Subway

Album: Mosquito (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • While recording in New Orleans, Karen O's husband Barbaby Clay sent the singer a list of 'Top 50 songs written about New York City.' Karen told NME: "He was like 'you gotta write one.' I wrote this track, which is a love song set on the most New York City thing there is - the metro system."
  • The only previous song about the Big Apple that the Yeah Yeah Yeah's had recorded was a B-side called "Yeah, New York."
  • This languidly yearning song utilizes the clanging sound of a train shunting along the subway tracks as an appropriate source of percussion.
  • Karen O took up bass during the recording of Mosquito and that's her playing the song's swampy riffs.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

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.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.