The Walker (song)

"The Walker"
Single by Fitz and the Tantrums
from the album More Than Just a Dream
ReleasedDecember 10, 2013[1]
Genre
Length3:53
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Fitz and the Tantrums
Producer(s)Tony Hoffer
Fitz and the Tantrums singles chronology
"Out of My League"
(2013)
"The Walker"
(2013)
"Fools Gold"
(2014)
Music video
"The Walker” on YouTube

"The Walker" is a song by the American neo soul band Fitz and the Tantrums. It is the second single from the band's second album More Than Just a Dream. The song was used in two scenes of the film Identity Thief, the trailers for the films The Boxtrolls and Storks, in the trailer for video game The Sims 4, in television commercials for the 86th Academy Awards that were hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, in the 2014 Major League Baseball postseason and in commercials for Sprite,[2] Supercuts,[3] Reebok ZQuick[4] and Walmart.[5] From 2014 until the end of the 2017 season, the song was used as the opening theme to the MLB Network show High Heat, hosted by Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo. The song is also featured in the pilot episode of the FOX television sitcom Grandfathered as well as the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy. It has also been used in the soundtrack of the video game NBA 2K18. The song introduces S3E9 of Suits.

Music video

[edit]

The video, directed by Warren Kommers, centers around an everyman protagonist (played by Arne Gjelten) who is waiting in line outside the DMV in the sweltering summer heat (band members Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs are also seen in line). Looking increasingly agitated, he suddenly jumps out of line and begins dancing and gesturing his frustration, before storming off. The man is shown walking through the streets of Los Angeles to the beat of the song, occasionally with passerby joining in dance routines with him, and all showing similar frustrated body language and facial expressions.

The protagonist engages in other expressions of anger like punching a chunk out of a cement building, getting in an argument with a police officer who tries to ticket him for jaywalking, walking over an occupied car and dancing on the roof, kicking a boot off a car, bending a No Parking sign in half, and shouting to the sky in a dead-end alleyway. He finally returns to the DMV where he and all the other customers perform another dance routine. The video closes with the man suddenly back in line, implying the entire sequence occurred in his imagination.

Track listing

[edit]
  • Digital download[6]
  1. "The Walker" – 3:53
  • Digital EP – The Walker Remix EP[7]
  1. "The Walker" (Cobra Starship Remix) – 4:26
  2. "The Walker" (Aston Shuffle Remix) – 5:05
  3. "The Walker" (Vice Remix) – 4:37
  4. "The Walker" (Ryeland Allison Remix) – 3:27
  5. "The Walker" (Mack & Jet Set Remix) – 5:22
  6. "The Walker" (GLOS Remix) – 4:03

Chart performance

[edit]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 80,000
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums are Coming to Charlotte : Niner Times". ninertimes.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-28.
  3. ^ "Super Cuts TV Commercial, 'Ready to Go: Crystal' Song by Fitz & the Tantrums".
  4. ^ "Reebok ZQuick TV Commercial, Song by Fitz & the Tantrums".
  5. ^ "Walmart TV Commercial, 'Hot Wings' Song by Fitz and the Tantrums".
  6. ^ The Walker by Fitz and The Tantrums on Apple Music, 2013-05-07, retrieved 2024-07-04
  7. ^ The Walker Remix - EP by Fitz and The Tantrums on Apple Music, 2014-05-27, retrieved 2024-07-04
  8. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 10 March 2014" (PDF) (1254). Australian Recording Industry Association. Australian Web Archive. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-18. Retrieved August 17, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  14. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  15. ^ "Fitz and the Tantrums Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  16. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  17. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  18. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  19. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Fitz and the Trantrums – The Walker". Music Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "American single certifications – Fitz & the Tantrums – The Walker". Recording Industry Association of America.