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Mountains (Biffy Clyro song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Mountains'" is a song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro, released as a single on 18 August 2008. Originally released as a non-album single, it would later be included on the band's fifth studio album, 'Only Revolutions', in 2009. It was originally entitled "Teeth or Mountains" and was first played live at the Electric Festival in Getafe, Spain, on 30 May 2008.
"Mountains" is the band's highest-charting single to date on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number five. It topped the Scottish Singles Chart, giving Biffy Clyro their third number one there. Outside the United Kingdom, "Mountains" reached number 55 in Australia and number 42 in Ireland.
Release and reception
, 25 August 2008
Taking a short break from touring with Say Anything in March 2008, the band recorded the song in Los Angeles, with producer Garth Richardson - producer of the band's previous album, 'Puzzle'.
After appearing in many of the band's summer setlists, the song made its radio debut on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on Friday 19 June 2008 and was introduced as "The Hottest Record in the World Today".
To coincide with the single's physical release, the band embarked on a promotional tour across the UK performing acoustic sets in record stores and signing copies of the single.
Composition
The song is notably more radio-friendly than the band's previous releases, due to its fairly normal song structure and heavy emphasis on melody. It is also one of their first songs to feature a piano. Despite its radio-friendly style, the song incorporates an unusual time signature of throughout the verses and chorus, while the post-choruses switch between and .
Use in media
The song was used for the credits for XXXX Gold Beach Cricket. Mountains was included on 'Colin McRae: DiRT 2' in a video tribute to the late Scottish rally driver Colin McRae. This song also appears on 'Shift 2: Unleashed' and 'SBK X: Superbike World Championship'.
B-sides
"Paperfriend" was a track recorded for 'Puzzle' in 2007 that didn't make the cut. Lyrics from the track, "Help Me Be Captain", can be heard in the song. "Little Soldiers" appeared in the band's acoustic sets promoting the single.
Track listings
Songs and lyrics are by Simon Neil, music by Biffy Clyro. All songs were published by Good Soldier Songs.
*'UK CD single'
# "Mountains"
# "Little Soldiers"
*'UK 7-inch picture disc 1'
:A. "Mountains"
:B. "Paperfriend"
*'UK 7-inch picture disc 2'
:A. "Mountains"
:B. "Robbery"
*'Digital download'
# "Mountains" 3:23
Personnel
Credits are lifted from the CD and 7-inch release liner notes.
* Simon Neil guitar, piano, vocals, writer
* Ben Johnston drums, vocals
* James Johnston bass, vocals, recording (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery")
* Garth Richardson producer
* Andy Wallace mixing
* David Schiffman engineering
* Ben Kaplan engineering
* Mike Fraser engineering (of "Paperfriend")
* John O'Mahony mix engineer
* Howie Weinberg mastering
* Mark Williams mixing (of "Little Soldiers" & "Robbery)
* Frank Arkwright mastering (of "Little Soldiers", "Robbery" & "Paperfriend")
* Alex H. N. Gilbert artist and repertoire, and additional production
* OXEN cover art and design
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:Biffy Clyro songs
Category:14th Floor Records singles
Category:2008 singles
Category:2008 songs
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland
Category:Song recordings produced by Garth Richardson
Category:Songs written by Simon Neil
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