Dark Horses (song)

"Dark Horses" is a song written and recorded by the alternative rock band Switchfoot, and serves as the first single from their eighth studio album entitled Vice Verses. It was debuted on the band's official website on July 20, 2011 and serviced to radio on August 2, 2011.[1] The release was announced on AllAccess/Mediabase and later confirmed by singer Jon Foreman during an interview with radio DJ Adrian Hummel.[2]

"Dark Horses"
Single by Switchfoot
from the album Vice Verses
ReleasedJuly 20, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreAlternative rock, post-grunge, hard rock
Length3:59
Labellowercase people/Atlantic
Songwriter(s)Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
Producer(s)Switchfoot, Neal Avron
Switchfoot singles chronology
"Bullet Soul"
(2010)		 "Dark Horses"
(2011)		 "Restless"
(2011)

Song history

The song first made a public appearance on June 10, 2010 in Amsterdam during Switchfoot's Hello Hurricane tour. The band sound-checked it once there, and also subsequently played it at several more shows during the fall leg of their tour.

It was reworked afterwards during the studio sessions for Vice Verses, and the band debuted the revamped version with a new chorus with different melodies and a re-worked second verse in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in May 2011.

The band performed it throughout the summer festival season, and also allowed fans to preview it at their Bro-Am event in June.[3]

Singer Jon Foreman has from time to time stated that the song is an anthem for Stand Up For Kids, an organization that aids orphaned youth back in the band's hometown of San Diego, CA. "For me that song the Dark Horses is all about the homeless kids back in San Diego, specifically the ones who are being helped out by Stand Up For Kids," he says.[4] "It's always nice when you have a song you are passionate about singing night after night that has a deeper meaning than simply another verse and another chorus."

Other uses
  • The song was featured on ESPN College Football broadcasts in the 2011 season.
  • It was the official theme for WWE's 2012 Royal Rumble.[5]
  • The song was featured on a Minnesota Twins 2011 game broadcast

Reception

The song was picked up quickly by a couple of alternative rock stations in the first week of availability. San Diego's 91x spun the song for the very first time on July 20,[6] with Los Angeles' KROQ featuring the single on their First Listen blog a couple of days later.[7]

It peaked at No. 5 on Billboard Alternative Songs, tying "Meant to Live" for Switchfoot's highest-charting single on that chart, and spent a total of 25 weeks on the tally. It was well received in the Christian radio scene as well, spending seven straight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Rock songs chart.

Live performances

Switchfoot performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 19, 2011, and on Conan on October 25, 2011.

Charts
Chart (2011) Peak
Position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] 42
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] 13
US Christian Digital Songs (Billboard)[10] 2
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 17

References
  1. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  2. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot (Interview) Archived July 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine - Published June 27, 2011 (retrieved July 5, 2011)
  3. Switchfoot Bro-Am lineup revealed Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot (Interview) Archived July 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine - Published June 27, 2011 (retrieved July 5, 2011)
  5. WWE Music Group Tweet on Twitter
  6. Official Switchfoot Twitter. Twitter. Published July 20, 2011
  7. First Listen Switchfoot Drop’s “Dark Horses, The First Single From Their Upcoming Album - Published July 21, 2011 (retrieved July 22, 2011)
  8. "Switchfoot Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  9. "Switchfoot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  10. "Switchfoot Chart History (Christian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  11. "Switchfoot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
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