Step (Vampire Weekend song)

"Step"
Single by Vampire Weekend
from the album Modern Vampires of the City
A-side "Diane Young"
Released May 5, 2014
Format Digital download
Genre Indie pop, baroque pop[1]
Length 4:11
Label XL Recordings
Writer(s) Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij
Producer(s) Ariel Rechtshaid, Rostam Batmanglij
Vampire Weekend singles chronology
"Unbelievers"
(2013)		 "Step"
(2014)

"Step" is a song by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend. Written and composed by band members Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Batmanglij, the song was released as the fourth and final single from the band's third studio album Modern Vampires of the City. The song was inspired by American hip-hop group Souls of Mischief's song "Step to My Girl".[2][3]

Composition

The lyrics and other elements of "Step" were inspired by the song "Step to My Girl" which was recorded as a demo recorded by the Oakland-based hip-hop group Souls of Mischief. The hip-hop group was contacted by Vampire Weekend's legal team to sample and use one of the lines from "Step to My Girl". One of the members of Vampire Weekend also spoke directly to Souls of Mischief about the song's sample.[4]

When Souls of Mischief member Tajai finally heard "Step" after it was completed, he expressed his approval stating that "it was so good; I was just happy we were able to be part of that." Impressed with the song's outcome, Souls of Mischief are contemplating on doing a collaboration with Vampire Weekend.[4]

Release

"Step" was initially released as a double A-side single with "Diane Young" on March 18, 2013, with both songs being promoted as the lead singles taken from the band's third studio album Modern Vampires of the City.[5][6] "Step" premiered with "Diane Young" on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show in the UK.[5]

Remix

Vampire Weekend composed a remix of "Step", featuring guest verses from American rappers Danny Brown, Heems and Despot. The remix was released December 31, 2014.[7]

Commercial performance

"Step" peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.[8] The single also reached number 170 in France[9] and number 142 on the UK Singles Chart.[10] It also peaked at number 54 on the Ultratip charts in the Flanders region of Belgium.[11]

Music video

The lyric video to "Step" was uploaded on March 18, 2013 on YouTube and VEVO. The background of the video shows various shots of New York City with the lyrics being shown over the top.[12]

Charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[11] 54
France (SNEP)[9] 170
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 142
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] 35

References

  1. ↑ "The Guardian - Modern Vampires of the City review". 10 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Vampire Weekend - Step". musicbrainz.org. MusicBrainz. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ "VAMPIRE WEEKEND: STEP, AS INSPIRED BY SOULS OF MISCHIEF’S STEP TO MY GIRL". somuchsilence.com. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ducker, Eric. "A Rational Conversation: Souls of Mischief On Their Vampire Weekend Connection and Why '93 'Til Infinity' Endures...". thedailyswarm.com. The Daily Swarm. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Vampire Weekend reveal new songs 'Diane Young' and 'Step' – listen". nme.com. NME. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Vampire Weekend Reveal Two New Songs, 'Diane Young' And 'Step'". live105.cbslocal.com. CBS Local. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Listen: Danny Brown jumps on remix of Vampire Weekend's "Step"". Consequence of Sound. December 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Vampire Weekend Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Alternative Songs for Vampire Weekend.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Lescharts.com – Vampire Weekend – Step" (in French). Les classement single.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "October 2013/ Archive Chart: 19 October 2013" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ultratop.be – Vampire Weekend – Step" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  12. ↑ "Vampire Weeking – Step (Official Lyrics Video)". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2014.