Arcade Fire, “The Lightning I” | Track Review 🎵

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Arcade Fire makes a compelling comeback with “The Lightning I” and “The Lightning II,” lead singles from their 2022 album, WE.

[otw_shortcode_dropcap label=”I” size=”large” border_color_class=”otw-no-border-color” shadow=”shadow” square=”square”][/otw_shortcode_dropcap]t’s always a great day when 🏆 Grammy-winning alternative band 🎙 Arcade Fire is back with new music. Finally, 🎙 Win Butler and company are set to follow-up 2017’s 💿 Everything Now with their 2022 LP, 💿 WE. Leading the charge on WE are two lead singles: 🎵 “The Lightning I” and 🎵 “The Lightning II”.

“We can make it if you don’t quit on me / I won’t quit on you / Don’t quit on me / We can make it baby.” Well, those are encouraging lyrics, which is part of the modus operandi on “The Lightning I.” “The Lightning I” is the longer of the two singles, though merely crosses the three-minute mark in duration. It commences with an ear-catching palette of sounds, including strings and acoustic guitar – very indie. Lyrically and thematically, The Arcade Fire focus on the hardships – faced by immigrants and the disadvantaged – as well as optimism for the future despite adversity (here’s specific insight by Win Butler). One lyric that hits incredibly hard appears in the second verse:

“We were born in paradise, beneath a poisoned sky

Under a bad sign, the micro-age of Gemini

And we are still unlearning, tires are burning in the middle of Rodeo Drive

You know that we’ve been beat down and broken, but now we can testify.”

The ending of “The Lightning I” sets up the contrasting “The Lightning II,” which is briefer and intentionally faster. Before “The Lightning II,” the outro, which Win sings with 🎙 Régine Chassagne is dynamic and powerful.

Final Thoughts 💭

So, is “The Lightning I” a welcome comeback for Arcade Fire? In my eyes, yes. Am I as enthused about it as I was, say, 🎵 “Everything Now” five years ago? Not necessarily, but I find “The Lightning I” and its inspiration incredibly intriguing. I’m onboard.