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Ode to the Mets

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Ode to the Mets

| cover =

| alt =

| type = song

| artist = the Strokes

| album = The New Abnormal

| released = April 10, 2020

| recorded =

| studio = Shangri-La (Malibu, California)

| genre = Dream pop

| length = 5:51

| label =

* Cult

* RCA

| composer =

* Julian Casablancas

* Nikolai Fraiture

* Albert Hammond Jr.

* Fabrizio Moretti

* Nick Valensi

| lyricist = Julian Casablancas

| producer = Rick Rubin

| misc =

}}

"'Ode to the Mets'" is a song by American rock band the Strokes, the ninth and closing track on their sixth studio album, 'The New Abnormal' (2020). Singer Julian Casablancas began writing the song while waiting for a subway train following the New York Mets' loss in the 2016 National League Wild Card Game at Citi Field. Its title was originally conceived as a joke; however, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, finding it a fitting metaphor for the lyrical themes, convinced Casablancas to keep it.

The Strokes first performed the song live at their New Year's Eve 2019 concert at the Barclays Center. It has been regarded by multiple critics as one of the highlights from 'The New Abnormal' and also reached number 27 on the 'Billboard' Hot Rock Songs chart. A music video for the song, directed by Warren Fu, was released on July 24, 2020, coinciding with that year's delayed Opening Day for the Mets.

Background



Singer Julian Casablancas began writing "Ode to the Mets" on October 5, 2016, following the 2016 National League Wild Card Game between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, which Casablancas had attended with Strokes guitar technician Paul Vassallo. The Mets' loss saw them knocked out of the 2016 postseason. A lifelong Mets fan, Casablancas began sketching lyrics and a melody while waiting for the 7 train at MetsWillets Point station. As a joke, he gave it the working title "Ode to the Mets", with the intention of changing it. However, drummer Fabrizio Moretti later dissuaded him from doing so, finding the title befitting of the lyrical themes. Moretti believed that both the Mets and the song evoke "something that you set your heart to and that you love unconditionally but that continues to disappoint you."

Like the rest of the songs from 'The New Abnormal', the song was primarily recorded at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu, California. The band performed it live for the first time during a New Year's Eve 2019 concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Casablancas preceded the performance by announcing that they would have a new album releasing in 2020. "Ode to the Mets" was officially released as the ninth and final track on 'The New Abnormal' on April 10, 2020.

Composition



'Atlantic City Weekly' writer Ryan Loughlin categorized "Ode to the Mets" as dream pop, with others describing it as a ballad. The lyrics are unrelated to the Mets or baseball generally. Kitty Empire of 'The Observer' found them difficult to decipher. Moretti believed the song to be about "something that you set your heart to and you love unconditionally, but continues to disappoint you", which MLB.com writer Michael Clair felt echoed "the kind of self-deprecation Mets fans are famous for". Of this interpretation, Casablancas said, "That wasn't my intention with the song, but I cant argue with [it]". AllMusic reviewer Heather Phares described the lyrics as "Casablancas [...] telling off someone who's already long gone", while Helen Brown of 'The Independent' felt it saw the band "[looking] back on their lost years".

'Spectrum Culture's Kevin Korber called the song as a "delicate mix of detached cool and melancholy", with Susan Hansen of 'Clash' noting the song's progression "[building] before escalating in intensity, providing a soothing end to the blistering presentation". Casablancas's vocal delivery goes "from monotone to octave jumping". Ella Kemp of 'NME' described the song's distinctive riff as sounding as if it was "put through a wind machine". Helen Brown felt that the song would serve as a fitting soundtrack for the closing credits to the upcoming documentary adaptation of Lizzy Goodman's 2017 oral history 'Meet Me in the Bathroom', which heavily follows The Strokes.

Music video



A music video for the song was later released on July 24, 2020, to coincide with the Opening Day for the New York Mets, which had previously been delayed due to the COVID19 pandemic. Inspired by the opening titles of the sitcom 'Cheers', the video was directed by long-time collaborator Warren Fu and features work from eight different animators. It depicts New York City throughout various points of history; chronologically, it ends in the future with the city underwater, apparently as a result of climate change, adorned with banners featuring optimistic slogans concerning a better future. It also features nods to the Mets, with the team's "Ya Gotta Believe" slogan displayed on a poster, another banner reading "Class of '69", in reference to their 1969 World Series victory and it ends with Shea Stadium under water with a sign that says Believe In Miracles, another Mets rally cry. A photo of the band in their early days, from Nick Valensi's private photo collection, also appears.

Reception



Several reviewers regarded "Ode to the Mets" as a highlight of 'The New Abnormal'. 'Variety' writer A. D. Amorosi labeled it an "elegant, odd finale to a sharp-kicking album", adding that no other point on the album was "as slick and theatrical as the melancholy melody of 'Ode to The Mets'". 'Under the Radar's Caleb Campbell felt the song ended the album on a high note, while Kaelen Bell of 'Exclaim!' deemed it a "solid late-career [entry]". In a mixed review of 'The New Abnormal', Sam Sodomsky of 'Pitchfork' found the song to be one of the album's finer moments, calling it "genuinely pretty" and a "step in the right direction". Some reviewers were less favorable. For 'The Guardian', Rachel Aroesti wrote that "Ode to the Mets provides a decidedly unspectacular finale", while Jon Dolan of 'Rolling Stone' found the song's "lachrymose lounge moan" to be "pretentious" and "over-the-top". Commercially, the song peaked at number 27 on the 'Billboard' Hot Rock Songs chart.

Casablancas jokingly suggested that the Mets play the song over the PA system after each defeat at their home field in contrast to them playing "New York Groove" by Ace Frehley after each victory.

Personnel



Credits are adapted from 'The New Abnormal' liner notes.

'The Strokes'

* Julian Casablancas vocals

* Albert Hammond Jr. guitar

* Nick Valensi guitar

* Nikolai Fraiture bass

* Fabrizio Moretti drums

'Technical personnel'

* Jason Lader engineering, mixing

* Stephen Marcussen mastering

* Rick Rubin production

* Stewart Whitmore mastering

Chart performance



References



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Category:2020s ballads

Category:2020 songs

Category:Dream pop songs

Category:Music videos directed by Warren Fu

Category:New York Mets

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Songs written by Albert Hammond Jr.

Category:Songs written by Fabrizio Moretti

Category:Songs written by Julian Casablancas

Category:Songs written by Nick Valensi

Category:Songs written by Nikolai Fraiture

Category:The Strokes songs

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