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“Making a Fire” is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, the opening track on their tenth studio album, Medicine at Midnight (2021). It was released to rock radio stations on June 8, 2021, making it the album’s fourth single.

Release

Prior to the release of Medicine at Midnight, Foo Fighters shared a snippet of “Making a Fire”, along with “Cloudspotter”, on February 1, 2021.[2] Around this time, the band also pre-released the song as a music video which was filmed on location at the Japanese sake brand “Tatenokawa,” known for its Junmai Daiginjo sake. It was filmed and directed by Taro Okagawa and produced by Hiroshi Ogawa.[3]

After the album’s release, “Making a Fire” was included in the soundtrack for the baseball video game MLB The Show 21, released in April 2021.[4] The song was released to rock-centric radio stations on June 8, 2021, making it the fourth single released from Medicine at Midnight.[5] It became Foo Fighters’ 11th song to reach number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[6] A re-recorded version of the song produced by Mark Ronson was released on June 25, 2021, featuring musicians from bands such as the Budos Band, Antibalas, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band,[7] as well as background vocals by Alecia Chakour, Jasmine Muhammad, Saundra Williams, and Violet Grohl.

Composition and themes

According to insider.com, “The album kicks off with the jovial tune “Making a Fire”, which boasts a funky 3/4 groove. The chorus is especially catchy thanks to a gospely “na-na-na” refrain with harmonies from some female vocalists including Grohl’s daughter Violet.”[8] According to Rolling Stone, the song “Making a Fire” is “brighter and more optimistic than anything they’ve ever done”.[9]

Track listing

Digital download[10]
No.TitleLength
1.“Making a Fire” (Mark Ronson Re-version)4:30
7″[11]
No.TitleLength
1.“Making a Fire” (Mark Ronson Re-version)4:30
2.“Chasing Birds” (Preservation Hall Jazz Band Re-version)3:38

Charts

Mark Ronson Re-version

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for “Making a Fire” (Mark Ronson Re-version)
Chart (2022) Peak
position
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[22] 5
UK Vinyl Singles (OCC)[23] 3

Awards

Year Award Results
2022 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance Won

Notes

  1. ^ irish-charts.com incorrectly shows the charting version as being the Mark Ronson Re-Version. This is because the song charted in Ireland on February 12, 2021, which was the week after the Medicine at Midnight album was released and the Mark Ronson Re-Version was not released until June 25, 2021

References

  1. ^ Horton, Ross (February 4, 2021). “Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight”. musicOMH. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  2. ^ Skinner, Tom (February 1, 2021). “Foo Fighters share snippets of new tracks ‘Cloudspotter’ and ‘Making a Fire’“. NME. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Foo Fighters (March 21, 2021). “Medicine At Midnight (Original Sake Making Video)” (video). youtube.com. Taro Okagawa and Hiroshi Ogawa.
  4. ^ Couden, Matt (May 26, 2021). “MLB The Show 21 Soundtrack: Next-Gen Highlight Video Arrives Set to Royal Blood Song”. VGR. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  5. ^ “Future releases – June 8, 2021”. AllAccess. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Zellner, Xander (September 15, 2021). “Foo Fighters Set New Personal Record as ‘Making a Fire’ Tops Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart”. Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 25, 2021). “Foo Fighters and Mark Ronson Share New Version of “Making a Fire”: Listen”. Pitchfork. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Kalnitz, Max (February 5, 2021). “Foo Fighters pivot to pop and win big with newest album ‘Medicine at Midnight’“. insider.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Grow, Kory (January 26, 2021). “Foo Fighters throw a Pop Party on ‘Medicine at Midnight”. Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  10. ^ “Making A Fire (Mark Ronson Re-Version) – Single”. apple.com. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  11. ^ “FOO FIGHTERS – Making A Fire (Mark Ronson Re-Version) b/w Chasing Birds (Preservation Hall Jazz Band Re-version)”. recordstoreday.com. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  12. ^ “Canada All Format (Foo Fighters)”. Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  13. ^ “Foo Fighters Chart History (Canada Rock)“. Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2021. [dead link]
  14. ^ “Irish-charts.com – Discography Foo Fighters“. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  15. ^ “NZ Hot Singles Chart”. Recorded Music NZ. February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  16. ^ “Foo Fighters Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. ^ “Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 12/2/2021 – Top 40“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  18. ^ “Foo Fighters Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)“. Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  19. ^ “Foo Fighters Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)“. Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  20. ^ “Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021”. Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  21. ^ “Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021”. Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  22. ^ “UK Official Physical Singles Singles Top 40 – 29 April 2022 – 5 May 2022”. officialcharts.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  23. ^ “UK Official Vinyl Singles Top 40 – 29 April 2022 – 5 May 2022”. officialcharts.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.