Elephant (Tame Impala song)

"Elephant"
Single by Tame Impala
from the album Lonerism
Released26 July 2012 (2012-07-26)
Genre
Length3:31
LabelModular
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kevin Parker
Tame Impala singles chronology
"Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?"
(2011) 		"Elephant"
(2012) 		"Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"
(2012)

"Elephant" is a song by Australian musical project Tame Impala, released on 26 July 2012 as the lead single from their second album Lonerism (2012).[1] The single features artwork from Australian artist Leif Podhajsky, who also created the artwork for Innerspeaker and the follow-up Lonerism.[2]

"Elephant" was covered by children's music group the Wiggles for Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's Like a Version segment on 5 March 2021, which won the station's Hottest 100 of 2021.

Background

Kevin Parker explains that:

Elephant is actually one of the oldest songs that I have, it's just been in the vaults this whole time. I'm not sure why we never recorded it before, but we were just playing it at a sound check one night and everyone in the band was like, 'We should just put this on the album', and so we did.

— Kevin Parker[3]

"Elephant" features a bluesier side of Tame Impala, heard more frequently on their self-titled extended play, as the song was written around that stage. Because it was written around that time, "Elephant" is "an anomaly on Lonerism. There are no other songs that have that bluesy riffing".[4]

Speaking about the track in a retrospective interview with Beats 1 in 2019, Parker spoke of his surprise at how successful the track became. "I always thought it was a bit shallow, a bit cringe. But now I appreciate Elephant, because the character I'm singing about, from the loner's perspective... it's how I always envisioned big, egotistical people who would march around. It's kind of how a loner might see a jock - like an elephant." In this same interview, Parker added that his favourite Lonerism lyric is from Elephant: "He pulled the mirrors off his Cadillac / 'Cause he doesn't like it looking like he looks back". [5]

Critical reception

Alicia Dennis from Zimbio called "Elephant" "the best psych-rock song ever written about a pompous jerk",[6] while Nick Patch of the Times Colonist described it as a "distortion-drenched garage-rocker".[7] It is also viewed as a "glam-rock gem" by the webzine PlayGround.[8] Joe Levy from Rolling Stone stated that the song was "Tame Impala's 2012 alt-rock hit", describing the guitar riff as "gong-banging glam".[9] Ian Cohen of Pitchfork gave the song the "Best New Track" accolade, praising its production and stating that it "splits wide open during its midsection for an expansive and lyrical guitar jam that these guys are doing better than just about anyone else right now."[10] Nathan Reese of Refinery29 described the song as the group's "meaner, more immediate take on its garage-psych sound". He also commented that the song "with dueling keyboard and guitar solos that arrive midway through" resembles Pink Floyd's "Lucifer Sam", "channeled through the Stooges".[11]

Awards

Chart performance

Certifications

Certifications for "Elephant"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Wiggles version

"Elephant (Triple J Like a Version)"
Single by the Wiggles
from the album ReWiggled
Released12 March 2021
Recorded5 March 2021
StudioLike a Version studio, Triple J (Sydney, Australia)
Length3:22
LabelABC Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Anthony Field
The Wiggles singles chronology
"We're All Fruit Salad"
(2021) 		"Elephant (Triple J Like a Version)"
(2021) 		"The ABC New Zealand Alphabet Song"
(2021)
Music video
"Elephant (Triple J Like a Version)" on YouTube

Australian children's music band the Wiggles performed a cover of "Elephant" for Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's Like a Version segment on 5 March 2021, during which they interpolated their original song "Fruit Salad" throughout the performance.[32] The cover was later released as a single through ABC Music the following week, on 12 March 2021.[33]

"Elephant" was included on the Wiggles' compilation album, ReWiggled (2022), which features the group performing covers of songs by various Australian artists.[34]

The performing line-up included new and original Wiggles Lachy Gillespie, Anthony Field, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins, Jeff Fatt, and Murray Cook.[35]

The cover received instantaneous acclaim,[36][37] with various people, including comedian Andy Lee, flagging it as a contender for the station's Hottest 100 countdown.[35] It later emerged as a favourite to top the 2021 poll,[38][39] which it ultimately won, becoming the first cover song to do so.[40]

On 26 January 2022, Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) published their mid-week chart, in which they revealed the cover was likely to make its debut on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart that week.[41] On 28 January, the song debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated 31 January, becoming the Wiggles' first top fifty appearance in the process.[42]

Charts

Chart performance for "Elephant" (The Wiggles version)
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 10

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Gold 35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Tame Impala single 'Elephant'". Self-titled Mag. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Leif Podhajsky". Leif Podhajsky. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Tame Impala Stereogum Lonerism feature". Stereogum. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Tame Impala SFWeekly Lonerism Feature". SFWeekly. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Sleeve Notes: Tame Impala, Lonerism". Apple Music. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  6. ^ Dennis, Alicia (13 August 2013). "Songs of Summer 2013: Alternative and Rock Hits". Zimbio. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  7. ^ Patch, Nick (3 March 2013). "Road a lonely place for Kevin Parker and Aussie breakouts Tame Impala". Times Colonist. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Todd Rundgren Remixes Tame Impala". PlayGround. 29 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012.
  9. ^ LEVY, JOE (17 July 2015). "Currents". Rolling Stone. ...of Tame Impala's 2012 alt-rock hit "Elephant" returns for a few seconds
  10. ^ Cohen, Ian (25 July 2012). ""Elephant" by Tame Impala Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  11. ^ Reese, Nathan (26 July 2012). "This Is Our Jam, Tame Impala, "Elephant"". Refinery29. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  12. ^ Hottest 100 - 2012 | triple j
  13. ^ "EG Music Awards 2012". FasterLouder. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record - Tame Impala - Elephant". BBC. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Song of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2013. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Tame Impala Boost Trophy Cabinet, Scoop 2013 WAM Awards". tonedeaf. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  17. ^ "WAM Award Winners 2013". WAM. February 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  18. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 February 2013 (Issue 1197)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  19. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 20.10.2012 (wk41)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Tame Impala Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Tame Impala Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Tame Impala Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  23. ^ "Tame Impala Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  24. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  25. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  26. ^ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Tame Impala – Elephant". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  29. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Tame Impala – Elephant". Radioscope. Retrieved 12 January 2025. Type Elephant in the "Search:" field.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Tame Impala – Elephant". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Tame Impala – Elephant". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  32. ^ Martin, Josh (5 March 2021). "Watch The Wiggles fuse Tame Impala's "Elephant" with "Fruit Salad"". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Elephant (triple j Like a Version) – Single by the Wiggles on Apple Music". Apple Music. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  34. ^ "The Wiggles covering AC/DC? New album tracklisting will blow you away". The Music. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  35. ^ a b Bruno, Gus (5 March 2021). "The Wiggles cover Tame Impala's 'Elephant' – and Australia LOVES it". Seven News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  36. ^ Fry, Courtney (5 March 2021). "People are already demanding for the Wiggles' Like a Version to win this year's Hottest 100". Pedestrian.TV. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  37. ^ English, Laura (5 March 2021). "Our favourite reactions to the Wiggles' Hottest 100 contender, their Tame Impala Like a Version". Music Feeds. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  38. ^ Moran, Robert (15 January 2022). "'It's an absolute spin-out': The Wiggles, somehow, edge towards Hottest 100 glory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  39. ^ Doria, Matt (18 January 2022). "The Wiggles react to prospect of Tame Impala cover winning Hottest 100: "It's an absolute spin-out"". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  40. ^ Gwee, Karen (22 January 2022). "triple j Hottest 100 of 2021: here are all the songs in the countdown". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  41. ^ "Meat Loaf and Hottest 100 to make an impact on this week's ARIA Charts". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 26 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  42. ^ Brandle, Lars (28 January 2022). "Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell flies to No. 1 in Australia". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  43. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 31 January 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

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