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Wild Roses (song)

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Wikipedia article




"'Wild Roses'" is a song by Icelandic indie folk group Of Monsters and Men. It was released on 12 July 2019 by Republic Records as the second single for their third studio album 'Fever Dream' (2019). Written by Nanna Brynds Hilmarsdttir and Ragnar rhallsson and produced by Of Monsters and Men and Rich Costey, it is a folk power ballad about recovering from pain that progressively builds into a huge-sounding outro. It was a top-20 hit in Iceland but performed far weaker in North America, only spending two weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot Rock Songs chart and peaking at 38.

Composition



On 'Fever Dream', Of Monsters and Men introduces a bunch of electronic and synthesizer textures to their sounds. "Wild Roses" is an example of this, mixing the pace of their folk work with the production of dance hall and new wave music. Influenced by dance music and Joseph Campbell's book 'The Power of Myth' (1988), Hilmarsdttir went for an melancholic "introverted side" with "Wild Roses". "Wild Roses" depicts Hilmarsdttir nervously singing in a similar haunting manner to "I of the Storm" over calm piano and strings, heavy drums, and the occasional bits of synthesizers and auto-tuned voices. Also similar to the 'Beneath the Skin' cut "Organs", it is a folk power ballad that builds in tension to a "big finish" with a brass section. Although "Wild Roses" is an upbeat track with a pop groove, the lyrics deal with the difficulty of recovering from pain and contain imagery of vines, flying moths, and "wild roses on a bed of leaves in the month of May".

Release



"Wild Roses" was released on 12 July 2019 as the second single of 'Fever Dream'. The music video was directed by ra Hilmars and released on 17 October 2019. It was filmed in a swimming pool in Hafnarfjrur in 12 hours, just before the group went on the 'Fever Dream' tour. Influenced by Scandinavian horror, the video depicts Hilmarsdttir performing a dance routine, choreographed by Stella Rosenkranzto, in a blood-filled pool.

Commercial performance



In Of Monsters and Men's native country of Iceland, "Wild Roses" debuted at number 18 and reached number 12 in its seventh week on the chart. In terms of North American 'Billboard' rock and alternative charts, the song was the weakest-performing 'Fever Dreams' single. It debuted at 38 on the Hot Rock Songs and only re-entered at number 41 following the release of 'Fever Dream', lasting for only two weeks and, unlike "Alligator" and "Wars", failing to enter the Rock Airplay, Alternative Airplay, Adult Alternative Airplay, and Canada Rock charts.

Critical reception



'PopMatters' journalist Jordan Blum enjoyed "Wild Roses" as "celebratory but frank, with a robust and danceable backing that's quite infectious". Sean Maunier, a writer for 'Metro Weekly', praised the vocalists for pushing their boundaries on 'Fever Dream', citing "Wild Roses" as an example of the presentation of Hilmarsdttir's versatility. Graham Kervin of 'Slant Magazine', however, felt the dance percussion robbed the "airy quiet" of Hilmarsdttir's performance.

Personnel



Credits adapted from the liner notes of 'Fever Dream'.

'Of Monsters and Men'

*Nanna Brynds Hilmarsdttir vocals, writing

*Ragnar rhallsson vocals, writing

*Brynjar Leifsson guitar, synthesizer

*Kristjn Pll Kristjnsson bass, synth bass

*Arnar Rsenkranz Hilmarsson drums, percussion

*Steingrmur Karl Teague piano

'Other'

*Rich Costey production, mixing

*Martin Cooke engineering

*Joe LaPorta mastering

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



References



Category:2010s ballads

Category:2019 songs

Category:2019 singles

Category:Folk ballads

Category:Of Monsters and Men songs

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