"Maps" is a single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell (2003). The song is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O. It was released on February 10, 2004, and the band performed the song at that year's MTV Movie Awards. The music video received much play on MTV. It reached #9 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and was included in the popular video game Rock Band.
"Miles Away" is a newly recorded version of the song from the band's self-titled EP.
The video shows the band playing in an audition in a high school gymnasium, with different light filters changing the color of the room. The tears cried by Karen O in the video are real. She explains: "They were real tears. My boyfriend at the time [Angus 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." The video received substantial play on MTV. It was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the MTV2 Award. The video was directed by Patrick Daughters.
"Maps" has been covered by:
The White Stripes at the Reading Festival 2004.
Arcade Fire, on The Jo Whiley Show's Live Lounge, Duke Special.
Ted Leo as part of a medley with Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."
Jazz trio The New Standards on their album Rock and Roll.
Radiohead performed a segment of the song as the introduction to the set-closer, "Everything in Its Right Place" at the 2009 Reading and Leeds Festival.
Rogue Wave for Sweetheart, a Valentine's Day-themed compilation of covers produced in 2009 by Starbucks.
In "Meet Me Halfway" by The Black Eyed Peas, the guitar and drum part is used during the solos in the background.
Garbage performed the chorus at the end of their live version of "Vow" in Rockpalast, Germany in 2005.
Biffy Clyro for Jo Whiley's last Radio 1 show in March 2011.
Macy Gray on her album Covered.
Keaton Henson on the The Lucky EP.
Covered by The Fray at Radio City Music Hall on April 12, 2012.
Referenced by the Brazilian rap/rock band Charlie Brown Jr. in their song "Lutar Pelo Que E Meu" singing, "Stop, they don't love you like I love you. Stop, they don't love you like I love you. Stop".
Cary Brothers on his Covers Vol. 1 album.
Adventure Club sampled the song in their track entitled "Wait".
Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer for the charity organization Hello Somebody's first album Hello Somebody, Vol. 1.
"Maps" was used as an interpolation in Beyoncé's song "Hold Up" from her album Lemonade.
The Bad Plus on their album It's Hard.
"Maps" is widely regarded as one of the greatest songs of the 2000s:
In 2009, it was voted the best alternative love song of all time by NME.
The song was also listed at #6 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s.
Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" as the 7th best song of the 2000s.
On April 7, 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "Maps" #386 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In October 2011, NME placed it at number 55 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
NME ranked "Maps" at number 1 on their list of "Indie Weddings Songs: 20 Tracks Perfect For Your First Dance."
