{{short description|2010 single by MGMT}} {{Infobox song | name = Flash Delirium | cover = Flash delirium MGMT.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = MGMT | album = Congratulations | released = March 23, 2010 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = {{hlist|Psychedelic rock|art rock|psychedelic pop|progressive rock|experimental rock}} | length = 4:16 | label = Columbia | writer = Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser | producer = |prev_title = Pursuit of Happiness |prev_year = 2009 | next_title = Siberian Breaks | next_year = 2010 | misc = {{External music video|1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvSMp7T2Kes "MGMT – Flash Delirium"] at YouTube}} }} "'''Flash Delirium'''" is a song released by the American psychedelic rock band MGMT on their second album ''Congratulations''. It was the first single to be released from the album and was originally referred to as a "taster" before the band abandoned their original plan to not release any singles from ''Congratulations'' in order to solidify its existence as a singular body of work.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://mgmt-congratulations.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/article.jpg | title=Congrats to MGMT | work=NME | publisher=IPC Media | accessdate=2010-03-25 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A free digital download of the song was given away on the band's official website.<ref name="pitchfork">{{Cite web| url=http://pitchfork.com/news/38138-wild-new-mgmt-song-flash-delirium/ | title=Wild new MGMT song: "Flash Delirium" | author=Ryan Dombal | publisher=Pitchfork Media | date=2010-03-09 | accessdate=2010-03-25 }}</ref><ref name="consequence">{{Cite web | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/09/new-mgmt-song-flash-delirium-unveiled/ | title=New MGMT song, "Flash Delirium," unveiled | author=Alex Young | publisher=Consequence of Sound | work=2010-03-09 | accessdate=2010-03-25 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2010-03-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312085416/http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/09/new-mgmt-song-flash-delirium-unveiled/ }}</ref> "Flash Delirium" was made available as a digital download from iTunes on March 24, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/congratulations/id362806069 | title=Congratulations | work=iTunes Store | publisher=Apple Inc. | date=2010-03-24 | accessdate=2010-03-25 }}</ref>
In the song, Andrew Vanwyngarden expresses his feelings towards social networking and directly references to a popular site with the line "stab your Facebook." He expands on this in an interview with online magazine [http://coupdemainmagazine.com/ Coup De Main] stating his disgust at the distraction it causes from real life: "It's just this weird little world which is fueled by vanity and looking at pictures of yourself."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://coupdemainmagazine.com/music/interviews/2841 |title=MGMT's ANDREW VANWYNGARDEN issues a vinyl shopping and coffee date invitation |access-date=2011-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708195243/http://coupdemainmagazine.com/music/interviews/2841 |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song is on the soundtrack for the 2010 video game FIFA 11.
==Reception== Many critics praised "Flash Delirium" for its adventurism and distinct clash of styles. ''Rolling Stone'' magazine said it "ultimately keeps building until it explodes into a rapturous harmony, breaking into full-out thrash in its waning seconds."<ref>{{Cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/09/mgmt-unveil-congratulations-song-flash-delirium/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630133534/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/09/mgmt-unveil-congratulations-song-flash-delirium/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 30, 2012 | title=MGMT unveil ''Congratulations'' song "Flash Delirium" | author=Daniel Kreps | magazine=Rolling Stone | publisher=Wenner Media | date=2010-03-09 | accessdate=2010-03-25 }}</ref> ''Pitchfork'' said the song "features flutes, horns, and about seven different sections that reference doo-wop, old school rock'n'roll, electro balladry, Ariel Pink-style lo-fi, wall-of-Spector pop, and the Beatles at their most high. All in four minutes and sixteen seconds!"<ref name="pitchfork"/> "Flash Delirium" was also described as a "psychedelic trip."<ref name="consequence"/>
==Music video== The video for "Flash Delirium," directed by Andreas Nilsson,<ref name=mtv>{{Cite news|first=James |last=Montgomery |title=MGMT's 'Flash Delirium' Video: Sensible Nonsense, Justifiably So |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635104/20100330/mgmt.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401090421/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635104/20100330/mgmt.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 1, 2010|work=MTV News|date=2010-03-30 |accessdate=2010-04-14}}</ref> "lends a visual clue into the maelstrom and chaos of modern times." It premiered on MGMT's website on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18913|title=Flash Delirium by MGMT Songfacts|work=songfacts.com}}</ref> It shows the two lead members of the band (Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser) at a welcome-home party. Ben touches a bandage at his neck a few times, with Andrew pulling his arm away from it each time. However, at the party, Ben removes the bandage to reveal a hole in his throat. Out of this hole is pulled an eel, which is then shoved into a machine and presumably destroyed, though the eel is shown wiggling in the hole in a few brief shots. The house trembles and the guests of the party dance as the machine emits lights, violently shaking. The video ends with a picture from outside the house showing something exploding inside and a guttural sound as the camera moves. In the very beginning of the music video, there is a banner outside the car that reads, "Sue the spider" and "Sink the Welsh," a reference to the lyrics at the end of the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whoismgmt.com|title=Who is MGMT|author=Columbia Records|work=The Official MGMT Site}}</ref>
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" |- !Title !Award !Result |- |MuchMusic Video Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whoismgmt.com/at/news/nominiert-f%C3%BCr-muchmusic-video-award |title=News | the Official MGMT Site |website=www.whoismgmt.com |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209045345/http://www.whoismgmt.com/at/news/nominiert-f%C3%BCr-muchmusic-video-award |archive-date=9 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |International Video of the Year – Group |style="background: #ffdddd"|Nominated |- |MTV Video Music Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2010/best-rock-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805164040/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2010/best-rock-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2010|title=2010 MTV Video Music Awards – Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 2010 MTV VMAs|work=mtv.com}}</ref> |Best Rock Video |style="background: #ffdddd"|Nominated |- |}
==Personnel== *Andrew VanWyngarden – vocals, guitar, drums, bass, synth flute *Ben Goldwasser – synth and samples, organ, piano, additional vocals *Matt Asti – guitar, bass *Will Berman – drums, guitar, bass *Jennifer Herrema – additional vocals
==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Chart (2018) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row" |''Billboard'' Japan Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/51-100/ |title=ページがみつかりません│Billboard JAPAN |work=billboard-japan.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923110621/http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/ |archive-date=September 23, 2010 }}</ref> |align="center"|81 |- ! scope="row" |Canadian Hot 100<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p997031|pure_url=yes}}</ref> |align="center"|87 |- {{single chart|UK|179|date=20100424|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 February 2017}} |- ! scope="row" | US Rock Digital Song Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mgmt/chart-history/rkt/|title=MGMT Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |accessdate=19 July 2018}}</ref> | 23 |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{MGMT}}
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Category:2010 singles Category:MGMT songs Category:2010 songs Category:Songs written by Andrew VanWyngarden Category:Columbia Records singles Category:Songs written by Benjamin Goldwasser Category:Music videos directed by Andreas Nilsson