Moaning Lisa Smile

Summary

"Moaning Lisa Smile" is a song by English alternative rock band Wolf Alice. It was released on 3 April 2014 as a single from their second EP, Creature Songs (2014).[1] It also appears on the US edition of their debut album, My Love Is Cool (2015). The song reached number 9 on the Alternative Songs chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.[2][3] The song was re-released as a single in April 2015 in the US, marking their first single release in the US. It was released on vinyl with "Giant Peach" featured as a B-side.[4]

"Moaning Lisa Smile"
Single by Wolf Alice
from the EP Creature Songs
B-side"Giant Peach"
Released3 April 2014 (2014-04-03)
Genre
Length2:40
LabelDirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Catherine Marks
Wolf Alice singles chronology
"She"
(2013)
"Moaning Lisa Smile"
(2014)
"Giant Peach"
(2015)
Music video
"Moaning Lisa Smile" on YouTube

Live performances edit

The band made their US TV debut on Conan on 16 June 2015 with a performance of "Moaning Lisa Smile".[5] They also performed the song on The Late Late Show with James Corden on 11 August.[6]

In popular culture edit

"Moaning Lisa Smile" is featured in an episode of The Leftovers.[7] It also appeared in the promotional trailer of Arrow''s mid-season three premiere,[8] as well as on the soundtrack of the video game MLB The Show 16. In January 2018, the song featured in BBC One's promotional trailer for Baptiste.[9]

Music video edit

The music video for "Moaning Lisa Smile" was uploaded to the band's YouTube channel on 26 May 2014. It was directed by Ozzie Pullin. Lead singer Ellie Rowsell stated that the song was inspired by their "favorite 8-year-old girl, Lisa Simpson," further elaborating: "We wanted to create a Lisa-type character and follow her in a pursuit to happiness. Although faced with obstacles in the shape of some nasty bitches, Lisa soon finds the group who make her feel like she belongs."[10]

Track listing edit

US 7" single

  1. "Moaning Lisa Smile" – 2:40
  2. "Giant Peach" – 4:30

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Moaning Lisa Smile".[4]

  • Catherine Marks – production, mixing
  • Paul Edouard Laurendeau – engineering
  • Robin Schmidt – mastering

Charts edit

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 9

References edit

  1. ^ Bradley, Elissa (3 April 2014). "Wolf Alice: "Moaning Lisa Smile"". Noisey. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (7 December 2015). "Grammy awards 2016: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd lead nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b Moaning Lisa Smile (LP liner notes). Wolf Alice. Dirty Hit. 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Renshaw, David (17 June 2015). "Wolf Alice perform "Moaning Lisa Smile" as they make US TV debut on 'Conan' – watch". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. ^ Kaye, Ben (11 August 2015). "Wolf Alice perform 'Moaning Lisa Smile' on James Corden – watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. ^ "The Leftovers Music – S1E7: "Solace for Tired Feet"". TuneFind. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Wolf Alice's Song Featured On New 'Arrow' Promo". pickysticks.com. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. ^ One, B. B. C. (4 January 2019). "Julien Baptiste (@tchekykaryo) returns to unearth secrets behind the beauty of Amsterdam's canals and streets. Thrilling new drama #Baptiste, from the writers of #TheMissing, is coming soon to BBC One.pic.twitter.com/dYsEb4XZFp". @BBCOne.
  10. ^ Davidson, Amy (28 May 2014). "Wolf Alice unveil video for 'Moaning Lisa Smile'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.