Vaka (song)
| "Vaka" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Sigur Rós | ||||
| from the album ( ) | ||||
| Released | May 2003 | |||
| Recorded | Sundlaugin Mosfellsbær, Iceland | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 18:30 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Sigur Rós | |||
| Producer(s) | Sigur Rós | |||
| Sigur Rós singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Untitled #1 a.k.a Vaka" on YouTube | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork Media | (7.1/10) |
"Vaka" (released as "untitled #1 (a.k.a. "Vaka")") is the common name for the untitled first track and lead single from Sigur Rós' 2002 album ( ). As late as 12 November 2006 the single remained fifteenth in the Canadian singles chart, having spent a total of 16 weeks in the top 20.
The band closed their set with tracks 2 and 3 from this single during their spring 2003 tour, calling the two songs "Smáskífa" (single) on their set list. Track 2 was originally meant to be a remix of "Vaka" but it turned out into a different song altogether, although some remnants of "Vaka"'s melody can still be heard. Track 3 features a solo on piano by drummer Orri Páll Dýrason. Track 4 is the music looped before and after Sigur Rós' live shows.
The single was released as a 3" limited mini CD, 5" CD with DVD, and as a 10" limited vinyl gatefold sleeve with an artwork stencil. The 3" mini CD was only released in Europe, and is labeled as featuring a new 12 minute track though there are four separate tracks on the disc. The DVD accompanying the 5" CD contains the first three music videos the band has made: "Svefn-g-englar", "Viðrar vel til loftárása" and "Vaka". The menu screen has a video which the band shot of some birds on a wire, with track four from the single playing.