Black Smoke Rising (song) explained

Black Smoke Rising
Artist:Greta Van Fleet
Album:Black Smoke Rising From the Fires
Recorded:2017
Genre:Rock
Label:

"Black Smoke Rising" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was first released on their debut EP Black Smoke Rising in 2017, and then later released again on their double EP From the Fires in 2018. While not originally released as a single, the song charted briefly on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

The song was first released on the band's debut EP Black Smoke Rising, and then released again on the band's next release, the double EP From the Fires.[1] On January 18, 2019, the band performed the song and "You're the One" live on Saturday Night Live.[2] [3] An acoustic version of the song would be released as a single in 2018 along with a cover of Rolling in the Deep by Adele.

Composition and themes

The song has been described as traditional, guitar-driven rock song, prominently featuring Jake Kiszka's guitar riff hook and lead singer Josh Kiszka's "husky howl". At the 2:30 mark of the song, the song breaks its structure to enter a minute long interlude consisting of Joshua Kiszka's howling vocals and Jacob Kiszka's psychedelic guitar work, before returning to its final chorus. Thematically, the song was inspired by the summers by bonfires of their youth, with Josh Kiszka explaining:

Reception

The song was well-received by critics. Billboard named the song the fifteenth best rock song of 2017,[4] while PopMatters writer William Nesbit named it the best rock song of 2017.[5]

The song received a Grammy Award nomination for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, for Best Rock Song.[6]

Personnel

Band

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . loudwire.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002706/http://loudwire.com/greta-van-fleet-double-ep-from-the-fires/ . 26 October 2017 . dead.
  2. Web site: Greta Van Fleet Perform 'Black Smoke Rising' and 'You're the One' on 'SNL': Watch. Billboard.com. 7 June 2021.
  3. Web site: Greta van Fleet's 'SNL' Performance of 'Black Smoke Rising' Was Fiery . uproxx.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190120144345/https://uproxx.com/music/greta-van-fleet-snl-performance-video-black-smoke-rising/ . 20 January 2019 . dead.
  4. Web site: The 25 Best Rock Songs of 2017: Critics' Picks. Billboard.com. 7 June 2021.
  5. Web site: Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires. Popmatters.com. William. Nesbitt. 14 December 2017 . 7 June 2021.
  6. Web site: 2019 metal and hard rock Grammy nominees include Greta Van Fleet, Ghost, Deafheaven, High on Fire, Halestorm, and more. Consequence.net. 7 December 2018. 7 June 2021.