"Here to Forever"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album Asphalt Meadows
ReleasedJuly 13, 2022 (2022-07-13)
Length3:46
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Congleton
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"Roman Candles"
(2022)		 "Here to Forever"
(2022)		 "Foxglove Through the Clearcut"
(2022)
Music video
"Here to Forever" on YouTube

"Here to Forever" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie, the fifth track on their tenth studio album, Asphalt Meadows (2022). It was released as the second single from Asphalt Meadows on July 13, 2022, through Atlantic Records.

Background

"Here to Forever" examines the ephemerality of life.[1] The song's protagonist views an old movie and makes the observation that though the film remains, all of its participants are long gone. Throughout the song's chorus, Gibbard pleads for a larger point to existence: "I wanna know the measure/ From here to forever / And I wanna feel the pressure / Of God or whatever."[2] In an interview, Gibbard revealed the lyrics stem from his experience viewing French New Wave films, and marveling at the talent of stars like Monica Vitti, Anna Karina, and Jeanne Moreau.[3]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Lance Bangs. The clip stars Gibbard assisting in packaging and pressing the band's album at a vinyl pressing plant, while two employees—played by comedians Natalie Palamides and Courtney Pauroso—goof off instead.[4] The clips are intercut with footage of the band performing the song.[5]

Release and reception

The band first released the song as a pre-release single for Asphalt Meadows on July 13, 2022. Later that month, the band promoted the song with a performance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.[1] "Here to Forever" hit number one on Billboard's Alternative Airplay and Adult Alternative Airplay rankings, marking the band's second and seventh chart-toppers respectively.[6][7]

"Here to Forever" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Tom Briehan of Stereogum described the song as "a grand and stirring rocker, one that mixes the soft-eyed sensitivity of the band’s early days with their arena-sized major-label work."[8] Neil Z. Yeung at AllMusic called the song "classic Death Cab, balancing yearning and uncertainty with Gibbard's typically evocative lyrics."[9]

Charts

Chart performance for "Here to Forever"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[10] 8
Czech Republic (Modern Rock)[11] 15
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 44
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2022) Position
US Adult Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[14] 7
US Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[15] 24
US Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[16] 18

References

  1. 1 2 Zemler, Emily (July 26, 2022). "Death Cab For Cutie Face Impermanence With 'Here to Forever' on 'Colbert'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Carys (July 26, 2022). "Death Cab for Cutie perform "Here to Forever" on Colbert: Watch". Consequence. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hosken, Patrick (September 12, 2022). "We've Got A File On You: Ben Gibbard". Stereogum. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  4. ↑ Aubrey, Elizabeth (July 13, 2022). "Listen to Death Cab For Cutie's uplifting new single, 'Here To Forever'". NME. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Zemler, Emily (July 13, 2022). "Death Cab for Cutie Taps Lance Bangs for 'Here to Forever' Music Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History: Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (August 18, 2022). "Death Cab for Cutie Returns to No. 1 on Adult Alternative Airplay With 'Here to Forever'". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 13, 2022). "Death Cab For Cutie Share New Song "Here To Forever": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Yeung, Neil Z. (September 16, 2022). "Death Cab for Cutie - Asphalt Meadows Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Death Cab for Cutie" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
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