Neighborhood 2 (Laïka)
Encyclopedia
"Neighborhood #2" is the second single by Canadian
rock
band
Arcade Fire from their debut album Funeral
. Released on 28 March 2005, the single reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart
, and was released on the Rough Trade Records
record label
. The single also contains the song "My Buddy" by Alvino Rey
, the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win
and William Butler
.
) about the Russian space program sending the dog Laika
into space. Laika was the first living creature to orbit Earth. Butler told Pulse, a Minneapolis publication, "It’s a great story about a dog being the first living creature in space. Doing this spectacular thing, but not having food and watching itself fall back into the earth."
The song's dark lyrics complement its catchy melodies. The lyrics first tell the story of "Alexander" being sent out on an adventure. The adventure, for the "good of the neighborhood", will ultimately end in the death of "Alexander".
The accordion melody bears a significant resemblance to the riff from 1963 single 'The Sultan' by fellow Canadian Neil Young's early band The Squires
.
"http://www.arcadefire.net/lyrics/funeral/" - Lyrics
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Arcade Fire from their debut album Funeral
Funeral (album)
Funeral is the debut full-length album by the Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on September 14, 2004 in North America by Merge Records and on February 28, 2005 in Europe by Rough Trade Records...
. Released on 28 March 2005, the single reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and was released on the Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. The single also contains the song "My Buddy" by Alvino Rey
Alvino Rey
Alvin McBurney , known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and pioneer, often credited as the father of the pedal steel guitar...
, the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win
Win Butler
Win Butler is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire. His wife Régine Chassagne and his brother William Butler are both members of the band.-Life and career:...
and William Butler
William Butler (musician)
William Pierce Butler is a multi-instrumentalist who is best known as a member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire. William plays synthesizer, bass, guitar and percussion. He is known for his spontaneity and antics during performances...
.
Interpretation
The song, the second track on Funeral, is (according to Win ButlerWin Butler
Win Butler is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire. His wife Régine Chassagne and his brother William Butler are both members of the band.-Life and career:...
) about the Russian space program sending the dog Laika
Laika
Laika was a Soviet space dog that became the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit.As little was known about the impact of spaceflight on living creatures at the time of Laika's mission, and the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed, there...
into space. Laika was the first living creature to orbit Earth. Butler told Pulse, a Minneapolis publication, "It’s a great story about a dog being the first living creature in space. Doing this spectacular thing, but not having food and watching itself fall back into the earth."
The song's dark lyrics complement its catchy melodies. The lyrics first tell the story of "Alexander" being sent out on an adventure. The adventure, for the "good of the neighborhood", will ultimately end in the death of "Alexander".
The accordion melody bears a significant resemblance to the riff from 1963 single 'The Sultan' by fellow Canadian Neil Young's early band The Squires
The Squires (Neil Young band)
The Squires or Neil Young & The Squires were a Canadian band based in Winnipeg, manitoba. It was one of the first bands of singer songwriter Neil Young.-Recordings:In 1963 they recorded a single released by V Records...
.
Track listings
- "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" - 3:29
- "My Buddy" (Alvino Rey Orchestra, live radio broadcast, 1940) - 2:32
External links
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siFsdInZqC0&ob=av3n' -"Neighborhood #2 Laïka" music video"http://www.arcadefire.net/lyrics/funeral/" - Lyrics