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Contra by Vampire Weekend
13,699,388 plays (370,609 listeners)
Shouts:
167 shouts
Tracklist
| Track | Duration | Listeners | ||||
| 1 |
|
Horchata | 3:27 | 269,270 | ||
| 2 |
|
White Sky | 2:59 | 250,152 | ||
| 3 |
|
Holiday | 2:18 | 245,799 | ||
| 4 |
|
California English | 2:29 | 212,368 | ||
| 5 |
|
Taxi Cab | 3:56 | 203,296 | ||
| 6 |
|
Run | 3:52 | 207,004 | ||
| 7 |
|
Cousins | 2:25 | 263,641 | ||
| 8 |
|
Giving Up the Gun | 4:46 | 247,046 | ||
| 9 |
|
Diplomat's Son | 5:58 | 159,211 | ||
| 10 |
|
I Think Ur a Contra | 4:26 | 180,705 |
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About this album
Contra is the second album by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend, released in January 2010 on XL Recordings. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200. The album title is intended as a thematic allegory and a complex reference to the Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries, the 1980 The Clash album Sandinista!, and partially to the Contra video game.
Music and lyrics
The lyrics of “I Think UR a Contra” include the phrase “Complete Control”, the title of a Clash single (notably, an influential 1980 triple album by The Clash was entitled Sandinista! after the socialist militancy opposed by the Contras during the Nicaraguan civil war). This refers partially to the controversy surrounding their punk roots. The title “Diplomat’s Son” is a reference to a story singer Ezra Koenig wrote about in boarding school, though the content lyrically talks about a homosexual relationship told by Rostam Batmanglij. The song also features a vocal sample from M.I.A.’s “Hussel”. “Holiday” begins with the opening lyrics of Fairport Convention’s 1969 rendition of Matty Groves.
Koenig has stated in multiple interviews that the album contains lyrical themes of opposition consistent with its title, and feels it is important to understand that the word “Contra” is a fundamental concept of conflict, without any implication that one side is right or wrong. The lyrics of Contra are also meant to express a desire to be compassionate even towards people and things you disagree with.
Music and lyrics
The lyrics of “I Think UR a Contra” include the phrase “Complete Control”, the title of a Clash single (notably, an influential 1980 triple album by The Clash was entitled Sandinista! after the socialist militancy opposed by the Contras during the Nicaraguan civil war). This refers partially to the controversy surrounding their punk roots. The title “Diplomat’s Son” is a reference to a story singer Ezra Koenig wrote about in boarding school, though the content lyrically talks about a homosexual relationship told by Rostam Batmanglij. The song also features a vocal sample from M.I.A.’s “Hussel”. “Holiday” begins with the opening lyrics of Fairport Convention’s 1969 rendition of Matty Groves.
Koenig has stated in multiple interviews that the album contains lyrical themes of opposition consistent with its title, and feels it is important to understand that the word “Contra” is a fundamental concept of conflict, without any implication that one side is right or wrong. The lyrics of Contra are also meant to express a desire to be compassionate even towards people and things you disagree with.
Other releases from this artist
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Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
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Shouts
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electricchurch wrote:
i think debut was better
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zaroOoO wrote:
This album leads to one destination: THE BEACH:)
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maryann2version wrote:
Urgh.... I hate to say this but - erm, this is my guilty pleasure D:
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idarklord wrote:
This is one of the worst albums of all time, if not the worst. Cover tells you how awful this is. An abomination of music.
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gabri5el wrote:
it's fucking amazing
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Delmothos wrote:
This album is genius. Love the lyrics! Much prefer it to the self-titled debut.
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NewChrischris91 wrote:
Contra is an amazing album! I love it! So many good tracks. I'm in love with these boys and their music. Good ass album indeed.
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rileyamerica wrote:
disappointment
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magicksounds wrote:
Such an amazing summer album.
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FreeMHZ wrote:
<3
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baileymclell wrote:
Great band. Great album. Giving Up the Gun and Horchata are stand outs.
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skippingboy123 wrote:
The first one is much better, too many slow songs. Think tracks 5-6. And tracks 9-10. They're just too slow for me.
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XrustyXtoothX wrote:
I liked this more than the debut, and I loved the debut. 'Tis a wonderful album in my oppinion <3
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LiFreitas wrote:
listening now. It's pretty fine, but the debut is better (: And as spacefaceinfurs said: I hope they don't turn into another strokes ...
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DrizzyBR00KS wrote:
Contra isn't bad.
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spacefaceinfurs wrote:
disappointing, I hope they don't turn into another strokes ...
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Pewizzle wrote:
Wow, I haven't heard production this nice in a long time.
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jonnimont wrote:
I like the one where he can be his bodyguard if the other guy will be his long lost pal.
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Antiquarium wrote:
I bought the album only because of Taxi Cab, and now, 8 months later, I finally gave the rest of the album a try. Good call.
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stefanimaniac wrote:
i love this entire album. i like it more than the debut.
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Recent Activity
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livialma, annies18, Assless_Chaps69 and 22 other people added Vampire Weekend – Contra to their libraries. 47 minutes ago
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SarahRandom wrote about Contra in Albums I own [CD]. Tuesday evening
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MrPohlman, nolesmurfen, Draslig1 and 16 other people added Vampire Weekend – Contra to their libraries. Tuesday evening
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emmayeahh tagged Contra with ‘favourite albums’. last week
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TheRightOne97, lagi77, brownmaster and 8 other people added Vampire Weekend – Contra to their libraries. last week
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fortyfive_rpm wrote about Contra in Vinyl Collection. last week
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mdimitt, phantasticannie, amanda17178 and 6 other people added Vampire Weekend – Contra to their libraries. last week
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Bellatrix86 wrote about Contra in a deleted journal. last week
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Bellatrix86 wrote about Contra in Empfehlungen. last week
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kittyluvzyou, bepeco, nightengalesong and 28 other people added Vampire Weekend – Contra to their libraries. last week
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