Simple Song (The Shins song) explained

Simple Song
Cover:The Shins - Simple Song.jpg
Type:single
Artist:The Shins
Album:Port of Morrow
Recorded:2011
Genre:Indie rock
Label:Aural Apothecary, Columbia
Producer:Greg Kurstin, James Mercer
Prev Title:Sea Legs
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:It's Only Life
Next Year:2012

"Simple Song" is a song by American indie rock band The Shins from their fourth studio album Port of Morrow. Written by the group's frontman James Mercer, the song was released as the first single from the album.

Background

In an interview with Q, the band's frontman, James Mercer, has stated that the song was "about my wife, our relationship and this whole new life we [had] ahead of us." Additionally, Mercer stated that the song was also, in part, about the departures of drummer Jesse Sandoval and keyboardist Martin Crandall from The Shins.[1]

Explaining the origins of the song, Mercer revealed that he wrote the song in the living room of his apartment, shortly following his marriage and in the period leading to the birth of his first daughter.[1]

Musicians

Music video

The surrealist music video, staged as Mercer's funeral, was directed by DANIELS, a directing duo best known as the team behind the video for the song "Turn Down for What", and the films Swiss Army Man and Everything Everywhere All at Once. His backing band at the time, Richard Swift, Joe Plummer, Yuuki Matthews and Jessica Dobson, appeared in double roles as Mercer's children and as the performers of the song, although none of them were featured on the actual recording.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[2] 4
Canada Alternative Rock (America's Music Charts)[3] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4] 192
Japan Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 96
Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] 95
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] 6
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] 10
US Rock Songs (Billboard)[9] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2012)Position
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 38
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[11] 61

In popular culture

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Simple Song by The Shins Songfacts . Songfacts . April 3, 2012.
  2. Web site: Discografie The Shins . Hung Medien . ultratop.be . April 3, 2012.
  3. Web site: Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock – April 3, 2012. America's Music Charts. April 3, 2012. April 9, 2012.
  4. Web site: Zywietz. Tobias. CLUK Update (31.03.2012). Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. April 2, 2012.
  5. Web site: Japan Hot 100 Singles. Billboard. April 2, 2012. requires registration.
  6. Web site: Schweizer Airplay Charts 16/2012 – hitparade.ch . hitparade.ch . February 25, 2022.
  7. Web site: Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles – Issue Date: 2012-04-07. Billboard. April 2, 2012. requires registration.
  8. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the shins|chart=Alternative Songs}} The Shins Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs ]. . April 2, 2012.
  9. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the shins|chart=Alternative Songs}} The Shins Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs ]. . April 2, 2012 . To access peak, one must click the white area around the respective song.
  10. Web site: Alternative Songs – Year-End 2012. Billboard. September 6, 2018.
  11. Web site: Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2012. Billboard. September 6, 2018.
  12. Web site: The Shins Return to 'Letterman'. 2012-03-21. Rolling Stone. en-US. 2020-03-09. 2020-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713045355/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-shins-simple-song-on-letterman-241265/. dead.
  13. Web site: 'How I Met Your Mother' Music Supervisor Reveals Show's Top 10 Music Moments (Video). The Hollywood Reporter. en. 2020-03-09.

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