Float On (Modest Mouse song)
Encyclopedia
"Float On" is a single released by indie rock
band
Modest Mouse
. It also appears on their album Good News for People Who Love Bad News
. The track is generally considered to be the band's signature song
.
The song was nominated for a Grammy in 2005.
The song was written by Dann Gallucci
, Eric Judy
and Isaac Brock
.
, Brock said that he consciously intended to write something that felt more positive than some of his previous work:
The song was released on February 14, 2004 and was the first Modest Mouse song to gain mainstream popularity. Nearly six months after its release, it became the band's first #1 hit on the Billboard
Modern Rock Tracks
chart. In Australia
, the song was ranked #11 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004
. In July 2009, it was also voted in at #94 in Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time
. In December 2009 Rolling Stone named it the 39th greatest song of the 2000s.
, whose version can be heard on the soundtrack for the 2006 American
film John Tucker Must Die
.
It was also covered by Goldspot
, whose version later appeared on the American television series The O.C.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
covered this song for the polka medley "Polkarama!" from his 2006 album Straight Outta Lynnwood.
and Guitar Hero World Tour
.
"Float On" is also sampled and interpolated in Lupe Fiasco
's song "The Show Goes On
" from his album Lasers
.
"Float On" was used in a commercial for OnStar.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
. It also appears on their album Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Good News for People Who Love Bad News is the fourth full-length album recorded by indie rock band Modest Mouse.The album was released by Epic Records on April 6, 2004 on both CD and 180g/m² vinyl record. It was rereleased on DualDisc on October 11, 2005...
. The track is generally considered to be the band's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
.
The song was nominated for a Grammy in 2005.
The song was written by Dann Gallucci
Dann Gallucci
Dann Gallucci is a musician, audio engineer, and song writer based in Los Angeles, CA. He is probably best known as a former member of indie rock band Modest Mouse....
, Eric Judy
Eric Judy
Eric Scott Judy is the bass guitarist, background vocalist, and founding member of the indie rock band Modest Mouse. He has a wife and two children, and resides in Seattle, Washington....
and Isaac Brock
Isaac Brock (musician)
Isaac Brock is the lead singer, guitarist, banjoist, and songwriter for the American indie rock band Modest Mouse, as well as his side project band, Ugly Casanova...
.
Background
Asked about the song in an interview with The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
, Brock said that he consciously intended to write something that felt more positive than some of his previous work:
The song was released on February 14, 2004 and was the first Modest Mouse song to gain mainstream popularity. Nearly six months after its release, it became the band's first #1 hit on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the song was ranked #11 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004
Triple J Hottest 100, 2004
The 2004 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on 26 January 2005. It was the twelfth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J....
. In July 2009, it was also voted in at #94 in Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time
Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time, 2009
The Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time was a music poll conducted in 2009 amongst listeners of Australian youth radio network Triple J. Over half a million votes were compiled, with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" collecting the highest number of votes. Voters could submit a list of up to ten...
. In December 2009 Rolling Stone named it the 39th greatest song of the 2000s.
Covers
The song was covered by Ben LeeBen Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
, whose version can be heard on the soundtrack for the 2006 American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film John Tucker Must Die
John Tucker Must Die
John Tucker Must Die is a 2006 American high school comedy romance film, directed by Betty Thomas.The film is about a trio of girls who plot to break the heart of manipulative basketball star John Tucker after they learn he has been secretly dating all three and pledging each is "the one"...
.
It was also covered by Goldspot
Goldspot
Goldspot is a Los Angeles-based band first introduced by tastemaker DJ Nic Harcourt on his morning show, KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic". The Sunday Times UK hailed Goldspot as "the best band to come out of America in years"...
, whose version later appeared on the American television series The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
covered this song for the polka medley "Polkarama!" from his 2006 album Straight Outta Lynnwood.
Other uses
"Float On" is a playable track in the video games Rock Band 2Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
and Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
.
"Float On" is also sampled and interpolated in Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
's song "The Show Goes On
The Show Goes On (song)
"The Show Goes On" is a song by recording artist Lupe Fiasco, released on October 26, 2010 as the first single from his third studio album Lasers. Prominently built on the bassline of Pachelbel's Canon, the song was produced by Kane Beatz, and the melody of the song was taken from the 2004 song...
" from his album Lasers
Lasers (album)
Lasers is the third studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on 8 March 2011 by Atlantic Records in the United States. Production for the album took place between 2008 and 2010. Lasers features production by The Audibles, The Neptunes, Needlz, Alex da Kid, Syience, and long-time...
.
"Float On" was used in a commercial for OnStar.
Track listing
The following tracks appeared on the single:- "Float On" – 3:32
- "I've Got It All (Most)" – 3:06