UPDATE: CONFIRMED – We just heard from the Switchfoot camp – “Afterlife” WILL be the second single from Vice Verses. However, the February date is unconfirmed, at this time.
Hey fans, we got some exciting news today! It looks like “Afterlife” has been selected as Switchfoot’s second mainstream single from Vice Verses. According to All Access, the song will be going for adds on the Alternative Radio format on February 28th:
Stoked! I think this is a smart choice. The song is appealing for a new listener – catchy enough to sing along with, and energetic enough to catch their attention. Whenever I play the album for a someone who doesn’t listen to Switchfoot, “Afterlife” tends to be the stand-out track for them. The opening hook and vocals are perfect for setting the song apart from the rest of the radio pack. Also, the song should be able to build nicely upon the rock success of Dark Horses. What do you guys think? Do you wish a different song had been chosen? Share in the comments below!
Speaking of Switchfoot’s singles – and Dark Horses specifically – the song was named one of the “10 Best Alternative Songs of 2011″ by AOL! (Thanks Claudia!)
The Top 10 Alternative Songs of 2011 contain a mix of old (Foo Fighters) and new (Foster the People) but it is fan favorite Coldplay that won the attention of our listeners this year. Check out the 10 alternative songs that rated highly on AOL Radio this year.
07. ’Dark Horses’Switchfoot has been a band that has become a darling in several formats but the core of their music has always been a driving alternative sound. On their new album “Hello Hurricane,” Switchfoot stripped away the pop and let their rock flag fly giving us an all-out guitar assault that solidified what we all already knew: Switchfoot is truly an alt rocker, so welcome back boys!
LOBHer Beau e-mailed in to let us know that Switchfoot’s coming to Hawaii this year! The guys will be playing a show at the HIM Honolulu Worship conference on March 23rd – the day before Chad’s birthday! You can bet they’ll be doing some surfing too while they’re there! Click HERE for more info on the show and to purchase tickets.
iTickets also has a few summer shows and festivals listed for Switchfoot – for more info and tickets, click HERE. (Thanks Kim!)
In case you DIDN’T know, the WWE has confirmed that “Dark Horses” is the official song of this year’s Royal Rumble that will take place in a couple of weeks. According to our friend Abisai, “This is a major event, since it is considered one of the top 4 Pay-per views that WWE holds. It should be great publicity for the guys since the WWE twitter is plugging it and promoting it. The tweet is as follows:
“@wwemusic: Two weeks left! “Dark Horses” by @switchfoot is the @WWE #RoyalRumble theme song! Grab your copy here #on@iTunesMusic http://ow.ly/8suQQ”
Abisai continues, “This isn’t the first time that WWE has chosen a Switchfoot song for a Pay-per View event, as they chose Bullet Soul as their official song for TLC 2009. (Link: http://vids.wwe.com/7426/wwe-tlc-bullet-soul-by-switchfoo)” Great promotion for the guys!
Wow, while I was reading this update I got the same feeling when I heard “And the grammy goes to…. Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot” Im so proud of these guys!
Yassman! Bring it! Afterlife will knock out the Alt radio charts. I guarantee it.
Switchfoot’s also confirmed to be at Creation Festival Northwest and Northeast this year.
I am so excited!!!!!! Afterlife is so catchy, it’s impossible that it won’t dominate the charts!!! I’m so happy
Couldn’t have had a better choice. The song is “ready not, not waiting for the afterlife.”
“…on their new album ‘Hello Hurricane’”…????
ahaha I saw that too. AOL typo!
Afterlife is a great choice! I’d love to see Rise Above It but it probably has too many spoken words for radio.
AND HI during spring break-my birthday! If I win the lotto I AM THERE! guess no mainland dates for spring break–darn.
But good news, looks like an April tour–MN and OK look like headliners
I really think that “Afterlife” is a great choice for a single. It’s an awesome song, and I think it has a good chance at doing quite well on the radio; I think it’s likely to go top ten again on the alternative charts. Also, it has a solo, a good one at that, which “Dark Horses” lacks (though it doesn’t need one – in fact, I don’t know if a solo would even fit in very well in “Dark Horses”). The only problem I have with “Afterlife” being the next single is that the chorus has the same chord progression (for the most part) as pretty much the entire “Dark Horses” has – people might subconsciously realize that and think that Switchfoot makes all the same types of songs. Then again, maybe people won’t realize that, subconsciously or not. Either way, I’m pretty happy and excited that “Afterlife” is the next single!
That’s a fair concern. there is a *bit* of a sameness between the two songs… I think the verses will help afterlife stand apart though
Its true! The first run through of he chorus is the same chords, though i think the D5 is played on the 12th fret rather than open, but theres definitely enough difference for it stand out, especially the progression for the solo
I think the difference is in the pacing and rhythm of the song. I don’t think the average listener will notice. For me, the only similarity is the chord progression. Other than that, they’re totally different. I guess when you write as many songs as they do, some songs will end up with the same progression. In fact, I didn’t even realize that the chords were the same till I looked them up.
War Inside and Blinding Light also share parts, only in a different key, the only reason i think people might notice the similarities in Dark Horses and Afterlife (maybe) is because theyre the same chords in the same key
When I first heard “Afterlife” I thought to myself that the opening really had that distinctive Switchfoot guitar, so it would be an excellent single. It also is the beginning of the “bookends” of the recording. I think that “The Original” would also be a good one because of the driving beat in it.
Ugh I have to disagree on The Original… the music is stellar, but the lyrics do not represent Switchfoot well – but that’s just my own opinion!
I completely AGREE!! Not gonna lie, I was sad to see Rise Above It was everyone’s least favorite ( I think the song is brilliant, especially the sound of annoyance and frustration in Jon’s voice when he says “oh come on” before the chorus, like he is fed up with the way the world is. BRILLIANT!!) and the Original beat it. “The Original” Music B+, Lyrics D.
I agree Kurt, I was disappointed when everyone’s least favorite was Rise Above It, that’s one of my favorites on the album! As for Afterlife being the second single, I think it’s a great choice. It’s very catchy and I’m sure it will get people’s attention.
I have to say, Rise Above It has definitely grown on me. It’s one of my favorites right now. When I first got VV, I really likes The Original, but it kinda has lost its charm. I was definitely rooting for The War Inside for the second single, but Afterlife is a great choice. Hope it does well.
The first time I heard Rise Above It (at Rock the Universe before VV came out they played ENTIRE cd at merch booth!!!) I was BLOWN away. Don’t know if it was because we had heard snippets of most the others songs, Jon’s singing them at aftershow, or that we hadn’t heard anything about it Rise; but I was gushing (:)). Yep, I LOVE Rise Above it. Cannot wait to hear live (guess the guys are saving best for last because I’m pretty sure it’s the only VV song they haven’t played live)
. (though they did play for me at a sound check while we were outside waiting to go in 
)
Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from about the lyrics. I like it when I walk my dog because the temp is perfect to get the heart rate going!
Stoked! does this mean there will be an actual music video accompanying it?
finding out! we’ll let you know
If they do make a music video, I hope they make it good. The past few videos have been lacking.
holding breath *pah*
oh well. I do like their Hurley vids (it’s just that they are all the same). But it does cost ALOT to make a video. I’d rather they keep ticket prices down so I guess I’ll wait for Fading West 
.
I think Afterlife is a great choice for a single! Its very catchy so it should do very well on the charts. I was rooting for War Inside to be the next single though. But it can always be the third single!
I’m really rooting for it too. It fits with the “in-your-face” rock songs Switchfoot tends to pick for singles (Mess of Me, The Sound, Dark Horses, etc. ) but brings something really new to the table. Not that the other singles all sound the same but The War Inside would show more versatility.
Couldnt be more proud of the boys! *big hugs!*
I wish that it was The Original, i just think its so different and cool, and “Groovy” according to Chad, haha.
I think I like Afterlife for the single but im glad to see im not the only one who appreciates The Original. I love that song!
Afterlife is a good pick. The only one I’d really rather see as the next single is “The War Inside.” It’s a little more unique and I think it would do a bit better. But Afterlife is awesome and will catch people’s attention.
I love afterlife, but I wish War Inside was the next single. Both song seem mainstream, but War Inside seems more so.
war inside!
Off topic, a bit strange, but im absolutely positive i just heard “C’mon, C’mon” without the vocals in the background of an ad on Hulu about STD awareness or donating to cure AIDS or something
It’s possible it might be an Apple song loop. There have been similar discussions because the chord progression and such sound very similar.
I’m sure I’ve heard the music to “C’mon, C’mon” (GREAT song) in a video clip from the textbook publisher for the college success course I teach!
that’s actually a garage band loop that SF used in c’mon, c’mon – common mistake though!
……ooooooohhhhhh
which one?
I have heard a lot of people want “The War Inside” as the next single, but personally I wouldn’t mind hearing “Blinding Light” on the radio. Everything about that song is perfect! Catchy lyrics. “Hey boy!” Catchy chorus. “Keep looking for the blinding light. Oh-wh-oa!” I would blow out my speakers if I heard it on the radio!
War Inside would have been the best choice. I think the song has the potential to take Switchfoot places they have never been.
I would like to see War Inside get a radio release… I think it would show people another side of the band
I was gonna say the same. I think War Inside would be really popular. People are gonna be like, “Wait who’s that?”
*plays Meant to Live on iPod for person asking*
“Whaaa? That’s the SAME band?”
I know it doesn’t really fit Switchfoots rocker image, but I think souvenirs would fly up the charts as a single. It’s got the right elements for a good pop/rock hit….catchy tune, meaningful(for everyone) words, and a good mix of soft sounds and rock-ish choruses.
Thank you guys for choosing Afterlife! The Original is a catchy and groovy song but it’s not something that everyone would be appealed to. Plus, Afterlife is one of my top songs that stood at and still stands out to me on VV. So, I can’t wait until they release it. And it’s also a great New Year’s resolution song.
Jeanna, thank you so much for posting these. It seems like a lot of work; I’m not sure how you do it, especially this well. My apologies, I had to say it.
Long gap between singles, but I guess “Dark Horses” took a while to peak. Out of the songs that have at hand, “Afterlife” is a solid choice for modern rock radio. It’s a little generic for my tastes personally, but I think it stands a good chance for the format, and the message is definitely good. If “The Original” had an actual vocal hook, I would say it would be better choice what with the energy and the riffs, but sadly the vocal melody does nothing of interest at all. I would still love to see “Selling the News” as a left-field single choice, but I know that’s not happening.
Agreed, I’d LOVE to see Selling the News – but I wonder if releasing it might make it look like the guys are trying too hard… outside of the context of the record, it might open up the song to all kinds of unwarranted criticism
Wow. Switchfoot with Toby Mac? I can sense some dancing. HAHA.
Kinda bummed with “Afterlife” choice. I think “War Inside” or “Souvenirs” would have been a lot better of a mainstream hit. I know Switchfoot is pushing the Alt Rock format/image….but the reason they are best known for “Dare You To Move” and “Meant To Live” is that those two songs crossed over into the Top40/PopRock Mainstream. I think “War Inside” and “Souvenirs” have that mainstream crossover potential….and “Afterlife” does not.
Totally agree. Love both songs so much!