"Marianne" is a song by the Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. It was released on 18 August 2026 as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album Dopamine Chamber.

Composition and lyrics The main theme behind the single is escapism, which also serves as the central concept to Dopamine Chamber. Conor Deegan III, the bassist of Fontaines D.C., described the band's albums as having a sequence of relationships with place. Specifically, their debut album, Dogrel being connected to their hometown of Dublin, while subsequent albums such as A Hero's Death, Skinty Fia, and Romance have an ever-changing idea with the idea of place. Deegan as well as lead singer, Grian Chatten, noted that on both the single "Marianne" and the album itself, it asks the question about where is one to escape to when the act of escaping becomes more difficult.

Music video The music video for the song was also released on 18 August 2026. The music video was directed by Dave Meyers.

Lauren Hunter with Far Out Magazine described the music video as "cinematic" and "hallucinogenic".

The music video generated controversy for the possible use of generative AI within its music video. In the initial video credits, it had noted AI effects had been used, but it was subsequently revised to say that visual effects were revised to be undertaken by companies such as Foreign Xchange, DeepVFX, and PineappleVFX as post-production special effects. According to Paste, Deep VFX and Pineapple VFX have used generative AI in past work.

Critical reception

The single was praised upon release by contemporary music critics. Andrew Trendell of NME gave the single a perfect five-star rating, stating that "Marianne" follows the rabbit deeper down the hole in search of more mechanical extremes and orchestral noir flourishes to explore the true, numbing oblivion of the modern world. 'Marianne' is the red pill you take to come along and see the truth of it all: "Understand this is your life, you can go on dreaming..."

Charts

Weekly charts + Chart (2026) Peakposition Netherlands Airplay (MegaCharts) 50 Netherlands (Single Tip) 28 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) 16

Monthly charts + Chart (2026) Peakposition Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 72

References