"Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" is the second single by Canadian rock band Arcade Fire from their debut album Funeral. Released on 28 March 2005, the single reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart, and was released on the Rough Trade Records record label. The single also contains the song "My Buddy" by Alvino Rey, the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win and William Butler, which was previously featured on the band's debut single "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)".
When the song is performed at live shows, band members Will Butler and Richard Reed Parry usually take on percussion duties, often engaging in eccentric and sometimes violent acts while the rest of the band continue to perform.
Interpretation The song, the second track on Funeral, is (according to Win Butler) about the Russian space program sending the dog Laika into space. Laika was the first living creature to orbit Earth. Butler told Pulse, a Minneapolis publication, "It’s a great story about a dog being the first living creature in space. Doing this spectacular thing, but not having food and watching itself fall back into the earth."
The song's dark lyrics complement its catchy melodies. The lyrics first tell the story of "Alexander", thought to be inspired by Chris McCandless, a nomad who went by the pseudonym "Alexander Supertramp", being sent out on an adventure. The adventure, for the "good of the neighborhood", will ultimately end in the death of "Alexander".Anderson, Ian. "The Arcade Fire: Something filled up my heart with nothing," Pulse (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Retrieved 27 October 2007.
Track listings "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" - 3:29 "My Buddy" (Alvino Rey Orchestra, live radio broadcast, 1940) - 2:32
Personnel Win Butler - vocals, Jaguar Electric Guitar Regine Chassagne - Vocals, accordion Richard Reed Parry - percussion, synthesizer, engineer, recording Tim Kingsbury - bass Howard Bilerman - drums, Engineer, Recording Will Butler - Percussion, xylophone Additional musicians Sarah Neufeld – violin, string arrangements Owen Pallett – violin, string arrangements Michael Olsen – cello Pietro Amato – horn Anita Fust – harp
References
External links "' -"Neighborhood #2 Laïka" music video "" - Lyrics