Such Great Heights
Encyclopedia
"Such Great Heights" is a single released on January 21, 2003 by The Postal Service
, under the Sub Pop Records label. The single includes a previously unreleased track "There's Never Enough Time" and two cover tracks by The Shins
and Iron & Wine
of "We Will Become Silhouettes" and "Such Great Heights", respectively.
The tracks were recorded in early 2002, and were written by Ben Gibbard
and Jimmy Tamborello
, and include backing vocals in the studio recording by Jen Wood
, whose other collaborations include work for The Black Heart Procession
and Joan of Arc
. It was the first CD released by The Postal Service
, and a preview of Give Up
, which was released a month later. The cover artwork was designed by Kozyndan
.
The title song "Such Great Heights" has exhibited unusual staying power. It consistently ranked in the weekly top 5 most frequently played tracks on social music site Last.fm
for almost two years during 2005 and 2006. The song was featured on an 2004 episode of Veronica Mars
. It has also been used in several television commercials, for organizations such as Ask.com
, Kaiser Permanente
, Target
, UPS
and M&M's
. The song was also featured in the trailer for the 2004 film Garden State
and the Iron & Wine
original version was featured in the film and its soundtrack. An instrumental
version of the song was featured as part of UPS
's "Whiteboard" ad campaign, which was launched 6 January 2007, almost four years after the song was officially released. The song was used in Grey's Anatomy
, and appears on its season one soundtrack, Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 1
. "Such Great Heights" ranked 27 on Rolling Stone
's 100 Best Songs of the Decade list.
for "Such Great Heights", directed by Josh & Xander, premiered in April 2003. It is set in the clean room of a semiconductor fabrication plant, where, as the machinery assembles devices, two workers in isolation suits cast longing glances at each other. For most of the song, we mostly see the two workers, interspersed with shots of the machinery working on silicon wafers. When the bridge comes, the video leaves the two workers as one is carefully taking a wafer from the other, and dives into a sequence of shots of machines assembling wafers; then zooms in on a bank of Skyworks Solutions
chips
; then zooms out to show the chips are inside of a satellite
; then zooms in on the Earth and down to the city block containing EnergySolutions Arena
in Salt Lake City, however the block has been replaced with a computer circuit; from there, a match cut is made to a monitor in the factory displaying an similar looking computer chip; and this is the end of the sequence, cutting back to the two workers handing over the wafer.
Skyworks Solutions
is a real company and the video is filmed inside one of their fabrication plants. When the video premiered on iTunes
, the name and logo were blurred out during some scenes.
Josh & Xander later created a commercial for Apple Computer
(now Apple Inc.) and Intel using similar footage. While strikingly similar to the music video, the commercial did not contain imagery of the band or a recording of its music. On January 19, 2006, Gibbard stated on the band's website, "It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent." The band did not take legal action against Apple or the filmmakers.
The Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
, under the Sub Pop Records label. The single includes a previously unreleased track "There's Never Enough Time" and two cover tracks by The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
and Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine
Samuel Beam , better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album...
of "We Will Become Silhouettes" and "Such Great Heights", respectively.
The tracks were recorded in early 2002, and were written by Ben Gibbard
Ben Gibbard
Benjamin "Ben" Gibbard is an American musician known as a member of several successful indie rock bands. He is the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, and is also known for his project ¡All-Time Quarterback! and his first band, Pinwheel.-Personal life and career:Gibbard was...
and Jimmy Tamborello
Dntel
James Scott "Jimmy" Tamborello, more commonly known as Dntel , is an electronic music artist. He is sometimes cited as James Figurine, the co-programmer and vocalist for the electropop outfit Figurine. Other projects include Strictly Ballroom, Headset and The Postal Service. Tamborello has...
, and include backing vocals in the studio recording by Jen Wood
Jen Wood
Jen Wood is an American indie rock musician based in Seattle, Washington. She was a member of alternative rock band Tattle Tale and is the lead artist of the Jen Wood Trio.-Biography:...
, whose other collaborations include work for The Black Heart Procession
The Black Heart Procession
The Black Heart Procession is an indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1997 by Pall Jenkins and Tobias Nathaniel...
and Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (band)
Joan of Arc are an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1995, following the breakup of Cap'n Jazz.Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only permanent member of the group; he has also recorded as a solo artist....
. It was the first CD released by The Postal Service
The Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
, and a preview of Give Up
Give Up
Give Up is the debut album by electronic pop duo The Postal Service. Released on February 19, 2003, it was the second Sub Pop Records release to receive gold certification, and was Sub Pop's best selling album since Nirvana's Bleach. The album peaked at #114 on the U.S...
, which was released a month later. The cover artwork was designed by Kozyndan
Kozyndan
Kozyndan is the joint pseudonym of Los Angeles-based husband-and-wife illustrator team Kozue and Dan Kitchens, known in particular for their whimsical and occasionally absurd illustrations of modern cityscapes.-Education and background:...
.
The title song "Such Great Heights" has exhibited unusual staying power. It consistently ranked in the weekly top 5 most frequently played tracks on social music site Last.fm
Last.fm
Last.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
for almost two years during 2005 and 2006. The song was featured on an 2004 episode of Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
. It has also been used in several television commercials, for organizations such as Ask.com
Ask.com
Ask is a Q&A focused search engine founded in 1996 by Garrett Gruener and David Warthen in Berkeley, California. The original software was implemented by Gary Chevsky from his own design. Warthen, Chevsky, Justin Grant, and others built the early AskJeeves.com website around that core engine...
, Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...
, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
and M&M's
M&M's
M&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
. The song was also featured in the trailer for the 2004 film Garden State
Garden State (film)
Garden State is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by, directed by, and starring Zach Braff, with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Sir Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman , a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies...
and the Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine
Samuel Beam , better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album...
original version was featured in the film and its soundtrack. An instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
version of the song was featured as part of UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
's "Whiteboard" ad campaign, which was launched 6 January 2007, almost four years after the song was officially released. The song was used in Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, and appears on its season one soundtrack, Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 1
Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack)
Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album series for the television series Grey's Anatomy, with three volumes released in the series...
. "Such Great Heights" ranked 27 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's 100 Best Songs of the Decade list.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Such Great Heights", directed by Josh & Xander, premiered in April 2003. It is set in the clean room of a semiconductor fabrication plant, where, as the machinery assembles devices, two workers in isolation suits cast longing glances at each other. For most of the song, we mostly see the two workers, interspersed with shots of the machinery working on silicon wafers. When the bridge comes, the video leaves the two workers as one is carefully taking a wafer from the other, and dives into a sequence of shots of machines assembling wafers; then zooms in on a bank of Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is a semiconductor company headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.The company manufactures semiconductors for use in radio frequency and mobile communications systems...
chips
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
; then zooms out to show the chips are inside of a satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
; then zooms in on the Earth and down to the city block containing EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...
in Salt Lake City, however the block has been replaced with a computer circuit; from there, a match cut is made to a monitor in the factory displaying an similar looking computer chip; and this is the end of the sequence, cutting back to the two workers handing over the wafer.
Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is a semiconductor company headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.The company manufactures semiconductors for use in radio frequency and mobile communications systems...
is a real company and the video is filmed inside one of their fabrication plants. When the video premiered on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, the name and logo were blurred out during some scenes.
Josh & Xander later created a commercial for Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
(now Apple Inc.) and Intel using similar footage. While strikingly similar to the music video, the commercial did not contain imagery of the band or a recording of its music. On January 19, 2006, Gibbard stated on the band's website, "It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent." The band did not take legal action against Apple or the filmmakers.
Track listing
- "Such Great Heights" – 4:27
- "There's Never Enough Time" – 3:33
- "We Will Become SilhouettesWe Will Become Silhouettes-External links:* * *AbsolutePunk *Pitchfork Media ,...
" (cover done by The ShinsThe ShinsThe Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
) – 3:01 - "Such Great Heights" (cover done by Iron & WineIron & WineSamuel Beam , better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album...
) – 4:10
Cover versions
- Ben FoldsBen FoldsBenjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
covered "Such Great Heights" on AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n radio station Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
using a piano, forks, tin foil, and glass. He also played the song live during his Fall 2006 tour, including once in his MySpace webcast on October 24, 2006, and on his Summer 2007 tour. He again played it on his Fall 2009 tour in Northampton Massachusetts, St. Louis, MO, Indiana University, and in May 2010 in San Francisco to close the show. - Iron & WineIron & WineSamuel Beam , better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album...
did a cover of the songSuch Great Heights EPSuch Great Heights is an EP by Florida singer-songwriter Iron & Wine. It was released in 2006 on the Sub Pop record label.The title track is a cover of a popular song by The Postal Service...
which was featured on the soundtrack for Garden StateGarden State (film)Garden State is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by, directed by, and starring Zach Braff, with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Sir Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman , a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies...
. It was released as one of the B-sides of the original Postal Service single. - Teddy GeigerTeddy Geiger-Singles:-Album appearances:-Television and movie appearances:-External links:****...
did a cover of the song "Such Great Heights" exclusively in a live performance for Boston radio station KISS 108. - Firebrand BoyFirebrand BoyPhilip Cunningham is a chiptune and electropop producer based in Glasgow, Scotland. He is part of the new wave of chiptune musicians who were born after the rise of the demoscene...
recorded a chiptuneChiptuneA chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
version of the song. - Matt NathansonMatt NathansonMatt Nathanson is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".-Early life and college...
has often covered part of "Such Great Heights" as an outro to his song "Bent". - Rilo KileyRilo KileyRilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
did a live cover version. - Amanda PalmerAmanda PalmerAmanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
of The Dresden DollsThe Dresden DollsThe Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione...
has performed "Such Great Heights" solo on keyboard at live concerts, as well as releasing a ukulele version with Kim BoekbinderKim BoekbinderKim Boekbinder is a Canadian-born musician who rose to prominence as one half of the "junk-store cabaret" duo, Vermillion Lies. She has since embarked on a solo career, releasing her debut solo album The Impossible Girl in 2010....
in 2011. - The Scene AestheticThe Scene AestheticThe Scene Aesthetic is an American two-piece acoustic/indie pop band based in Seattle, Washington, featuring Andrew de Torres of Danger Radio and Eric Bowley.-History:...
did a live cover on tour. They also recorded their version for the 2010 compilation "Rockin Romance II." - The Wrong Trousers did a cover of Such Great Heights on their album One and Counting
- FrankMusikFrankmusikVincent Frank born Vincent James Turner is known professionally as Frankmusik is an English electropop musician. The name "Frank" is derived from the surname of his grandfather, whose name he took in tribute.-Early life:...
an UK artist, also covered "Such Great Heights" and was a B-Side to his 2009 Confusion Girl (Shame Shame Shame) single - The New StandardsThe New StandardsThe New Standards is a minimalist jazz trio formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2005 and composed of Chan Poling , John Munson and Steve Roehm...
covers it on their new album "Rock and Roll" - MetalcoreMetalcoreMetalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band ConfideConfide (band)Confide was an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2004. They released three EPs and two full-length albums. Since the band was on a secular label they were not marketed in the "Christian" market, but their faith plays a big role in their personal lives as well as their...
put a cover of the song on their MySpace profile, and later released the version on the reissue of their debut album, "Shout the Truth". - Progressive skaSkaSka |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band Tip the VanTip The VanTip the Van was an American rock/ska formed in Marlborough, Connecticut in 2002. The lineup consists of Nicole Oliva , Simone Oliva , Stephanie Allen , Brian Dunnigan , Bryan Howard , and Bryan Briggs...
from Connecticut covers this song at concerts. - Streetlight ManifestoStreetlight ManifestoStreetlight Manifesto is an American punk band with many influences from different genres including ska, from New Brunswick, New Jersey fronted by Tomas Kalnoky....
covered this song on Volume 1 of their album "99 Songs of Revolution99 Songs of Revolution99 Songs of Revolution: Vol. 1 is the fourth studio album by the American ska punk band Streetlight Manifesto, released March 16, 2010. It is part of a multi-album cover songs project by several associated acts including Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution....
". - The Section QuartetThe Section QuartetThe Section Quartet is a string quartet that is based in Los Angeles, California. Emerging in 1998, Section features Eric Gorfain and Daphne Chen on violin, Lauren Chipman on viola, and Richard Dodd on cello. It specializes in turning popular rock songs into classical quartet pieces...
covered this song on their album "FuzzboxFuzzboxA fuzzbox is a device for deliberately introducing distortion in music.Fuzzbox may also refer to:* We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It or Fuzzbox, a 1980s English pop-punk quartet* FuzzBox, a video-game developer that developed Cyber Org...
".