| "1901" | ||||
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| Single by Phoenix | ||||
| from the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix | ||||
| Released | February 23, 2009 (digital download) February 2010 (UK 7" release) |
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| Format | Digital download, CD | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock Alternative rock Synth pop |
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| Length | 3:13 | |||
| Label | V2, Loyauté, Glassnote | |||
| Writer(s) | Thomas Mars | |||
| Producer | Phoenix, Philippe Zdar | |||
| Phoenix singles chronology | ||||
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"1901" is a song by French alternative rock band Phoenix and is featured on their fourth studio album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It was released in February 2009 as the album's lead single, originally as a free download from the band's official website, but was issued as a retail single due to the song's popularity. A music video for the song was released in May.[1] In July, the song entered the U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs chart, where it later went on to peak at number one,[2] becoming only the fourth single released on an independent record label to achieve such a feat.[3] The single will be re-issued in the UK for a February 2010 release.[4] According to lead singer Thomas Mars, the song is about early 20th century Paris. Mars said, "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris".[5]
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The song has received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with Pitchfork Media's Jason Crock saying it is "just as smooth and spirited and dementedly catchy as any of their best singles."[6] In October 2009, "1901" ranked number 228 in Pitchfork's list of "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s,"[7] the fifth-highest placement on the list amongst 2009 songs.[8] The NME's Gavin Haynes praised the song's "rave-like stop-go guitars,"[9] while Evan Sawdey of PopMatters said it might be Phoenix's "finest song to date."[10] Philadelphia Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca described the song as "joyously exultant riff-happy pop."[11] The song was ranked number two on Spin magazine's list of the "20 Best Summer Songs of 2009."[12]
Phoenix performed "1901" on television programs such as The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien,[13] Late Show with David Letterman,[14] Saturday Night Live,[15] and MTV's It's On with Alexa Chung.[14] The song was also featured in episodes of Gossip Girl and Melrose Place, the trailer for the film New York, I Love You,[16] television advertisements for Playstation[4] and the 2010 Cadillac SRX,[13] and appears on the soundtrack to the NHL 2K10 video game.[17] The song was released for the Rock Band series on January 19, 2010 along with "Lisztomania".
For the week ending December 19, 2009, "1901" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #90. It peaked at #84 for the week ending January 23, 2010 and has since re-entered the Hot 100 at Nos. 89 and 99.
| Chart (2009/2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] | 84 |
| U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs[2] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Rock Songs[2] | 5 |
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spin | U.S. | Best Songs of 2009[18] | 2009 | 2 |
| Pitchfork Media | U.S. | Top 100 Tracks of 2009[19] | 2009 | 3 |
| Slant Magazine | U.S. | Top 25 Songs of 2009[20] | 2009 | 3 |
| Rolling Stone | U.S. | Best Songs of 2009[21] | 2009 | 5 |
| Rolling Stone | U.S. | Best Songs of the Decade[22] | 2009 | 80 |
| Pitchfork Media | U.S. | Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s[7] | 2009 | 228 |
| Triple J | Australia | Hottest 100 Countdown 2009[23] | 2010 | 13 |
| Preceded by Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars |
Billboard Alternative Songs number-one single February 20, 2010 - March 5, 2010 |
Succeeded by Back Against the Wall by Cage the Elephant |
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