Shadows

Album: The Far Field (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This psychodrama is a duet between Future Islands lead singer Samuel Herring and Debbie Harry of Blondie. It was producer John Congleton's connections that helped the band nail the Blondie front woman for the track. "I didn't actually think 'Shadows' would make the record because we couldn't figure out who should sing on it," said Herring to Q magazine. "It had to be a legend like Debbie Harry or Kate Bush and Kate Bush was an insane prospect."

    Congleton, who produced Blondie's 2017 Pollinator album, suggested emailing the track to Harry, who loved it and recorded her part long distance. "John wanted me to tell her what her role was in the song, said Herring. "I said, 'You're like the spirit of the world but also the voice within myself, trying to save me.' I hope this doesn't sound too much. And she said 'No, I'll figure it out.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.