| "Last Nite" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Strokes | ||||
| from the album Is This It | ||||
| B-side | "When It Started" | |||
| Released | October 23, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | March and April 2001 | |||
| Studio | Transporterraum, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:13 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Julian Casablancas | |||
| Producer | Gordon Raphael | |||
| The Strokes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Last Nite" on YouTube | ||||
"Last Nite" is a song by American rock band the Strokes. It was released on October 23, 2001, as the second single from their debut album, Is This It (2001). Outside of the United States, "Last Nite" peaked within the top 20 of the charts in the United Kingdom.
Background
The track was produced by Gordon Raphael and was issued on RCA Records with the song "When It Started" as the B-side.
The song's opening guitar riff and overall structure is based on "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. In a 2006 interview with Rolling Stone, Petty commented, "The Strokes took 'American Girl' [for 'Last Nite'], there was an interview that took place with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, 'OK, good for you.' It doesn't bother me".[3] The Strokes were invited to be the opening act for several dates on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 2006 tour.[4] The solo for the song was inspired by guitarist Freddie King.
Reception
The single was the group's first to enter the American charts, reaching the top five on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart in late 2001. Meanwhile, the single obtained success in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.[5][6]
In March 2005, Q placed "Last Nite" at number 66 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In September 2006, NME placed "Last Nite" at number one on its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks of the Decade. In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Last Nite" at number nine in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. It was also placed at number 16 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Songs of the Decade and number 478 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The same publication listed it at number 155 in a revamped version of the list in 2021.[7] In 2011, NME placed it at number four on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[8] In 2020, Paste and The Independent ranked the song number two and number one, respectively, on their lists of the 20 greatest Strokes songs.[9][10]
In 2024, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas told The Guardian that he was no longer able to listen to the song. He said,
"Last Nite" by the Strokes is pretty dead to me. I’m not sure why. There are some others like "Reptilia", "Hard to Explain", "Someday", "Take It or Leave It", "New York City Cops" that are comparable in terms of crowd reaction that I’m not quite as sick of. If I heard it on the radio, I’d probably turn it off.[11]
Music video
The band were originally unwilling to appear in a music video.[12] The band eventually agreed and the resulting video was directed by Roman Coppola.[13]
Track listings
US/UK
- "Last Nite" - 3:15
- "When It Started" - 2:59
AUS
- "Last Nite" - 3:15
- "When It Started" - 2:59
- "Last Nite" (Live) - 3:27
- "Take It or Leave It" (Live) - 3:29
Personnel
- Julian Casablancas – vocals
- Nick Valensi – guitar
- Albert Hammond Jr. – guitar
- Nikolai Fraiture – bass guitar
- Fabrizio Moretti – drums
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[25] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[26] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[28] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[29] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[31] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | October 23, 2001 | Alternative radio | RCA | [32] |
| United Kingdom | November 5, 2001 |
|
Rough Trade | [33] |
| Australia | December 3, 2001 | CD |
|
[34] |
Vitamin C version
| "Last Nite" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Vitamin C | ||||
| Released | July 7, 2003[35] | |||
| Length | 3:54 | |||
| Label | V2 | |||
| Songwriter | Julian Casablancas | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Vitamin C singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
American pop singer Vitamin C covered "Last Nite" and released it as a single in July 2003. The song was produced by Dave Derby, Michael Kotch, and Fred Maher.[36] The single features a sample from Blondie's "Heart of Glass".[37] After Elektra Records dropped Vitamin C when her second album, More, did not sell as expected, she signed to V2 Records in the UK, hoping to break into the music scene there. After her third album was recorded, this single was released exclusively in the UK with plans to release the album a month later. The album was never released.
Reception
"Last Nite" debuted and peaking at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart and fell down the chart rapidly.[38][39] V2 shelved Vitamin C's album afterwards and dropped her. However, "Last Nite" is Vitamin C's only chart entry on the UK Singles Chart, making it her most successful single there.[39]
Music video
The music video for "Last Nite" was shot in New York City. It features Vitamin C, as a blonde, in or around the Hotel Chelsea as well as other New York City night spots. The club CBGB is seen in the video.
Track listings
Adapted from European CD Single.[40]
- "Last Nite" – 3:54
- "Last Nite" (Derby & Kotch Mix) – 3:45
- "Last Nite" (I Lick That Mix by Count Caligula) – 5:40
- "Last Nite" (Clique Remix) – 6:05
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Romania (Romanian Top 100)[41] | 53 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[42] | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[38] | 70 |
| UK Dance (OCC)[43] | 33 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[44] | 10 |
Cover versions, samples and parodies
- "Last Nite" was used in the parody "Angry White Boy Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his 2003 album Poodle Hat, sung in doo wop.
- "Last Nite" was covered by Brazilian group Rebeldes' member Chay Suede for their two tours, Rebelde and Nada Pode Nos Parar, and was included in their live album, Rebeldes: Ao Vivo (2012).
- "Last Nite" was sampled in the song "Only Wanna Dance with You" by Kesha for her 2012 album, Warrior.[45]
References
- ^ "NME's 50 Greatest "Indie Anthems"". Stereogum. NME. May 3, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie. "The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time". Paste. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ^ "Tom Petty News". Rolling Stone. June 28, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "For The Record: Quick News On Hilary Duff, Katharine McPhee, Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg, Bam Margera". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ "The Strokes Artist Biography by Heather Phares - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "Strokes - singles". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years - NME". NME. October 6, 2011.
- ^ "The 20 Best Strokes Songs". Paste. April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (April 9, 2020). "The Strokes: 20 best songs, ranked". The Independent. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Pelley, Rich (November 4, 2024). "'Last Nite by the Strokes is dead to me': Julian Casablancas's honest playlist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ "YouTube". Youtube.com. January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "The Strokes - Last Nite (2001) | IMVDb". imvdb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
- ^ "The Strokes – Last Nite". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on January 28, 2003. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 48. November 24, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Strokes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 17/11/2001 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/11/2001 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 17/11/2001 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "The Strokes Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Strokes Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Most-Played Modern Rock Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 44.
- ^ "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2025 – Del 1 de Enero al 30 de Noviembre de 2025 – Argentina – Anglo – Tocadas – Top 100" [Monitor Latino Annual Chart 2025 – From 1 January to 30 November 2025 – Argentina – English – Plays – Top 100] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – The Strokes – Last Nite" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Strokes – Last Nite". Radioscope. Retrieved February 22, 2025. Type Last Nite in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ^ "Portuguese single certifications – The Strokes – Last Nite" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – The Strokes – Last Nite". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Strokes – Last Nite". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 30, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Last Nite Strokes in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "American single certifications – The Strokes – Last Nite". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1424. October 19, 2001. p. 107. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting November 5, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 3, 2001. p. 29. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd December 2001" (PDF). ARIA. December 3, 2001. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Reviews – For Records Released on 7 July 2003" (PDF). Music Week. July 5, 2003. p. 9. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - Vitamin C - Last Nite". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Where Ya Been? Vitamin C Juicing Up A Comeback, Fastball Heading Back To The Mound". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart on 19/7/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 588. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Last Nite. Vitamin C. V2. 2003. VVR5023283
- ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 38, saptamina 6.10 – 12.10, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 19, 2005. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 19/7/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 19/7/2003 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 19/7/2003 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Ke$ha talks about The Strokes and The Black Keys collaborations". Nme.com. November 22, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
