Gold Lion
Encyclopedia
"Gold Lion" is the first single by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from their second album, Show Your Bones
. Distinct in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' discography, it features acoustic guitar and a more slowed-down pace in contrast to former works like "Bang!" and "Date with the Night
." It was released on March 21, 2006, and became the band's second major hit after 2004's "Maps
."
"Gold Lion" was named after the two Gold Lion awards won by the Adidas
commercial Hello Tomorrow
at the 2005 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
. Karen O
had contributed vocals to ad's song composed by Sam "Squeak E. Clean" Spiegel
, brother of Karen's then-boyfriend Spike Jonze
who had directed the ad.
"Gold Lion" was featured in the 2006 edition of the NME
Essential Bands compilation album
. It was also featured in a 2007 advertisement spot for Yves Saint Laurent
's "Elle" perfume. The ad, directed by Michael Haussman
, features Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha
. Additionally, the song was featured in the Grey's Anatomy
episode 17 Seconds
.
It has been noted by some music critics that "Gold Lion" sounds similar to "No New Tale To Tell" from 1980s alternative band Love and Rockets
.
In 2010 the instrumentals of the song were used in a commercial for Apple Inc.'s iPad
device.
features the band playing in the Nevada desert
at sunset and eventually night. At first we see Brian
holding a large pile of drumsticks with more tied to his back. Then, Nick is seen walking dragging a number of acoustic guitars behind him. Brian then sits at his drumkit with the pile of drumsticks. As he begins to play Brian's drumkit shoots out flames from his snare drum, which sets his drumstick alight and the ground around him as he continues to play. He then throws the stick on a pile of other drumsticks starting another fire. The rest of the band are seen performing, however they are all covered in sand and dust. At the pre-chorus Nick
smashes his guitar on the ground, at the same time Karen
wipes the dust off her face and takes off her sooty clothes to reveal her 'shiny' dress. Nick then plays the lead part on his electric guitar, the smashed guitar then sets on fire adding to the flames. The band continues playing in the same fashion with Nick smashing another acoustic guitar. The fire builds and the flames create a circle divided into 6ths surrounding the band. The video concludes with the band performing while surrounded by flames.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
from their second album, Show Your Bones
Show Your Bones
Show Your Bones is the second full-length album by new New York indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was released on March 27, 2006 . The album was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for "Best Alternative Music Album"....
. Distinct in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' discography, it features acoustic guitar and a more slowed-down pace in contrast to former works like "Bang!" and "Date with the Night
Date with the Night
"Date with the Night" was the first single from Fever to Tell by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This single also includes the B-side "Yeah! New York" which can also be found as a bonus track on the UK release of Fever to Tell and an exclusive remix of "Bang" from their debut EP, Yeah Yeah Yeahs . The single...
." It was released on March 21, 2006, and became the band's second major hit after 2004's "Maps
Maps (song)
"Maps" is a single by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell . The song is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O; the title is actually an acronym of the words "My Angus Please Stay". It was released on...
."
"Gold Lion" was named after the two Gold Lion awards won by the Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
commercial Hello Tomorrow
Hello Tomorrow
Hello Tomorrow is the title of a 2005 Adidas television advertisement, and also the name of the song used in the commercial. The 90-second spot was created by Oscar-nominated film director Spike Jonze for ad agency TBWA\Chiat\Day to advertise the adidas_1 "intelligent" sneakers. The title song was...
at the 2005 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising and related fields. The seven-day festival, incorporating the awarding of the Lions awards, is held yearly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France...
. Karen O
Karen O
Karen Lee Orzolek , better known by her stage name Karen O, is the vocalist for New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Early life:...
had contributed vocals to ad's song composed by Sam "Squeak E. Clean" Spiegel
Sam Spiegel (musician)
Sam Spiegel, also known as Squeak E. Clean, is an American producer/DJ/composer from New York who grew up in Manhattan and Westchester County.As a child, Sam studied classical voice, cello, and flute, but by his teens, he enjoyed hip hop music....
, brother of Karen's then-boyfriend Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
who had directed the ad.
"Gold Lion" was featured in the 2006 edition of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
Essential Bands compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
. It was also featured in a 2007 advertisement spot for Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
's "Elle" perfume. The ad, directed by Michael Haussman
Michael Haussman
Michael Haussman is an American music video, motion picture and television advertisement director, writer and producer.Michael Haussman is a director, writer and artist, whose internationally acclaimed commercials have won numerous awards and are featured in advertising books and trade journals...
, features Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha
Coco Rocha
Coco Rocha is a Canadian fashion model.- Personal life :Rocha was born in Toronto, Ontario, and moved to Richmond and attended McRoberts secondary school, British Columbia at a very young age. Her family is in the airline industry. Her mother, Juanita, is a flight attendant and her father, Trevor...
. Additionally, the song was featured in the Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
episode 17 Seconds
17 Seconds
"17 Seconds" is the 25th episode from the medical drama series, Grey's Anatomy, from the second season. It is the first part of a three part season finale. The episode was written by Mark Wilding, and directed by Daniel Minahan. It was originally air date in May, 14, 2006, running for 43:10...
.
It has been noted by some music critics that "Gold Lion" sounds similar to "No New Tale To Tell" from 1980s alternative band Love and Rockets
Love and Rockets (band)
Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
.
In 2010 the instrumentals of the song were used in a commercial for Apple Inc.'s iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
device.
Track listing
- "Gold Lion" – 3:09
- "Let Me Know" (Demo) – 3:31
- "Gold Lion" (Diplo's Optimo remix) – 4:04
- "Gold Lion" (Nick ZinnerNick ZinnerNicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist for the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance...
remix) – 3:14
Music video
The music video directed by Patrick DaughtersPatrick Daughters
Patrick Daughters is an American music video and commercial director currently signed to The Directors Bureau, after departing Black Dog Films in late 2006....
features the band playing in the Nevada desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
at sunset and eventually night. At first we see Brian
Brian Chase
Brian Chase is an American drummer playing in the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He was ranked at #50 in Gigwise's list of The Greatest Drummers of All Time. He plays drums with traditional grip.-Early life:...
holding a large pile of drumsticks with more tied to his back. Then, Nick is seen walking dragging a number of acoustic guitars behind him. Brian then sits at his drumkit with the pile of drumsticks. As he begins to play Brian's drumkit shoots out flames from his snare drum, which sets his drumstick alight and the ground around him as he continues to play. He then throws the stick on a pile of other drumsticks starting another fire. The rest of the band are seen performing, however they are all covered in sand and dust. At the pre-chorus Nick
Nick Zinner
Nicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist for the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance...
smashes his guitar on the ground, at the same time Karen
Karen O
Karen Lee Orzolek , better known by her stage name Karen O, is the vocalist for New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Early life:...
wipes the dust off her face and takes off her sooty clothes to reveal her 'shiny' dress. Nick then plays the lead part on his electric guitar, the smashed guitar then sets on fire adding to the flames. The band continues playing in the same fashion with Nick smashing another acoustic guitar. The fire builds and the flames create a circle divided into 6ths surrounding the band. The video concludes with the band performing while surrounded by flames.
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Modern Rock | 14 |
| 2006 | The Billboard Hot 100 | 88 |
| 2006 | Official UK Charts | 18 |
| 2006 | Triple J Hottest 100 Triple J Hottest 100 The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs... 2006 Triple J Hottest 100, 2006 The 2006 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2007. It is the fourteenth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as voted by listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J.... |
24 |
| 2006 | Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
37 |