Drinking in L.A.

"Drinking in L.A." is a song by Canadian electronica collective Bran Van 3000, released as the band's first single. It was the last song to be recorded for the band's debut studio album, Glee. Of the song, James Di Salvio has said "It was almost like one of those movies where an animated blue bird swings by over the real live footage. It's cheesy, but I knew in my heart it was a hit."[1]

"Drinking in L.A."
Single by Bran Van 3000
from the album Glee
ReleasedFebruary 1997
Recorded1996
Genre
Length3:56
Songwriter(s)
  • James Di Salvio
  • Norman Larson
  • Haig Vartzbedian
Bran Van 3000 singles chronology
"Drinking in L.A."
(1997)		 "Couch Surfer"
(1998)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Drinking in L.A." on YouTube

"Drinking in L.A." was featured on the Diamond-certified MuchMusic compilation album, Big Shiny Tunes 2.[2] It was also featured in television commercials for Rolling Rock beer in the United Kingdom, which contributed to its chart success in that region, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 in Iceland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, as well as number 35 in their native Canada.

Critical reception

In his review of Glee, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic said that Bran Van 3000 is a "bizarre, stylish mix of club music, techno, hip-hop, lounge and kitsch-pop." He added that the song is "great".[3] Chuck Taylor from Billboard described it as a "atmospheric gem" and "terrifically quirky, with a more or less spoken verse accompanied by a chorale of dreamy background vocals, catcalls, and eerie sounds both sung and spoken and coming at you from all sides." He noted that "there's a hook there, too, as rich and textured as any more clearly defined pop offering. Instrumentally, you couldn't ask for more, with trancy to fi production". He also complimented it as "glorious and deliciously creative".[4] Daily Record noted its "slacker hip-hop and brilliant vocals".[5] Stuart Bailie from NME wrote, "At least 'Drinking In LA' has a point of sorts, a development on the lotus-eater myth. Only now are the hedonists sobering up on Venice Beach, California, troubled by an imminent career crisis. Nice tune, too."[6] Sunday Mirror said it is "Beck-like".[7]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Adam Courneya.

Charts and certifications

Cover versions
YearArtistAlbum
2007The TwangPush the Ghosts EP
2011The XcertsStairs to Noise

"Drinking in L.A." is used in the film Playing by Heart.

References
  1. Patch, Nick (29 January 2017). "Thinking (back) in L.A." Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  2. "Various – Big Shiny Tunes 2". discogs.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bran Van 3000 – Glee". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  4. "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. 30 January 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. "Chartslot Wowpop". Daily Record. 20 August 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. Bailie, Stuart. "BRAN VAN 3000 – Glee". NME. Archived from the original on 2000-10-06. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  7. Sunday Mirror. 14 June 1998. p. 42. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  8. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Oct 1998". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3281." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  11. Danish Singles Chart 19 June 1998
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  13. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 286 Vikuna 20.8. – 27.8. 1998)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 9, 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drinking in L.A.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  15. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 36. September 5, 1998. p. 15. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  16. "Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In L.A." (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  18. "Charts.nz – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". VG-lista. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  24. "Årslista Singlar – År 1998" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  25. "British single certifications – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in LA". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 28, 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Drinking in LA in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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