Heavy and Rolling

Album: Uptown Special (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Longtime Mark Ronson collaborator Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt added his vocals and songwriting talents to this track. Ronson told The Guardian: "Andrew had this bassline (from an xx remix that he never finished) and just started singing the lyrics off the page. We added some chord changes and it was pretty much done."

    "This is one of my favorite pairing of lyrics/song/performance on the album," he added. "If I could sing like Andrew, I would stay home and serenade myself all day."
  • The majority of Uptown Special's lyrics were penned by Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist behind The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Ronson told The Guardian about the author's contribution to this track: "Michael had these lyrics fully formed," he said. "He was really into the expression 'heavy and rolling' that NYC hire car drivers use to signify to the base that they have their passengers and are on the job."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

David Paich of Toto

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.