Stream: Chairlift, ‘Romeo’

Jessica Shalvoy on December 2nd, 2015

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Brooklyn pop duo Chairlift released the second single off of their forthcoming album, “Moth,” out Jan. 22. “Romeo” is only the second song that the duo — producers/writers/multi-instrumentalists/mythology enthusiasts Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly — have released in the past three years. A follow-up to the dancy “Ch-Ching,” “Romeo” is an upbeat track perfect for anyone’s workout playlist, especially since it’s about running. Seriously, running. Polachek wanted the lyrics to match the running beat she and Patrick created, and drew inspiration from the Greek myth of Atalanta. We’ll save you the Google search — Atalanta was a badass runner who had zero interest in marriage. But, like most young women, she was being pressured by her father to settle down. She only agreed to marry a man that could beat her in a foot race; those who lose will die, obviously. After hundreds of deaths, Melanion, with a little help from Aphrodite, won the race because he distracted her by throwing apples into her path. Apparently, Atalanta loved herself some apples. Sung from the point of view of the young, arrogant heroine, Polachek gloats, “Step up, lover, big talker, take a number, I’ve got, all day, to wipe the smile off your face.” Elaborate backstory aside, “Romeo” is a synth-laced, festival-ready pop song that will put the body in motion and make you feel a little less fat over the holidays.

||| Stream: “Romeo”