Vampire Weekend’s ‘2021’ Is Reimagined by Goose and Sam Grendel as ’40:42’—WATCH
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Vampire Weekend song “2021” was one of the shortest tracks on the band’s 2019 album Father of the Bride.
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whatever lies ahead, may you move through 2021 with the peaceful determination of a tree frog
So when Weekend called on on musician-fans to remake “2021,” there were conditions: Each remake was to last exactly 20 minutes and 21 seconds, to be combined for an EP entitled (do the math) “40:42.”
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The New York Times: Two acts rose to the occasion. Goose, a methodical jam band from Connecticut, did a live jam, on video, with clear landmarks of Minimalistic stasis, playful crosscurrents and dramatic, attentive buildups. Sam Gendel, a saxophonist who has worked with Ry Cooder, Perfume Genius and Moses Sumney, came up with multiple, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure scenarios: breathy woodwind chorales, abstract modal drones, electronic meditations and loops, cozy fireside acoustic session, raucous jazz finale. Musicians delight in working with limited parameters and leaping beyond them.
While Rolling Stone said: Jazz musician Sam Gendel and Connecticut rock outfit Goose each recorded interpretations of “2021” — and both are 20 minutes and 21 seconds long. Gendel, who co-wrote the Father of the Bride tracks “Flower Moon” and “Spring Snow,” plays saxophone on his version. A video of his improvised animation accompanies the chaotic track. There’s a stark contrast between Gendel’s track and Goose’s, as the band performs the song in a cozy, illuminated room. Rick Mitarotonda swims through the lead vocals, strumming the guitar as keyboardist Peter Anspach, bassist Trevor Bass, and drummer Ben Atkind back him. “2021, will you think about me?” Mitarotonda sings. “I could wait a year, but I shouldn’t wait three.”
A year ago this week, they geared up for the Iowa caucuses by performing “2021” and other songs at a Bernie Sanders rally.
