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Vampire Weekend — A-Punk
Album: Vampire Weekend
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1677









Released: 2008
Length: 2:15
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Johanna drove slowly into the city
The Hudson River all filled with snow
She spied the ring on His Honor's finger, oh-oh-oh
A thousand years in one piece of silver
She took it from his lily white hand
Showed no fear, she'd seen the thing
In the Young Men's Wing at Sloan-Kettering

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Ay ay ay ay! Ay ay ay!

His honor drove southward seeking exotica
Down to the Pueblo huts of New Mexico
Cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas, oh-oh-oh
I saw Johanna down in the subway
She took an apartment in Washington Heights
Half of the ring lies here with me
But the other half's at the bottom of the sea

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Ay ay ay ay! Ay ay ay!
Comments (120)add comment
My favourite story regarding this song is one I encountered on Reddit a few years ago. Someone posted about how much they grew to hate this song because it always showed up first on his iPod playlists. (Luckily we get to still enjoy)

Weird to think how much has changed in music listening since then. 
 flyboy wrote:


Well, time hasn't done anything except speed up since the last update.
Daughter just finished first year of college, playing hockey.  The middle kid who used to bounce around to this in his diaper is 16 and driving himself to the airport to go fly the airplane by himself.  And the youngest, who was years away from being born when I first posted on here, is going into middle school in a couple months.
This album still occasionally gets played at home, but not as frequently as before, and my knees won't keep up with the jumping like they used to.
Keep trying to make the moments count. 
@flyboy is like the RP version of Michael Apted (RIP) with A-Punk Up (or something).  Love it.  Thanks for the update.

 paloeguevo wrote:

Waiting on @flyboy to update us on his kids current endevours 



Well, time hasn't done anything except speed up since the last update.
Daughter just finished first year of college, playing hockey.  The middle kid who used to bounce around to this in his diaper is 16 and driving himself to the airport to go fly the airplane by himself.  And the youngest, who was years away from being born when I first posted on here, is going into middle school in a couple months.
This album still occasionally gets played at home, but not as frequently as before, and my knees won't keep up with the jumping like they used to.
Keep trying to make the moments count. 
Waiting on @flyboy to update us on his kids current endevours 
Mellotron?
 Steely_D wrote:


And now she has her license and the older boy is a teenager. Folks, carpe the fricken' diem. You blink and you miss it. Pay attention.


please never stops this updates.
Always the first song that plays on my iPod., since it plays alphabetically. Yes, I still have an iPod. 
 Steely_D wrote:


And now she has her license and the older boy is a teenager. Folks, carpe the fricken' diem. You blink and you miss it. Pay attention.


I was just about to reply to your first update post saying she likely has her license these days when I saw this. Thinking of my newly minted high schooler I couldn't agree with your comments more...
Just reminds me of Guitar Hero/Rock Band - one of the few tracks I could complete on a tougher difficulty 😁
 Steely_D wrote:


And now she has her license and the older boy is a teenager. Folks, carpe the fricken' diem. You blink and you miss it. Pay attention.


Thank you Mr. Bueller!
Guitar Hero 5!
 flyboy wrote:

Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.



And now she has her license and the older boy is a teenager. Folks, carpe the fricken' diem. You blink and you miss it. Pay attention.
I only knew this song, so their Glastonbury set was a very pleasant, refreshing surprise. Smart.
Defenetly best wake-up music 😊
Bill said "Here's a bouncy little song from Vampire Weekend". That is a perfect description!!!
I never got on with Vampire Weekend's music when it first came out. However this song when listened to in isolation (pun unintended) is, remarkably, capable of putting a smile on my face for the first time in days.  A great choice Bill.

Note also made to listen to the rest of the album again (which will be the first time in ten years... I should get with the plan!)
 flyboy wrote:

Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.

 
This thread reminds me of the Feist song "1-2-3-4", one of my daughter's faves when she was 5.  She was just learning the alphabet.  I printed out the lyrics and said, "Here, you can read this."  She said, "I can't read."  Then I started singing the song, pointed to the words and she got it. 
 flyboy wrote:

Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.

 
That's awesome!  My 12 year old just played this song for a School of Rock performance.  Crazy!
 flyboy wrote:

My five year old (now six, again time  flows unabated) loves Thunderstruck.  It's his anthem.  I don't even know where he heard it first.  He once requested it in Sunday School.  Imagine his disappointment.

Thank you :-)
He should have used Angus's stage outfit as a ticket in :-)
You must have had a good laugh about that.

Great, a song without any sound! Or was that a technical playback problem?
 Egctheow wrote:
 flyboy wrote:

Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.


Thanks for this Flyboy :-) It's good to get such nice vignettes from listeners' lives. I agree time's just flying like there's no tomorrow. Good for you, you can enjoy cool music with your kids.

My daughter (11) is really into Queen (not because of the film, which she didn't see) and loves Black Sabbath's Iron Man. When I'm cooking and they're in the kitchen with me I let her rate the songs on RP :-)

Cheers, and rock on!

 
My five year old (now six, again time  flows unabated) loves Thunderstruck.  It's his anthem.  I don't even know where he heard it first.  He once requested it in Sunday School.  Imagine his disappointment.
 flyboy wrote:

Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.


Thanks for this Flyboy :-) It's good to get such nice vignettes from listeners' lives. I agree time's just flying like there's no tomorrow. Good for you, you can enjoy cool music with your kids.

My daughter (11) is really into Queen (not because of the film, which she didn't see) and loves Black Sabbath's Iron Man. When I'm cooking and they're in the kitchen with me I let her rate the songs on RP :-)

Cheers, and rock on!

I love the drumming!  
Full on thrash punk would make me happier, but nice try!
more dancing at my desk!  
 flyboy wrote:
I got this album for Christmas.  It's a big hit in the house.  My 5 year old daughter and 1 year old son like to jump around to this song.  It's the first song he's sung along to. "Hey, hey, hey!"  Which is about the extent of his talking ablity right now.  It's extremely cute.

 
Good memories.  Now the daughter is 13, the son is 10, and there's another 5 year old boy.  They still like this album though, and were still bouncing around together to this song just last week.

Time sure is relentless.  Don't waste it.  Life tis but a vapor.

{#Bananajumprope} This song is giving me the happy feels.
Image result for a-punk gif
why there is no " -10 "?
Bounce! {#Dancingbanana}
It suddenly feels like summer!!!  Thanks guys.
I smile like an idiot and I don't know why.

Send help. 
This song is just so damn fun!
 KevinM wrote:
Hey, I can play 3 chords on the guitar too! maybe I can start a band and write simple sucky songs like they do!

 
I dare you to try and play the bass line though.
PSD.....see ya.
Great! {#Bananasplit}

 Photo-John wrote:
I want to punch this band in the face.

Does not sound like Slayer.

 
Bump! LMAO!
A great song to get a lot of work done.
Their best album so far.  Oh, and it was their first and an indie I think.
 
No paradise.
No eclectic.
2 -> 1. 
 KevinM wrote:
Hey, I can play 3 chords on the guitar too! maybe I can start a band and write simple sucky songs like they do!

 
Yes you can, and I would suggest giving it a try, it is a lot of fun. In fact, some great songs only require 1 chord, so you might already be over qualified ;)




wtf?? 8-)
 KevinM wrote:
Hey, I can play 3 chords on the guitar too! maybe I can start a band and write simple sucky songs like they do!

 
honestly, calling this song "simple" was the last thing I expected.  This seems anything but to me. 
Never mind the Bollocks---We're Vampire Weekend.
 KevinM wrote:
Hey, I can play 3 chords on the guitar too! maybe I can start a band and write simple sucky songs like they do!

 
"Critics" have been saying that for about 65 years.  Have a go; it must be easy.  I doubt you can play even one chord or have ever held a musical instrument in your life.
 AliGator wrote on February 13, 2010:
Hey, how about something from VW's new album?

 
Oh hey, Vampire Weekend has another new album out. How about playing something from that?
Hey, I can play 3 chords on the guitar too! maybe I can start a band and write simple sucky songs like they do!
 bzahradnik wrote:
Great tune.  Great album.  Fun band.  
 
Great album, their following one just failed in everything.
 spigolli wrote:
Just remembered where I'd heard this tune -

https://www.youtube.com/v/MkTPrX7PdJM?fs=1&hl=en_US 

I first heard it here, it really got my attention quickly:

BBC 6 Music TV advert (2009)

Instant happiness in a song!

All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.

"She took the ring from his lilly white hand. She showed no fear. She'd seen the thing before at Sloan-Kettering." Lyrics like that deserve a little attention...just sayin


Kind of .....annoying.
A bunch of college boys who think all you need to do is pick up instruments and play some noise and you'll be famous.

Too bad they were right.

Thus soul-less noise. 
Vampire Weekend sucks. No pun intended.
Oh yes - the XTC wannabe's with no soul......
 Sasha2001 wrote:
This is probably their best song. The problem with this band is that they can't seem to escape their patrician, Ivy League pedigree. Its hard to care about a band that sings about a bus ride from one rich neighborhood to another in uptown Manhattan. Most bands with this kind of upbringing at least try to mask it somehow. I'm thinking of Radiohead and The Strokes as bands that jettisoned their well-heeled roots when it came to writing about more universal themes.
 
Sometimes, it's not the best practice (or "honest") for an artist or songwriter to disregard where they came from in order to try and create works about "universal themes" - unless they intend to be purely commercial.
Sasha2001 wrote:
This is probably their best song. The problem with this band is that they can't seem to escape their patrician, Ivy League pedigree. Its hard to care about a band that sings about a bus ride from one rich neighborhood to another in uptown Manhattan. Most bands with this kind of upbringing at least try to mask it somehow. I'm thinking of Radiohead and The Strokes as bands that jettisoned their well-heeled roots when it came to writing about more universal themes.
Sasha, I'm no fan of this band - but a life of luxury is just as valid and just as good fodder for art as any other life. Why would you want to mask who you are? Here's to more truth, more storytelling, more art.
 Photo-John wrote:
I want to punch this band in the face.

Does not sound like Slayer.
 
Best comment ever!

This is probably their best song. The problem with this band is that they can't seem to escape their patrician, Ivy League pedigree. Its hard to care about a band that sings about a bus ride from one rich neighborhood to another in uptown Manhattan. Most bands with this kind of upbringing at least try to mask it somehow. I'm thinking of Radiohead and The Strokes as bands that jettisoned their well-heeled roots when it came to writing about more universal themes.


Vampire Weekend continues with their suckfest.  Not a song on this album that rates above a 1.
I want to punch this band in the face.

Does not sound like Slayer.
Just remembered where I'd heard this tune -




just love it - wouldn't mind to have their whole first album on RP's playlist

(their follow-up album hasn't got me quite that much)

My favourites: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa and The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
Maybe Bill and Rebecca have some sympathy with me and add the songs one distant day....
 planet_lizard wrote:
I play this to my class of 10 and 11 yr olds at my peril - they end up bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Save it for Friday afternoon then throw them out the door....
 
{#Roflol}

boooooooooooooooooooooring!!!!
ska ska ska
This one always makes me smile, especially when watching the music video...

8
 planet_lizard wrote:
I play this to my class of 10 and 11 yr olds at my peril - they end up bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Save it for Friday afternoon then throw them out the door....
 
I have a 16-year-old from whom this elicits involuntary drooling. Lizards rule.

I play this to my class of 10 and 11 yr olds at my peril - they end up bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Save it for Friday afternoon then throw them out the door....
Hey, how about something from VW's new album?
 flyboy wrote:
I got this album for Christmas.  It's a big hit in the house.  My 5 year old daughter and 1 year old son like to jump around to this song.  It's the first song he's sung along to. "Hey, hey, hey!"  Which is about the extent of his talking ablity right now.  It's extremely cute.
 
They may be missing a market — my five year old also LOVES this song.  Although who can you not with the Ay Ay Ays!

I got this album for Christmas.  It's a big hit in the house.  My 5 year old daughter and 1 year old son like to jump around to this song.  It's the first song he's sung along to. "Hey, hey, hey!"  Which is about the extent of his talking ablity right now.  It's extremely cute.
 dolfan wrote:
Wait...I uploaded this and got a sorry...now it's here?  Huh?  What gives?  Don't get me wrong, glad to hear it, but...huh?

 
The story of my life. {#Mrgreen}

It really hurts my upload percentages.


 Brooky wrote:
crazy 80s sounds to it./..bouncey
 
It goes from a Specials/English Beat thing to an XTC chorus.
Cool

crazy 80s sounds to it./..bouncey
Great tune.  Great album.  Fun band.  
Need to upload Oxford Comma
 pinklife wrote:


For some reason I want to think it's about trying to practice safe sex and the condom breaking...something about "look outside, the raincoat's gone, I say 'Oh!'".
 
LOL! {#Cheesygrin}

Any mention of raincoats puts me in mind of Richard Kadrey's anarcho-situationist novel Metrophage, where one of the characters declares: "I am here by the will of the people and I won't leave until I get my raincoat back." 
 horstman wrote:
Definitely worth buying if you like this song. These guys are very imaginative and playful. I bought it and have not been disappointed.
 
I did wind up buying it, and I like it very much. Thanks to you and winter for the recommendation.
 
I played this song for my nephew on a recent visit, as I knew he would appreciate the interesting guitar sound (he's a Guitar Hero junkie, and has quickly become an avid fan of all sorts of music) and the "Aye Aye Aye Aye" in it (as he is also a fan of "Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones). Oh, and did I mention he's all of 10 1/2 years old?
Annoying. Not as grating as Cloud Cult, who I'd like to kill. But I could certainly do without this.
 sweettone wrote:
This song makes me smile and want to dance, even if I don't understand the meaning of the lyrics, although they have an interesting fairytale quality to them.
 

For some reason I want to think it's about trying to practice safe sex and the condom breaking...something about "look outside, the raincoat's gone, I say 'Oh!'".
 wrangler wrote:
can't quite put my finger on it, but these guys annoy the crap out of me
 
I can put my finger on it: these guys are truly annoying (at least on this piece). The sound is totally derivative and contrived. It simply lacks what I think of as authenticity. Maybe they are completely serious about their music, but this is one of the few that immediately induces the mute response. 
I suppose it's only to be expected; every decade for the last 40 years some band or other comes along and pretends like no one has ever heard of skanking before...
can't quite put my finger on it, but these guys annoy the crap out of me
 gandalfbmg wrote:
Sorry, but I don't get these guys (they sound like bad REM/Police cover band to me)...  and I'm getting tired of hearing this everywhere...
 

That's the boat I'm in, they're pushed so much and I just don't get it.  Guess everyone has that band everyone loves except them.
After reading the English Beat comment below, I find myself singing 'Stand down Margaret, Stand down please, Stand down Margaret...' My own internal mash-up?
 philipburrows wrote:
Had this album since it came out, so perhaps a little tired of it. Its alright, but we've heard it all before. These boys must have only got 2 albums from Santa, Graceland and The Beats Greatest Hits (known as the English Beat to my US cousins I believe). All the "cool kids" have the right ball ache for them over here...if you know what I mean.
 

This is funny—and mostly true. But, I'm thinking not too many bands could successfully put those two influences together and make something as familiar and fresh at the same time. Vampire Weekend does this throughout the record—and even though they're all yanks with fake-brit accents—it still works quite well!
I am addicted to this song. HEY HEY HEY!!!
Sounds like that Weezer song about going surfing while the wife goes to work.

great album
 winter wrote:

Absolutely. It's one of my favorites this year - not a bad song in the bunch.
 
I don't know. One (Blakes Got a New Face) is pretty annoying.

But the rest of the album is a gem.

I can't say I'm loving this tune, but I like the band name.
Power pop FTW
 Mack wrote:


Isn't it Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay - Ay, Ay, Ay , Ay?
 

Oh, I wasn't singing along. I was just showing my happiness that this song was on :)
 lathyris wrote:
yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay!
 

Isn't it Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay - Ay, Ay, Ay , Ay?
yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay!
This song has the kind of energy I tend to associate with The Ramones' tune "I Wanna Be Sedated"...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wanna_Be_Sedated

Update (1/30/09):
moving from 8 to 9!  {#Bananapiano}
This song makes me smile and want to dance, even if I don't understand the meaning of the lyrics, although they have an interesting fairytale quality to them.
Solid 10 and I say that proudly. 
funny song,
remembers me of the '80 british groups.
the beat, undertones, clash

is it from the '80?
no? uh
2008? uh
inventing the wheel again?
what the hack, great song,
period

Had this album since it came out, so perhaps a little tired of it. Its alright, but we've heard it all before. These boys must have only got 2 albums from Santa, Graceland and The Beats Greatest Hits (known as the English Beat to my US cousins I believe). All the "cool kids" have the right ball ache for them over here...if you know what I mean.


Wait...I uploaded this and got a sorry...now it's here?  Huh?  What gives?  Don't get me wrong, glad to hear it, but...huh?

Definitely one of the best albums this year.  Nothing but fun when you're listening to this band.
Nice, it's about time.

They are pretty much more interesting live. Check out their videos on youtube. It was already about time RP played them.
finally VW arrives on RP!  huzzah!  {#Dancingbanana_2}
love the whole album! total fun!{#Bananajam}
 newwavegurly wrote:
Oooh, this one is a lot of fun.

Anyone have any insight into the rest of the album for me? Is it worth the purchase?  
 
Absolutely. It's one of my favorites this year - not a bad song in the bunch.
 newwavegurly wrote:
Oooh, this one is a lot of fun.

Anyone have any insight into the rest of the album for me? Is it worth the purchase?  
 

Definitely worth buying if you like this song. These guys are very imaginative and playful. I bought it and have not been disappointed.
Oooh, this one is a lot of fun.

Anyone have any insight into the rest of the album for me? Is it worth the purchase?  
My favorite album from 2008
Sorry, but I don't get these guys (they sound like bad REM/Police cover band to me)...  and I'm getting tired of hearing this everywhere...
Yayyyyyyyyy Vampire Weekend...such a happy tune. Although I probably will get sick of it...

B- Sparkler

7.


Hooray!!! Vampire Weekend!!! 

I have been listening to these guys for about 1.5 years, and they are great...just fun...I like them even better because the are confident in their awkward, East Coast, Whiteboy ways.  Kinda like how Byrne is confident in being awkward (not that I am comparing the two...).  VW whole CD is great if you like this song.
Yes! I love this band! What a great album.
 window wrote:
Finally - some Vampire Weekend on RP!  I was wondering how long it would take...

 
Me too. Love it.


Finally - some Vampire Weekend on RP!  I was wondering how long it would take...