Making a Fire explained

Making a Fire
Type:	single
Artist:	Foo Fighters
Album:	Medicine at Midnight
Released:	June 8, 2021
Recorded:	October 2019 – February 2020
Studio:	Unnamed house in Encino, Los Angeles
Genre:	Power pop^[1]
Length:	4:15
Label:	RCA Roswell
Producer:	Foo Fighters Greg Kurstin
Prev Title:	Waiting on a War
Prev Year:	2021
Next Title:	Love Dies Young
Next Year:	2021

"Making a Fire" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, the opening track on their tenth studio album, Medicine at Midnight (2021). It was released to rock radio stations on June 8, 2021, making it the album's fourth single.

Release

Prior to the release of Medicine at Midnight, Foo Fighters shared a snippet of "Making a Fire", along with "Cloudspotter", on February 1, 2021.^[2] After the album's release, "Making a Fire" was included in the soundtrack for the baseball video game MLB The Show 21, released in April 2021.^[3] The song was released to rock-centric radio stations on June 8, 2021, making it the fourth single released from Medicine at Midnight.^[4] It became Foo Fighters' 11th song to reach number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.^[5] A re-recorded version of the song produced by Mark Ronson was released on June 25, 2021, featuring musicians from bands such as the Budos Band, Antibalas, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.^[6]

Composition and themes

According to insider.com, "The album kicks off with the jovial tune "Making a Fire", which boasts a funky 3/4 groove. The chorus is especially catchy thanks to a gospely "na-na-na" refrain with harmonies from some female vocalists including Grohl's daughter Violet."^[7] According to Rolling Stone, the song "Making a Fire" is "brighter and more optimistic than anything they’ve ever done".^[8]

Charts

Original version

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Peak position
Canada All-format Airplay (Billboard)^[9]	50
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[10]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[11]	94
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[12]	11

Mark Ronson Re-version

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
UK Physical Singles (OCC)^[13]	5
UK Vinyl Singles (OCC)^[14]	3

Notes and References

1. Web site: Horton . Ross . February 4, 2021 . Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight . June 30, 2021 . musicOMH.
2. News: Skinner . Tom . February 1, 2021 . Foo Fighters share snippets of new tracks 'Cloudspotter' and 'Making a Fire' . . February 12, 2021.
3. Web site: Couden . Matt . May 26, 2021 . MLB The Show 21 Soundtrack: Next-Gen Highlight Video Arrives Set to Royal Blood Song . July 1, 2021 . VGR.
4. Web site: Future releases - June 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210605100152/https://www.allaccess.com/rock/future-releases . June 5, 2021 . July 1, 2021 . AllAccess.
5. Zellner . Xander . September 15, 2021 . Foo Fighters Set New Personal Record as 'Making a Fire' Tops Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart . . January 10, 2022.
6. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . June 25, 2021 . Foo Fighters and Mark Ronson Share New Version of "Making a Fire": Listen . July 1, 2021 . Pitchfork.
7. Web site: Kalnitz . Max . February 5, 2021 . Foo Fighters pivot to pop and win big with newest album 'Medicine at Midnight' . insider.com . February 12, 2021.
8. News: Grow . Kory . January 26, 2021 . Foo Fighters throw a Pop Party on 'Medicine at Midnight . . February 12, 2021.
9. Canada All Format (Foo Fighters) . . September 15, 2021.
10. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. February 15, 2021. February 13, 2021.
11. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
12. Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
13. Web site: UK Official Physical Singles Singles Top 40 - 29 April 2022 - 5 May 2022 . officialcharts.com . April 29, 2022.
14. Web site: UK Official Vinyl Singles Top 40 - 29 April 2022 - 5 May 2022 . officialcharts.com . April 29, 2022.