1901

"1901" by Phoenix is primarily a nostalgic and fantastical ode to Paris during the Belle Époque era (late 19th and early 20th century). Lead singer Thomas Mars has explicitly stated, "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris." The title itself sets the stage, evoking a period of optimism, artistic flourishing, and technological innovation. The lyrics weave together personal relationship dynamics with broader historical metaphors. The line "Past and present, 1855-1901" directly references the five World's Fairs held in Paris, culminating in a period of great cultural and structural change. The lyric "Watch them build up a meteor tower / Think it's not gonna stay anyway" is a clear allusion to the construction of the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which many Parisians at the time considered a temporary eyesore. This serves as a metaphor for investing in something that seems transient or overrated, which can be applied to a personal relationship. Some interpretations suggest the song uses this historical backdrop to explore a modern relationship's turning point. The narrator sees his relationship, like historic Paris, at a crossroads. He feels his girlfriend is 'drifting away' and their situation has become 'way too complicated,' much like Paris became 'stuck in the past' after its golden age. The repeated phrase "Fold it" is interpreted as a decision to give up or move on from this complex situation, much like folding a losing hand in poker. Ultimately, the song blends a personal narrative of romantic indecision with a celebratory, albeit nostalgic, fantasy of a bygone golden age.

The narrative begins with a sense of mental liberation, as various ideas, both from the past and present, are dismissed as irrelevant. The future feels predetermined and settled, creating a backdrop of inevitability. A central figure, likely a romantic partner, is observed moving in a repetitive, predictable 'elliptical pattern.' The narrator momentarily struggles to understand how to break away from this cycle. The song then shifts to a sense of urgency and excitement, counting down 'twenty seconds 'til the last call,' a phrase that evokes a feeling of seizing the last moments of an opportunity, be it a night out or a fleeting moment in time. This is followed by the repeated, almost chanted line 'Fold it,' which can be interpreted in several ways: as a decision to give up on a complicated situation, to conceal one's true feelings, or to simply let go and move on. The imagery then expands to a grander, historical scale with the mention of '1855-1901,' a period referencing the World's Fairs in Paris. The lyrics describe watching the construction of a 'meteor tower'—a likely metaphor for the Eiffel Tower—and the contemporary belief that it was an overrated structure that wouldn't last. This historical parallel seems to mirror the narrator's own situation, perhaps viewing a relationship or a particular life phase as something grand but ultimately transient. The feeling of being on the verge of a decision is palpable. The girlfriend is described as 'drifting away,' and the simplicity of the past is contrasted with the complicated present. The recurring countdown and the exhortation to 'fold it' reinforce a sense of decisive action in the face of this complexity. The atmosphere is one of a vibrant, perhaps chaotic, scene, with the repeated 'hey hey hey' acting as an attention-grabbing, energetic punctuation. The song captures a moment of transition, a turning point where one must choose between holding on to a complex present or folding and moving towards a sorted-out future, all while reflecting on a romanticized past.

"1901" was written by the members of Phoenix: Thomas Mars, Deck D'Arcy, Laurent Brancowitz, and Christian Mazzalai. It was produced by the band alongside the acclaimed French producer Philippe Zdar of the duo Cassius. The song was recorded in 2008 at Zdar's Motorbass Studio in Paris. According to Thomas Mars, the core of the song—the verse, chorus, bridge, and rhythm—was written very quickly, in about 10 minutes. However, it took almost a year to finalize the production and arrangement. The band aimed to return to the more eclectic and adventurous spirit of their first album. A key element of the song's sound is the unique blend of live and electronic drums. The drum parts were performed by Thomas Hedlund, and then sampled and triggered on a MIDI controller by Thomas Mars, a technique that blurs the line between rock and dance music. "1901" was released on February 23, 2009, as the lead single from their fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Initially, it was offered as a free download from the band's website, a somewhat radical move for the time, which generated significant buzz. The song's popularity led to a formal single release and became the band's breakthrough hit in the United States.

"1901" employs a relatively straightforward rhyme scheme in its verses, generally following an AABB or ABCB pattern, such as "away" with "say" and "pattern" with "out." This simple structure contributes to the song's catchy, pop-oriented nature. The lyrical rhythm is conversational and flows smoothly over the driving musical rhythm. The song's tempo is upbeat and danceable, a key characteristic of its synth-pop and dance-rock influences. The rhythmic foundation is built on a propulsive beat that combines a four-on-the-floor kick drum pattern, common in dance music, with intricate, syncopated snare and hi-hat patterns that feel both live and programmed. A significant rhythmic feature is the use of staccato, 'stop-go' guitar riffs that create a sense of tension and release, perfectly complementing the energetic synth lines. The interplay between the steady, driving rhythm section and the more syncopated, playful melodies of the guitars and synths is crucial to the song's dynamic and infectious quality. The pre-chorus builds anticipation with a steady build, culminating in the explosive, rhythmically unified chorus, where the vocals, synths, and drums lock into a powerful, anthemic groove.

"1901" is characterized by a fusion of literary and musical techniques that create its distinct, energetic feel. Musically, the song is a prime example of genre-blending, merging indie rock's jangly guitars with synth-pop's vibrant synthesizers and a dance-rock rhythm. The production, helmed by Philippe Zdar, famously walks the line between organic and electronic sounds. This is evident in the drum production, which combines live drumming by Thomas Hedlund with sampled hits triggered via MIDI, creating a sound that is both powerful and meticulously crafted, inspired by hip-hop techniques. The track features "rave-like stop-go guitars" and rising synth arpeggios that build tension and release, contributing to its anthemic quality. The vocal delivery by Thomas Mars is often described as effortlessly cool and slightly detached, which contrasts with the song's energetic instrumentation. Lyrically, the song employs allusion, most notably to the Belle Époque period of Paris (1855-1901) and the construction of the Eiffel Tower. Repetition is used effectively, especially with the key phrase "Fold it" and the chant-like "Hey hey hey," which serve as powerful hooks and emphasize the song's central themes of decision and excitement. The use of symbolism and metaphor, such as the 'elliptical pattern' and the 'meteor tower,' adds layers of meaning beyond the surface-level narrative of a relationship.

"1901" was a major breakthrough for Phoenix, catapulting them from a moderately successful indie band to mainstream stars, particularly in the United States. The song was a significant commercial success, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs chart and marking the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success helped their album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, win a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2010. The song's influence was pervasive in popular culture; it was featured in numerous television shows, including Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, and Melrose Place, as well as in films like Boyhood and video games such as Forza Horizon. A prominent placement in a Cadillac SRX commercial also boosted its visibility. "1901" is considered a seminal track of the late 2000s indie-pop and synth-pop revival, praised by critics for its infectious energy and clever songwriting. Pitchfork ranked it among "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s." The song has been covered by other artists, notably by the English singer Birdy. Phoenix's performance of "1901" at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics further cemented its status as an iconic song with a deep connection to the city.

• 1901 / Belle Époque Paris: The title and lyrical references to the period between 1855 and 1901 symbolize a golden age, a time of optimism, beauty, and progress that the narrator fantasizes about. It serves as a nostalgic backdrop and a metaphor for a simpler, idealized past, contrasted with a complicated present.
• The 'Meteor Tower' (Eiffel Tower): The lyric "Watch them build up a meteor tower / think it's not gonna stay anyway" symbolizes investing in something monumental that feels transient or is underestimated by contemporaries. This reflects on the nature of relationships and grand endeavors, questioning their permanence and perceived value.
• Elliptical Pattern: The line "Watch, you're moving in elliptical pattern" symbolizes a repetitive, predictable, and ultimately inescapable cycle. It suggests a relationship or situation that is going in circles without resolution, prompting the need to 'fall out' or break away.
• Fold It: This repeated phrase is a central metaphor suggesting the act of giving up, concealing one's emotions, or making a decisive choice to abandon a complicated situation. Like folding a hand in a card game, it implies a strategic retreat when the odds are not in one's favor.
• Last Call: The lyric "It's twenty seconds 'til the last call" creates a sense of urgency and a final opportunity. It metaphorically represents the end of an era, a party, or a chance within a relationship, urging immediate action before the moment is lost.

• "Fold it, fold it, fold it": This is the most significant recurring phrase and serves as the song's primary hook. Its repetition in the chorus emphasizes a moment of decision and release. Interpreted as giving up on a complicated situation or hiding one's feelings, its constant return drills the central theme of resolution into the listener's mind.
• "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey": This chanted, non-lexical motif acts as an energetic punctuation throughout the song. It amplifies the track's anthemic, feel-good atmosphere and serves as a catchy, participatory element, especially in a live context. It often appears as a build-up or a release of tension.
• "It's twenty seconds 'til the last call": This phrase recurs, creating a sense of urgency and highlighting the theme of seizing a final opportunity before it's too late. Its repetition reinforces the fleeting nature of the moment being described.
• The Synthesizer Riff: A bright, arpeggiated synthesizer riff is the song's main musical motif. It opens the track and reappears throughout, providing the primary melodic hook and defining the song's optimistic and energetic character.