Whirring
"Whirring" is a song by the Welsh alternative rock band the Joy Formidable. Written by the band, it was originally released on the band's debut EP, A Balloon Called Moaning, in 2009 before being re-released on the band's debut full-length album, The Big Roar, in 2011.
| "Whirring" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Joy Formidable | ||||
| from the EP A Balloon Called Moaning and the album The Big Roar | ||||
| Released | May 2009 (Original) 16 April 2011 (Re-release) | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, shoegazing | |||
| Length | 6:47 (Album) 3:17 (Radio edit) | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | The Joy Formidable | |||
| Producer(s) | The Joy Formidable, Rich Costey, Neak Menter | |||
| The Joy Formidable singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception edit
Pitchfork ranked the song No. 68 on its list of the Top 100 Tracks of 2011, with author Amy Phillips writing: "The Joy Formidable aren't headlining soccer stadiums quite yet, but you wouldn't know it from listening to 'Whirring'. An aerobic rush of a song that builds to the kind of explosive alt-rock chorus that would've blown the roof off of '120 Minutes' circa 1995, it's the kind of thing that gets you pumped to run up a steep hill, lift heavy objects, or defeat Bob Dole's Presidential run."[1]
Music video edit
The original music video for "Whirring", directed by Dain Bedford, was released in 2009 and was filmed in Northern Wales.[2][3] A second music video, directed by Christopher Mills, was released on 8 March 2011 on MTV's website. The 2011 version is a surrealist music video featuring the band exploring a house full of cats and them descending deeper and deeper through the house's layers.[4]
The 2011 music video was the first video the air on the premiere episode of 120 Minutes with Matt Pinfield.[5]
In popular culture edit
A sample of "Whirring" was used for the Lonely Island song "YOLO", airing as an SNL Digital Short on 26 January 2013. "Whirring" is also featured on the soundtrack of the videogame Hi-Fi Rush, released in 2023.[6]
Track listings edit
All songs written by Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd.
- 2009 7" Vinyl, Limited Edition[7]
- "Whirring" - 2:37
- Chwyrlio - 3:52
- US Record Store Day 2011 exclusive[8]
- Whirring - 3:17
- Chwyrlio - 4:09
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] | 7 |
| US Rock Songs (Billboard)[9] | 21 |
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (2011) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] | 25 |
References edit
- ^ The Top 100 Tracks of 2011. Pitchfork. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ The joy Formidable - Whirring. Myspace. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ The Joy Formidable - 'Whirring' - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips - NME.COM
- ^ Newman, Jason. Indie Music Month Video Premiere: The Joy Formidable, 'Whirring'. MTV. March 8, 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ ‘Whirring’ feat on 120 Minutes Premiere 2012-02-03 at the Wayback Machine. The Joy Formidable. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ Green, Jake. "'Hi-Fi Rush' soundtrack and song list". NME. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ Joy Formidable, The – Whirring (Vinyl). Discogs. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ Joy Formidable, The – Whirring (Vinyl). Discogs. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ a b The Big Roar - Charts - Singles. AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.