Spanish Sahara (song)
Encyclopedia
"Spanish Sahara" is the first song released from Foals' second album Total Life Forever
. Although not an official single, it was the first song to be released from this album. It was premiered on 1 March 2010, on BBC Radio 1
. Later that night, a music video for the single was put up on the Foals' website. On 6 March, when the Total Life Forever site went up, Foals premiered instrument samplings of the tracks that would be on Total Life Forever in the track listing order. The fifth sample was a synthesizer
sample of "Spanish Sahara".
The single was released on 17 April only as a 7", to celebrate Record Store Day. Only 1000 copies were printed and sold through independent record stores. The remix of the song by Mount Kimbie
was later available as a free MP3 given to members of the Foals website.
Regarding the meaning of the song, Philippakis said:
The song was number one in the NME
top 50 songs of the year 2010. In February 2011, it won the award for 'Best Song' at the NME Awards
. In October 2011, NME eventually placed it at number 14 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". In January 2011, the song was voted Number 98 on the Triple J Hottest 100
for 2010.
The song was used in a promotional trailer for Season 7 of the HBO TV show Entourage
and in a Series 2 episode of Misfits
.
dragging an animal carcass up a hillside in Scotland and later burning it. According to Philippakis, the location they chose was similar to the ravaged place he had in mind when writing the song.
Total Life Forever
Total Life Forever is the second studio album by British indie rock band Foals, released on 10 May 2010 through Transgressive Records. Prior to the album's release, the band described it as souding "like the dream of an eagle dying". It was produced by Luke Smith, and was recorded at Svenska...
. Although not an official single, it was the first song to be released from this album. It was premiered on 1 March 2010, on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. Later that night, a music video for the single was put up on the Foals' website. On 6 March, when the Total Life Forever site went up, Foals premiered instrument samplings of the tracks that would be on Total Life Forever in the track listing order. The fifth sample was a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
sample of "Spanish Sahara".
The single was released on 17 April only as a 7", to celebrate Record Store Day. Only 1000 copies were printed and sold through independent record stores. The remix of the song by Mount Kimbie
Mount Kimbie
Mount Kimbie is a British electronic duo that formed in London, England in 2008. The duo consists of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos. Unlike many other mainstream dubstep artists, their style revolves around guitars, sampling, loops and ambient soundscapes....
was later available as a free MP3 given to members of the Foals website.
Recording and meaning
Yannis Philippakis once stated that it was probably the first song to be completed of the album.Regarding the meaning of the song, Philippakis said:
Reception and success
"Spanish Sahara" peaked at number 148 on the UK Singles Chart.The song was number one in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
top 50 songs of the year 2010. In February 2011, it won the award for 'Best Song' at the NME Awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
. In October 2011, NME eventually placed it at number 14 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". In January 2011, the song was voted Number 98 on the Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
for 2010.
The song was used in a promotional trailer for Season 7 of the HBO TV show Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
and in a Series 2 episode of Misfits
Misfits (TV series)
Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television series about a group of young offenders forced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm. The first series started broadcasting on 12 November 2009 on E4, and was...
.
Music video
The music video, directed by Dave Ma, is intended to represent internal horror and fury. It features lead singer Yannis PhilippakisYannis Philippakis
Yannis Philippakis is a singer of the alternative indie and dance punk band Foals. He is of Greek and South African Jewish descent. He left Greece with his mother when he was five years old. His father taught him to dance the folk traditional songs and sing...
dragging an animal carcass up a hillside in Scotland and later burning it. According to Philippakis, the location they chose was similar to the ravaged place he had in mind when writing the song.