Folding Stars

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“Folding Stars”
“Folding Stars” cover
CD and 7" #1 cover
Single by Biffy Clyro
from the album Puzzle
B-side "Asexual Meat Kitchen"
"Coward"
"A Headline"
Released 16 July 2007 (UK)
Format CD, 7"
Recorded The Warehouse Studio
Vancouver, Canada
The Farm Studios
Gibsons, Canada
Length
  • 4:15 (Album version)
  • 3:56 (Single version)
Label 14th Floor
14FLR24CD (UK, CD)
14FLR24V1 (UK, 7" #1)
14FLR24V2 (UK, 7" #2)
Writer(s) Simon Neil
Producer Garth Richardson
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro singles chronology
"Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies"
(2007)		 "Folding Stars"
(2007)		 "Machines"
(2007)
Puzzle track listing
  1. "Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies"
  2. "Saturday Superhouse"
  3. "Who's Got A Match?"
  4. "As Dust Dances"
    • "2/15ths"
  5. "A Whole Child Ago"
  6. "The Conversation Is..."
  7. "Now I'm Everyone"
  8. "Semi-Mental"
    • "4/15ths"
  9. "Love Has A Diameter"
  10. "Get Fucked Stud"
  11. "Folding Stars"
  12. "9/15ths"
  13. "Machines"
Folding Stars
7" #2 Cover
7" #2 Cover

"Folding Stars" is a song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro from their 2007 album, Puzzle. It was released as the third physical single from Puzzle, on 16 July.[1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

"Folding Stars" was inspired by the death of Simon Neil's mother, Eleanor, in March 2004.[2] The song has been described as a "huge, hands-in-the-air anthem",[3] "the album’s finest heart-on-sleeve moment" and "raw, honest and breathtaking".[4]

Simon Neil has commented on the song, saying:

“ This song is for a loved one.[5] ”
“ It was definitely the toughest song I've ever had to record. It's the most raw and exposed I've ever felt - I'm still not sure if I want to play it live, but it was the only way for me to deal with it. It's such a cliché and usually I hate people that spout shit like this... but having the chance to sing about my mum dying was therapeutic.[3] ”
“ Personally, it's a very important song to me. It's the most straight pop ballad - I hate the word "ballad" - let's say slow song we've done. It turned out perfectly. it's a sweet song and is a balance to the craziness.[2] ”
“ She really liked the quiet songs, so I wrote the song for her. It's the kind of song she'd like and although it was really tough to record, I'm immensely proud of it. it makes me happy when people say they connect with the song but I'm not sure if we'll ever play it live. Not any time soon, anyway.[6] ”

The song was first performed live on 8 July 2007, at the Radio 1/NME Stage at T in the Park 2007. Mike Vennart of Oceansize, a long time friend of the band, provided second guitar for this performance. On 26 August 2007, the band played at Leeds Festival and stated that it was the last time that Folding Stars would be played live[7]. They however reneged on this decision when the song was played live at Brixton Academy on 21st November 2007[8].

[edit] Track listing

Songs and lyrics by Simon Neil. Music by Biffy Clyro.

  • CD 14FLR24CD
  1. "Folding Stars" – 4:15
  2. "Asexual Meat Kitchen" - 3:29
  • 7" #1 14FLR24V1
  1. "Folding Stars" – 4:15
  2. "Coward" - 3:40
  • 7" #2 14FLR24V2
  1. "Folding Stars" – 4:15
  2. "A Headline" - 3:39
  • Digital download
  1. "Folding Stars" – 3:56
  • iTunes exclusive
  1. "Folding Stars (Demo)" - 4:30

[edit] Personnel

  • Simon Neil – guitar, vocals
  • Ben Johnston – bass, vocals
  • James Johnston – drums, vocals
  • Garth Richardson – producer
  • Matt Caughthran - vocals on "Asexual Meat Kitchen"

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Biffy Clyro Article on NME
  2. ^ a b Kerrang! #1159, p. 22
  3. ^ a b Rock Sound #96, p.49
  4. ^ IndieLondon review of Puzzle
  5. ^ Kerrang! #1147, p.6
  6. ^ Kerrang! #1159, p. 24
  7. ^ Mike Sterry (26th August 2007). Biffy Clyro. NME.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  8. ^ Biffy Clyro un-ban song at Brixton. NME.com (22nd November 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-24.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Biffy Clyro
Simon Neil · James Johnston · Ben Johnston
Studio albums
EPs
Singles
Related articles