Last Nite

"Last Nite"
Single by The Strokes
from the album Is This It
B-side	"When It Started"
Released	November 5, 2001 (2001-11-05)
Format	CD 7"
Recorded	2001
Genre	Garage rock[1] indie rock[2]
Length	3:13
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Julian Casablancas
Producer(s)	Gordon Raphael
The Strokes singles chronology
"Hard to Explain" (2001) "Last Nite" (2001) "Someday" (2001)
Music video "Last Nite" on YouTube Music sample Last Nite

"Last Nite" is a song written and composed by frontman Julian Casablancas of the American garage rock band The Strokes. It was a moderate hit for the group on the UK Singles Chart in 2001. The song was covered by pop music singer Vitamin C in 2003, who had a minor hit with her version on the UK Singles Chart. There have also been several other covers of this song, including a version by The Detroit Cobras.

The Strokes version

Background

The song "Last Nite" was first recorded by the Strokes and released as the second single from the band's debut studio album, Is This It, in November 2001. The track was produced by Gordon Raphael and was issued on RCA Records with the song "When It Started" as the b-side.

Reception

The single was the group's first to enter the American charts, reaching the Top five on the U.S. Modern rock tracks in late 2001. Meanwhile, the single obtained moderate success in the UK, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3][4]

In March 2005, Q placed "Last Nite" at number 66 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In September 2006, NME placed "Last Nite" at number one on its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks of the Decade. In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Last Nite" at number nine in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. It was also placed at number 16 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Songs of the Decade and number 478 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In 2011, NME placed it at number 4 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".^[5]

Music video

The band were originally unwilling to appear in a music video, but eventually agreed to a simple format, performing the song live on a brightly lit stage. The resulting video, filmed with simple panning shots and few edits, was directed by Roman Coppola. One minute into the song, singer Julian Casablancas throws his microphone stand, as it was a spear, off camera; the move would later be referenced in the music video for "Under Cover of Darkness", released 10 years later in 2011 on their album Angles. As the song progresses, Casablancas' vocal becomes increasingly distorted as he sings ever closer into the microphone. On two occasions he dramatically throws the microphone to the ground. Following his solo, guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr., walking backwards into the drum podium, accidentally pushes one of drummer Fabrizio Moretti's overhead microphones which falls onto the drum kit. Moretti tries to hit it away with his drumstick, yet it topples onto the other overhead and both crash to the ground. The video, including the accident, is parodied in the music video for Sum 41's "Still Waiting".

Track listings

(US/UK)

1. "Last Nite" - 3:15
2. "When It Started" - 2:59

(AUS)

1. "Last Nite" - 3:15
2. "When It Started" - 2:59
3. "Last Nite" (Live) - 3:27
4. "Take It or Leave It" (Live) - 3:29

Chart performance

Weekly charts

In popular culture and other uses

The song's opening guitar riff and overall structure is loosely similar to that of American Girl by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. In a 2006 interview with Rolling Stone, Petty commented, "The Strokes took 'American Girl' [for 'Last Nite'], there was an interview that took place with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, 'OK, good for you.' It doesn't bother me".^[9] The Strokes were invited to be the opening act for several dates on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 2006 tour.^[10] The solo for the song was inspired by guitarist Freddy King. "Last Nite" was later used in TV promos for the 2010 film Get Him to the Greek.

Vitamin C version

"Last Nite"
Single by Vitamin C
Released	July 7, 2003 (2003-07-07)
Format	CD
Recorded	2003
Genre	Pop music
Length	3:54
Label	V2 Records
Writer(s)	Julian Casablancas
Producer(s)	Dave Derby Michael Kotch and Fred Maher
Vitamin C singles chronology
"As Long As You're Loving Me" (2001) "Last Nite" (2003)

Background

"Last Nite" was covered in 2003 by pop singer Vitamin C. The song was produced by Dave Derby, Michael Kotch, and Fred Maher.^[11] The single features a sample from Blondie's "Heart of Glass".^[12] After Elektra Records dropped Vitamin C when her second album, More, did not sell as expected, she signed to V2 Records in the UK, hoping to break into the music scene there. After her third album was recorded, this single was released exclusively in the UK with plans to release the album a month later. The album was never released.

Reception

The single for "Last Nite" by Vitamin C did not do well in its first week by debuting and peaking at a disappointing #70 and falling down the chart rapidly.^[13][14] V2 shelved Vitamin C's album afterwards and dropped her. However, "Last Nite" is Vitamin C's only chart entry in the UK Singles Top 75, making it her most successful single there.^[15]

Music video

The music video for "Last Nite" was shot in New York City. It features Vitamin C, as a blonde, in or around the Hotel Chelsea as well as other New York City night spots. The club CBGB is seen in the video.

Track listings

1. "Last Nite" - 3:54
2. "Last Nite" (Derby & Kotch Mix) - 3:45
3. "Last Nite" (I Lick That Mix by Count Caligula) - 5:40
4. "Last Nite" (Clique Remix) - 6:05

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Other versions

• The Detroit Cobras did a cover version of "Last Nite" for the Rough Trade's 2003 compilation Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before... which was released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary indie label, by featuring covers of current Rough Trade artists of songs by other artists from the label's stable.
• A segment of the song was used by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his polka medley, "Angry White Boy Polka".
• Pop singer Adele covered the song whilst on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.
• "Last Nite" was sampled in the song "Only Wanna Dance with You" by Ke$ha, in 2012 album Warrior.

References

External links

• "Last Nite" Official music video on YouTube