"Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" | ||||
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Single by Pink Floyd featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk of BoomBox | ||||
Released | 8 April 2022 | |||
Recorded | Late February & 30 March 2022 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:27 | |||
Label | Rhino (Europe) Columbia/Sony Music (rest of the world) | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | David Gilmour | |||
Pink Floyd singles chronology | ||||
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"Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" (also written "Hey Hey Rise Up") is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on streaming and downloading platforms on 8 April 2022. It is based on a 1914 Ukrainian anthem, "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow", and features vocals in Ukrainian by Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the Ukrainian band BoomBox. The track is the first entirely new piece of music recorded by Pink Floyd since 1994; guitarist David Gilmour was inspired to record it in support of Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion. The band both released the track as a single commercially and also put out a music video, directed by Mat Whitecross, centered around images of life struggling admist warfare.
Background
In February 2022, the Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk, who had abandoned a US tour by his band BoomBox to serve in the Ukrainian military in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February,[1] recorded an a capella version of the first verse of the Ukrainian anthem "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow" (Ukrainian: Ой у лузі червона калина). The anthem was written by Stepan Charnetskii in 1914 to commemorate the Sich Riflemen. Khlyvnyuk, wearing fatigues and carrying an automatic rifle, videoed his performance in Sophia Square in Kyiv, with the Bell Tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral in the background, and posted it on Instagram on 27 February.[1][2][3][4]
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour was shown the Instagram post by the Ukrainian artist Janina Pedan,[5] who is married to his son Charlie,[6] and was inspired to record something in support of Ukraine in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[7] He contacted Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and suggested they collaborate.[1] Pink Floyd had been inactive for several years, and Gilmour had said several times that the band would not reunite;[1] however, the war encouraged him to release the track as Pink Floyd as it was a "big platform" and it was "vitally" important to raise awareness about the war. He said: "It's a really difficult and frustrating thing to see this extraordinarily crazy, unjust attack by a major power on an independent, peaceful, democratic nation."[7]
Khlyvnyuk, while recovering in hospital from a shrapnel wound sustained in defence of Ukraine, gave Gilmour his blessing to use his vocals.[8] Gilmour wrote extra music, including a guitar solo.[1]
Gilmour had previously been backed by BoomBox—without Khlyvnyuk—in 2015, at Koko, London, in support of the Belarus Free Theatre.[9]
Pink Floyd had already removed music from streaming services in Russia and Belarus. Their work with Roger Waters remained, leading to speculation that Waters had blocked its removal; Gilmour said only that "I was disappointed ... Read into that what you will."[10]
Recording
"Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" was recorded on 30 March 2022 at Gilmour's home[2] by Gilmour and Mason with Guy Pratt, bassist with Pink Floyd since 1987, and keyboardist Nitin Sawhney. It was Sawhney's first work with Pink Floyd. Gala Wright, the daughter of late Pink Floyd keyboardist and founding member Richard Wright, was also present during the recording.[1]
The song—whose title comes from the last line of "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow", which some translations give as "Hey, hey, rise up and rejoice"[11]—opens with a sample from another recording of Charnetskii's anthem, by the Veryovka Ukrainian Folk Choir.[5][12]
Music video
The music video was directed by Mat Whitecross, also on 30 March, on a set designed by Pedan.[2][11] In the video, the band play while Khlyvnyuk's Sophia Square video is projected behind them. The performance is intercut with scenes of war damage, survivors and refugees in Ukraine.[4] Mason's drums are decorated with reproductions of a painting by Maria Primachenko, a Ukrainian artist, several of whose works were destroyed in a fire caused by Russian shelling during the invasion.[1][13]
Cover art
The single's artwork depicts a band logotype (in the style of Gerald Scarfe's lettering for The Wall) patterned after the Ukrainian flag alongside a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, in a 2019 painting by Cuban artist Yosan Leon.[11][14] The choice of flower also references a remark from a Ukrainian woman who was seen handing sunflower seeds to Russian soldiers in the early days of the invasion, telling them to carry the seeds in their pockets so that sunflowers will grow from their dead bodies.[15][16]
Release and response
The song was released on streaming services on 8 April 2022 and is Pink Floyd's first entirely newly recorded material since 1994's The Division Bell.[17] It additionally is their first release since 1983's The Final Cut to be released without the inclusion of the late musician Richard Wright. Proceeds from "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" will go to the charitable organization Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund.[4]
The music journalist Mark Savage of BBC News praised the song, saying that it was "built around a spine-tingling refrain" by Khlyvnyuk.[18] Khlyvnyuk said the song was "fabulous" and thanked Pink Floyd for their efforts.[1] Some fans felt that it was improper for the group to release music as Pink Floyd without late members Syd Barrett and Richard Wright or former member Roger Waters. Classic Rock journalist Fraser Lewry disagreed, writing: "When thousands have been killed and millions have fled their homes, moaning about the absence of a band member [Waters] who left 37 years ago is churlish at best. At worst, it's contemptuous of the suffering."[19]
Commercial performance
Based on downloads and sales in its first two days, the single appeared on the midweek UK Singles Chart at number 5.[20] However, it debuted at number 49 on the final chart.[21]
Personnel
- David Gilmour – guitar, production
- Nick Mason – drums
- Andriy Khlyvnyuk – vocals
- Guy Pratt – bass guitar
- Nitin Sawhney – keyboards
- Veryovka Ukrainian Folk Choir – choir
Charts
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] | 81 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[23] | 93 |
Global 200 (Billboard)[24] | 165 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] | 3 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[26] | 15 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 2 |
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[28] | 27 |
UK Singles (OCC)[29] | 49 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[30] | 1 |
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[31] | 2 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[32] | 22 |
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[33] | 1 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Petridis, Alexis (7 April 2022). "'This is a crazy, unjust attack': Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Willman, Chris (7 April 2022). "Pink Floyd to Release First Newly Conceived Single as a Band Since 1994, Borrowing Ukrainian Singer's Lead Vocal". Variety. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "Khlyvnyuk performing "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow"". Instagram. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "Pink Floyd reunite to release new song 'Hey Hey, Rise Up' for Ukraine". EuroNews. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ a b Grow, Kory (8 April 2022). "David Gilmour: Why I'm Bringing Back Pink Floyd After 28 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Rainbird, Ashleigh (7 April 2022). "Pink Floyd to release group's first new music for 28 years to support Ukraine". mirror. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ a b Weber, Peter (8 April 2022). "Listen to Pink Floyd's Ukraine charity single 'Hey Hey Rise Up,' the band's 1st new music since 1994". The Week. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ Ahmed, Saaed (7 April 2022). "How (members of) Pink Floyd reunited to record a song for Ukraine". NPR.org. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "Hey Hey Rise Up". pinkfloyd.com. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Alexis, Petridis (7 April 2022). "'This is a crazy, unjust attack': Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "Hey Hey Rise Up". Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via Instagram.
- ^ Хор імені Г. Верьовки – Ой, у лузі червона калина (G. Veryovka Choir – Oh, red viburnum in the meadow) on YouTube.
- ^ Giorgobiani, Natia (28 February 2022). "A museum with unique works by Maria Primachenko burned down near Kiev". www.perild.com.
- ^ "La mirada del girasol Yosan Leon". Artelista. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Sinclair, Paul (8 April 2022). "Listen to Pink Floyd's new single for Ukraine". SuperDeluxeEdition. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "You are cursed"; Ukraine woman's confrontation with Russian soldier goes viral [details], Sami Khan, 25 February 2022, International Business Times : Twitter video and translation of the confrontation between the Ukrainian woman and the Russian soldier.
- ^ Chilton, Louis (7 April 2022). "Pink Floyd to release first new music since 1994 in support of Ukraine". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ Savage, Mark (8 April 2022). "Pink Floyd reunite for Ukraine protest song". BBC News. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ Lewry, Fraser (8 April 2022). "Pink Floyd's new single: the internet has reacted, and not all of it is good". Classic Rock. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (11 April 2022). "Pink Floyd's 'Rise Up' Heading For U.K. Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox – Hey Hey Rise Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox – Hey Hey Rise Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2022-05-13." TopHit. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Pink Floyd Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2022.