I like this song because the lyrics really touch on a lot of great things. First of all, there’s that feeling of just matching up with someone completely, of just feeling right with them, which is so fucking cool when it happens! Second, there’s a shout out that comes in the form of a song on the radio while cruising in a car. And we all know how I feel about music and cars. Third, there’s a subtle homage to high audio production quality, and pseudo-sound nerd that I am, I get off on this.
As for The Postal Service, the band is an electro/indie rock super group composed of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel, James Figurine). More history, courtesy Wikipedia:
The band's name was chosen due to the way in which they produced its songs. Tamborello wrote and performed instrumental tracks and then sent the DATs to Gibbard, who edited the song as he saw fit (adding his vocals along the way), sending them back to Tamborello via the United States Postal Service…
In 2004, the United States Postal Service sent the band a cease and desist letter, citing its trademark on the phrase "postal service". After negotiations, the USPS relented, allowing the band use of the trademark in exchange for promotional efforts on behalf of the USPS and a performance at its annual National Executive Conference. Additionally, the USPS website sells the band's CDs.
In 2007, "Such Great Heights" appeared in the background of the "Whiteboard" advertising campaign for one of the federal establishment's private competitors, the United Parcel Service.
Actually, this song is a perfect choice for a USPS ad. Is there anything better than getting real mail from someone you miss dearly? What if that someone is Ben Gibbard and he’s mailing you a demo of his song “Such Great Heights,” with his new band The Postal Service on a TDK CDR via the postal service? OH MY GOD, WHAT THEN!? I think the indie rock universe may have just imploded.
Such Great Heights.mp3
True, it may seem like a stretch,
But its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you're away,
When I am missing you to death.
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows
And when you scan the radio,
I hope this song will guide you home.
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4 comments:
That is some stellar wiki research. I am amazed by the USPS and their exceptional music taste!
Weird history, but a wonderful song.
A great version of this song is the Iron & Wine rendition. Not quite as good as the original, in my opinion, but still fantastic. Iron & Wine happen to lend an emotional weight to anything they do.
i'm also very partial to the iron and wine version and considered including it here, but ultimately decided to stick with the original for time-being. this version may surface at a later date.
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