Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)

2003 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Maps"

Single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from the album  Fever to Tell
B-side|

* "Countdown"
* "Miles Away"

Released|

* September 22, 2003 (2003-09-22) (UK)
* February 17, 2004 (2004-02-17) (US)

Genre|

* Indie rock[1][2]
* art punk[3][4]
* soul ballad[4]

Length| 3:40
Label|

* Polydor
* Interscope

Songwriter(s)|

* Brian Chase
* Karen Lee Orzolek
* Nick Zinner

Producer(s)|

* David Andrew Sitek
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs singles chronology
| "Pin"
(2003)  | "Maps"
(2003)  | "Y Control"
(2004)

|
|

Music video
"Maps" on YouTube

"Maps" is a song by the American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was released on September 22, 2003 by Polydor in the United Kingdom. It was written and composed by the band and features on their debut album, Fever to Tell. The song is an art-punk ballad about the relationship between Karen O, frontwoman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew, frontman of Liars. Some believe the title stands for "My Angus Please Stay", but the band has not confirmed this claim.

The song was initially released in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2003, reaching number 26 on the UK singles chart and number 9 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was then released in the United States on February 17, 2004 by Interscope, becoming their first single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 87. The accompanying music video received extensive play on MTV and four nominations at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Music critics praised its sound and Karen O's emotional vocal performance.

"Maps" is considered one of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's signature songs, and is often ranked among the best songs of the decade and of all time. It has also been widely sampled and remixed. In 2009, NME ranked it as the "Greatest Alternative Love Song" of all time, and the same publication placed it amongst the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" in 2011. In 2011, it placed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time list at 386, and in the 2021 edition, it was placed at 101. It experienced renewed recognition when it went viral on YouTube and TikTok in 2024.

## Recording

[edit]

By the year 2002, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were sought after by many record labels who wanted to finance their debut album, Fever to Tell.[5] However, the band financed the record themselves to maintain creative control. "Maps" was among several songs independently produced by the band with Dave Sitek (credited as David Andrew Sitek), whom frontwoman Karen O said was chosen because they "didn't know anyone else."[6]

## Composition

[edit]

Maps

A sample of "Maps"

* * *

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Lyrically, "Maps" is about the relationship between Karen O and her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew, the frontman of Liars.[4][7] It was solely written by members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while the repeated chorus line "They don't love you like I love you" was taken directly from an email Karen O had sent Andrew.[8]

She told Rolling Stone in 2006 that both of their touring schedules were "hectic" and caused a rift in their relationship. She further explained that "The line ‘They don’t love you like I love you’ was like, ‘Why are you over there with them when you should be with me?’ It's about missing someone."[9]

Some have suggested the song title stands for "My Angus Please Stay," although this was never confirmed by the band.[10][11][12]

## Release

[edit]

The song was released in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2003, through Polydor Records;[13] the same label released the song in Australia on October 6, 2003.[14] However, the United States release was delayed because the band were hesitant on "Maps" earning a single release.[6] Interscope would wait until February 17, 2004 to release the song onto US alternative radio.[15]

## Music video

[edit]

The video, directed by Patrick Daughters, shows the band playing in an audition in a high school gymnasium with different light filters changing the color of the room. Karen O's crying in the video was not staged. She explains: "They were real tears. My boyfriend at the time (Andrew) was supposed to come to the shoot – he was three hours late and I was just about to leave for tour. I didn't think he was even going to come and this was the song that was written for him. He eventually showed up and I got myself in a real emotional state."[16]

## Reception and legacy

[edit]

"Maps" was met with success, heavily boosting the sales of Fever To Tell and receiving acclaim.[6] Its accompanying music video was played extensively on MTV; this, along with a notable performance by the band at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards, further heightened the single's success.[17] At the ceremony, "Maps" was nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the MTV2 Award.[18]

In 2009, "Maps" was voted the best alternative love song of all time by NME.[19] The song was also listed at number six on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s.[20] Rolling Stone ranked it as the 7th best song of the 2000s.[21] On April 7, 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" number 386 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time;[22] its 2021 list placed it at number 101.[23] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 55 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[24] NME ranked "Maps" at number 1 on their list of "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance."[25]

### Influence

[edit]

"Maps" served as an inspiration for Kelly Clarkson's 2004 hit song "Since U Been Gone," which was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald.[26] In an interview with Billboard, Dr. Luke said:

> That was a conscious move by Max and myself, because we were listening to alternative and indie music ... I said, "Ah, I love this song,' and Max was like, 'If they would just write a damn pop chorus on it!' It was driving him nuts, because that indie song was sort of on six, going to seven, going to eight, the chorus comes ... and it goes back down to five. It drove him crazy. And when he said that, it was like, light bulb. 'Why don't we do that, but put a big chorus on it?" It worked.[27]

"Maps" and "Since U Been Gone" share similar introductions, post-chorus guitar breaks, middle eights, and are both in the key of G major.[28] Karen O said noticing the similarity was "like getting bitten by a poisonous varmint."[29]

"Hold Up," a song recorded by Beyoncé for her 2016 album, Lemonade, contains an interpolation of the "Maps" lyric, "Wait, they don't love you like I love you." Beyoncé sings the line as "Hold up, they don't love you like I love you," which was based on a 2011 tweet from Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig paraphrasing "Maps." Koenig and Diplo recorded a demo version of "Hold Up" in 2014 including the interpolated line, and when Beyoncé released the song on Lemonade, the three members of Yeah Yeah Yeahs shared in the songwriting credits.[30]

### Resurgence in popularity

[edit]

A sped-up version of "Maps" gained popularity on TikTok in September 2024. A dance was created along with it where it used different contexts of wanting someone to stop and listen to them. As a result, the song charted at number one on the US TikTok Billboard Top 50 in October 2024.[31][32]

## Covers and remixes

[edit]

* The White Stripes at the Reading Festival 2004.[33]
* Arcade Fire on The Jo Whiley Show's Live Lounge in 2005.[34]
* Ted Leo as part of a 2012 medley with Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."[35]
* Macy Gray on her 2012 album Covered.
* Cary Brothers covered the song (featuring Priscilla Ahn) on his 2012 EP Covers Volume One.
* The Fray covered the song on their 2012 album Scars & Stories.
* Anderson Paak on his 2013 EP Cover Art.[36][37]
* Camp Cope covered the song in 2016 for Triple J's Like A Version.[38]
* The Bad Plus on their 2016 album It's Hard.
* Keaton Henson on his EP The Lucky EP.[39]
* Freya Ridings as a 2017 promotional single.[40][41]
* Samia covered the song in 2023.
* Thou covered the song as part of the compilation album Save Stereogum: An '00s Cover Comp.

## Track listing

[edit]

Digital downloadNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Maps"|

* Brian Chase
* Karen Lee Orzolek
* Nick Zinner

| 3:34
2.| "Countdown"|  | 3:39
3.| "Miles Away" (John Peel Session Originally from the band's debut EP)|  | 2:30

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2003–2004)  | Peak
position

|

Scotland (OCC)[42] | 35
UK Singles (OCC)[43] | 26
US Billboard Hot 100[44] | 87
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[45] | 9

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2004)  | Position

|

US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[46] | 49

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[47] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United Kingdom  | September 22, 2003  |

* 7-inch vinyl
* CD

* Polydor
* Dress Up

| [13]
Australia  | October 6, 2003  | CD  | [14]
United States  | February 17, 2004  | Alternative radio | Interscope | [15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rich, Nathaniel (October 2015). "The Elaborate Charade to Obfuscate Who Writes Pop Music". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
2. ^ "Top 150 Songs of the 2010s". Treble. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
3. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 386 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
4. ^ a b c "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022. "How often do we get a fiery soul ballad and an art-punk classic in the same song?"
5. ^ Epstein, Dan (April 29, 2018). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Fever to Tell': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
6. ^ a b c Epstein, Dan (April 29, 2018). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Fever to Tell': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
7. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 7, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Goth, Nerd, Slut". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
8. ^ Rogers, Jude (March 14, 2019). "'I just wanted to write a love song that stands the test of time': Karen O on her best work". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
9. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 20, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Taking Their Glorious Freak Rock Global". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
10. ^ Feldman, Brian (May 30, 2020). "mysteries of the Scatman". bnet.substack.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
11. ^ How Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Transcended the Post-Punk Revival, October 2, 2019, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved February 25, 2020, minute 4:32
12. ^ Carrasco, Isabel (November 17, 2022). "The true story of 'Maps' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; it's not a love song". Cultura Colectiva. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
13. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 20, 2003. p. 31\. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
14. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th October 2003" (PDF). ARIA. October 6, 2003. p. 25\. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 6, 2003. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
15. ^ a b "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1542\. February 13, 2004. p. 25.
16. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Karen O's Video Crying Was For Real". contactmusic.com. July 12, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
17. ^ "How The Yeah Yeahs' 'Maps' Helped Change the Way We View the Relationship Between Pop and Indie". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
18. ^ "2004 VMA Winners". MTV. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
19. ^ "Greatest Alternative Love Songs". NME. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
20. ^ Harvell, Jess (August 21, 2009). "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
21. ^ "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
22. ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
23. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
24. ^ Schiller, Rebecca (October 6, 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
25. ^ "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance". NME. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
26. ^ Needham, Alex (November 4, 2015). "John Seabrook on The Song Machine: 'There's a dark side to pop'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
27. ^ Willman, Chris (September 3, 2010). "Dr. Luke: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. The Prometheus Global. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
28. ^ "All Mapped Out". Popbitch. August 14, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
29. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Taking Their Glorious Freak Rock Global". Rolling Stone. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
30. ^ "Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig Explains How His Tweet About the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Became a Beyoncé Song". Pitchfork. April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
31. ^ Cabison, Rosalie. "TikTok Billboard Top 50". Billboard.
32. ^ Weedston, Lindsey (September 27, 2024). "Wait! Have You Seen The Maps Dance Yet?". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
33. ^ "ARCHIVES // SEPTEMBER 2004: 08.29.04 // THE READING FESTIVAL". WhiteStripes.net. August 29, 2004. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007. "A stellar set was played with the addition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's tune, Maps."
34. ^ "Arcade Fire Cover Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". BrooklynVegan. September 9, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
35. ^ "Served Three Ways: Three Covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps". Turntable Kitchen. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
36. ^ Stelios Ramon (April 11, 2014). "Anderson .Paak - Maps". Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
37. ^ "Cover Art, by Anderson .Paak". Anderson .Paak. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
38. ^ triple j (September 22, 2016), Camp Cope cover Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Maps' for triple j's Like A Version, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved July 31, 2018
39. ^ "Keaton Henson - The Lucky EP Lyrics and Tracklist". Genius. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
40. ^ "Track Of The Day 22/8 - Freya Ridings". Clash. August 22, 2017. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
41. ^ "Maps – Single by Freya Ridings". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
42. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
43. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
44. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
45. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
46. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51\. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
47. ^ "British single certifications – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 27, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Allmusic: Maps Entry
* "Maps" Official music video on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

* Karen O
* Nick Zinner
* Brian Chase

Studio albums|

* Fever to Tell
* Show Your Bones
* It's Blitz!
* Mosquito
* Cool It Down

Compilation albums|

* iTunes Originals: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Extended plays|

* Yeah Yeah Yeahs
* Machine
* Is Is

Video albums|

* Tell Me What Rockers to Swallow

Singles|

* "Machine"
* "Date with the Night"
* "Maps"
* "Y Control"
* "Gold Lion"
* "Turn Into"
* "Cheated Hearts"
* "Down Boy"
* "Zero"
* "Heads Will Roll"
* "Skeletons"
* "Sacrilege"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Head Wound City

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