Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

"Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" is a song by Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. It is the seventh track on their 2012 album Lonerism, and was released as its second single on 1 October 2012. The single features artwork from Australian artist Leif Podhajsky, who also created the artwork for their first album, Innerspeaker. In an interview with Rick Rubin on the podcast Broken Record, Kevin Parker said he wrote "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" after being inspired by "Walk in the Park" by Beach House.[2]

"Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"
Single by Tame Impala
from the album Lonerism
Released1 October 2012
GenrePsychedelic rock,[1] psychedelic pop, neo-psychedelia
Length3:12
LabelModular
Songwriter(s)Kevin Parker
Producer(s)Kevin Parker
Tame Impala singles chronology
"Elephant"
(2012)		 "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"
(2012)		 "Mind Mischief"
(2013)

At the 2013 West Australian Music Industry Awards, the song won Single of the Year.[3][4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Joseph Pelling and Becky Sloan,[5][6] best known as creators of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared web series. The music video consists of psychedelic clay animation.

Critical reception

The song was voted on many year end best of lists in 2012. Pitchfork named it the 7th best song of 2012, and said of the track; "it will blow your brain back to its most purely joyous and least cynical recesses."[7] The same website also ranked it #192 on their list of the 200 best songs of the 2010s.[8] It placed ninth on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2012.[9]

Usage in media

"Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" was used in the promotion of Via X's Chilean TV program Moov.[10]

The Irish sports podcast Second Captains used the song as the theme music for its 2014 FIFA World Cup coverage.

The collaboration version of the song (with Kendrick Lamar) was featured in the movie Divergent.

The song was used in the Netflix show The Imperfects.

The song plays over the credits of the film Shimmer_Lake, which features a narrative told in reverse.

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[11] 67
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 37

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Shutko, Craig (27 May 2015). "Tame Impala: Sasquatch Stage, George WA, May 25". Exclaim!. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  2. "Broken Record". Broken Record.
  3. "Tame Impala Boost Trophy Cabinet, Scoop 2013 WAM Awards". tonedeaf. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  4. "WAM Award Winners 2013". WAM. February 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. "YouTube - Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards". Retrieved 12 March 2014 – via YouTube.
  6. "Tame Impala". Becky and Joe.
  7. "The Top 100 Tracks of 2012 - Page 10". Pitchfork.
  8. "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s". Pitchfork.
  9. "#9: Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards | Hottest 100 - 2012 | triple j". www.abc.net.au. 26 January 2012.
  10. Video on YouTube
  11. "Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  12. "Tame Impala Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  14. "British single certifications – Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  15. "American single certifications – Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
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