the Bird and the Bee
{{Short description|American indie pop musical duo}}
{{About|the musical duo|their eponymous album|The Bird and the Bee (album){{!}}The Bird and the Bee (album)|other uses|The Birds and the Bees (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Bird and the Bee
| image = The Bird and The Bee at The Bell House in Brooklyn 20090306-6.jpg
| image_size = 250
| landscape = yes
| caption = The Bird and the Bee performing at The Bell House in Brooklyn, New York City on March 6, 2009. From left: Greg Kurstin, Alex Lilly, Juliette Commagere, Inara George
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = Indie pop, synthpop, dream pop
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{Flatlist|
| associated_acts = Geggy Tah
| website = {{URL|thebirdandthebee.com}}
| current_members = Inara George {{small|(The Bird)}}
Greg Kurstin {{small|(The Bee)}}
}}
the bird and the bee is an American indie pop musical duo from Los Angeles, consisting of Inara George ("the bird") and Greg Kurstin ("the bee"). Kurstin is a nine-time Grammy Award–winning producer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with artists including Sia, Adele, Beck, Kendrick Lamar, and the Foo Fighters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/arts/music/greg-kurstin-adele-grammys-interview.html|title=Greg Kurstin, Adele's No. 2, on the Grammys, Beyoncé and Getting Cut Off|last=Coscarelli|first=Joe|date=2017-02-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-09|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} George and Kurstin met while the two were working on her debut album and they decided to collaborate on a jazz-influenced electropop project. Their debut EP, Again and Again and Again and Again, was released on October 31, 2006, followed by their self-titled debut album on January 23, 2007.
History
=2006–07: Formation and ''The Bird and the Bee''=
According to their Myspace page, Greg and Inara were introduced in 2004 by mutual friend Mike Andrews, whom George had enlisted to produce her solo debut, All Rise. George and Kurstin soon found themselves spending hours together in the studio, where a shared interest in jazz-based music helped lay the foundation for the Bird and the Bee. [They] began to explore new sounds and textures, eventually composing enough material for their debut EP."{{cite web |url=https://myspace.com/thebirdandthebee/bio |title=the bird and the bee (thebirdandthebee) on Myspace |publisher=Myspace |accessdate=February 3, 2016}} That EP was the four-track Again and Again and Again and Again, released on October 31, 2006, by Blue Note Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluenote.com/ArtistDiscography.aspx?ArtistId=921910 |title=Bird and the Bee, The Discography |publisher=Blue Note Records |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117081554/http://www.bluenote.com/ArtistDiscography.aspx?ArtistId=921910 |archivedate=November 17, 2008 |accessdate=November 27, 2011}} The EP includes the single "Fucking Boyfriend", which topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on the issue dated December 2, 2006.
The duo's self-titled debut studio album, The Bird and the Bee was released on January 23, 2007 to positive reviews; AllMusic described it as "irresistible" and "charming and delightful at every turn".{{cite web |last=Jurek |first=Thom |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bird-and-the-bee-mw0000551473 |title=The Bird and the Bee – The Bird and the Bee |work=AllMusic |accessdate=February 26, 2009}}
Mid-2007 saw the band touring as the opening act for English singer Lily Allen,{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2007/04/bird-and-bee-got-buzz-plenty/ |title=The Bird and the Bee Got Buzz A-Plenty |work=Spin |publisher=Buzz Media |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=February 26, 2009}} while their music was heard twice that year in the ABC drama series Grey's Anatomy, with "Again & Again" featured in the April 26 episode titled "Desire", and "Polite Dance Song" featured in the October 25 episode "Haunt You Every Day";{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2534758/ |title=The Bird and the Bee |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=February 26, 2009}} the former was also included on the third volume of the show's soundtrack.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greys-anatomy-vol-3-mw0000574813 |title=Grey's Anatomy, Vol. 3 – Original Soundtrack |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation |accessdate=November 27, 2011}} With the holiday season came additional exposure for the group, when Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store chose "Carol of the Bells" to be the featured "Free Single of the Week" for the week of November 27.
=2008–10: ''Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future'' and ''Interpreting the Masters Volume 1''=
In 2008 the duo's third EP One Too Many Hearts was released exclusively in digital format on February 12, 2008, to coincide with Valentine's Day. The four-song collection featured a rendition of the 1920s standard "Tonight You Belong to Me".{{cite web |last=Rosenbloom |first=Etan |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/the-bird-and-the-bee/one-too-many-hearts-ep/17256/ |title=Album Review: The Bird and The Bee – One Too Many Hearts EP |publisher=Prefix |date=February 14, 2008 |accessdate=February 26, 2009}}
The Bird and the Bee appeared repeatedly on TV and in films during 2008, with "Fucking Boyfriend" appearing in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall and "How Deep Is Your Love" included in the film adaptation of Sex and the City and VH1 promos for their reality show lineup.{{cite magazine |last=Li |first=Danica |url=http://www.sfbg.com/2009/02/04/bird-and-bee |title=The Bird and the Bee |magazine=San Francisco Bay Guardian |volume=43 |issue=19 |date=February 4, 2009 |accessdate=February 24, 2009 |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910140328/http://www.sfbg.com/2009/02/04/bird-and-bee |url-status=dead }} On July 8 a performance recorded at Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas was released as a digital EP titled Live from Las Vegas at the Palms, including live versions of "Again & Again" (Bossa Nova Version), "Fucking Boyfriend", "Autumn Leaves", "Man", and "Preparedness".
In 2009 the Bird and the Bee marked the release of their second studio album, Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future, with two national television appearances: January 26 on NBC's The Tonight Show and February 4 on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2009/01/the_bird_and_the_bee_announce.php |title=The Bird and the Bee Announce Leno, Kimmel Appearances, Offer First Glimpse of New Album |work=LA Weekly |date=January 13, 2009 |accessdate=November 27, 2011}} Following its January 27 release, the album debuted atop Billboard{{'}}s Top Heatseekers chart on sales of 5,000 copies.{{cite web |last=Jenison |first=David |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/bruce_springsteen_shows_taylor_swift/82375 |title=Bruce Springsteen Shows Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster Who's Boss |publisher=E! Online. NBCUniversal |date=February 4, 2009 |accessdate=February 24, 2009}} In support of the album, the duo embarked on a ten-date US tour, which kicked off at The Casbah in San Diego on February 5, 2009, and ended at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 7. On March 14, The Bird and the Bee performed at the Tricot Showroom in Los Angeles as part of a FMLY show.{{cite web |author=Cameron |url=http://thefmly.com/2009/03/13/the-bird-and-the-bee-tomorrow-night/ |title=The Bird and The Bee Tomorrow Night |publisher=FMLY |date=March 13, 2009 |accessdate=November 27, 2011}}
On March 23, 2010, the band released Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates, an album of Hall & Oates cover songs.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluenote.com/ArtistDiscography.aspx?ArtistId=921910&PromoId=&UPCCode=5099962623421 |title=Bird and the Bee, The Discography – Interpreting the Masters Vol.1 |publisher=Blue Note Records |accessdate=November 27, 2011}}
"What's in the Middle" was featured in the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of Bones. "4th of July" was featured in the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! episode titled "Larry". Their song "Diamond Dave" appeared in Judd Apatow's 2009 film Funny People.
=2011–present: ''Recreational Love''=
The Bird and the Bee announced on their official Facebook page on September 26, 2011, that they were no longer signed to Blue Note Records. They also stated, "We don't have an exact release date for the album yet, but it'll most likely be early 2012."{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/thebirdandthebee/posts/10150310193433354 |title=Hi everyone! We... |publisher=Facebook |date=September 26, 2011 |accessdate=November 27, 2011}} On November 18, 2011, the duo released a digital-only Christmas single titled "Wishes" through their website.{{cite web |url=http://www.thebirdandthebee.com/discography/ |title=The Bird And The Bee – Discography |publisher=thebirdandthebee.com |accessdate=November 28, 2011}}
The Bird and the Bee contributed "All Our Endless Love" to the soundtrack for the 2014 film Endless Love. This was a collaboration with Matt Berninger, and was released on the soundtrack album on 11 February 2014.{{cite web|last1=Martins|first1=Chris|title=The National's Matt Berninger Meets the Bird and Bee on 'All Our Endless Love'|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/the-bird-and-bee-matt-berninger-stream-all-our-endless-love/|website=spin.com|publisher=SpinMedia|accessdate=3 September 2014}} They produced a new track named "Undone" for the soundtrack of Sex Tape in July of the same year.{{cite web|last1=Schranck|first1=Rachel|title=The Bird and The Bee Release New Song "Undone"|url=http://www.mxdwn.com/2014/07/18/news/the-bird-and-the-bee-release-new-song-undone/|website=mxdwn.com|date=July 18, 2014 |accessdate=3 September 2014}}
In April 2015, George announced that a new album would be released in July of that same year.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/birdnbeemusic/status/588442256530518017|title=inara george on Twitter – @agent_spooky the world will get one this July!! X|publisher=Twitter|website=twitter.com|accessdate=5 May 2015}} The album, released on 17 July, was titled Recreational Love.{{cite web|title=inara george on Twitter – .@2shedds July 17th!!!|url=https://twitter.com/birdnbeemusic/status/595668210952855553|website=twitter.com|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=5 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/birdnbeemusic/status/595370810929381376|title=inara george on Twitter – New song comes out tomorrow! off our new record "Recreational Love" I'm excited! Are you?? follow us on @Spotify|publisher=Twitter|website=twitter.com|accessdate=5 May 2015}} The album's debut single, "Will You Dance?" was released on 5 May 2015.{{cite web|title=the bird and the bee: Will You Dance|url=http://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/todays-top-tune/the-bird-and-the-bee-will-you-dance|website=KCRW.com|publisher=KCRW|accessdate=5 May 2015}}
In September 2017, both George and Kurstin were featured on the Foo Fighters song "Dirty Water", from the Kurstin-produced album Concrete and Gold. George contributed the background vocals to the track, while Kurstin played the synth.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dave-grohl-on-how-foo-fighters-made-concrete-and-gold-with-pop-producer-202875/|title=Dave Grohl on How Foo Fighters Made New LP With Pop Producer|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=2017-07-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}
In August 2019, "Interpreting The Masters Volume 2: A Tribute to Van Halen" was released.
On October 23, 2020, they released a Christmas album Put Up The Lights through No Expectations/Release Me Records.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/put-up-the-lights-mw0003438662 Allmusic entry] It features Dave Grohl on drums on the track "Little Drummer Boy".
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title
!scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Again and Again and Again and Again
|
|
| scope="row"| I Hate Camera
|
|
| scope="row"| Please Clap Your Hands
|
|
| scope="row"| One Too Many Hearts
|
|
| scope="row"| Live from Las Vegas at the Palms
|
|
| scope="row"| Spotify Sessions (Live from Spotify NYC)
|
|
| scope="row"| Recreational Remixes
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year !scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| US Dance {{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the bird and the bee|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}} |title=The Bird and the Bee – Chart history: Dance/Club Play Songs |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=November 27, 2011}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| CAN !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| JPN |
| scope="row"| "Fucking Boyfriend"
| 2006 | 1 || — || — | Again and Again and Again and Again |
| scope="row"| "Again & Again"
|rowspan="3"|2007 | — || — || — |rowspan="2"| The Bird and the Bee |
| scope="row"| "La La La"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Carol of the Bells"
| — || 67 || — |
| scope="row"| "Love Letter to Japan"
|rowspan="2"| 2009 | — || — || 82 |rowspan="2"| Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future |
| scope="row"| "Diamond Dave"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "I'm into Something Good"
| 2010 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Wishes"
| 2011 | — || — || — | rowspan="2" {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Undone"
| 2014 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Will You Dance?"
| rowspan="3"| 2015 | — || — || — | rowspan="3"| Recreational Love |
| scope="row"| "Recreational Love"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Los Angeles"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Panama"
| rowspan="2"| 2019 | — || — || — | rowspan="2"| Interpreting the Masters Volume 2: |
| scope="row"| "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Witch (Mija Remix)"
| 2021 | — || — || — | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Lifetimes"
| 2022 | — || — || — | {{n/a}} |
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
!scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:2em;"| Year !scope="col" colspan="1" style="width:3em;"| Peak chart positions !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| JPN {{cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2010&month=03&day=29 |title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 |language=Japanese |work=Billboard Japan |publisher=Hanshin Contents Link |date=March 29, 2010 |accessdate=January 28, 2013}} |
| scope="row"| "Private Eyes"
| 2010 | 18 | Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates |
=Other appearances=
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.thebirdandthebee.com/}}
{{The Bird and the Bee}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird and the Bee, The}}
Category:American pop music duos
Category:American synth-pop groups
Category:Blue Note Records artists
Category:American electronic music duos
Category:Electronic music groups from California
Category:Indie pop groups from Los Angeles
Category:Musical groups established in 2006