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He War

"He War"
Single by Cat Power
from the album You Are Free
Released 2003
Format CD
Recorded 2002
Genre Indie rock
Length 3:31
Label Matador
Songwriter(s) Chan Marshall
Producer(s) Adam Kasper (engineer only)
Cat Power singles chronology
"Free"
(2003)
"He War"
(2003)
"The Greatest"
(2006)
"Free"
(2003)
"He War"
(2003)
"The Greatest"
(2006)

"He War" is a song by the American singer/songwriter Cat Power and the second single from her 2003 album, You Are Free. Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl provided drumming for the track. In anticipation of the release of You Are Free, a digital preview of "He War" was released on the Matador Records website.

In 2006, Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen cited Cat Power as "very popular in the SNL offices" and that "'He War' was played all the time." In the same interview, an opposing Chan Marshall expressed strong discontent with the studio recording of "He War" that ended up on You Are Free. She exclaimed, "Horrible song. It's supposed to sound like the original recordings-- more Stones-y. With a live band. But when I went to record it by myself in the studio doing everything, it sounds like..."

Delicate piano notes serve as an introduction before the guitar rhythm begins. "He War" exhibits clean, electric guitar power chords backed by a shuffling drum beat. High, chiming guitar notes provide a lead section alongside sprinkles of piano. An unrefined, double-track vocal harmony by Marshall carries throughout the entire song and builds into a bright, soaring chorus.

Lyrically, "He War" appears to reference the demise of an old relationship and the decision to move forward.

A video directed by Brett Vapnek was filmed for the single. It gained airplay on MTV2's Subterranean.

Marshall described the video as "good" but elaborated on the discomfort in filming it, specifically acting, lip syncing, and looking into the camera which felt unnatural:


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Wikipedia

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