Drinking in L.A.

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"Drinking in L.A."
Bran-Van-3000-Drinking-In-LA-161109.jpg
Single by Bran Van 3000
from the album Glee
ReleasedFebruary 1997 (1997-02)
Length3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • James Di Salvio
  • Norman Larson
  • Haig Vartzbedian
Producer(s)Haig V.
Bran Van 3000 singles chronology
"Drinking in L.A."
(1997) 		"Couch Surfer"
(1998)
Music video
"Drinking in L.A." on YouTube

"Drinking in L.A." is a song by Canadian electronica collective Bran Van 3000, released as the band's debut single in 1997. It was the last song to be recorded for the band's debut studio album, Glee. Of the song, James Di Salvio has said "It was almost like one of those movies where an animated blue bird swings by over the real live footage. It's cheesy, but I knew in my heart it was a hit."[1]

"Drinking in L.A." was featured on the Diamond-certified MuchMusic compilation album, Big Shiny Tunes 2.[2] It was also featured in television commercials for Rolling Rock beer in the United Kingdom, which contributed to its chart success in that region, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 in Iceland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, as well as number 35 in their native Canada.

Background[]

After a heavy night of drinking, James Di Salvio woke up face-down on a lawn in West Hollywood. With a serious headache, he asked himself: "What the hell am I doing, drinking in L.A.?"[3]

Critical reception[]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic said that Bran Van 3000 is a "bizarre, stylish mix of club music, techno, hip-hop, lounge and kitsch-pop", adding that the song is "great".[4] Chuck Taylor from Billboard described it as a "atmospheric gem" and "terrifically quirky, with a more or less spoken verse accompanied by a chorale of dreamy background vocals, catcalls, and eerie sounds both sung and spoken and coming at you from all sides." He stated that "there's a hook there, too, as rich and textured as any more clearly defined pop offering. Instrumentally, you couldn't ask for more, with trancy to fi production". He also complimented it as "glorious and deliciously creative".[5] Scottish newspaper Daily Record noted its "slacker hip-hop and brilliant vocals".[6] Stuart Bailie from NME wrote, "At least 'Drinking In LA' has a point of sorts, a development on the lotus-eater myth. Only now are the hedonists sobering up on Venice Beach, California, troubled by an imminent career crisis. Nice tune, too."[7] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror called it "Beck-like".[8]

Music video[]

The music video for the song was directed by Adam Courneya. Ilana Kronick from The Gazette wrote, "In short, the clip for Drinking in L.A. is a visual representation of Bran Van's electro-pop cross-breeding. A veritable bouillabaisse of teched-out trends, digi-rock references and clubby stylings, the video — much like the group — is a trip through the '90s cool pop standards."[9]

Track listings[]

Charts and certifications[]

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Canada February 1997 (1997-02) Radio Audiogram [3]
United Kingdom May 18, 1998 (1998-05-18)
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[35]
United States August 25, 1998 (1998-08-25) Contemporary hit radio Capitol [36]
United Kingdom (re-release) August 9, 1999 (1999-08-09)
  • CD
  • cassette
  • Audiogram
  • Capitol
 [37]

References[]

  1. ^ Patch, Nick (January 29, 2017). "Thinking (back) in L.A." Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "Various – Big Shiny Tunes 2". discogs.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Patch, Nick (January 29, 2017). "The story of 'Drinking in L.A.,' 20 years later". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bran Van 3000 – Glee". AllMusic. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Taylor, Chuck (January 30, 1999). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 5. p. 23. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Chartslot Wowpop". Daily Record. 20 August 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ^ Bailie, Stuart. "BRAN VAN 3000 – Glee". NME. Archived from the original on October 6, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Sunday Mirror. 14 June 1998. p. 42. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  9. ^ Kronick, Ilana (June 19, 1997). "Bran Van 3000 on a cool trip". The Gazette. p. D 14.
  10. ^ Drinking in L.A. (Canadian promo CD liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram. 1997. ADCD 5256.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Drinking in L.A. (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Capitol Records. 1997. CDCL 811.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Drinking in L.A. (UK CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1999. CDCL 811.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Drinking in L.A. (UK CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. CDCL 802.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Drinking in L.A. (UK cassette single sleeve). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. 7243 8 87556 4 1.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Drinking in L.A. (European & Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. 7243 8 85381 2 1.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Oct 1998". ARIA. Retrieved October 20, 2016 – via Imgur.
  17. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3281." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  19. ^ Danish Singles Chart 19 June 1998
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 35. August 28, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  21. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 286 Vikuna 20.8. – 27.8. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 21, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drinking in L.A.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 36. September 5, 1998. p. 15. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  24. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking In L.A." (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  25. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  26. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  27. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". VG-lista. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  29. ^ "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  31. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  32. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  33. ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 27.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in LA". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  35. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 16, 1998. p. 35.
  36. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1262. August 21, 1998. p. 39.
  37. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 7, 1999. p. 25.

External links[]

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