It was a fortuitous beginning in oh so many ways....
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were formed at the beginning of the century (which sounds kind of cool until you realize it was only fifteen years ago), and in the ensuing years have made quite a name for themselves. "Maps" made Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 songs ever, was voted the best alternative love song ever by NME, and several of their albums have been voted among both the albums of the year and albums of the decade by numerous music magazines. The song also reached #9 (with a bullet!) on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. Not bad for a trio that's basically vocals, guitar and drums.
And that's one of the amazing things about "Maps"--how much greatness is achieved through such simplicity. Released in 2004 on their Fever to Tell LP, the song is about lead singer Karen O.'s relationship with her then boyfriend Angus Andrews. It opens with the frenzied ringing of an electric guitar which is joined shortly by the driving beat of the drums...both of which lead to the heart and soul of "Maps" which is Karen O.'s piercing and heartbreaking vocals. Her singing is reminiscent of The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, though filled with a bit more vulnerability than Hynde. There's a nice power chord bridge in the middle and at the end--and that's about it. It's literally frenzied guitar, driving drums, and Karen O. plaintively repeating "Wait, they don't love you like I love you..." (thirteen times by my count) while stretching out the word "maps" a few times throughout ("Maaah-aaahhh-aaah-aaahps). That so much yearning, sorrow, and loss could be packed into such an emotional punch with so little amazes me as much today as it did eleven years ago when I first heard it.
"Oh say say say..." it's just a beautiful moment in rock and roll.
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
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