios Ramon|date=April 11, 2014|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://breezylovejoy.bandcamp.com/album/cover-art|title=Cover Art, by Anderson .Paak|website=Anderson .Paak|access-date=October 19, 2018|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801054801/https://breezylovejoy.bandcamp.com/album/cover-art|url-status=live}}
  • Keaton Henson on his EP The Lucky EP.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/Keaton-henson/The-lucky-ep|title=Keaton Henson - The Lucky EP Lyrics and Tracklist|website=Genius|access-date=February 5, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205162756/https://genius.com/albums/Keaton-henson/The-lucky-ep|url-status=live}}
  • Freya Ridings as a 2017 promotional single.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/track-of-the-day-228-freya-ridings|title=Track Of The Day 22/8 - Freya Ridings|website=Clash|date=August 22, 2017 |accessdate=December 25, 2020|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914043958/http://clashmusic.com/news/track-of-the-day-228-freya-ridings|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/maps-single/1242263422|title=Maps – Single by Freya Ridings|website=Apple Music|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420075116/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/maps-single/1242263422|url-status=live}}
  • Samia covered the song in 2023.
  • The Fray covered the song on their album Scars & Stories.

Critical reception and legacy

"Maps" has received vast critical acclaim. Some examples:

  • In 2009, it was voted the best alternative love song of all time by NME.{{cite web|title=Greatest Alternative Love Songs|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/nominate-the-greatest-alternative-love-songs-49072|website=NME|date=February 11, 2009 |accessdate=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022024803/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/nominate-the-greatest-alternative-love-songs-49072|url-status=live}}
  • The song was also listed at number six on Pitchfork Media{{'}}s top 500 songs of the 2000s.{{cite web|last1=Harvell|first1=Jess|title=The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7693-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-20-1/|website=Pitchfork|date=August 21, 2009 |accessdate=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022911/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7693-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-20-1/|url-status=live}}
  • Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" as the 7th best song of the 2000s.{{cite magazine|title=100 Best Songs of the 2000s|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110616|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 17, 2011 |accessdate=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019013919/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110616|url-status=live}}
  • On April 7, 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" number 386 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{cite magazine |title=Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110527 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 7, 2011 |accessdate=October 1, 2015 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220659/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-20110527 |url-status=live }} Its 2021 list placed it at number 101.{{cite magazine |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-4-1225237/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 15, 2021 |accessdate=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311213635/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/yeah-yeah-yeahs-maps-4-1225237/ |url-status=live }}
  • In October 2011, NME placed it at number 55 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".{{cite web|title=150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years|author=Schiller, Rebecca|date=October 6, 2011|work=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/10|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011131709/http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/10|url-status=live}}
  • NME ranked "Maps" at number 1 on their list of "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance."{{cite web|title=Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance|url=https://www.nme.com/list/indie-weddings-songs-20-tracks-perfect-for-your-first-dance-1271|website=NME|accessdate=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022031008/http://www.nme.com/list/indie-weddings-songs-20-tracks-perfect-for-your-first-dance-1271|url-status=live}}

"Maps" served as an inspiration for Kelly Clarkson's 2004 hit song "Since U Been Gone," which was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/04/john-seabrook-song-machine-review-pop-music|title=John Seabrook on The Song Machine: 'There's a dark side to pop'|last1=Needham|first1=Alex|date=November 4, 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=November 14, 2022|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703101142/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/04/john-seabrook-song-machine-review-pop-music|url-status=live}} In an interview with Billboard, Dr. Luke said:

That was a conscious move by Max and myself, because we were listening to alternative and indie music ... I said, "Ah, I love this song,' and Max was like, 'If they would just write a damn pop chorus on it!' It was driving him nuts, because that indie song was sort of on six, going to seven, going to eight, the chorus comes ... and it goes back down to five. It drove him crazy. And when he said that, it was like, light bulb. 'Why don't we do that, but put a big chorus on it?" It worked.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956518/dr-luke-the-billboard-cover-story|title=Dr. Luke: The Billboard Cover Story|date=September 3, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2022|last=Willman|first=Chris|magazine=Billboard. The Prometheus Global|archive-date=May 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518060553/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956518/dr-luke-the-billboard-cover-story|url-status=live}}

"Maps" and "Since U Been Gone" share similar introductions, post-chorus guitar breaks, middle eights, and are both in the key of G major.{{cite web|title=All Mapped Out|url=https://popbitch.com/all-mapped-out/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815154138/http://popbitch.com/home/2016/08/14/all-mapped-out/|archive-date=August 15, 2016|website=Popbitch|access-date=November 14, 2022|date=August 14, 2016}} Karen O said noticing the similarity was "like getting bitten by a poisonous varmint."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/yeah-yeah-yeahs-taking-their-glorious-freak-rock-global-90794/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203055205/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/clap-your-hands-and-say-yeah-yeah-yeah-20060420|archive-date=February 3, 2013|title=Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Taking Their Glorious Freak Rock Global|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 14, 2022|date=April 20, 2006}}

"Hold Up," a song recorded by Beyoncé for her 2016 album, Lemonade, contains an interpolation of the "Maps" lyric, "Wait, they don't love you like I love you." Beyoncé sings the line as "Hold up, they don't love you like I love you," which was based on a 2011 tweet from Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig paraphrasing "Maps." Koenig and Diplo recorded a demo version of "Hold Up" in 2014 including the interpolated line, and when Beyoncé released the song on Lemonade, the three members of Yeah Yeah Yeahs shared in the songwriting credits.{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/65049-vampire-weekends-ezra-koenig-explains-how-his-tweet-about-the-yeah-yeah-yeahs-became-a-beyonce-song/ | title=Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig Explains How His Tweet About the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Became a Beyoncé Song | work=Pitchfork | date=April 25, 2016 | accessdate=November 14, 2022 | archive-date=May 11, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511205719/http://pitchfork.com/news/65049-vampire-weekends-ezra-koenig-explains-how-his-tweet-about-the-yeah-yeah-yeahs-became-a-beyonce-song/ | url-status=live }}

Resurgence in popularity

Despite its lyrics{{Weasel inline|date=February 2025}}, the song, via a sped-up version, gained popularity on TikTok in late September 2024. A dance was created along with it where it used different contexts of wanting someone to stop and listen to them. As a result, the song charted at number one on the US TikTok Billboard Top 50 in October 2024.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/tiktok-billboard-top-50/ | title=TikTok Billboard Top 50 | magazine=Billboard | last1=Cabison | first1=Rosalie }}{{Cite web |last=Weedston |first=Lindsey |date=2024-09-27 |title=Wait! Have You Seen The Maps Dance Yet? |url=https://www.dailydot.com/memes/maps-dance-yeah-yeah-yeahs-wait/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927183548/https://www.dailydot.com/memes/maps-dance-yeah-yeah-yeahs-wait/ |archive-date=2024-09-27 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

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

!Chart (2003–2004)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Scotland|35|date=20031004|rowheader=true|access-date=June 15, 2021}}
{{single chart|UK|26|date=20031004|rowheader=true|access-date=June 15, 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|87|artist=Yeah Yeah Yeahs|rowheader=true|access-date=September 25, 2015}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|9|artist=Yeah Yeah Yeahs|rowheader=true|access-date=September 25, 2015}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

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

!Chart (2004)

!Position

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=12|issue=51|page=29|date=December 17, 2004}}

|49

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Yeah Yeah Yeahs|title=Maps|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=13031-240-1|access-date=October 27, 2023}}

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

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|September 22, 2003

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD}}

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Polydor|Dress Up}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-09-20.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=September 20, 2003|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702042801/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-09-20.pdf|url-status=live}}

scope="row"|Australia

|October 6, 2003

|CD

|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue711.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th October 2003|publisher=ARIA|page=25|date=October 6, 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20031106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031107-0000/Issue711.pdf|archive-date=November 6, 2003|access-date=April 16, 2025}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

scope="row"|United States

|February 17, 2004

|Alternative radio

|Interscope

|{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1542|page=25|date=February 13, 2004}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • Allmusic: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r679626|pure_url=yes}} Maps Entry]
  • {{YouTube|oIIxlgcuQRU|"Maps" Official music video}}

{{Yeah Yeah Yeahs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2003 singles

Category:Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs

Category:2003 songs

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Polydor Records singles

Category:2000s ballads

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Songs written by Karen O

Category:Songs written by Brian Chase

Category:Songs written by Nick Zinner

Category:Breakup songs

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2024