The song “Hummingbird” by the indie rock band Local Natives was released in 2013 as part of their album Hummingbird. The track features layered vocals and harmonies, driving percussion, and a bright, upbeat melody. “Hummingbird” samples a number of different elements from various songs to create its richly textured sound. Identifying these samples provides insight into the creative process behind the song. In this article, we will explore the different samples and interpolations used in “Hummingbird” and analyze how they contribute to the song’s unique rhythmic and atmospheric qualities.
The Four Tops – “Bernadette”
The most recognizable sample used in “Hummingbird” is from The Four Tops’ 1967 hit “Bernadette.” The song’s famous four-part vocal harmonies can be heard throughout “Hummingbird,” especially during the chorus. Local Natives vocalists Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayers, and Ryan Hahn expertly recreate The Four Tops’ smooth harmonies, providing a retro-soul vibe to the indie rock song. The “Bernadette” sample grounds “Hummingbird” in a sense of Motown nostalgia and pays homage to the Four Tops’ historic talent for vocal arrangement. Beyond the vocals, the handclap rhythm from “Bernadette” also makes its way into the percussion of “Hummingbird,” emphasizing the beats two and four. This gives “Hummingbird” an old school, almost doo-wop feel during certain sections.
The Four Tops – “Bernadette” Lyrics
Bernadette, Bernadette
I love you, yes I do
I’ve got something here for you
Too valuable to lose
Because this feeling’s come so strong
Loving you Bernadette is wrong
The Bee Gees – “More Than a Woman”
The falsetto vocals introducing each verse of “Hummingbird” bear a strong resemblance to the Bee Gees’ “More Than a Woman” from the famous 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. The vocal line that repeats “you know you’re doing better on your own” has the exact same melody as the Bee Gees’ “there’s no other woman for me” from “More Than a Woman.” Just as the Four Tops sample establishes a sense of Motown nostalgia, the Bee Gees sample connects “Hummingbird” to the disco era of the late 1970s. The falsetto brings a smooth, crooning element to the indie folk vibe, expanding the stylistic palette of the song. It also highlights Local Natives’ admiration for the vocal layering and harmonies of earlier eras.
The Bee Gees – “More Than a Woman” Lyrics
Girl, I’ve known you very well
I’ve seen you growing every day
I never really looked before
But now you take my breath away
Suddenly you’re in my life
Part of everything I do
You got me working day and night
Just trying to keep a hold on you
Here in your arms I found my paradise
My only chance for happiness
And if I lose you now I think I would die
Beach House – “Lover of Mine”
During the chorus of “Hummingbird,” a keyboard riff enters that is nearly identical to the main synth melody of Beach House’s 2010 song “Lover of Mine.” The dream pop synth line adds a glossy, atmospheric element that contrasts with the retro Motown and disco samples. Much of “Hummingbird’s” choruses are driven by this Beach House melody, which creates a contemplative, spacious texture complementing the dense Four Tops and Bee Gees samples. The inclusion of “Lover of Mine” brings “Hummingbird” into the present with one of the most acclaimed indie bands of the early 2010s. As a contemporary band, Beach House’s sound gives “Hummingbird” an updated stylistic edge while still retaining its reverence for the past through the other prominent samples.
Beach House – “Lover of Mine” Lyrics
It’s not meant for me
It’s the only thing I see
Round and round and round it goes
Tell me when it’s done
I want to feel the sun
Shining from below
Oh, lover of mine
Let me know you’re fine
You’re every single dream I own
I’m a fool for you, ooh
Lover of mine
Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams”
During the song’s guitar-driven bridge section, “Hummingbird” features a lilting acoustic guitar riff that bears a strong resemblance to the main guitar line of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” from their 1977 Rumours album. Just as the Bee Gees sample evokes late 1970s pop, the “Dreams” interpolation similarly roots “Hummingbird” in one of the most popular and acclaimed records of the decade. Fleetwood Mac’s melodic, fingerpicked guitar gives the bridge section a folky, introspective feel before the song returns to the retro-pop choruses. Along with the Four Tops and Bee Gees samples, the inclusion of the “Dreams” riff displays Local Natives’ commitment to honoring the pop craftsmanship and meticulous arrangements of the 1960s and 70s.
Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams” Lyrics
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It’s only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost
And what you had
And what you lost
Contemporary Influences
In addition to these identifiable samples that provide “Hummingbird’s” backbone, the song also exhibits stylistic qualities of more contemporary indie bands that were influences on Local Natives. The layered percussion and syncopated rhythms are reminiscent of experimental pop bands like Dirty Projectors and Yeasayer, who emerged alongside Local Natives in the late 2000s Brooklyn indie scene. Furthermore, the bright instrumentation featuring keyboards, guitars, and group vocal harmonies connect “Hummingbird” to indie folk acts like Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, and Bon Iver that found mainstream success in the early 2010s. While less obvious than the direct samples, these contemporary indie influences permeate the textures and aesthetics that Local Natives synthesize in their singular style on “Hummingbird” and their other music.
Conclusion
Through expertly incorporating samples from Motown, disco, soft rock, and dream pop music, along with modern indie stylistics, Local Natives created a richly layered retro-modern sound with the song “Hummingbird.” The identifiable samples from The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Beach House, and Fleetwood Mac ground the song in reverence for songwriting and production of the past. However, Local Natives fuse these elements together through contemporary indie folk sensibilities to make the sound their own. The variety of samples speak to the diverse musical vocabularies and techniques Local Natives synthesize as expert musical collagists. “Hummingbird” emerges as a unique mosaic made from these myriad influences, both past and present. The samples highlight Local Natives’ strengths as arrangers and love for the pop music canon, ultimately creating a progressive work that moves indie music forward by looking back.
References
[1] The Four Tops – “Bernadette” (1967)
[2] The Bee Gees – “More Than a Woman” (1977)
[3] Beach House – “Lover of Mine” (2010)
[4] Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams” (1977)
