Sacrilege (song)

"Sacrilege" is the first single from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' fourth album Mosquito released on February 25, 2013 as a digital download.^[1] It was recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas and produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek and English record producer Nick Launay.^[2][3]

"Sacrilege"
Single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from the album Mosquito
Released	February 25, 2013 (Digital download)
Recorded	Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas
Genre	Indie rock art rock
Length	3:50
Label	Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Brian Chase Karen Orzolek Nick Zinner
Producer(s)	Nick Launay David Andrew Sitek
Yeah Yeah Yeahs singles chronology
"Skeletons" (2010) "Sacrilege" (2013) "Despair" (2013)
Music video
"Sacrilege" on YouTube

Performances

The band appeared on Late Show with David Letterman on April 5, 2013 to perform "Sacrilege", accompanied by the gospel choir Broadway Inspirational Voices.^[4]

Reception

"Sacrilege" was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork Media February 26, 2013. Dan Martinson stated in his positive review, "Karen O falls for an angel who falls from the sky, the constant clank of Brian Chase's cymbals and Nick Zinner's guitar curlicues evoke "Gimme Shelter" with an exaggerated gospel swing."^[5]

Music video

The music video was directed by French collective Megaforce and premiered on March 26, 2013.^[6] The video stars English model and actress Lily Cole.^[7] The video consists of a chronologically reversed sequence of events outlining the rationale and events leading to a group of people in a small town shooting a man and burning a promiscuous woman (Cole) alive. The band does not appear in the video.

In popular culture

In July 2013, "Sacrilege" was featured in the season three premiere episode of Suits.

In October 2013, "Sacrilege" was featured across the closing scenes of the second episode of The Originals.^[8]

The song was used in the September 2023 premiere episode of Wilderness, played while Jenna Coleman's character lashes out and burns her cheating husband's (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, not present in scene) clothes.

Track listing

Digital download^[1]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sacrilege"	3:50

7" red vinyl^[2]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sacrilege"	3:50
2.	"Mosquito" (Live from Area 52)	3:24

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[9]	74
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[10]	137
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[11]	49
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[12]	33

References

1. "Mosquito (Deluxe Version) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". Retrieved November 6, 2019 – via music.apple.com.
2. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Sacrilege" vinyl version. Companies, credits, notes, barcode". Discogs. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
3. Breihan, Tom. (14 January 2013). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito details". Stereogum. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
4. "Watch Yeah Yeah Yeahs on Letterman". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
5. Martinson, Dan. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito details". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
6. "Megaforce". Retrieved April 30, 2013.
7. . Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
8. The Originals - Music Scene - Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 1x02 (YouTube). 2013-10-09 [2013-10-08]. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
9. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Sacrilege" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 13.04.2013 (wk14)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
11. "Mosquito – Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Awards (Billboard Singles)". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
12. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2013.

External links

• "Sacrilege" official music video on YouTube
• "Sacrilege" at Discogs (list of releases)
• Usage in film and television: see "Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Soundtrack. 'Sacrilege'"^{[dead link]}at IMDb