Be A Punk with Vampire Weekend

Written by Sara Hart

By Sara Hart

Have you ever liked a band and not known it?  I bet you have.  Someone asks if you like a band, you wrack your brain and finally say "No, I've never heard of them..."  Then they play you a song and the light turns on. 

Ohhhh yeah.  You've heard that one....you kinda like that song.  Guess you HAVE heard of them.

Well I had a moment like that recently.  She Eats Planets drummer Matt and I were hanging out at the mall.  He asked "Do you like Vampire Weekend?"  "Uhhh I don't know who that is..." I responded.  We popped into a shoe store and while standing at the register, I start listening to the song playing over the store's speakers.  Bobbing along, I watched the....interesting music video for the song on their video screens.  "I like this song." I thought out loud.  Matt laughed "THAT'S Vampire Weekend!"  Oops....guess I do like Vampire Weekend!

The song I heard at that Steve Madden was "A-Punk".  This catchy single has found it's way onto several different American charts, making a descent showing on the Billboard charts as well as the UK singles chart.  Oh and if you haven't played them yet, you can also catch it on Lego Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5.

Clocking in at just two minutes and sixteen seconds, this song manages to get stuck in your head quite effectively in such a short amount of time.  The bright, repetitive guitar line and light, accenting percussion of the verses will make you want to bob your head.  The chorus has a slightly different style.  Heavier, muted drums and synthesized flutes accompanying the one, repeated line of lyrics; it definitely gives you a taste of the band's self-proclaimed influence from African popular music.

Lyrics like "His Honor drove southward seeking exotica/ Down to the Pueblo huts of New Mexico/ Cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas" sets this song apart from most of its peers in its unique subject matter and inventiveness.  This is one of those songs that you just have to look up the lyrics to and give them a good read...no smart guesses here.  Except, of course, for the always popular "ohhhhs" that add a catchy element to any song.  Let's not forget the "Hey hey hey hey!" hooks throughout.

If you're hoping to give it a listen, I highly suggest checking out the video on YouTube.  The video is simple, but pretty entertaining.  Its "self-made" feel is reminiscent of OK Go's "Here It Goes Again"...except instead of treadmills, you get fish gloves and bubbles, which I greatly enjoy!  Hope you do too!

Editor's Note: You can listen to "A Punk" by Vampire Weekend on the band's Myspace page.