Magdalena 318

Album: EP2 (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist Joey Santiago: "This song is so atmospheric. We had these weird Moog pedals that sounded like water. It was a very mood-based, atmospheric sound, not based on any lyrics or anything."
  • The song was inspired by 318 Magdalena, an asteroid belt orbiting The Sun. "Now why the hell would I be writing about an asteroid?" Black Francis said to Pollstar. "The reason is because the producer of our album, Gil Norton, has been going on and on with his own science fiction narrative arch since we began this process of recording a new record or whatever – 'Charles, you've been away in outer space. The Pixies have been away from earth for 20 years. You've been away on the Planet Of Sound, making your Pixies music. No one's heard you for 20 years and now you're back, stepped out of the capsule and this is what our record is about.'"
  • The song's music video was conceived and directed by Judy Jacob, who created some of the films made for Pixies' 2009-2011 Doolittle world tour. The provocative clip stars British dance/theatre/performance artist Nando Messias.
  • Other songs with Magdalena in the title include ones by:

    A Perfect Circle (about a stripper)

    Brandon Flowers (about an annual pilgrimage that takes place in Mexico from Nogales to Magdalena)

    Mars Volta (about Magdalen Asylums, which are Roman Catholic institutions intended for the rehabilitation of "fallen women.")

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.