Weight of Love

Album: Turn Blue (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This bluesy workout opens Black Keys' eighth album, Turn Blue. The duo recorded 30 songs for the record before narrowing it down to 11. Speaking with XFM, drummer Patrick Carney revealed that the recording of this song determined the structure of the album. "We didn't have a plan, we just kind of went in and recorded stuff and came up with the record," he explained. "It wasn't until we recorded the song 'Weight of Love' that we figured out how we wanted to start the record. Once we finished that we knew that was the beginning of the record."
  • The Black Keys' longest song to date, this clocks in at just under seven minutes. The band previously hit nearly six minutes on "Goodbye Babylon" from 2006's Magic Potion, plus six minutes, 45 seconds on "My Mind is Ramblin'" from their 2006 cover EP Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough.
  • Vocalist Dan Auerbach told the BBC that as soon as The Black Keys had finished laying down this breakup epic they knew it should be the first track on the record. "We liked the journey it took you on, we like how it started so hush," he said. "It demands your attention in a different way to any of our other records opening tracks."
  • The song features backing vocals by Regina, Ann, and Alfreda McCrary who are three-quarters of the McCrary Sisters gospel quartet. Regina also toured for six years as Bob Dylan's harmony singer, and she's on all three albums from his gospel period: Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love.
  • The NSFW music video was directed by photographer Theo Wenner, who is the son of Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner. He was also the man behind the lens for The Black Keys' "Fever" clip.

    The video stars Lara Stone as the leader of a cult of women who live near an old, dilapidated lighthouse on the seashore. The Australian supermodel previously featured in the visual for Hot Chip's 2012 single "Night and Day."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?