White Winter Hymnal Explained

White Winter Hymnal
Cover:FleetFoxes-WhiteWinterHymnal(Single).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Fleet Foxes
Album:Fleet Foxes
A-Side:White Winter Hymnal
B-Side:Isles
Released:July 21, 2008
Recorded:2007
Length:2:27
Label:Bella Union
Producer:Phil Ek
Next Title:He Doesn't Know Why
Next Year:2008

"White Winter Hymnal" is the first single from Fleet Foxes' debut 2008 self-titled album.[1] Released by European label Bella Union on July 21, 2008, the single was issued on 7" vinyl as well as digital MP3 format. The B-side is the non-album track "Isles".

Background

Former Cocteau Twins bassist Simon Raymonde, the head of record label Bella Union, was considering shutting it down due to financial troubles, but after hearing a demo version of "White Winter Hymnal", he was motivated to continue going on and signed Fleet Foxes to the label based on how much he liked the song.[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Robin Pecknold.

  1. "White Winter Hymnal" – 2:27
  2. "Isles" – 3:06

Critical reception

Time critic Josh Tyrangiel named this the #5 song of 2008.[3] Pitchfork Media ranked it the #2 song of 2008 and #66 on their decade end list.[4]

Covers and use in media

"White Winter Hymnal" has been covered by several artists and featured in other media.

It was covered by ARORA on the album Sonosings (2009). It also appeared on Birdy's debut album Birdy (2011) and Kina Grannis's album Stairwells (2011).

In 2010, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 2.20, "Northwest Passage".[5]

British vocalist Kim Wilde released a version on her 2013 Christmas album Wilde Winter Songbook, performed with her father Marty Wilde and brother Ricky Wilde.

In 2014 it was also covered by a cappella group Pentatonix on their album That's Christmas to Me.

In the eighth season of Danish TV series X Factor, it was covered by group Ivarsson, Bang & Neumann.

The song is used in the opening credits to the Hulu series, The Path. It also appears on the soundtrack for the 2015 movie Love the Coopers.[6]

Phish performed an a cappella version as part of their 2017 "Baker’s Dozen" residency at Madison Square Garden.[7]

In 2017, British television presenter and singer Alexander Armstrong covered the song on his Christmas album, In a Winter Light.[8]

In 2021, this song was used for the Spanish Christmas Lottery commercial.

In 2024, this song was featured in the Netflix original series Sweet Tooth in season 3, episode 3.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Colm Larkin, "Paean to the beauty of winter", Clash Music, June 8, 2008.
  2. News: Clayton . Richard . Fleet Foxes are in harmony with success . . en . 2023-05-16 . 0140-0460.
  3. Time, December 22, 2008, pages 47-8.
  4. Web site: The 100 Best Tracks of 2008 - Page 10. Pitchfork.com. 8 February 2022.
  5. Web site: The Fringemunks . Davidwumusic.com. 8 February 2022.
  6. Web site: IMDb.com. Love the Coopers (2015). 2017-12-06.
  7. Web site: Why Phish's 'Baker's Dozen' Shows Are a Fan's Dream. Jesse. Jarnow. Rollingstone.com. 28 July 2017. 8 February 2022.
  8. Web site: Alexander Armstrong - In A Winter Light. 8 February 2022. Discogs.com.