Mykonos (song)

"Mykonos"
Single by Fleet Foxes
from the album Sun Giant
B-side "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" (live) (UK version)
"False Knight Upon the Road" (U.S. version)
Released January 27, 2009 (UK version)
May 5, 2009 (US version)
Format 7", digital
Recorded 2007
Genre Indie folk, indie rock, baroque pop
Length 8:30 (UK version)
8:21 (U.S. version)
Label Bella Union; Sub Pop
Writer(s) Fleet Foxes
Producer Phil Ek
Fleet Foxes singles chronology
"He Doesn't Know Why"
(2008)
"Mykonos"
(2009)

Mykonos is the third single from indie folk band Fleet Foxes, from their 2008 EP Sun Giant. It was released in the UK on January 27, 2009, by European label Bella Union; in the format of 7" vinyl as well as a digital download, and peaked at number 53 [1] on the UK Singles Chart. The B-side is a live version of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" from their debut album. On May 5, 2009, it was released in the U.S. on Seattle-based record label Sub Pop, with the song "False Knight Upon the Road" in place of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song". An alternate version of the song, with a track length of 3:39, was released on the deluxe version of their debut album Fleet Foxes. The song is featured in the 2010 comedy movie, Due Date.

Contents

Track listing

UK version
No. Title Length
1. "Mykonos"   4:35
2. "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (live)"   3:55
US version
No. Title Length
1. "Mykonos"   4:35
2. "False Knight on the Road"   3:46

Music video

A music video was made for "Mykonos", and was directed by Sean Pecknold, singer Robin Pecknold's brother.[2] It is entirely animated and is described by Pitchfork.tv as:

"[The]... video imagines a fluid universe filled with triangles, castles and barbershop mustaches. It's a little playful... and a little creepy."

It depicts a pair of small origami triangles (representing feet) on an adventure through a world made solely of paper. They begin, sliding and falling downwards, onto various objects and buildings which collapse shortly after. As this happens, an evil face appears in the background, whose eyes follow the triangles. Eventually, the triangles find a bird, upon whose back they ride above the clouds, only to fall again and end up in a dark forest filled with long, thin legs walking around. They then enter a flying machine, and encounter a tall figure, which they push over a cliff, to fall with it, watched by rows of eyes. As the song slows, they continue to fall, into a fortress in which the figures walk along high walkways. It appears to be the home of the face, which is promptly destroyed by the triangles, who flee the collapsing fortress. The song fades as the triangles sink into the sea.

Reception

Critical

Billboard magazine said that "the second half of 'Mykonos' is salvation for the ears."[3] The New York Times said of the track that there are moments when "the band members' high, honeyed voices melded into an imperfect swell reminiscent of the kind of church choir John and Alan Lomax might have captured with their 500-pound recording machine.."[4]

References

  1. ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php UK Top 100 Singles Chart
  2. ^ http://pitchfork.tv/videos/fleet-foxes-mykonos
  3. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (April 12, 2008), "Sun Giant". Billboard. 120 (15):42
  4. ^ PETRUSICH, AMANDA (July 11, 2008), "Folk Tales From The Seattle Woods". New York Times.:3

External links