Flash Delirium

"Flash Delirium" is a song released by the American psychedelic rock band MGMT on their second album Congratulations. It was the first single to be released from the album and was originally referred to as a "taster" before the band abandoned their original plan to not release any singles from Congratulations in order to solidify its existence as a singular body of work.[1] A free digital download of the song was given away on the band's official website.[2][3] "Flash Delirium" was made available as a digital download from iTunes on March 24, 2010.[4]

"Flash Delirium"
Single by MGMT
from the album Congratulations
ReleasedMarch 23, 2010
Length4:16
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser
MGMT singles chronology
"Kids"
(2008)		 "Flash Delirium"
(2010)		 "Siberian Breaks"
(2010)
Music video
"MGMT – Flash Delirium" at YouTube

On this album Andrew Vanwyngarden expresses his feelings towards social networking in the song 'Flash Delirium' and directly references to a popular site with the line "stab your Facebook." He expands on this in an interview with online magazine Coup De Main stating his disgust at the distraction it causes from real life. "It's just this weird little world which is fueled by vanity and looking at pictures of yourself."[5]

Sonic Boom commentary of the track, before the Congratulations sessions at the Blanker Unsinn Studio on 2010: "The natives go all Dance-hall Stomp as something strange in the water forces a Flash time Strobo-cop emanation of the will. Delusion Extrucion."[6]

Reception

Many critics praised "Flash Delirium" for its adventurism and distinct clash of styles. Rolling Stone magazine said it "ultimately keeps building until it explodes into a rapturous harmony, breaking into full-out thrash in its waning seconds."[7] Pitchfork said the song "features flutes, horns, and about seven different sections that reference doo-wop, old school rock'n'roll, electro balladry, Ariel Pink-style lo-fi, wall-of-Spector pop, and the Beatles at their most high. All in four minutes and sixteen seconds!"[2] "Flash Delirium" was also described as a "psychedelic trip."[3]

Music video

The video for "Flash Delirium," directed by Andreas Nilsson,[8] "lends a visual clue into the maelstrom and chaos of modern times." It premiered on MGMT's website on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.[9] It shows the two lead members of the band (Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser) at a welcome-home party. Ben touches a bandage at his neck a few times, with Andrew pulling his arm away from it each time. However, at the party, Ben removes the bandage to reveal a hole in his throat. Out of this hole is pulled an eel, which is then shoved into a machine and presumably destroyed, though the eel is shown wiggling in the hole in a few brief shots. The house trembles and the guests of the party dance as the machine emits lights, violently shaking. The video ends with a picture from outside the house showing something exploding inside and a guttural sound as the camera moves. In the very beginning of the music video, there is a banner outside the car that reads, "Sue the spider" and "Sink the Welsh," a reference to the lyrics at the end of the song.[10]

Awards
Title Award Result
MuchMusic Video Awards[11] International Video of the Year – Group Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards[12] Best Rock Video Nominated

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[13] 81
Canadian Hot 100[14] 87
Portugal (AFP)[15] 50
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 179
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[17] 23
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References
  1. "Congrats to MGMT". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  2. Ryan Dombal (2010-03-09). "Wild new MGMT song: "Flash Delirium"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  3. Alex Young. "New MGMT song, "Flash Delirium," unveiled". 2010-03-09. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  4. "Congratulations". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-03-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h176/seanjohn344/oracback3.jpg
  7. Daniel Kreps (2010-03-09). "MGMT unveil Congratulations song "Flash Delirium"". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  8. Montgomery, James (2010-03-30). "MGMT's 'Flash Delirium' Video: Sensible Nonsense, Justifiably So". MTV News. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  9. "Flash Delirium by MGMT Songfacts". songfacts.com.
  10. Columbia Records. "Who is MGMT". The Official MGMT Site.
  11. http://www.whoismgmt.com/at/news/nominiert-für-muchmusic-video-award%5B%5D
  12. "2010 MTV Video Music Awards – Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 2010 MTV VMAs". mtv.com.
  13. "ページがみつかりません│Billboard JAPAN". billboard-japan.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010.
  14. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p997031
  15. "Portuguesecharts.com – {{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  17. Billboard. Billboard https://www.billboard.com/music/mgmt/chart-history/rock-digital-song-sales. Retrieved 19 July 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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