The Kids Are Sick Again
| "The Kids Are Sick Again" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Maxïmo Park | ||||
| from the album Quicken the Heart | ||||
| Released | 4 May 2009 | |||
| Recorded | October 2008 | |||
| Studio | Hesby Street, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Post-punk revival | |||
| Length | 3:05 | |||
| Label | Warp | |||
| Songwriters | Duncan Lloyd, Lukas Wooller (Music), Paul Smith (Lyrics) | |||
| Producer | Nick Launay | |||
| Maxïmo Park singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Kids Are Sick Again" on YouTube | ||||
"The Kids Are Sick Again" is a song by English rock band Maxïmo Park. It is the first single released from their third studio album, Quicken the Heart. The single was released on 4 May 2009. The song entered the UK singles chart at #50.
Frontman Paul Smith explained to the NME that this song is about the effect of advertisements on the youth today. He said: "I guess I thought society as a whole is bombarded by advertisements and to me that's why the kids are sick again. It's a funny sounding phrase but it's a serious song - so it's a nice blend of being amused, but [also] I hope people sit up and take notice of it." Drummer Tom English added: "They [the youth of today] can't express themselves anymore and this is for them."[1]
Smith told Drowned in Sound: "The first line ('The comforting ache of the summer holiday') indicates that queasy feeling of adolescent isolation that I remember experiencing. The song's ultimate feeling is of escape and I think the music builds to that release after a pulsing, atmospheric beginning."[2][3]
Music video
Shortly after its release, frontman Paul Smith said of its video:
Here's our new video. It starts off dark but there are unique LED lights that illuminate each section. We used special effects that make us look a bit Max Headroom. If you've never heard of Max Headroom go to your nearest search engine, but not before you've watched this video!
— Paul Smith on the music video for "The Kids Are Sick Again"[4]
Track listings
The track listing was revealed via e-mail to fans signed up to the bands mailing list and also made available on their online store.[5]
CD
- "The Kids Are Sick Again" – 3:05
- "Russian Dolls" – 2:58
7" 1 (Yellow vinyl)
- "The Kids Are Sick Again" – 3:05
- "Tales of the Semi-Detached" – 1:58
7" 2 (Orange vinyl)
- "The Kids Are Sick Again" (acoustic) – 2:53
- "History Books" – 2:45
Digital Download
- "The Kids Are Sick Again" (Demo Version)
iTunes Download EP
- "The Kids Are Sick Again" – 3:05
- "Russian Dolls" – 2:58
- "Tales of the Semi-Detached" – 1:58
- "History Books" – 2:45
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 50 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[7] | 1 |
| Euro Digital Tracks (Billboard)[8] | 99 |
| Germany (GfK)[9] | 72 |
| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[10] | 45 |
| Scottish Singles (OCC)[11] | 2 |
References
- ^ "Maximo Park: 'New album will push us into weird space'". nme.com. NME. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
- ^ The Kids Are Sick Again Songfacts
- ^ "DiSsection: Maximo Park Quicken The Heart track-by-track / In Depth // Drowned In Sound". drownedinsound.com. Drowned in Sound. 8 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "Maximo Park - „The Kids Are Sick Again"". NICOROLA (in German). 6 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "The Kids Are Sick Again - out 4th May". maximopark.com. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "THE KIDS ARE SICK AGAIN". Official Charts. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 10/5/2009". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Maxïmo Park Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Maxïmo Park - The Kids Are Sick Again".
- ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 10/5/2009". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 February 2026.