{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox song | name = Bloodbuzz Ohio | cover = Bloodbuzz_Ohio.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = the National | album = High Violet | released = March 24, 2010 (digital download)<br />May 3, 2010 (7") | recorded = | studio = | genre = *Indie rock *post-punk revival *dream pop | length = 4:36 | label = 4AD (AD 3X22) | writer = {{hlist|Matt Berninger|Aaron Dessner|Padma Newsome}} | producer = The National | prev_title = Fake Empire | prev_year = 2008 | next_title = Anyone's Ghost | next_year = 2010 }} "'''Bloodbuzz Ohio'''" is a single by indie rock band the National, from their fifth studio album, ''High Violet''. It is notable for Matt Berninger's baritone vocals. It was made available for download on the band's website on March 24, 2010. The song was also released on 7" vinyl (with the exclusive B-side "Sin-Eaters") on May 3, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4ad.com/news/download-free-mp/ |title=4AD – The National – Download Free MP3 of the new single, 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' |date=March 25, 2010 |access-date=2011-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606060424/http://www.4ad.com/news/download-free-mp/ |archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> The cover art of this single is a work by artist Mark Fox, titled ''Jane Jacobs Understands The Beehive''.<ref name="Mark Fox">{{cite web | url=http://www.markfoxstudio.com/?page_id=3 | title=News | publisher=Mark Fox | access-date=April 27, 2011 | author=Fox, Mark}}</ref>
==Critical reception== One Thirty BPM described the track as "the beating heart of ''High Violet'' and most alarming insight into the psyche of the album."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://onethirtybpm.com/2010/05/24/track-review-the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio/ |title=Track Review: The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio" |publisher=One Thirty BPM |first=Ian |last=Barker |access-date=2011-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626210911/http://onethirtybpm.com/2010/05/24/track-review-the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio/ |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Pitchfork called it "a tense, drawn-out build with Matt Berninger's weathered baritone lording all over everything."<ref>{{cite web|last=Breihan |first=Tom |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11866-the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio/ |title=The National: "Bloodbuzz Ohio" | Tracks |publisher=Pitchfork |date=March 30, 2010 |access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> On January 26, 2011, the song was voted at number 31 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010, making it their highest entry on the countdown ever. In 2019, Pitchfork ranked the song at number 76 on its list of the 200 Best Songs of the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-songs-of-the-2010s/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Pitchfork Media |access-date=12 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
In ''Rolling Stone'', Rob Sheffield stated that the song is "about money", emphasizing that its chorus is the phrase "I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe", and speculating that Ohio is "mentioned only because it sounds like 'I owe'". Sheffield further observed that the song's lyrics are "full of throwaway clues that never add up to any coherent storyline", but that it is nonetheless "sickeningly great" and has "undeniable emotional punch". <ref name=RollingStone>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-nationals-money-shot-in-praise-of-bloodbuzz-ohio-242316/ The National's Money Shot: In Praise of "Bloodbuzz Ohio"], by Rob Sheffield; in ''Rolling Stone''; published May 17, 2010; retrieved May 8, 2024</ref>
==Music video== Matt Berninger is the main focus of the first video from ''High Violet'' which shows him dapper in a suit, holding a drink, and walking the streets of New York City, seemingly lost in thought as he sings.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfySK7CLEEg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yfySK7CLEEg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio |publisher=YouTube |date= |access-date=2011-12-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Documentary film director D.A. Pennebaker appears in a cameo in the video, playing a bartender.<ref>{{cite web|author=Amy Phillips|url=http://www.pitchfork.com/news/38767-video-the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio/|title= Video: The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio"|publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=May 11, 2010 |access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref>
It was directed by Hope E. Hall, Andreas Burgess, and Berninger's wife Carin Besser.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.ie/2010/05/news/the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio-video/ |title=The National – 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' video – News | State Magazine |publisher=State.ie |date=May 12, 2010 |access-date=2011-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514132544/http://www.state.ie/2010/05/news/the-national-bloodbuzz-ohio-video/ |archive-date=May 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Performances== The National performed a special live studio performance and interview on American Public Media's Marketplace November 1, 2012.
== Covers == * Oh Land released a cover version in 2011.<ref name=OhLand>[https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/oh-land-covers-the-nationals-bloodbuzz-ohio-763297 Oh Land Covers The National’s ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’], at ''NME''; published October 7, 2011; retrieved November 25, 2025</ref> * Julia Stone covered the song on her 2012 album, ''By the Horns''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Ali |date=5 February 2021 |title=Watch Julia Stone cover the National in a set filmed at a historical Australian prison |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-julia-stone-cover-the-national-play-songs-from-forthcoming-album-2873341 |access-date=July 10, 2025 |work=NME}}</ref> * Irish artist Soak covered the song in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Soak – "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (The National Cover) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2066038/soak-bloodbuzz-ohio-the-national-cover/music/ |access-date=July 10, 2025 |work=Stereogum}}</ref> * Goose performed a version of the song on August 18, 2022 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Scott |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Watch Goose Debut the National Cover at Red Rocks |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/goose-national-cover-bloodbuzz-ohio-red-rocks-video |access-date=July 10, 2025 |work=JamBase}}</ref>
==Track listing== *'''"Bloodbuzz Ohio"''' (May 3, 2010) **4AD (AD 3X22), 7" vinyl and digital download *# "Bloodbuzz Ohio" – 4:36 *# "Sin-Eaters" – 3:40
==Chart history== It charted on the Belgian Flanders Ultratop 50 at number 49 for one week on week 25 of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/55877 |title=The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio – Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |date= |access-date=2011-12-24}}</ref> It then re-entered the chart, and on its third week on the chart, the song peaked at number 16.<ref name="VL"/> It has also charted on the Ultratip chart in Wallonia region at number 37.<ref name="WA"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for "Bloodbuzz Ohio" ! scope="col"| Chart (2010) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{singlechart|Flanders|16|artist=The National|song=Bloodbuzz Ohio|refname=VL|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|Wallonia Tip|37|artist=The National|song=Bloodbuzz Ohio|refname=WA|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row"| Mexico Ingles Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref name=MexicoAir>{{cite web| title = The National Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-national/chart-history/min/ | work = Billboard |access-date=March 16, 2019 }}</ref> |20 |- ! scope="row"| U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Singles Sales<ref>{{cite web|title=The National Hot Singles Sales|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-national/chart-history/hot-singles-sales|website=Billboard|access-date=May 16, 2019}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |7 |- ! scope="row"|UK Physical Singles (OCC)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20100509/1/|title=Official Physical Singles Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=May 14, 2010|access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref> | 31 |- {{singlechart|UKindie|19|date=2010-05-16|rowheader=true}} |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Bloodbuzz Ohio"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=The National|title=Bloodbuzz Ohio|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2010|certyear=2022|access-date=December 22, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The National|title=Bloodbuzz Ohio|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2010|certyear=2026|source=radioscope|access-date=January 24, 2026}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{The National}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2010 singles Category:The National (band) songs Category:4AD singles Category:2010 songs Category:Songs written by Matt Berninger Category:Songs written by Aaron Dessner