Post Break Up Sex

Album: What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (2011)
Charted: 32
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second single from London-based four piece indie rock band The Vaccines debut album, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?. The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on January 23, 2011, with a 7" Vinyl released the following day.
  • The song finds the protagonist trying to put a relationship behind him as he engages in some rebound romping. Justin Young sings in the chorus: "Post breakup sex that helps you forget your ex. What did you expect from post-breakup sex."
  • Much of The Vaccines material fails to reach the two minutes mark, so at 2 minutes 56 seconds, this song is of epic proportions. Justin Young told the NME: "I'm bored - we're all bored - with the current climate. There's so much amazing music out there, but I feel people are doing the direct opposite. The opposite of being straight down the line, direct. I mean, I get bored with having to wait two minutes before I hear a chorus."
  • Said Justin Young to the NME regarding this song: "I think people can work out this one! Hopefully it's interpreted as frank rather than crass. I like the term 'gloriously dumb.' We've all felt like this, but I'd never heard a song that dealt with it."
  • Guitarist Freddie Cowan explained the album title to Spinner: "There's like three levels to that title. First of all, it's a lyric from the song 'Post Break-Up Sex.' We accepted it partly because we loved the history of names like that, album titles with band names in it like Meet the Beatles, or Introducing the, or Here Comes the Monkees or whatever it is, Enter the Vaselines. We love that aspect. And we just like the idea of poking a little bit of fun at ourselves - all this anticipation and stuff. It's the record that we wanted to make."
  • Young is the principal songwriter of the Vaccines. He discussed his song writing process for the album with CMU: "On this record, I wrote the songs on an acoustic guitar at home. Usually they are lyrically driven, but sometimes melodically too. Then I took them to the band and we tried to dress them up in the simplest and most hard hitting way as possible. We wanted a record where the song ruled instead of the playing or the arrangements."
  • Young told Q magazine the song was indeed written, "the morning after, sat on the end of my bed. Often I write through sheer hopelessness and frustration. I always find it easier to say things in a song than in conversation."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

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.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.