Why has Vampire Weekend never had a hit?!
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🎧 About This Video
Vampire Weekend is one of the only bands in history to land three #1 albums on the Billboard 200… without ever landing a single on the Hot 100. Not even A-Punk. In a music industry driven by hits, charts and TikTok virality, how did this band build a career entirely around albums? And what does that say about the way we measure success in music today?
I’m breaking down the paradox at the heart of Vampire Weekend’s career: from Contra to Modern Vampires to Only God Was Above Us and exploring how they’ve stayed true to album-first artistry in a singles-first world.
⏱ Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:11 Chapter 1: The Paradox
4:00 Chapter 2: The Philosophy
7:26 Chapter 3: The Long Game
15:25 Conclusion
🎶 Music Licensed via Epidemic Sound
I’MIN – Lately (Instrumental Version)
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7HQNgBsZpa/
Victor Lundberg – Burn Out (Instrumental Version)
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/d4O0FbeFET/
Why has Vampire Weekend never had a hit?!
Written and Edited by Frank Furtado
Thumbnail Photo by Rosaline Shahnavaz
#Middle8 #VampireWeekend #IndieRock #MusicDocumentary #VideoEssay #MusicEssay
Comments
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@snazzydrew
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I still actually listen to Vampire Weekend every week.
@JoeMenjivar
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Damn, didn't even know they had an album out last year
@TheBestcommentor
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Only God was Above Us is the only album that I don't love. I still like it, though.
@DynamiteProd
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
They are in my top 5
@maryveazey2906
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
OGWAU is one of my favorite albums of all time, Im so glad you made this video!
@itgetter9
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I respect this.
@icebough4191
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Because indie rock is pretentious AND sucks
@1337WA
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
wait, Campus is not a hit?
@notanivysaur
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Oh man how I love listening to complete albums. Drives me nuts that so many audio players don't have a 'shuffle albums' option.
@icklebinen
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Why has Vampire Weekend never had a hit?
Hmmmm, cos they suck.
@maemaegirl
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
My parents have always loved Vampire Weekend so I've listened to them for a while, but I was still so surprised when I saw they're still releasing. And even more surprised by how much I liked the new stuff❤️❤️
@kp4588
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
This band sucks shit. The worst band to ever exist. I loathe them.
Just goes to show you can do shitty things and make some money.
@BBank92
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I’ve been listening to them since I was 16. I’m 33 now. Every single time Vampire Weekend releases an album it makes an impact on my life in a positive way. I love them.
@buccob
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Awesome video.
Please explore "Murder By Death" which is retiring later this year. Incredible band, extremely quality multimedia experience from their unique sound, to the narrative lyrics to their peculiar venues.
@LJ_hey
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I heard them in fall 2009 as a first year in college. My friend put on the album in their dorm room (I think a CD in playing from the laptop lol). I thought wow, now this is something and I really did it. I listened to the first two albums sooooo many times lol
I haven't listened to their last two albums but I'm definitely going to go reintroduce myself to them now 😊
@sob2237
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I think I need to start listening to vampire weekend again!!
@Ttamlin
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
14:42 – "I've also realized, y'know, whether you take six, five years between records, whatever, once the record's out, it's as if the time vanishes, anyway…"
As a lifelong Tool fan, I feel this.
@KR-si3dx
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I'm 95% sure they tried with Cousins. I remember seeing that music video on VH1.
@Bulhas
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I have a favorite band like that, but on a smaller scale: Shout Out Louds. They're a Swedish band from the same era as Vampire Weekend, and their albums are awesome.
@loganm2204
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
actually i think their singles are quite poppy for an indie rock band…i won't be surprised to see any of their singles becomes a hit on top 100, especially nowadays it could really happen
@kayakyakyakr
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Only God was above us was such a good album. it came out just in time for the eclipse. There was a lot going on then, and I feel like it was just missed. But a year later, it's so very apparent that it's easily amongst their best and really will be a long term classic.
@felipedager214
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Now I need a Slipknot-Vampire Weekend crossover
@k-isfor-kristina
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I'm shocked they've never charged. I'm pretty sure A Punk was featured in a commercial. They BJ as Jake Gyllenhaal in the music video for Giving Up The Gun. Bizarre
@Contra7311
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Looks at a bag of vampire weekend on the shelf:
"Oh no! No hits, all bangers"
@Pbearadactyl
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
It’s really just a matter of timing. Streaming didn’t start counting towards the charts until 2013. If they debuted after that A-Punk and probably a couple of their other songs would’ve charted.
@johnny0000000000000
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I'm so fortunate to live in the Boston area – WERS 88.9 plays this band all the time. At one point they were spinning Horchata like it was going out of style. And that's why I'm a VW fan today. If you're lucky enough to get some college radio where you live, do yourself a favor 🙂
@ethanhale1577
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Cool story: In 2024 I got to play guitar with Vampire Weekend, hence my profile picture. As a long time fan it has always been the albums, so to go up on stage and play A-Punk and Walcott was super cool. I know every song all because I know the albums, not because I listen to a few here or there. I hardly ever listen to their songs individually and always try to listen to their discog. front to back.
@EyeKahnography
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
I really love the evolving sound album to album that Vampire Weekend has. We don't always find that but I think VW, Gorillaz, and Foster the People have done this continuously well without losing who they are
@mikesarver4681
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Have been my favorite modern band since the early 2010s and I had no idea they never had a charting hit but I understood why immediately. One song doesn’t stand above the rest. Vampire Weekend is just special in that way.
@Mongoz08
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
In my house Hannah Hunt was no.1 for like 2 months…i don't know what your talking about lmao
@Royal_Fortune
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
By the time I associated their name with the songs I already knew I was hearing this band everywhere. If that's not the sign of a hit band then I honestly don't know what is. Some songs stick around despite charts so maybe that says more about charts not being the definitive indicator of what defines a hit over time.
@sethhardy7280
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
Fuckkk I forgot how good M79 is
@RadiantValkyrie
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
First I've ever heard of them. Sounds generic AF.
@themimeticconsumer
August 8, 2025 at 10:51 am
As a woman, I wonder why Tavi Gevinson never pushed the allegations with Ezra, but I kinda understand her as well
Comments are closed.