Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)

"Maps" is a single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell (2003). The song is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O.[4] It was released on February 10, 2004, and the band performed the song at that year's MTV Movie Awards.[5] The music video received extensive play on MTV. It reached #9 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and was included in the popular video game Rock Band.

"Maps"
Single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from the album Fever to Tell
Released	February 10, 2004
Genre	Indie rock[1][2] art punk[3]
Length	3:40
Label	Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Brian Chase, Karen Lee Orzolek, Nick Zinner
Producer(s)	David Andrew Sitek Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs singles chronology
"Pin" (2003) "Maps" (2004) "Y Control" (2004)
Audio sample
Maps file help

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Maps"	Brian Chase, Karen Lee Orzolek & Nick Zinner	3:34
2.	"Countdown"		3:39
3.	"Miles Away" (John Peel Session Originally from the band's debut EP)		2:30

Music video

The video shows the band playing in an audition in a high school gymnasium, with different light filters changing the color of the room. Karen O's crying in the video was not staged. She explains: "They were real tears. My boyfriend at the time (Angus Andrew) was supposed to come to the shoot – he was three hours late and I was just about to leave for tour. I didn't think he was even going to come and this was the song that was written for him. He eventually showed up and I got myself in a real emotional state."[6] The song title allegedly stands for “My Angus Please Stay.”[7] The video received substantial play on MTV.[8] The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the MTV2 Award.[9] It was directed by Patrick Daughters.

Notable cover versions

• The White Stripes at the Reading Festival 2004.[10]
• Arcade Fire, on The Jo Whiley Show's Live Lounge.[11]
• Ted Leo as part of a medley with Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."[12]
• Macy Gray on her album Covered.
• The Bad Plus on their album It's Hard.
• Camp Cope covered the song for Triple J's Like A Version[13]
• Anderson Paak on his 2013 EP Cover Art[14][15]
• Keaton Henson on his EP The Lucky EP.[16]

Reception

• In 2009, it was voted the best alternative love song of all time by NME.[17]
• The song was also listed at #6 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s.[18]
• Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" as the 7th best song of the 2000s.[19]
• On April 7, 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" #386 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[20]
• In October 2011, NME placed it at number 55 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[21]
• NME ranked "Maps" at number 1 on their list of "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance."[22]

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
UK Official Charts	26[23][24]
Chart (2004)	Peak position
Brazil (ABPD)[25]	78
US Billboard Hot 100[26]	88
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[27]	9

References

1. Rich, Nathaniel (October 2015). "The Elaborate Charade to Obfuscate Who Writes Pop Music". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
2. "Top 150 Songs of the 2010s". Treble. January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
3. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 386 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
4. Sheffield, Rob (April 7, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Goth, Nerd, Slut". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
5. "How The Yeah Yeahs' 'Maps' Helped Change the Way We View the Relationship Between Pop and Indie". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
6. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Karen O's Video Crying Was For Real". contactmusic.com. July 12, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
7. How Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Transcended the Post-Punk Revival, retrieved February 25, 2020, minute 4:32
8. Endelman, Michael. ""Yeah Yeah Yeahs explain their disturbing new video"". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
9. "2004 VMA Winners". MTV. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
10. "ARCHIVES // SEPTEMBER 2004: 08.29.04 // THE READING FESTIVAL". WhiteStripes.net. August 29, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2007. A stellar set was played with the addition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's tune, Maps.
11. "Arcade Fire Cover Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". BrooklynVegan. September 9, 2005. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
12. "Served Three Ways: Three Covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps". Turntable Kitchen.
13. triple j (September 22, 2016), Camp Cope cover Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Maps' for triple j's Like A Version, retrieved July 31, 2018
14. Stelios Ramon (April 11, 2014). "Anderson .Paak - Maps" – via YouTube.
15. "Cover Art, by Anderson .Paak". Anderson .Paak.
16. "Keaton Henson - The Lucky EP Lyrics and Tracklist". Genius.
17. "Greatest Alternative Love Songs". NME. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
18. Harvell, Jess. "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
19. "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
20. "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
21. Schiller, Rebecca (October 6, 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME.
22. "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance". NME. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
23. "maps | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Retrieved March 11, 2017.
24. "YEAH YEAH YEAHS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
25. "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
26. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
27. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.

External links

• Allmusic: Maps Entry
• "Maps" Official music video on YouTube