Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)

"Maps"
Single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from the album Fever to Tell
B-side
  • "Countdown"
  • "Miles Away"
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2003 (2003-09-22)
Genre
Length3:40
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Yeah Yeah Yeahs singles chronology
"Pin"
(2003) 		"Maps"
(2003) 		"Y Control"
(2004)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Maps" on YouTube

"Maps" is a song by the American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was released on September 22, 2003, by Polydor in the United Kingdom. It was written and composed by the band and features on their debut album, Fever to Tell. The song is an art-punk ballad about the relationship between Karen O, frontwoman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew, frontman of Liars. The title is alleged to stand for "My Angus Please Stay", which the band has not confirmed.

The song was initially released in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2003, reaching number 26 on the UK singles chart. It was then released in the United States on February 17, 2004, by Interscope, and became their first single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 87, and it also reached number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Praised by music critics for its sound and Karen O's emotive vocals, "Maps" greatly boosted the sales of Fever to Tell, and its accompanying music video earned extensive play on MTV and four nominations at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards.

"Maps" is considered to be the band's signature song, and is often ranked among the greatest songs of the 2000s and of all time. It has been widely covered, remixed, and sampled by artists. The song experienced renewed recognition on TikTok in 2024.

Recording

By the year 2002, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were sought after by many record labels who wanted to finance their debut album, Fever to Tell. However, the band financed the record themselves to maintain creative control.[1] "Maps" was conceived when frontwoman Karen O heard a riff played on a whim by Nick Zinner in the band's home, which she wrote lyrics to in five minutes.[2][3] It was intended to be a "love song that stands the test of time".[4]

"Maps" was among several songs produced by the band with Dave Sitek (credited as David Andrew Sitek), who Karen O said was chosen because they "didn't know anyone else."[5] Sitek would later become the band's longtime collaborator.[6]

Composition

"Maps" is an indie rock,[7] art punk[8] and soul ballad[9] written in the key of g major with post-chorus guitar breaks and middle eights.[4][10] Lyrically, the song is about missing someone, expressed through the repeated chorus line "They don't love you like I love you".[11][12] It was inspired by Karen O's relationship with her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew, the frontman of Liars, during a time when their touring schedules were "hectic" and caused a rift in their relationship.[11]

It has been widely suggested that the song title is an acronym standing for "My Angus Please Stay," although this has never been addressed by the band.[13][14][15]

Release

The song was released in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2003, through Polydor Records;[16] the same label released the song in Australia on October 6, 2003.[17] However, the United States release was delayed because the band were hesitant on "Maps" earning a single release.[5] Interscope would wait until February 17, 2004, to release the song onto US alternative radio.[18]

Music video

The music video for "Maps" was directed by Patrick Daughters. It depicts the band playing in an audition in a high school gymnasium with different light filters changing the color of the room; Karen O is memorably seen crying in the video, which was not staged. She explains: "They were real tears. My boyfriend at the time (Andrew) was supposed to come to the shoot – he was three hours late and I was just about to leave for tour. I didn't think he was even going to come and this was the song that was written for him. He eventually showed up and I got myself in a real emotional state."[19]

"Maps" and its music video were played extensively on MTV; this, along with a notable performance by the band at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards, further heightened the single's success.[20] At that same ceremony, it was nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the MTV2 Award.[21]

Reception

"Maps" was released to critical acclaim. AllMusic's Tom Maginnis greatly praised the song and wrote, "Never bowing to conventionality in song structure or sonic texture, the band refuse to revert to anything as traditional as strummed guitar chords, instead weaving a delicate web of pointillist guitars and tribal drumming together with Karen O [sic] subdued vocal performance into a subtle, stunning gem."[22] In his review of Fever to Tell, Eric Carr of Pitchfork deemed "Maps" said Zinner's guitars were "easily his best to date" and Karen O's vocals "drip genuine, regretful emotion [...] the emotive response it produces is very real, and that means a lot."[23] Writing for Variety magazine, David Sprague likened "Maps" to a "Diane Warren-penned punk power ballad" and said the song "revealed enough dogged determination to suggest they’ll be just as tough to push around (in the 2000s garage rock and post-punk revivals)."[24]

"Maps" was a commercial breakthrough for Yeah Yeah Yeahs and boosted the sales of Fever to Tell.[5] It first reached number 26 on the UK singles chart in 2003.[25] That same year, it reached number 35 on the Scottish Singles and Albums Charts.[26] In 2004, it became their first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 87.[27] Also in 2004, it peaked at number nine on the US Alternative Airplay.[28] In 2023, "Maps" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[29]

Legacy

In 2009, "Maps" was voted the best alternative love song of all time by NME;[30] the same publication ranked it at number 55 on its 2011 list of "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[31] Also in 2009, Pitchfork ranked it at number six on Pitchfork's "Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s".[32] In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" at number seven on their "100 Best Songs of the 2000s" list and number 386 on their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list;[33][34] its 2021 revision moved it up to number 101.[35] In 2025, Rolling Stone placed it second on their list of "The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far".[36]

Kelly Clarkson's 2004 single "Since U Been Gone," which was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald,[37] is heavily inspired by "Maps" and features similar composition; Karen O said noticing the similarity was "like getting bitten by a poisonous varmint."[38][39] Beyoncé's "Hold Up," a song recorded by Beyoncé for her 2016 album, Lemonade, contains an interpolation of the "Maps" lyric, "Wait, they don't love you like I love you." When Beyoncé released the song on Lemonade, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs received songwriting credits.[40] Others artists who have covered, sampled, and remixed "Maps" include the White Stripes,[41] Arcade Fire,[42] Ted Leo,[43] Macy Gray, Cary Brothers with Priscilla Ahn, The Fray, Anderson .Paak,[44][45] Camp Cope,[46] The Bad Plus, Freya Ridings,[47][48] Keaton Henson,[49] Samia, The Killers,[50] Sasami,[51] and Thou.

A sped-up version of "Maps" gained popularity on TikTok in September 2024. A dance was created along with it where it used different contexts of wanting someone to stop and listen to them. As a result, the song charted at number one on the US TikTok Billboard Top 50 in October 2024.[52][53]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Maps"3:34
2."Countdown"3:39
3."Miles Away" (John Peel Session)2:30

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom September 22, 2003
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
[16]
Australia October 6, 2003 CD [17]
United States February 17, 2004 Alternative radio Interscope [18]

References

  1. ^ Epstein, Dan (April 29, 2018). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Fever to Tell': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  2. ^ Skinner, Tom (September 1, 2019). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O says she's "fascinated" by popularity of 'Maps'". NME. Archived from the original on September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  3. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: 'Navigating the Influence of Maps'". BBC Radio 6 Music. BBC. 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Rogers, Jude (March 14, 2019). "'I just wanted to write a love song that stands the test of time': Karen O on her best work". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Epstein, Dan (April 29, 2018). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Fever to Tell': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Cober-Lake, Justin (October 10, 2022). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Create Some Heat on 'Cool It Down'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on June 15, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  7. ^ Rich, Nathaniel (October 2015). "The Elaborate Charade to Obfuscate Who Writes Pop Music". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 386 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022. How often do we get a fiery soul ballad and an art-punk classic in the same song?
  10. ^ "All Mapped Out". Popbitch. August 14, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (April 20, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Taking Their Glorious Freak Rock Global". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  12. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 7, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Goth, Nerd, Slut". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
  13. ^ Feldman, Brian (May 30, 2020). "mysteries of the Scatman". bnet.substack.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  14. ^ How Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Transcended the Post-Punk Revival, October 2, 2019, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved February 25, 2020, minute 4:32
  15. ^ Carrasco, Isabel (November 17, 2022). "The true story of 'Maps' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; it's not a love song". Cultura Colectiva. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 20, 2003. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th October 2003" (PDF). ARIA. October 6, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 6, 2003. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1542. February 13, 2004. p. 25.
  19. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Karen O's Video Crying Was For Real". contactmusic.com. July 12, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  20. ^ "How The Yeah Yeahs' 'Maps' Helped Change the Way We View the Relationship Between Pop and Indie". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  21. ^ "2004 VMA Winners". MTV. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  22. ^ Maginnis, Tom. "Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  23. ^ Carr, Eric (April 28, 2003). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 5, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  24. ^ Sprague, David (April 8, 2003). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  27. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  28. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  29. ^ "British certifications – Yeah Yeah Yeahs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 18, 2025. Type Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  30. ^ "Greatest Alternative Love Songs". NME. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  31. ^ Schiller, Rebecca (October 6, 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  32. ^ Harvell, Jess (August 21, 2009). "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  33. ^ "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  34. ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  35. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far". Rolling Stone. October 8, 2025. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  37. ^ Needham, Alex (November 4, 2015). "John Seabrook on The Song Machine: 'There's a dark side to pop'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  38. ^ "All Mapped Out". Popbitch. August 14, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  39. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Taking Their Glorious Freak Rock Global". Rolling Stone. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  40. ^ "Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig Explains How His Tweet About the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Became a Beyoncé Song". Pitchfork. April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  41. ^ "ARCHIVES // SEPTEMBER 2004: 08.29.04 // THE READING FESTIVAL". WhiteStripes.net. August 29, 2004. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007. A stellar set was played with the addition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's tune, Maps.
  42. ^ "Arcade Fire Cover Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". BrooklynVegan. September 9, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  43. ^ "Served Three Ways: Three Covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps". Turntable Kitchen. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  44. ^ Stelios Ramon (April 11, 2014). "Anderson .Paak - Maps". Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
  45. ^ "Cover Art, by Anderson .Paak". Anderson .Paak. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  46. ^ triple j (September 22, 2016), Camp Cope cover Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Maps' for triple j's Like A Version, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved July 31, 2018
  47. ^ "Track Of The Day 22/8 - Freya Ridings". Clash. August 22, 2017. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  48. ^ "Maps – Single by Freya Ridings". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  49. ^ "Keaton Henson - The Lucky EP Lyrics and Tracklist". Genius. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  50. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 9, 2024). "Watch the Killers Cover Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Maps' at Gov Ball". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  51. ^ Schube, Will (May 1, 2025). "SASAMI Takes on Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" in Honor of Mental Health Month". Flood. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  52. ^ Cabison, Rosalie. "TikTok Billboard Top 50". Billboard.
  53. ^ Weedston, Lindsey (September 27, 2024). "Wait! Have You Seen The Maps Dance Yet?". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  54. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  55. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  56. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  57. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  58. ^ Cao, Katie (October 24, 2024). "'Maps' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Leads on the TikTok Billboard Top 50". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  59. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
  60. ^ "British single certifications – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.