Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Simple Song (The Shins song)

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Format
  
Digital download

Genre
  
Indie rock

Recorded
  
2011

Length
  
4:15

Released
  
January 10, 2012 (2012-01-10)

Label
  
Aural Apothecary, Columbia

"Simple Song" is a song by American indie rock band The Shins from their fourth studio album Port of Morrow. Written by the group's frontman James Mercer, the song was released as the first single from the album.

Contents

Background

In an interview with Q, the band's frontman, James Mercer, has stated that the song was "about my wife, our relationship and this whole new life we [had] ahead of us." Additionally, Mercer stated that the song was also, in part, about the departures of drummer Jesse Sandoval and keyboardist Martin Crandall from The Shins.

Explaining the origins of the song, Mercer revealed that he wrote the song in the living room of his apartment, shortly following his marriage and in the period leading to the birth of his first daughter.

The song gained widespread fame when it was used on the eighth season finale of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother as the backdrop for the reveal of the titular mother.

Musicians

  • Dave Hernandez – lead electric guitar
  • Greg Kurstin – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synthesizers, Mellotron, piano
  • Ron Lewis – bass guitar
  • James Mercer – vocals, electric guitar
  • Janet Weiss – drums, tambourine
  • References

    Simple Song (The Shins song) Wikipedia