Jump to content

Mountains (Biffy Clyro song): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
→Composition: correct slight inaccuracy that says the verses AND chorus are in 15/16 time, when in fact only the verses are. The cited video interview confirms this.
 
(42 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|2008 single by Biffy Clyro}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox song
| Name = Mountains
| name = Mountains
| Cover = https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FvEVvd_70G8/WY4IYCZNwdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/DaYSqN2uX6YvjZ7PasPoppne1no0FQLGwCJoC/w1060-h1144-p/IMG_0195.JPG
| Border =
| cover = BiffyClyroMountains.jpg
| Caption =
| alt =
| Artist = [[Biffy Clyro]]
| type = single
| Album = [[Only Revolutions (Biffy Clyro album)|Only Revolutions]]
| artist = [[Biffy Clyro]]
| album = [[Only Revolutions (Biffy Clyro album)|Only Revolutions]]
| A-side =
| B-side = {{ubl|"Little Soldiers"|"Paperfriend"|"Robbery"}}
| released = 18 August 2008
| B-side = Little Soldiers<br/>Paperfriend<br/>Robbery
| Released = 18 August 2008
| recorded = March 2008
| studio = [[Sunset Sound Recorders]] ([[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], California)
| Format = [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Gramophone record|7"]], [[Music download|Digital download]]
| genre = [[Alternative rock]]
| Recorded = [[Sunset Sound Recorders]], [[Hollywood]], [[California]]<br/>Early March 2008
| length = 3:23
| Genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[new prog]]
| Length = 3:20
| label = [[14th Floor Records|14th Floor]]
| writer =
| Label = [[14th Floor Records|14th Floor]]
| Writer = [[Simon Neil]] / [[Biffy Clyro]]
* [[Simon Neil]]
| Producer = [[Garth Richardson]] / [[Biffy Clyro]]
* Biffy Clyro
| Audio sample? =
| producer =
* [[Garth Richardson]]
| Certification =
* Biffy Clyro
| Last single = "[[Who's Got a Match?]]"<br/>(2008)
| prev_title = [[Who's Got a Match?]]
| This single = "'''''Mountains'''''"<br/>(2008)
| prev_year = 2008
| Next single = "[[That Golden Rule]]"<br/>(2009)
| next_title = [[That Golden Rule]]
| Misc = {{Extra track listing
| next_year = 2009
| Album = [[Only Revolutions (album)|Only Revolutions]]
| Type = single
| misc = {{Extra track listing
| album = [[Only Revolutions (album)|Only Revolutions]]
| Tracks =
#"[[The Captain (Biffy Clyro song)|The Captain]]"
| type = single
| tracks =
# "[[The Captain (Biffy Clyro song)|The Captain]]"
#"[[That Golden Rule]]"
# "[[That Golden Rule]]"
#"[[Bubbles (Biffy Clyro song)|Bubbles]]"
# "[[Bubbles (song)|Bubbles]]"
#"[[God and Satan (song)|God and Satan]]"
# "[[God and Satan (song)|God and Satan]]"
#"Born on a Horse"
# "Born on a Horse"
#"'''Mountains'''"
# "'''Mountains'''"
#"Shock Shock"
# "Shock Shock"
#"[[Many of Horror]]"
# "[[Many of Horror]]"
#"[[Booooom, Blast & Ruin]]"
# "Booooom, Blast & Ruin"
#"Cloud of Stink"
# "Cloud of Stink"
#"Know Your Quarry"
# "Know Your Quarry"
#"Whorses"
# "Whorses"
}}
}}
{{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = "Mountains"
| Type = Single |
| Cover = BiffyClyroMountains1.jpg
| Lower caption = 7" Picture Disc #1
}}
}}
"'''Mountains'''" is a song by Scottish band [[Biffy Clyro]], released as a single on 18 August 2008. Originally released as a non-album single, it would later be included on the band's fifth studio album, ''[[Only Revolutions (Biffy Clyro album)|Only Revolutions]]'', in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stereokill.net/2009/09/05/biffy-clyro-artwork-track-listing/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090908060755/http://stereokill.net/2009/09/05/biffy-clyro-artwork-track-listing/|archive-date = 8 September 2009|title = Stereokill.net - life without a pause // Alternative music criticism, news, reviews, features}}</ref> It was originally entitled "Teeth or Mountains" and was first played live at the Electric Festival in Getafe, Spain, on 30 May 2008.
{{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = "Mountains"
| Type = Single |
| Cover = BiffyClyroMountains2.jpg
| Lower caption = 7" Picture Disc #2
}}
}}

"'''Mountains'''" is a single by [[Scotland|Scottish]] band [[Biffy Clyro]], released on 18 August 2008. Originally released as a 'non-album' single, "Mountains" is the band's highest charting single to date on the [[UK singles chart]], peaking at #5. The song was later included on the band's fifth studio album, ''[[Only Revolutions (Biffy Clyro album)|Only Revolutions]]''.<ref>https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FvEVvd_70G8/WY4IYCZNwdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/DaYSqN2uX6YvjZ7PasPoppne1no0FQLGwCJoC/w1060-h1144-p/IMG_0195.JPG</ref>

"Mountains" was originally entitled "Teeth or Mountains", and was first played live at the Electric Festival in Getafe, [[Spain]], on 30 May 2008.


"Mountains" is the band's highest-charting single on the [[UK Singles Chart]], peaking at number five. It topped the [[Scottish Singles and Albums Charts|Scottish Singles Chart]], giving Biffy Clyro their third number one there. Outside the United Kingdom, "Mountains" reached number 55 in Australia and number 42 in Ireland.
The song is the 40th biggest selling rock song of the 21st century in the United Kingdom with sales of 200,000.<ref>4 Music "Biggest Selling Rock Hits Of The 21st Century" television program. September 2011.</ref>


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
[[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FvEVvd_70G8/WY4IYCZNwdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/DaYSqN2uX6YvjZ7PasPoppne1no0FQLGwCJoC/w1060-h1144-p/IMG_0195.JPG|left|thumb|The band signing copies in [[Glasgow]], 25 August 2008]]
[[File:Biffy Clyro signing autographs.jpg|left|thumb|The band signing copies in [[Glasgow]], 25 August 2008]]
Taking a short break from touring with [[Say Anything (band)|Say Anything]] in March 2008, the band recorded the song in [[Los Angeles]], with producer [[Garth Richardson]] - producer of the band's previous album, ''[[Puzzle (Biffy Clyro album)|Puzzle]]''.
Taking a short break from touring with [[Say Anything (band)|Say Anything]] in March 2008, the band recorded the song in [[Los Angeles]], with producer [[Garth Richardson]], who produced the band's previous album, ''[[Puzzle (Biffy Clyro album)|Puzzle]]''.


After appearing in many of the band's summer setlists, the song made its radio debut on [[Zane Lowe]]'s [[BBC Radio 1]] show on Friday 19 June 2008 and was introduced as "The Hottest Record in the World Today".
After appearing in many of the band's summer setlists, the song made its radio debut on [[Zane Lowe]]'s [[BBC Radio 1]] show on Friday 19 June 2008 and was introduced as "The Hottest Record in the World Today".


To coincide with the single's physical release, the band embarked on a promotional tour across the UK performing acoustic sets in record stores and signing copies of the single.<ref>http://www.biffyclyro.com/?section=news&nid=162</ref>
To coincide with the single's physical release, the band embarked on a promotional tour across the UK performing acoustic sets in record stores and signing copies of the single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biffyclyro.com/?section=news&nid=162|title = Biffy Clyro - the Myth of the Happily Ever After – out now}}</ref>


==Composition==
Australia is starting to play the song on commercial radio,{{When|date=February 2011}} and the song was used for the credits for [[XXXX Gold Beach Cricket]].
The song is notably more radio-friendly than the band's previous releases, due to its fairly normal song structure and heavy emphasis on melody. It is also one of their first songs to feature a piano. Despite its radio-friendly style, the song incorporates an unusual time signature of {{Music|time|15|16}} throughout the verses,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egn68EARuNU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/egn68EARuNU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=BIFFY CLYRO Only Revolutions - Track By Track|website=[[YouTube]]|date=16 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> while the post-choruses switch between {{Music|time|4|4}} and {{Music|time|3|4}}.


==Use in media==
Mountains was included on [[Colin McRae: DiRT 2]] in a video tribute to the late Scottish rally driver [[Colin McRae]].<ref>{{YouTube|_5Ofq7N4UnU}}</ref>
The song was used for the credits for [[XXXX Gold Beach Cricket]]. Mountains was included on ''[[Colin McRae: DiRT 2]]'' in a video tribute to the late Scottish rally driver [[Colin McRae]].<ref>{{YouTube|_5Ofq7N4UnU}}</ref> This song also appears on ''[[Shift 2: Unleashed]]'' and ''[[SBK X: Superbike World Championship]]''.


==B-sides==
This song also appears on [[Shift 2: Unleashed]].
"Paperfriend" was a track recorded for ''[[Puzzle (Biffy Clyro album)|Puzzle]]'' in 2007 that didn't make the cut. Lyrics from the track, "Help Me Be Captain", can be heard in the song. "Little Soldiers" appeared in the band's acoustic sets promoting the single.


==inspiration ==
==Track listings==
Songs and lyrics are by [[Simon Neil]], music by [[Biffy Clyro]]. All songs were published by Good Soldier Songs.
"Mountains" is to date biffs clyro's biggest hit, The band's songwriter Simon Alexander Neil told the Scotsman June 29, 2008 that this epic rock song was influenced by an awesome night in Cardiff while the band were recording Puzzle. He explained: "This song is about life after Puzzle, and trying to build things up after going through a rough time. Out of the worst times I could ever possibly have in my life came the most amazing time with the band thanks to a Welshman named John S. And it made me realize I wanted to marry my girlfriend for sure like". "If it wasn't for that mysterious Welshman that night non of this would of happened" . he went on to explain that "mountains" wasn't just inspired by a brief encounter with this Welshman, that the Welshman had basically handed them the lyrics to the chorus that night after the gig in the barfly, Cardiff Wales. The Welshman explained that he enjoyed activities such as surfing and snowboarding hence the lyrics "I are the mountains, I am the sea". This brief meeting left an impression on the band and as the lyrics were basically handed to them by the Welshman that's all they needed to do was write that iconic riff and the rest was history. Originally the lyrics were "I am the mountains, I am the sea and no one can take this away from me!" But as the band progressed the song, and realized that this encounter with the Welshman would be the soul focus of the ispiration, Simon Alexander Neil decided to write it from a first person perspective and make it more personal by changing it to "you can't take this away from me"
*'''UK CD single''' {{small|(14FLR 32CD)}}<ref name="ukcd">{{cite AV media notes|title=Mountains|others=[[Biffy Clyro]]|year=2008|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=[[14th Floor Records]]|id=14FLR 32CD}}</ref>
The Welshman had explained, that night, how he had been surfing sometime in the past and had narrowly escaped with his life after he had been caught in a large swell when the sea suddenly filled his mouth, he attempts to tread water to try and keep his composure when a massive wave starts to approach him, he thinks fast and manages to duck dive to get out of trouble. This was the start of the second verse " I took a drink out of the ocean, and I'm treading water there before I drown, let's dive," this was followed by some chat about wanting to go scuba diving and how he yearned for that experience. So it was only natural to add to the end of that verse " I want to dive, to the bottom of the ocean." The meeting of these minds took place outside the barfly in Cardiff , as the setting was in the back of a van and after being assured by the Welshman, several times, that he wouldn't leave without them nor would he go to the van in the first place without the band, Simon Alexander Neil felt this was important to get in the song as without it this massive hit would never had existed. So this is what was meant by " took a ride, I took a ride, I wouldn't go there without you, let's take a ride, we'll take a ride I wouldn't leave here without you" the song was really taking shape in the minds of these young men as they were still amped up from the gig and with all the right creative juices flowing "Mountains" was born. Originally the song was called "teeth and mountains" this was because of an anecdote from the Welshman how he had once been snowboarding and had fallen down teeth first and got up thinking his teeth would be in prices only to find that his teeth were completely fine and intact but that was more than what could be said for where his teeth had struck! There on the ground was a peice of stone, chipped away from the mountainside, in utter amazement he picked up the peice of stone and put it in his van where it now sat next to drummer Ben Johnston's head. The band later thought this too odd a title and shorted it to just "Mountains" but kept the anecdote for the first verse. So as the band sat there listening to the Welshman's story they all were still feeling the music inside of them and Simon started thinking about how what he was experiencing right there that second could be put into a song. So after the Welshman finished his latest gestalt the band started throwing some ideas around about a new song but the Welshman had his own thoughts on the matter and didn't agree with everything that was bein thrown around. This was all the material that was needed for the creative genius to take hold of the young men and lyrically out from the welshmans mouth came the voice of opposition " Cause you tear me apart, with all the things you do like, you can't understand that I won't leave, till we're finished here, and then you'll find out where it all went wrong". The Welshman was convinced that they should of taken his advice when it came to the time signature of the tune but no matter how hard he pushed a 4/4 he couldn't get the band to comply.
# "Mountains"
Sometime later on that year the band had recived a letter from the Welshman while they were vacationing in Cambodia. They replied to the letter with ridicule and pranks, they once sent the Welshman over 500 pizzas to his home address in one night. So Simon Alexander Neil being the cheeky chappy has included a reference to this letter in the fourth verse as " I wrote a letter to the jungle and, they wrote me back that I was never crowned, King of the jungle, so there's an end to my horizon." This whole saga had played out at just the right time in the bands career and and the bond, the shear companionship, the utmost comradery felt between the men in the back of the van that night was now so strong as to conjure from the creative depths the lyrics " nothing lasts forever, except you and me, you are my mountain, you are my sea, love can last forever, between you and me" by this point the band was referring to the Welshman as a muse and inspirational but thus wasn't a sign of things to come.You see, the band later came to the conclusion with producer Garth Richardson that the song was going to be a hog and if any recognition went to the Welshman it would eat into they're share of the profits and this was unexceptable. This is where the pranks turned sour and some of the band members thought that Simon (the lead singer) was taking things too far. For instance one night in early June 2008 Simon had dedicated into a smarties tube and posted it to the return address of the letter they had recived in Cambodia. Unbeknownst to Simon Neil the address was also shared with Johns handicapped freind who had found the parcel containing the smarties tube at the foot of the door one morning and proceeded in opening it. When the Welshman returned home that night he found feces all over the house any when he sternly asked his freind what had happened his only reply, with a face looking like he had witnessed a jar of Nutella exploding , was a silent smile and then the passing of a note that had been with the smarties tube, he opened it and gazed down, "only smarties have the answer" it read.
# "Little Soldiers"
No one knows of what became of the Welshman, but one thing is known, not even one cent was ever given to the Welshman! even after the bands enormous success on the back of the single "Mountains" they have never given the Welshman any recognition or credit for writing arguably the most important part of the song and the fact the rest of the song is based on him from his point of view. So where is the illusive Welshman now? Some say you can hear his voice in the distance crying of the lyrics on the storm winds outside of the old barfly in Cardiff, some others say he has been spotted on TV and film but nothing concrete has ever turned up. You can find a picture of Welshman john S on the web there are several pictures of him with biffy clyro years later leading some to suspect that he is in fact the silent member of the group and does most of the writing for them but never appears on stage but in one photograph he can clearly be seen with biffy clyro's band members in the recoding studio and in another he is standing behind the band at a book signing but to date no one knows where he is.


*'''UK 7-inch picture disc 1''' {{small|(14FLR32V1)}}<ref name="uk71">{{cite AV media notes|title=Mountains|others=Biffy Clyro|year=2008|type=UK 7-inch picture disc|publisher=14th Floor Records|id=14FLR32V1}}</ref>
==B-Sides==
:A. "Mountains"
"Paperfriend" was a track recorded for ''[[Puzzle (Biffy Clyro album)|Puzzle]]'' in 2007 that didn't make the cut. Lyrics from the track, "Help Me Be Captain", can be heard in the song.
:B. "Paperfriend"


*'''UK 7-inch picture disc 2''' {{small|(14FLR32V2)}}<ref name="uk72">{{cite AV media notes|title=Mountains|others=Biffy Clyro|year=2008|type=UK 7-inch picture disc|publisher=14th Floor Records|id=14FLR32V2}}</ref>
"Little Soldiers" appeared in the band's acoustic sets promoting the single.
:A. "Mountains"
:B. "Robbery"


*'''Digital download'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mountains-single/287374463|title=Mountains – Single|publisher=[[Apple Music]]|access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref>
==Track listing==
# "Mountains" – 3:23
*'''CD''' <small>14FLR32CD</small>
#"Mountains" – 3:23
#"Little Soldiers" – 2:46
*'''7" Picture Disc #1''' <small>14FLR32V1</small>
#"Mountains" – 3:23
#"Paperfriend" – 4:07
*'''7" Picture Disc #2''' <small>14FLR32V2</small>
#"Mountains" – 3:23
#"Robbery" – 1:54
*'''[[iTunes]] Exclusive'''
#"Mountains (Acoustic Version)"

<small>Songs and lyrics by [[Simon Neil]], music by [[Biffy Clyro]]. All songs published by Good Soldier Songs.</small>

==Chart performance==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2008)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{singlechart|UKchartstats|5|artist=Biffy Clyro|song=Mountains|songid=33972}}
|-
{{singlechart|Australia|55|artist=Biffy Clyro|song=Mountains}}
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland|42|week=36|year=2008}}
|}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Credits are lifted from the CD and 7-inch release liner notes.<ref name="ukcd"/><ref name="uk71"/><ref name="uk72"/>
<ref>Biffy Clyro – "Mountains" CD single liner notes (14FLR32CD)</ref><ref>Biffy Clyro – "Mountains" 7" single #2 (14FLR32V2)</ref><ref>Biffy Clyro – "Mountains" 7" single #1 (14FLR32V1)</ref>
* [[Simon Neil]] – [[Electric guitar|guitar]], [[piano]], [[vocals]], writer
* [[Simon Neil]] – [[Electric guitar|guitar]], [[piano]], [[vocals]], writer
* [[Ben Johnston (Scottish musician)|Ben Johnston]] – [[Drum Kit|drums]], vocals
* [[Ben Johnston (Scottish musician)|Ben Johnston]] – [[Drum Kit|drums]], vocals
Line 121: Line 90:
* Andy Wallace – [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* Andy Wallace – [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* David Schiffman – [[Sound engineering|engineering]]
* David Schiffman – [[Sound engineering|engineering]]
* John S inspiration and writer of chorus
* Ben Kaplan – engineering
* Ben Kaplan – engineering
* Mike Fraser – engineering (of "Paperfriend")
* Mike Fraser – engineering (of "Paperfriend")
Line 128: Line 96:
* Mark Williams – mixing (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery)
* Mark Williams – mixing (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery)
* Frank Arkwright – mastering (of "Little Soldiers", "Robbery" & "Paperfriend")
* Frank Arkwright – mastering (of "Little Soldiers", "Robbery" & "Paperfriend")
* [[Alex H. N. Gilbert]] – artist and repertoire, and additional production
* Alex H. N. Gilbert – artist and repertoire, and additional production
* OXEN – cover art and design
* OXEN – cover art and design


==References==
==Charts==
{{reflist}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}


==External links==
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
* {{MetroLyrics song|biffy-clyro|mountains}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
!scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Australiapandora|55|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090119130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20090120-0000/issue986.pdf|urltitle=Issue 986|rowheader=true|access-date=31 October 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardeurodigital|9|artist=Biffy Clyro|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland3|42|artist=Biffy Clyro|rowheader=true|access-date=24 January 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=20080906|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|5|artist=Biffy Clyro|artistid=10292|rowheader=true|access-date=}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2008.pdf|title=Official Singles Chart 2008|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|accessdate=27 June 2018}}</ref>
|97
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Biffy Clyro|title=Mountains|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|certyear=2023|id=10182-2041-1|access-date=29 September 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Biffy Clyro}}
{{Biffy Clyro}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mountains (Biffy Clyro Song)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mountains (Biffy Clyro Song)}}
[[Category:Biffy Clyro songs]]
[[Category:Biffy Clyro songs]]
[[Category:14th Floor Records singles]]
[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Simon Neil]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Garth Richardson]]
[[Category:2008 songs]]
[[Category:2008 songs]]
[[Category:14th Floor Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Garth Richardson]]
[[Category:Songs written by Simon Neil]]

Latest revision as of 11:25, 19 February 2024

"Mountains"
Single by Biffy Clyro
from the album Only Revolutions
B-side
  • "Little Soldiers"
  • "Paperfriend"
  • "Robbery"
Released18 August 2008
RecordedMarch 2008
StudioSunset Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California)
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:23
Label14th Floor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Biffy Clyro singles chronology
"Who's Got a Match?"
(2008) 		"Mountains"
(2008) 		"That Golden Rule"
(2009)
Only Revolutions track listing
  1. "The Captain"
  2. "That Golden Rule"
  3. "Bubbles"
  4. "God and Satan"
  5. "Born on a Horse"
  6. "Mountains"
  7. "Shock Shock"
  8. "Many of Horror"
  9. "Booooom, Blast & Ruin"
  10. "Cloud of Stink"
  11. "Know Your Quarry"
  12. "Whorses"

"Mountains" is a song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro, released as a single on 18 August 2008. Originally released as a non-album single, it would later be included on the band's fifth studio album, Only Revolutions, in 2009.[1] It was originally entitled "Teeth or Mountains" and was first played live at the Electric Festival in Getafe, Spain, on 30 May 2008.

"Mountains" is the band's highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number five. It topped the Scottish Singles Chart, giving Biffy Clyro their third number one there. Outside the United Kingdom, "Mountains" reached number 55 in Australia and number 42 in Ireland.

Release and reception

[edit]
The band signing copies in Glasgow, 25 August 2008

Taking a short break from touring with Say Anything in March 2008, the band recorded the song in Los Angeles, with producer Garth Richardson, who produced the band's previous album, Puzzle.

After appearing in many of the band's summer setlists, the song made its radio debut on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on Friday 19 June 2008 and was introduced as "The Hottest Record in the World Today".

To coincide with the single's physical release, the band embarked on a promotional tour across the UK performing acoustic sets in record stores and signing copies of the single.[2]

Composition

[edit]

The song is notably more radio-friendly than the band's previous releases, due to its fairly normal song structure and heavy emphasis on melody. It is also one of their first songs to feature a piano. Despite its radio-friendly style, the song incorporates an unusual time signature of 15
16 throughout the verses,[3] while the post-choruses switch between 4
4 and 3
4.

Use in media

[edit]

The song was used for the credits for XXXX Gold Beach Cricket. Mountains was included on Colin McRae: DiRT 2 in a video tribute to the late Scottish rally driver Colin McRae.[4] This song also appears on Shift 2: Unleashed and SBK X: Superbike World Championship.

B-sides

[edit]

"Paperfriend" was a track recorded for Puzzle in 2007 that didn't make the cut. Lyrics from the track, "Help Me Be Captain", can be heard in the song. "Little Soldiers" appeared in the band's acoustic sets promoting the single.

Track listings

[edit]

Songs and lyrics are by Simon Neil, music by Biffy Clyro. All songs were published by Good Soldier Songs.

  • UK CD single (14FLR 32CD)[5]
  1. "Mountains"
  2. "Little Soldiers"
  • UK 7-inch picture disc 1 (14FLR32V1)[6]
A. "Mountains"
B. "Paperfriend"
  • UK 7-inch picture disc 2 (14FLR32V2)[7]
A. "Mountains"
B. "Robbery"
  • Digital download[8]
  1. "Mountains" – 3:23

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are lifted from the CD and 7-inch release liner notes.[5][6][7]

  • Simon Neil – guitar, piano, vocals, writer
  • Ben Johnston – drums, vocals
  • James Johnston – bass, vocals, recording (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery")
  • Garth Richardson – producer
  • Andy Wallace – mixing
  • David Schiffman – engineering
  • Ben Kaplan – engineering
  • Mike Fraser – engineering (of "Paperfriend")
  • John O'Mahony – mix engineer
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Mark Williams – mixing (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery)
  • Frank Arkwright – mastering (of "Little Soldiers", "Robbery" & "Paperfriend")
  • Alex H. N. Gilbert – artist and repertoire, and additional production
  • OXEN – cover art and design

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Stereokill.net - life without a pause // Alternative music criticism, news, reviews, features". Archived from the original on 8 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Biffy Clyro - the Myth of the Happily Ever After – out now".
  3. ^ "BIFFY CLYRO Only Revolutions - Track By Track". YouTube. 16 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  4. ^ Video on YouTube
  5. ^ a b Mountains (UK CD single liner notes). Biffy Clyro. 14th Floor Records. 2008. 14FLR 32CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b Mountains (UK 7-inch picture disc). Biffy Clyro. 14th Floor Records. 2008. 14FLR32V1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b Mountains (UK 7-inch picture disc). Biffy Clyro. 14th Floor Records. 2008. 14FLR32V2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Mountains – Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Issue 986" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Biffy Clyro Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Biffy Clyro". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Biffy Clyro: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Biffy Clyro – Mountains". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mountains_(Biffy_Clyro_song)&oldid=1208895396"