Black Smoke Rising (song)

"Black Smoke Rising" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was first released on their debut EP Black Smoke Rising in 2017, and then later released again on their double EP From the Fires in 2018. While not originally released as a single, the song charted briefly on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

"Black Smoke Rising"
Song by Greta Van Fleet
from the album Black Smoke Rising and From the Fires
Recorded2017
GenreRock[1]
Length4:21
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
  • Josh Kiszka
  • Jake Kiszka
  • Sam Kiszka
  • Danny Wagner

Background

The song was first released on the band's debut EP Black Smoke Rising, and then released again on the band's next release, the double EP From the Fires.[2] On January 18, 2019, the band performed the song and "You're the One" live on Saturday Night Live.[3][4] An acoustic version of the song would be released as a single in 2018 along with a cover of Rolling in the Deep by Adele.[5]

Composition and themes

The song has been described as traditional, guitar-driven rock song, prominently featuring Jake Kiszka's guitar riff hook and lead singer Josh Kiszka's "husky howl".[1] At the 2:30 mark of the song, the song breaks its structure to enter a minute long interlude consisting of Joshua Kiszka's howling vocals and Jacob Kiszka's psychedelic guitar work, before returning to its final chorus.[6] Thematically, the song was inspired by the summers by bonfires of their youth, with Josh Kiszka explaining:

When we were all kids, our extended families and friends spent part of every summer together at a place called Yankee Springs. We were out in the middle of the woods, and every night, we'd sit around a campfire, play music and tell stories. I always loved that as it reminded me of ancient times when people would gather around the fires with the tribes' elders telling fables of wisdom and courage, passing down human history. That concept is where the cover art and title come from."[2]

Reception

The song was well-received by critics. Billboard named the song the fifteenth best rock song of 2017,[1] while PopMatters writer William Nesbit named it the best rock song of 2017.[6]

The song received a Grammy Award nomination for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, for Best Rock Song.[7]

Personnel

Band

  • Joshua Kiszka – vocals
  • Jacob Kiszka – guitar, backing vocals
  • Samuel Kiszka – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Daniel Wagner – drums, backing vocals

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] 39

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "The 25 Best Rock Songs of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. "Archived copy". loudwire.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Greta Van Fleet Perform 'Black Smoke Rising' and 'You're the One' on 'SNL': Watch". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. "Greta van Fleet's 'SNL' Performance of 'Black Smoke Rising' Was Fiery". uproxx.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. Rolling In The Deep - Recorded At Spotify Studios NYC, 2018-01-24, retrieved 2023-05-28
  6. Nesbitt, William (14 December 2017). "Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. "2019 metal and hard rock Grammy nominees include Greta Van Fleet, Ghost, Deafheaven, High on Fire, Halestorm, and more". Consequence.net. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  8. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  9. "Canadian single certifications – Greta Van Fleet – Black Smoke Rising". Music Canada. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. "American single certifications – Greta Van Fleet – Black Smoke Rising". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
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