Arcade Fire and the Story of ‘Funeral’
From Grief to Greatness: this is a history of Arcade Fire’s album ‘Funeral’ and how it changed indie rock. Funeral was released in September 2004, birthed from the collective grief of the band after losing many family members. Finding joy in the sorrow, the album resonated with many across the United States and the world in the post-9/11 days, still fresh from a few years prior.
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👉 More Poetic Wax Podcast Episodes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLylroYWVYWWVTw1c5G-D2doEVIjlLLEV3
WATCH NEXT:
✓ How The Decemberists Made History Cool: https://youtu.be/MAd8dJuvNF4
✓ Modest Mouse & The Story of Float On: https://youtu.be/33Ybj5zRg2U
✓ Blonde Redhead & Misery Is A Butterfly: https://youtu.be/3M1E_wsYyHQ
✓ Down With Wilco: https://youtu.be/OIeV2c5qwbQ
GET THE GOODS:
🔥 Funeral on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4eI7Tnl
🔥 More Arcade Fire on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4eHiCyE
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==========
CHAPTERS:
0:00 From Grief to Greatness
2:00 The Losses That Inspired Funeral
4:30 When Arcade Fire Almost Put Funeral to Rest
7:22 The Legacy of Funeral by Arcade Fire
10:35 Revisiting Indie Rock in the Mid 2000s
VIDEO CLIPS USED:
✓ Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels): https://youtu.be/TwisvB3PVpU?si=-7ISzQHn8jYOmh0S
✓ Neighborhood #2 (Laika): https://youtu.be/siFsdInZqC0?si=tTeuhbSS5bxJhxgw
✓ Rebellion (Lies): https://youtu.be/8vN2vqaEBhM?si=BfxblWdAFCGp73c7
✓ Alvino Rey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYuUnJxcMzU
✓ La Blogoteque: https://youtu.be/U9QrpIcncXA?si=xHq-exTAJtR17Pog
✓ Arcade Fire Grammy: https://youtu.be/f5npCMAok-M?si=Ps006lo2KTlYvDBK
FensePost Vinyl Channel is run by Andrew (Andy) Fenstermaker.
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@AndyFenstermaker
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Next, dig into the story behind Modest Mouse’s 2004 hit “Float On,” and how it came from a similarly dark place 👉
https://youtu.be/33Ybj5zRg2U
@jeffreyhiatt3268
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
I remember I was living on Capitol Hill in Seattle when this came out, my friend just put it on during some lazy rainy day. It immediately grabbed my attention and I’m pretty sure gave me goosebumps in the first 20 seconds.
Thank you for this video! I love revisiting that time in this way.
@Limagris912
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
I just love Arcade Fire
@orkghoul
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
listened to this album for the first time a few days ago and its mindblowing, so excited to go through the rest of their catalogue!!! lovely video thank you so much
@mikemcdaniels7745
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Great album
@gwainwright82
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' evokes a nostalgia for a world I never knew but wished I experienced. It is the small town charm, with warm glowing lights and meeting in the centre of town. It evokes a less twee version, more resigned, of Wes Anderson films set in a mundane northern locale. A beautiful, life affirming yet haunting album, a goodbye, before walking towards the dark shoreline and oppressive black ocean that is 'Neon Bible', exploration of fucked up tech Americana.
@brandonburroughs7128
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Plans to review Pink Elephant?
@SkinnyEatWorld95
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Arcade Fire sparks a nostalgia joy in me every time I listen to them, I've lost so many people and they always make me feel like it'll be okay.
@SkinnyEatWorld95
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
This is one of my favorite bands! They just dropped the new album 3 days ago! What're your thoughts on it? I really really love it and have been playing from start to finish for 3 days!❤😊
@awesukisuki
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
I love arcade fire so much! Wonderful bardic crafter! Great story about them!
@brianmorgan5280
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
It took me a while to get an ear for ArcadeFire. A friend recommended them and I liked their popular songs. Then WE dropped and I was catapulted in. Love them now!
@7485D
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
A masterpiece
@yanni2852
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Excellent video, I subscribed immediately after watching it…I agree that WE is very unappreciative album, maybe after 10 years the critics are gonna appreciate it…after 40 years lightning 1 and 2 is gonna be something like what is today shine on you crazy diamond now…
@Tathagatchat
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Very good video. Though I came because of a re-watch of Chuck…
@KenmanG1982
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Pronounced Chess-aine, not ChessAGGnee
@ranlit7717
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Just trying to provide some constructive criticism. I feel like the video is much too long for a story that isn’t really that unique (I love Funeral btw). Too many adjectifs and adverbs.
Too many ‘buzzwords’, per say. It makes consuming this content draining, at times.
I feel like we can at times forget about formulating every sentence like an essay, and just talk in a more concise way.
@killerspade
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
You should also check out Set Yourself on Fire by Stars, which was another explosive canadian indie album released amusingly on exactly the same day.
@Zwirlie
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 am
Great video, as always. Such an important album, and I can't believe it's 20 years old now.
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