Afterlife (Arcade Fire song)

Summary

"Afterlife" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was released on September 28, 2013, as a single from the band's fourth studio album, Reflektor. The song was debuted on Saturday Night Live.[2]

"Afterlife"
Single by Arcade Fire
from the album Reflektor
ReleasedSeptember 28, 2013
RecordedSonovox Studios, Montreal
Genre
Length5:52 (album version)
4:12 (radio edit)
LabelMerge
Songwriter(s)William Butler, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Jeremy Gara, Tim Kingsbury, Richard Reed Parry
Producer(s)James Murphy, Markus Dravs, Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire singles chronology
"Reflektor"
(2013)
"Afterlife"
(2013)
"We Exist"
(2014)

Music videos edit

The music video for the song was released on November 21, 2013.[3][4] The short film, directed by Emily Kai Bock and shot with a mix of 35mm and 65mm film, depicts a Latino family in Los Angeles, California, dreaming of their missing mother.

The video won the 2014 Prism Prize.[5]

The band also performed a live video, streamed on YouTube at the YouTube Music Awards in November 2013. It was directed by Spike Jonze.[6]

An official live performance video was also released in April 2014 on the band's YouTube channel.[7]

Scenes from the 1959 film Black Orpheus were used in the official lyric videos.

Live performances edit

The band performed "Afterlife" at Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Graham Norton Show. The song was performed live on every show of the Reflektor tour.[8]

Chart performance edit

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] 3
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[10] 14
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 100
Canada Rock (Billboard)[12] 9
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] 43
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 18
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 22

References edit

  1. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (September 9, 2013). "Arcade Fire: "Afterlife"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  2. ^ Minsker, Evan. "Watch: Arcade Fire Debut "Afterlife", Perform "Reflektor" on "Saturday Night Live"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  3. ^ Ayers, Mike (21 November 2013). "Arcade Fire Release Gorgeously Melancholy 'Afterlife' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. ^ Wood, Mikael (21 November 2013). "Watch: Arcade Fire scores dreams in moody 'Afterlife' video". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Emily Kai Bock wins Prism Prize for Arcade Fire video". Global News, March 23, 2014.
  6. ^ Arcade Fire - "Afterlife" - Live at the YouTube Music Awards (YTMA). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  7. ^ Arcade Fire - Afterlife (Live at the Palladium). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  8. ^ "Arcade Fire Tour Statistics: Reflektor | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
  9. ^ "Arcade Fire – Afterlife" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  10. ^ "Arcade Fire – Afterlife" (in French). Ultratip.
  11. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  14. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2014.