Nolita Fairytale
Encyclopedia
"Nolita Fairytale" is a song by Vanessa Carlton
, and is the first single
from her third album, Heroes & Thieves
. The single was released as a digital download at the U.S. iTunes Store
and to U.S. radio stations on July 17, 2007.
) and, in her words, "the series of revelations I have had over the past few years." It documents major changes in her life in the two-year time period from 2005 to 2007, including touring with Stevie Nicks
(who is thanked in the song), buying her own home, getting a puppy and, as she put it, "staying in one spot for more than a couple weeks". The song also includes a reference to Carlton's departure from her previous record label, A&M Records
. She said that developing her life in Nolita "gave me peace and clarity. I lead a pretty enchanted life." The line "Ruby's in the afternoon" refers to a café in Nolita and one of Carlton's favorite neighborhood hangouts.
On June 19, Irv Gotti, head of Carlton's record label The Inc. Records
, released a video of an interview with Carlton and a performance of the song live from her apartment intercut with shots of Nolita.http://youtube.com/watch?v=yjb8_CHmXBw
(especially percussion, as the intro and outro both feature drums) but the dominant instrument is still piano
.
. Entertainment Weekly
wrote, "if [the single ...] isn't in heavy radio and MTV rotation by the end of summer, I'll be surprised".
The music video
for "Nolita Fairytale" was shot in the area of Lafayette Street and Bond Street in the Noho (North of Houston) part of Manhattan
(New York City
) on July 28, 2007. The beginning of the video is a step-by-step duplication of the video for Carlton's first single, "A Thousand Miles
" (2002), until Carlton gets up and walks away from the traveling grand piano, which a yellow taxicab crashes into and destroys. Throughout the video, a few things from fairy tales can be seen, such as a girl letting her hair out from a window (Rapunzel
), a man with wings and chess pieces moving. Carlton said that the "A Thousand Miles" video "trumped everything else [...] They don't know who I am, they don't know the song, they don't know any of it. But they know the traveling piano video. To start anew, you have to kind of open the old book and then close it so you can then open the next book." The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld
, the director of the "A Thousand Miles" video and produced by Media Magik.
The video premiered on AOL Music on August 22. It debuted at number eleven on VH1
's television show VSpot Top 20 Countdown
, and peaked at number five.
"Nolita Fairytale" was played at the end of the November 28, 2007 episode of The CW
's television show Gossip Girl
.
Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York bars and clubs while attending university. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter...
, and is the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from her third album, Heroes & Thieves
Heroes & Thieves
Heroes & Thieves is the third album by Vanessa Carlton, released by The Inc. Records on October 9, 2007 . It is co-produced by Irv Gotti, Linda Perry and Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins, who produced Carlton's second album, Harmonium , and Carlton co-wrote the tracks with Perry and...
. The single was released as a digital download at the U.S. iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and to U.S. radio stations on July 17, 2007.
Theme
According to Carlton, the song is about her life in Nolita (a neighborhood of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) and, in her words, "the series of revelations I have had over the past few years." It documents major changes in her life in the two-year time period from 2005 to 2007, including touring with Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
(who is thanked in the song), buying her own home, getting a puppy and, as she put it, "staying in one spot for more than a couple weeks". The song also includes a reference to Carlton's departure from her previous record label, A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. She said that developing her life in Nolita "gave me peace and clarity. I lead a pretty enchanted life." The line "Ruby's in the afternoon" refers to a café in Nolita and one of Carlton's favorite neighborhood hangouts.
On June 19, Irv Gotti, head of Carlton's record label The Inc. Records
The Inc. Records
The Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
, released a video of an interview with Carlton and a performance of the song live from her apartment intercut with shots of Nolita.http://youtube.com/watch?v=yjb8_CHmXBw
Composition
"Nolita Fairytale" is composed in common time and is in the key of Eb major. It follows the common verse-chorus format (strophic), with a bridge between the second and final repetitions of the chorus. However, each appearance of the refrain has the same melody but different lyrics. Unlike some of Carlton's other work, it is much more dependent on a rhythm sectionRhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
(especially percussion, as the intro and outro both feature drums) but the dominant instrument is still piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Credits and personnel
- Vanessa CarltonVanessa CarltonVanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York bars and clubs while attending university. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter...
: vocals, background vocals, piano - Matt ChamberlainMatt ChamberlainMatthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
: drums, percussion - Stephan JenkinsStephan JenkinsStephan Douglas Jenkins , is an American musician best known as the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Third Eye Blind. Under Jenkins's leadership, Third Eye Blind has sold over eight million copies of four albums: Third Eye Blind , Blue , Out of the Vein , and Ursa Major...
: percussion - Tony Fredianelli: guitar
- Sebastian Steinburg: bass
Commercial release
"Nolita Fairytale" was officially released to U.S. radio on July 17, 2007. It was made available for download at the iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
wrote, "if [the single ...] isn't in heavy radio and MTV rotation by the end of summer, I'll be surprised".
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Nolita Fairytale" was shot in the area of Lafayette Street and Bond Street in the Noho (North of Houston) part of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
(New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) on July 28, 2007. The beginning of the video is a step-by-step duplication of the video for Carlton's first single, "A Thousand Miles
A Thousand Miles
"A Thousand Miles", originally titled "Interlude", is a pop song written by American singer Vanessa Carlton and recorded for her 2002 debut album Be Not Nobody. It was co-produced and co-arranged by Carlton and Ron Fair, and was released as the album's first single in 2002. Her signature song, it...
" (2002), until Carlton gets up and walks away from the traveling grand piano, which a yellow taxicab crashes into and destroys. Throughout the video, a few things from fairy tales can be seen, such as a girl letting her hair out from a window (Rapunzel
Rapunzel
"Rapunzel" is a German fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's and Household Tales. The Grimm Brothers' story is an adaptation of the fairy tale Persinette by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force originally published in 1698...
), a man with wings and chess pieces moving. Carlton said that the "A Thousand Miles" video "trumped everything else [...] They don't know who I am, they don't know the song, they don't know any of it. But they know the traveling piano video. To start anew, you have to kind of open the old book and then close it so you can then open the next book." The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld is an American music video director. He has directed over two hundred music videos for artists such as Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Foo Fighters, Jewel, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne and many others with multiple MTV award wins and nominations...
, the director of the "A Thousand Miles" video and produced by Media Magik.
The video premiered on AOL Music on August 22. It debuted at number eleven on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's television show VSpot Top 20 Countdown
VSpot Top 20 Countdown
VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown is a weekly television show on the VH1 cable television network in the United States. The long-running series began in 1994 as the VH1 Top 10 Countdown, as part of VH1's "Music First" rebranding effort...
, and peaked at number five.
"Nolita Fairytale" was played at the end of the November 28, 2007 episode of The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's television show Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
.
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. 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... Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=343&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Adult+Top+40+Tracks&ci=3088333&cdi=9517883&cid=12%2F01%2F2007 |
26 |
| World Top 100 Singles | 71 |