Hummingbird is a song by Lil Peep released in 2017. It samples the 1960 song Blue by The Birthday Party. Here is a detailed look at the sample used in Hummingbird and the history behind it.
The Original Song: Blue by The Birthday Party
Blue is a song by the Australian post-punk band The Birthday Party. It was released in 1980 on their second studio album Prayers on Fire. The Birthday Party formed in 1973 under the name The Boys Next Door. They later changed their name and moved towards a more chaotic and experimental post-punk sound. Blue stands out for its gloomy atmosphere and Nick Cave’s haunting vocals. The song has a driving bassline and dissonant guitars that create an ominous, tension-filled sound. These elements made it well-suited for sampling in Hummingbird to match the dark emotional tone.
Background on The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party were pioneers of gothic post-punk and highly influential on future goth and industrial bands. They were known for their raw, abrasive energy and bleak lyrics exploring themes of isolation and alienation. The band consisted of Nick Cave (vocals), Mick Harvey (guitar), Rowland S. Howard (guitar), Tracy Pew (bass) and Phill Calvert (drums). They produced 3 studio albums before disbanding in 1983. Despite their short career, they developed a cult following and inspired later bands like Bauhaus and The Jesus and Mary Chain with their unique gloomy style.
Lyrics and Composition
Blue has fairly abstract lyrics evoking intense longing and despair. The verses repeat the words “Blue lady, blue blue lady, she’s so blue.” The blue lady seems to symbolize afemme fatale or idealized but dangerously unobtainable woman. The chorus speaks of “stretching out my arms to you.” There is a sense of futilely reaching out for something always beyond grasp. The melancholic mood is amplified by the ominous bass, fractured guitar tones, and Nick Cave’s somber baritone vocals. The composition builds through crescendos towards climaxes of dissonant noise. The off-kilter rhythms and unsettling instrumentation heighten the depressive emotions in the lyrics.
How Blue is Sampled in Hummingbird
The producer and co-writer of Hummingbird, Smokeasac, sampled the guitar, bass, and drum parts from Blue and repurposed them for the instrumental of Hummingbird. The iconic bassline and guitar riffs are looped and pitch shifted to create a chill trap beat. The way the sample is chopped up and manipulated matches the melancholy vibe of the original. The vocal melody and lyrics were written new by Lil Peep over this instrumental blending the old and new together.
Smokeasac’s Production Style
Smokeasac rose to prominence producing for Lil Peep. He often sampled older rock songs to make moody, emo-influenced beats. His tracks have a lo-fi, homemade DIY aesthetic. For Hummingbird, Smokeasac said he tried to recreate the “darkness” of Blue in a more modern context. The sparse, echoing production leaves space for Lil Peep’s emotive vocals. By sampling an obscure 80s post-punk song, Smokeasac paid homage to Peep’s punk roots in a new inventive way.
Lil Peep’s Contribution
Lil Peep was known for blending hip hop and emo aesthetics in his lyrics and vocal style. On Hummingbird, his lyrics touch on depression, suicidal thoughts, and drug use. He sings about “Falling apart broken from the start” in a crooning emo vocal style. Peep’s performance complements the melancholy vibe of the sample. His lyrics tell a vulnerable narrative matching the gloom of Blue. The combination of Peep’s singing with the sample creates a darkly atmospheric final product.
Significance of the Sample
The sampling of Blue on Hummingbird connects the 1980s post-punk era with modern emo hip hop. It highlights the similarities between the dark emotions expressed in both genres. Smokeasac’s reinterpretation introduces The Birthday Party’s obscurity to a new generation. The sample adds depth by linking the song to the past. It also amplifies the sadness and turmoil in Peep’s lyrics through its ominous mood. For these reasons, Blue forms an integral part of what makes Hummingbird so impactful.
Lasting Influence
Hummingbird helped popularize sampling punk/goth rock in hip hop. After its release, more producers began flipping classic punk bands like Joy Division in their beats. Peep’s popularity also sparked interest in the 80s post-punk genre among his young fanbase. The sample sparked curiosity about The Birthday Party and other forgotten bands from that era. This demonstrates how sampling can give new life to old works in an evolving musical landscape.
Emotional Resonance
The melancholy mood and lyrics in Hummingbird resonated strongly with Lil Peep’s fans. For many, it perfectly captured feelings of loneliness, anguish and suicidal thoughts. The song expressed these emotions in a raw, sincere way. By sampling a song like Blue that already had such a gloomy vibe, Smokeasac and Peep expertly amplified these emotions. The pairing of Peep’s singing with Blue created a final product with tremendous emotional resonance.
Breakdown of the Sample
Here is a detailed breakdown of how Blue is used in the instrumental of Hummingbird:
Bassline
The iconic, melancholy bassline from Blue is looped throughout Hummingbird. It is pitched down lower to match the chilled out vibe. The bassline is the driving force in the beat, providing its moody heart.
Guitar Riffs
The jagged post-punk guitar riffs from Blue are chopped up and scattered through the Hummingbird instrumental. They enter occasionally in fragmented form, complementing the bassline.
Drums
The drum patterns from Blue are added in, providing fills and cymbal crashes. The drums are sparser and more muted than the original to create a mellow lo-fi texture.
Vocals
Lil Peep’s gently sung lyrics and vocal melodies are entirely new and original to Hummingbird. They replace the vocals from Blue to create an emo rap style.
Atmosphere
Though the instrumentation is altered, the gloomy, depressing atmosphere of Blue remains intact in Hummingbird. The minor key tonality and melancholic mood carry over powerfully.
Conclusion
Hummingbird sampled the post-punk song Blue by The Birthday Party to create its instrumental backing. The original track’s bassline, guitars, and drums were chopped up and repurposed into a chilled out trap beat. This allowed Lil Peep to sing brand new vulnerable lyrics over the top. The sample maintains the darkly melancholy vibe of Blue, amplifying the sadness in Peep’s vocals. By sampling an older obscurity, producer Smokeasac added depth and connected Peep to gothic rock roots. The pairing brilliantly blended genres and eras. Most importantly, it resonated emotionally with listeners who related to its expressions of pain and loneliness. The sampling of Blue was essential in making Hummingbird the much-loved cult classic it remains today.
