Drinking in L.A.

"Drinking in L.A." is a song by Canadian electronica collective Bran Van 3000, released as the band's debut single in 1997 by Audiogram and Capitol. It was the last song to be recorded for the band's debut studio album, Glee (1997). Of the song, James Di Salvio has said "It was almost like one of those movies where an animated blue bird swings by over the real live footage. It's cheesy, but I knew in my heart it was a hit."^[1]

"Drinking in L.A."
Single by Bran Van 3000
from the album Glee
Released	February 1997 (1997-02)
Genre	Trip hop
Length	3:56
Label	Audiogram Capitol
Songwriter(s)	James Di Salvio Norman Larson Haig Vartzbedian
Producer(s)	Haig V.
Bran Van 3000 singles chronology
"Drinking in L.A." (1997) "Couch Surfer" (1998)
Music video
"Drinking in L.A." on YouTube

"Drinking in L.A." was featured in television commercials for Rolling Rock beer in the United Kingdom, which contributed to its chart success there, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart in August 1999. It also reached the top 10 in Iceland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, as well as number 35 in the band's native Canada. The music video for the song was directed by Adam Courneya. The song appeared in the 2022 film Aftersun.

Background

After a heavy night of drinking, James Di Salvio woke up face-down on a lawn in West Hollywood. With a serious headache, he asked himself: "What the hell am I doing, drinking in L.A.?"^[2]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic felt that Bran Van 3000 is a "bizarre, stylish mix of club music, techno, hip-hop, lounge and kitsch-pop", adding that the song is "great".^[3] Chuck Taylor from Billboard described it as a "atmospheric gem" and "terrifically quirky, with a more or less spoken verse accompanied by a chorale of dreamy background vocals, catcalls, and eerie sounds both sung and spoken and coming at you from all sides." He stated that "there's a hook there, too, as rich and textured as any more clearly defined pop offering. Instrumentally, you couldn't ask for more, with trancy lo fi production". He also complimented it as "glorious and deliciously creative".^[4] Scottish Daily Record noted its "slacker hip-hop and brilliant vocals".^[5] Music Week complimented it as a "laid back, funky track combining rich vocals of soul diva Maraille and the Beck-like lazy drawl of James Di Salvio."^[6] Stuart Bailie from NME commented, "At least 'Drinking In LA' has a point of sorts, a development on the lotus-eater myth. Only now are the hedonists sobering up on Venice Beach, California, troubled by an imminent career crisis. Nice tune, too."^[7] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror gave it nine out of ten, declaring it as "one of those oh so wacky tunes that creep under your summer skin and won't budge. Sounds like Beck and will be huge."^[8]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Adam Courneya. Ilana Kronick from The Gazette wrote, "In short, the clip for Drinking in L.A. is a visual representation of Bran Van's electro-pop cross-breeding. A veritable bouillabaisse of teched-out trends, digi-rock references and clubby stylings, the video — much like the group — is a trip through the '90s cool pop standards."^[9]

The video won a MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Dance Video".^[10]

Track listings

Canadian promo CD[11] "Drinking in L.A." (caller intro) – 3:53 "Drinking in L.A." (no caller intro) – 3:53 US maxi-CD single and UK CD re-release[12][13] "Drinking in L.A." (edit) – 3:34 "Drinking in L.A." (Fink mix) – 5:36 "Drinking in L.A." (Zoobone mix) – 3:56 UK original CD single[14] "Drinking in L.A." (edit) – 3:34 "The Problem with Sheldon" – 1:23 "Drinking in L.A." (Fink mix) – 5:36 "Drinking in L.A." (Zoobone mix) – 3:56

UK cassette single[15] "Drinking in L.A." (edit) – 3:34 "The Problem with Sheldon" – 1:23 "Drinking in L.A." (Fink mix) – 5:37 European and Australian maxi-CD single[16] "Drinking in L.A." (edit) – 3:34 "Thinking in L.A." – 5:42 "Drinking in L.A." (Fink mix) – 5:36 "Drinking in L.A." (album version) – 3:56

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 79 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 40 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 35 Canada CHR/Top 40 (BDS)[20] 28 Denmark (IFPI)[21] 15 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22] 17 Iceland (Íslenski listinn topp 40)[23] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 14 Italy (Musica e dischi)[25] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[26] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 46 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 30 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 7 Scotland (OCC)[30] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 9 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[33] 80 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 89 Chart (1999) Position UK Singles (OCC)[35] 70 UK Airplay (Music Week)[36] 47

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[37]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Canada	February 1997	Radio	Audiogram	[2]
United States	January 26, 1998	Modern rock radio	Capitol	[38]
United Kingdom	May 18, 1998	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Audiogram Capitol	[39]
United States	August 25, 1998	Contemporary hit radio	Capitol	[40]
United Kingdom (re-release)	August 9, 1999	CD cassette	Audiogram Capitol	[41]

References

1. Patch, Nick (January 29, 2017). "Thinking (back) in L.A." Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
2. Patch, Nick (January 29, 2017). "The story of 'Drinking in L.A.,' 20 years later". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bran Van 3000 – Glee". AllMusic. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
4. Taylor, Chuck (January 30, 1999). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. p. 23. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
5. "Chartslot Wowpop". Daily Record. 20 August 1999.
6. "Music Week Playlist" (PDF). Music Week. April 25, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
7. Bailie, Stuart. "Bran Van 3000 – Glee". NME. Archived from the original on October 6, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
8. "Best Singles". Sunday Mirror. 14 June 1998. page 42.
9. Kronick, Ilana (June 19, 1997). "Bran Van 3000 on a cool trip". The Gazette. p. D 14.
10. "EMI's Moist cleans up at MVAs" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
11. Drinking in L.A. (Canadian promo CD liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram. 1997. ADCD 5256.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Drinking in L.A. (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Capitol Records. 1997. CDCL 811.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Drinking in L.A. (UK CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1999. CDCL 811.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Drinking in L.A. (UK CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. CDCL 802.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Drinking in L.A. (UK cassette single sleeve). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. 7243 8 87556 4 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Drinking in L.A. (European & Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Bran Van 3000. Audiogram, Capitol Records. 1998. 7243 8 85381 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Oct 1998". ARIA. Retrieved October 20, 2016 – via Imgur.
18. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3281." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
20. Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 50. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
21. Danish Singles Chart 19 June 1998
22. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 35. August 28, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 286 Vikuna 20.8. – 27.8. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 21, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drinking in L.A.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
25. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 36. September 5, 1998. p. 15. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
26. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking In L.A." (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
27. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
28. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
29. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". VG-lista. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
31. "Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in L.A.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
33. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
34. "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
35. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 27.
36. "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
37. "British single certifications – Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in LA". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
38. "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 12, no. 577. January 23, 1998. p. 38.
39. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 16, 1998. p. 35.
40. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1262. August 21, 1998. p. 39.
41. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 7, 1999. p. 25.