Released February 14, 2004 Recorded Fall 2003 Length 3:28 | Format 7", CD Genre Indie rock Label Epic | |
"Float On" is a single released by indie rock band Modest Mouse. It also appears on their album Good News for People Who Love Bad News. The song was written by Dann Gallucci, Eric Judy and Isaac Brock. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2005. The single was mixed by Jacquire King, who was also responsible for the recording and mixing of the album.
Contents
Background
Asked about the song in an interview with The A.V. Club, Brock said that he consciously intended to write something that felt more positive than some of his previous work:
The song was released on February 14, 2004 and was the first Modest Mouse song to gain mainstream popularity. Nearly six months after its release, it became the band's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 70 and peaked at No. 14. In Australia, the song was ranked No. 11 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004. In 2013 Triple J created a new list of the Hottest 100 songs of the past 20 years, Float On appeared at No. 45. In July 2009, it was also voted in at No. 94 in Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time. In December 2009 Rolling Stone named it the 39th greatest song of the 2000s (decade). The song is in the key of F# major.
Covers
The song was covered by Ben Lee, whose version can be heard on the soundtrack for the 2006 American film John Tucker Must Die.
It was also covered by Goldspot, whose version later appeared on the American television series The O.C.
Samples and usage in media
"Float On" is a playable track in the video games Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour, and was also in the game Rocksmith and Guitar Hero Live.
Part of the guitar riff in "Float On" is sampled in P!nk's 2012 song "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)". The song is also sampled and interpolated in Lupe Fiasco's song "The Show Goes On" from his album Lasers. "Weird Al" Yankovic uses part of "Float On" in his song "Polkarama!".
"Float On" was used as an entrance music for the late professional wrestler Larry Sweeney and in a commercial for OnStar.
"Float On" was also covered by Iron Horse on their album Pickin' on Modest Mouse.
The song was used in an episode of One Tree Hill.
Track listing
The following tracks appeared on the single:
- "Float On" – 3:32
- "I've Got It All (Most)" – 3:06