Cleopatra (The Lumineers song)

"Cleopatra" is a song recorded by American folk rock band The Lumineers. The song serves as the title track to their second studio album of the same name.

"Cleopatra"
Single by The Lumineers
from the album Cleopatra
ReleasedMarch 25, 2016
Recorded2015
Genre
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Wesley Schultz
  • Jeremiah Fraites
  • Simone Felice
Producer(s)
  • Simone Felice
The Lumineers singles chronology
"Ophelia"
(2016)		 "Cleopatra"
(2016)		 "Angela"
(2016)

"Cleopatra" was released as the album's second single on March 25, 2016.

Background

According to Wesley Schultz (lead vocalist of The Lumineers), the song was inspired by an encounter with a taxi driver that Schultz met in the Republic of Georgia.[1] Through a Facebook post, The Lumineers clarified upon that, and explained the full background of the song, and what it meant:

It's inspired by a true story about a female taxi driver who, when she was younger, was proposed to. But her father had just passed away, so she didn't give her boyfriend an answer. So he left the village broken-hearted and rejected and never returned again. He was her great love and she wouldn't wash the footprints off the floor after he had left.

— The Lumineers[2]

On March 24, 2016, Zane Lowe premiered the song on Beats 1 Radio.[3]

Music video

The official music video was directed by Isaac Ravishankara,[4] and uploaded to The Lumineers' YouTube and VEVO account on July 7, 2016. It acts as the conclusion to the storyline that began with Sleep on the Floor music video and continued in the video for Angela. Since being uploaded, it has garnered over 45 million views.

The Ballad of Cleopatra

The Ballad of Cleopatra is a compilation of the story in the music videos for "Ophelia", "Cleopatra", "Sleep on the Floor", "Angela" and "My Eyes", all songs from the album Cleopatra.[5][6] The video was released on the Lumineers YouTube channel on April 27, 2017.[7]

Live performances

The Lumineers performed the song live at the iHeartRadio music theater in LA. The performance was officially aired on Audience Network at 9pm on April 8, 2016. Although, a video for the performance was uploaded to The Lumineers' YouTube and VEVO account beforehand.[8]

Track listing
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Cleopatra"3:21

Covers

The song has been covered numerous times since its release, by many upcoming artists which include: Daniel Robinson,[9] Ellysse Mason,[10] Josh Brown,[11] Natalie Del Carmen,[12] and Shayna Adler.[13]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2016–17) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 80
Scotland (OCC)[15] 56
UK Download (OCC)[16] 90
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 21
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 11
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] 2
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20] 1
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[21] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (2016) Position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22] 15
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[23] 39
Chart (2017) Position
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[24] 14
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[25] 38
US Rock Airplay Songs (Billboard)[26] 18

References
  1. "The Lumineers - About". thelumineers.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  2. "The Lumineers". m.facebook.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  3. "The Lumineers". m.facebook.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  4. "The Lumineers - Cleopatra - Music Video - CMT". cmt.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  5. Bards, Avid (April 15, 2018). "The Story of The Ballad of Cleopatra". AvidBards. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  6. "The Lumineers' "The Ballad of Cleopatra," a Life Story Filled with Wisdom - Atwood Magazine". May 18, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  7. LumineersVEVO, The Lumineers - The Ballad Of Cleopatra, retrieved December 11, 2018
  8. LumineersVEVO (March 25, 2016). "The Lumineers - Cleopatra (Live At iHeart Radio)". Retrieved May 21, 2017 – via YouTube.
  9. Daniel Robinson cover on YouTube
  10. Ellysse Mason cover on YouTube
  11. Josh Broen cover on YouTube
  12. Natalie Del Carmen cover on YouTube
  13. Shayna Adler cover on YouTube
  14. "The Lumineers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  16. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  17. "The Lumineers – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  18. "The Lumineers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  19. "The Lumineers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  20. "The Lumineers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  21. "The Lumineers Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  22. "Adult Alternative Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  23. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  24. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  25. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  26. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
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