Last Nite

This article is about the song by the Strokes. For other uses, see Last Night (disambiguation).

"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.

"Last Nite"
Single by The Strokes
from the album Is This It
B-side	"When It Started"
Released	October 23, 2001 (2001-10-23)
Recorded	March and April 2001
Studio	Transporterraum, New York City
Genre	Indie rock[1] garage rock revival[2]
Length	3:13
Label	RCA Rough Trade BMG
Songwriter(s)	Julian Casablancas
Producer(s)	Gordon Raphael
The Strokes singles chronology
"Hard to Explain" (2001) "Last Nite" (2001) "Someday" (2001)
Music video
"Last Nite" on YouTube

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

1. "Last Nite" - 3:15
2. "When It Started" - 2:59

AUS

1. "Last Nite" - 3:15
2. "When It Started" - 2:59
3. "Last Nite" (Live) - 3:27
4. "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 Chart (2001–2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 47 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[15] 44 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 49 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 48 Scotland (OCC)[18] 10 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 14 UK Indie (OCC)[20] 1 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] 5 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[22] 8

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[23] 26

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24]	Platinum	70,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[25]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[26]	Platinum	30,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[27]	Platinum	40,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[29]	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[30]	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 (2001-10-23)	Alternative radio	RCA	[31]
United Kingdom	November 5, 2001 (2001-11-05)	7-inch vinyl CD	Rough Trade	[32]
Australia	December 3, 2001 (2001-12-03)	CD	RCA BMG	[33]

Vitamin C version

"Last Nite"
Single by Vitamin C
Released	July 7, 2003 (2003-07-07)[34]
Length	3:54
Label	V2
Songwriter(s)	Julian Casablancas
Producer(s)	Dave Derby Michael Kotch Fred Maher
Vitamin C singles chronology
"As Long As You're Loving Me" (2001) "Last Nite" (2003)

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.^[35] The single features a sample from Blondie's "Heart of Glass".^[36] 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.^[37][38] 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.^[38]

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

1. "Last Nite" – 3:54
2. "Last Nite" (Derby & Kotch Mix) – 3:45
3. "Last Nite" (I Lick That Mix by Count Caligula) – 5:40
4. "Last Nite" (Clique Remix) – 6:05

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[39]	53
Scotland (OCC)[40]	50
UK Singles (OCC)[37]	70
UK Dance (OCC)[41]	33
UK Indie (OCC)[42]	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.^[43]