Fever to Tell, the first studio album by the American band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, was a great success. More than a million copies, gold status in the UK, a Grammy nomination – it is unlikely that young indie rockers counted on such achievements.
The greatest excitement was caused by the composition Maps. It hit the charts, was remembered by the public for its emotional video clip, and was recognized as one of the best rock songs of the first decade of the twenty-first century.
The history and meaning of the Maps song
Maps focuses on the relationship between Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen Lee Orzolek and Liars frontman Angus Andrew.
The name Maps is translated from English as “geographic maps”, but you should not take it literally. This is an acronym for the phrase My Angus Please Stay (“My Angus, please stay”).
Karen explained what Maps is about:
This is a love song based on the emotions that were caused by longing for someone.
In February 2004, Maps was released as the third single from the album Fever to Tell. The track charted on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100.
Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The music video for Maps was directed by Patrick Daughters.
Karen O explained why she is crying in the video:
Those were real tears. The guy I was dating at the time was supposed to come to the shoot. He was three hours late, and I was already supposed to leave on tour. I don’t think he was even going to come and this song was written for him. Eventually, he appeared, and I was at the mercy of emotions.
NME, 2007
Karen also commented on the decision to include footage of her crying in the clip:
Patrick Daughters, the director of the video clip, is my best friend, so I didn’t mind that he used it all.
NME, 2007
The video for Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in four categories.
Covers and achievements
Maps has been featured on several publications’ lists of the best songs of the 2000s, including Pitchfork Media, Rolling Stone and NME. Rolling Stone magazine also ranked it at number 386 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Excerpts from Maps have been included in live performances by Radiohead and Garbage. The song has been performed by many famous bands. Among them are The White Stripes and Arcade Fire.
Interesting Facts
- The song Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson uses a fragment of a guitar solo from Maps. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Karen Oh said it was like being bitten by a poisonous parasite.
Maps
Pack up
I’m streyed
Enough
Oh say say say
Oh say say say
Oh say say say
Oh say say say
Oh say say say
chorus:
Wait, they don’t love you like I love you
Wait, they don’t love you like I love you
Maps
Wait, they don’t love you like I love you
Made off
Don’t stray
My kind’s your kind
I’ll stay the same
Pack up
Don’t stray
Oh say say say
Oh say say say
Chorus
Maps Lyrics
Pack up your things
I already
Lost my way
Oh say, say, say
Oh say, say, say
Oh say, say, say
Oh say, say, say
Chorus:
Wait, they don’t love you like I do
Wait, they don’t love you like I do
Cards
Wait, they don’t love you like I do
ran away
Don’t go astray
You and I are one field of berries
Pack your things
Don’t go astray
Oh say, say, say
Oh say, say, say
Chorus
Song quote
We think Maps turned out to be an amazing fluke. We do not imagine ourselves in that world.
Nick Zinner rotation of the clip on MTV,
Entertainment Weekly 2004
