Cincinnati darlings The National have re-entered the chat.
The band released a new song at noon on Aug. 22 featuring Bon Iver and the London Contemporary Orchestra called “Weird Goodbyes.” The band said on Facebook that “Weird Goodbyes” is the first single for their next studio album.
“It’s about letting go of the past and moving on, then being overwhelmed by second thoughts — mourning a loss of innocence and motivation and the grief we all suffer in weird goodbyes,” the band wrote on Facebook. “The song is built around a beat that got stuck in our heads. We heard Justin’s voice and heart in this song from the beginning and so we sent it to him. We’re grateful he was moved and sang so powerfully with Matt.”
The song has been performed already during The National’s summer world tour. Reports indicate “Weird Goodbyes” has appeared on at least one setlist under the name “Mount Auburn.” Hmmm…
The National’s Cincinnati-born Aaron Dessner said on Twitter that the song is special.
You can listen to “Weird Goodbyes” on all streaming platforms.
The closest Cincinnatians will be to a National show in the near-future is their
Sept. 18 Indianapolis show at the TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park.
But don’t despair just yet, local National fans — there’s always a chance for Homecoming 2023.
Watch the official lyric video for “Weird Goodbyes” below:
Related
The National Apparently Has Homecoming on the Brain, So Yay?
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This article appears in Aug 10-23, 2022.