Format Digital download Length 4:12 | Genre Indie rock, synthpop Label Somewhat Damaged | |
Released 31 October 2013 (2013-10-31) Writer(s) Alisa Xayalith, Thom Powers | ||
"I Kill Giants" is the third single from In Rolling Waves, the second studio album from The Naked and Famous, and was released on October 31, 2013.
Contents
Premise
According to vocalist Alisa Xayalith, the song is about her losing her mother to breast cancer at a very young age, admitting that "[She] felt insecure singing about something so infinitely painful and blatantly autobiographical." The title comes from a comic book of the same name by Joe Kelly.
Video
The music video, which debuted on the same day, features two women performing theatrical dance in front of a church congregation, and was directed by Joel Kefali.
Though intended for inclusion on debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You, the tune was not finished in time for that album.
Critical reception
The song is described by Kyle Ryan of The A.V. Club as being the song that has a large 3 note chorus with staccato synthesizer that lifts the tempo of the album following the tranquil song "Golden Girl". Matt Collar of AllMusic describes the composition as "particularly epic in proportion and cinematic in its emotional momentum".