Tragic Details About Modest Mouse
With its criminally catchy melody and upbeat tempo, "Float On" became an instant hit in 2004, launching Modest Mouse from relative indie obscurity to mainstream stardom. According to Isaac Brock's record label Glacial Pace, the song sold over 1.5 million copies and was nominated for two Grammys. Lyrically and musically, it was a poppy departure from the band's earlier work -– and apparently, that was precisely the point.
In a 2004 interview with The A.V. Club, Brock explained that he had enough sorrow. "I was just kind of fed up with how bad s*** had been going, and how dark everything was, with bad news coming from everywhere," he said, adding, "I'd had some friends die, and with Jeremy [Jeremiah Green] kind of losing it ... After we got out of that dark spot with everything melting down with the band, I just wanted to make a positive record."
When VH1 asked him in a 2004 interview if making "Float On" such a happy song was intentional, Brock explained that he was inspired by an uplifting White Hassle song he'd heard and wanted to create a similar sentiment. "Fun songs are goofy, they're ridiculous," he said, adding, "They almost sound like they're for children, but 'Hey, things are rough, but life's good' is a good reminder."
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