Safari Song

"Safari Song" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was their second single off of their EP Black Smoke Rising, and their compilation EP From the Fires. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in February 2018.[2]

"Safari Song"
Single by Greta Van Fleet
from the EP Black Smoke Rising and From the Fires
ReleasedOctober 15, 2017 (2017-10-15)
Recorded2016[1]
Genre
Length3:56
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Al Sutton
  • Marlon Young
Greta Van Fleet singles chronology
"Highway Tune"
(2017)		 "Safari Song"
(2017)		 "When the Curtain Falls"
(2018)

Background

The song was initially released on the band's debut EP - Black Smoke Rising in April 2017.[3] The song was released as the second single from the EP, after "Highway Tune", in October 2017, and was the second most added song to rock radio.[4] Shortly afterwards, on November 10, 2017, a compilation EP, From the Fires, containing "Safari Song" and the other three songs from Black Smoke Rising, and four newly recorded songs, was released.[5] The release of From the Fires pushed "Safari Song" to chart on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at number 44,[6] staying on the chart for four weeks.[7]

The band performed the song live on national television on Last Call With Carson Daly on October 31, 2017.[8]

Themes and composition

The song's sound has drawn comparisons to the work of Led Zeppelin, both in the song's production sounding similar to rock music from the 1960s, and Josh Kiszka's vocals mirroring Robert Plant's "signature wail, phrasing, and articulation".[9] Beyond the Led Zeppelin similarities, Loudwire also compared the song's vocal and guitar riff style to the work of Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, Bon Scott of AC/DC and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones.[10] Josh Kiszka said of the song's initial conception:

We were doing some writing and recording at Plymouth Rock, an old Michigan church that had been converted into a recording studio. We were playing a bunch of old blues songs and Jake [Kiszka, guitarist] came up with this riff that I fell in love with. It had this complexity, this mixture of jungle music and blues, and it made me think of a safari, hence the title. As an ode to our love of the blues, the lyrics were written as a narrative, the way that many blues lyrics have been written."[11]

Sam Kiszka, the band's bassist, stated that the song's initial iteration was far more complicated, with more percussion and busy guitar-work in it.[12] The band felt that they had added too many overdubs while recording the song's initial version in the studio, and ended up simplifying its composition and removing an extended drum interlude.[12] The song's live performances often re-add a long drum solo at the end.[10]

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

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Interview: Greta Van Fleet's "Black Smoke Rising" might just make you believe – Metal Riot". Metalriot.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. "Greta Van Fleet". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. "***NEW MUSIC*** Greta Van Fleet - Safari Song". Iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  4. "Turn Me On: Young Rockers Greta Van Fleet Riding Buzz from 'Black Smoke Rising' EP to Sold-Out U.S. Tour – Rock Cellar Magazine". Rockcellarmagazine.com. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  5. "Greta Van Fleet Announce Double EP 'From the Fires'". Loudwire.com. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  6. "Greta Van Fleet Flies to No. 3 on Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. "Greta Van Fleet Safari Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  8. "Greta Van Fleet Rock 'Last Call With Carson Daly'". Loudwire.com. November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  9. "Greta Van Fleet: From the Fires". Popmatters.com. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. "Greta Van Fleet Offer Ray of Rock Hope in Rainy New York City". Loudwire.com. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  11. "Greta Van Fleet's "Safari Song" #2 Most Added at Rock Radio – I'm Music Magazine". Immusicmag.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  12. "Greta Van Fleet battles being "overly creative" with "Safari Song"". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  13. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  14. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  15. "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  16. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  17. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  18. "Canadian single certifications – Greta Van Fleet – Safari Song". Music Canada. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  19. "American single certifications – Greta Van Fleet – Safari Song". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
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