James
by MGMT

Album: Little Dark Age (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "James" was written while MGMT were high on acid. Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser and co-producer Patrick Wimberly took what they thought was a "a microdose of acid," but it turned out to be more of a macro-dose.

    "I spent hours screaming at the top of my lungs about Pakistan," VanWyngarden explained to Q magazine.

    The idea looked like backfiring until Goldwasser stumbled on a keyboard loop and the two were able to completed the whole song during the single session.
  • The song is a tribute to Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser's good friend James Richardson, who is the guitarist in MGMT’s live band.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

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.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.