Bloodbuzz Ohio Explained

Bloodbuzz Ohio
Cover:Bloodbuzz_Ohio.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:The National
Album:High Violet
Released:March 24, 2010 (digital download)
May 3, 2010 (7")
Genre:
Length:4:36
Label:4AD(AD 3X22)
Producer:The National
Prev Title:Fake Empire
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Anyone's Ghost
Next Year:2010

"Bloodbuzz Ohio" is a single by indie rock band The National, from their fifth studio album, High Violet. It is notable for Matt Berninger's baritone vocals. It was made available for download on the band's website on March 24, 2010. The song was also released on 7" vinyl (with the exclusive B-side "Sin-Eaters") on May 3, 2010.[1] The cover art of this single is a work by artist Mark Fox, titled Jane Jacobs Understands The Beehive.[2]

Julia Stone covered the song on her 2012 album, By the Horns.

Irish artist Soak covered the song in 2019.

Goose performed a version of the song on August 18, 2022 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Critical reception

One Thirty BPM described the track as "the beating heart of High Violet and most alarming insight into the psyche of the album."[3] Pitchfork called it "a tense, drawn-out build with Matt Berninger's weathered baritone lording all over everything."[4] On January 26, 2011, the song was voted at number 31 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010, making it their highest entry on the countdown ever. In 2019, Pitchfork ranked the song at number 76 on its list of the 200 Best Songs of the 2010s.[5]

In Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield stated that the song is "about money", emphasizing that its chorus is the phrase "I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe", and speculating that Ohio is "mentioned only because it sounds like 'I owe'"; Sheffield further observed that the song's lyrics are "full of throwaway clues that never add up to any coherent storyline", but that it is nonetheless "sickeningly great" and has "undeniable emotional punch".[6]

Music video

Matt Berninger is the main focus of the first video from High Violet which shows him dapper in a suit, holding a drink, and walking the streets of New York City, seemingly lost in thought as he sings.[7] Documentary film director D.A. Pennebaker appears in a cameo in the video, playing a bartender.[8]

It was directed by Hope E. Hall, Andreas Burgess, and Berninger's wife Carin Besser.[9]

Performances

The National performed a special live studio performance and interview on American Public Media's Marketplace November 1, 2012.

Track listing

Chart history

It charted on the Belgian Flanders Ultratop 50 at number 49 for one week on week 25 of 2010.[10] It then re-entered the chart, and on its third week on the chart, the song peaked at number 16. It has also charted on the Ultratip chart in Wallonia region at number 37.

Chart (2010)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[11] 20
U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales[12] 7
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[13] 31

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4AD – The National – Download Free MP3 of the new single, 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' . March 25, 2010 . 2011-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606060424/http://www.4ad.com/news/download-free-mp/ . June 6, 2011.
  2. Web site: News . Mark Fox . April 27, 2011 . Fox, Mark.
  3. Web site: Track Review: The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio" . One Thirty BPM . Ian . Barker . 2011-12-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626210911/http://onethirtybpm.com/2010/05/24/track-review-the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio/ . June 26, 2010 . mdy-all .
  4. Web site: Breihan . Tom . The National: "Bloodbuzz Ohio" | Tracks . Pitchfork . March 30, 2010 . 2022-06-16.
  5. Web site: The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s . Pitchfork . Pitchfork Media . 12 October 2019 . en.
  6. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-nationals-money-shot-in-praise-of-bloodbuzz-ohio-242316/ The National’s Money Shot: In Praise of “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
  7. Web site: The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yfySK7CLEEg . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube . 2011-12-24.
  8. Web site: Amy Phillips. Video: The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio". . May 11, 2010 . June 25, 2012.
  9. Web site: The National – 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' video – News | State Magazine . State.ie . May 12, 2010 . 2011-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100514132544/http://www.state.ie/2010/05/news/the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio-video/ . May 14, 2010 . dead .
  10. Web site: The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio – Music Charts . Acharts.us . 2011-12-24.
  11. Web site: The National Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay . Billboard . March 16, 2019 .
  12. Web site: The National Hot Singles Sales. Billboard. May 16, 2019.
  13. Web site: Official Physical Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. May 14, 2010. September 7, 2023.