Rollercoaster

Album: Strange Desire (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Bleachers leader Jack Antonoff looking to channel his inner Springsteen. He told Radio.com the track was his attempt at making his own modern version of his fellow New Jersey native's 1984 hit tune, "Dancing In The Dark." "He's like the greatest songwriter in history, ever," Antonoff said of Springsteen. "He's just unapologetic and not afraid to make you dance or make you cry."
  • The song's music video was filmed by writer/director Richard Shephard (Dom Hemingway, The Matador, The Hunting Party). Antonoff knew the writer/director from the eight Girls episodes he'd helmed. (Antonoff's girlfriend Lena Dunham is the creator, writer and co-star of The HBO series.)

    It was Antonoff who came to Shephard with the concept of the band playing on top of a van without realizing how dangerous that would be. "The idea of getting on top of a car and playing on a highway felt distinctly '90s in a way that excited me about videos I saw growing up. Didn't think it would be acutely dangerous — the brakes ended up going out and we literally almost died," Antonoff said via Pitchfork. "There's something special about almost dying for a video."

    "Beyond that, 'Rollercoaster' was written while I was driving home on the NJ turnpike," he added. "The song always felt like driving on a highway to me sonically."
  • The track soundtracks a commercial for Chase Bank's integration of Apple Pay. We see Jack Antonoff getting a haircut and the band eating tacos. Both are paid for using the mobile payment system via the iPhone 6.
  • The iconic riff from "Rollercoaster" came from Antonoff experimenting with a synthesizer at his home studio in New Jersey. He described the process to CBS Sunday Morning as "just playing around," demonstrating how inspiration can stem from casual creativity.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.