Handlebars (song)
| "Handlebars" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Handlebars" is the debut single from the indie rap rock group Flobots from Denver, Colorado. It was originally recorded for Flobots Present...Platypus but it was re-released in October 2007 on the group's commercial debut album, Fight with Tools, before its single release in April 2008.
The song debuted to great popularity in a time where rap rock genres were certainly not at the foreground of commercial music. In addition to the more common hard rock instruments, "Handlebars" features horns and strings reminiscent of the metro college indie band Cake. The song was performed live on the June 5, 2008 edition of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Track Listing
7" Vinyl Release
- "Handlebars" - 3:27
- "Rise" - 4:10
Meaning
The song "is about the idea that we have so much incredible potential as human beings to be destructive or to be creative," Flobots' MC Jonny 5 (a.k.a. Jamie Laurie) told MTV. "And it's tragic to me that the appetite for military innovation is endless, but when it comes to taking on a project like ending world hunger, it's seen as outlandish. It's not treated with the same seriousness."
"...at the same time, I knew there were people at that moment who were being bombed by our own country. And I thought that was incredibly powerful." It is the contrast between these "little moments of creativity, these bursts of innovation," and the way these ideas are put to use "to oppress and destroy people" that the singer feels is both "beautiful and tragic at the same time."[1]
Music video
GAY QUIT CHANGING MY EDITS THEY'RE WAY BETTER THAN YOURS!
Chart performance
On May 1, 2008, less than three weeks after release, the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks.[2] Fueled by radio airplay, including six straight weeks at the top of KROQ's most played list, it was the first single since Semisonic's "Closing Time" to chart in the top ten so quickly.[3]
It has had similar success on the digital landscape, having over 1,900,000 total plays on the band's MySpace.com page and over 9,000,000 views on YouTube.[4][5] Digital download purchases have placed the song at #4 on certain rap and hip-hop charts on Amazon.com.[6]
"Handlebars" has also performed well on the Billboard charts. Peaking at number three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, number twenty-two on the Hot Digital Songs chart, number thirty-five on the Pop 100 chart, number thirty-seven on the Hot 100 chart, number sixty-three on the Canadian Hot 100[2]
"Handlebars" has been announced on BBC Radio 1 as entering the UK's Official Top 40 at Number 35. It is expected to climb higher in the forthcoming weeks. The following week, the single soared to Number 18.
References
- ^ Montgomery, James (2008-05-05). "Flobots Fight To Make The World A Better Place - News Story". news. MTV. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - The Flobots". Chart History. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ "Flobots Celebrate Kick Off of Debut Album Fight with Tools with Outdoor Hollywood Live Performance/In-Store".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "MySpace.com - FLOBOTS - Denver, Colorado - Hip Hop / Progressive / Classical - www.myspace.com/flobots".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Flobots - Handlebars".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Product Details" (Product sales page). Retrieved 2008-05-23.Scroll to see sales information.