Watch The National Sing “I Need My Girl” with Maggie Rogers at Boston Calling
Photos by Ian Gavan/Getty, Christopher Polk/Getty“I Need My Girl,” off The National’s 2013 album Trouble Will Find Me, is arguably the band’s most accessible and enduring hit. Lyrically, it’s straightforward yet emotionally complex. Musically, it’s some of their most memorable guitar work. Written for frontman Matt Berninger’s wife and daughter, it’s a reflection of pure yearning, and it’s pristine just the way it is. However, the addition of a female vocalist to the already-great song allows for an even more compelling and roomy interpretation. At this weekend’s Boston Calling festival, folk-pop singer Maggie Rogers joined The National on stage for a performance of the song, and it was just as as airily dynamic as you’d expect. Rogers posted a video of the set to her Instagram, as seen below.
Rogers casts a soothing harmony at Berninger’s aching melody, lifting the song to new heights. The National may as well have been headliners at the festival, as it’s evident in the full footage, embedded below, that the Boston Calling audience knows every word to “I Need My Girl.”
Rogers has been busy these last few weeks. She opened up for Haim at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Monday, and it was recently announced that she’ll support the sister trio at a number of other shows this summer. She also released a new song, “Fallingwater,” and it was one of our favorite tracks from last week. You can listen to “Fallingwater” right here. Rogers also appears to be teasing a video for the track, potentially out tomorrow, in a tweet at which you can peek further down. Don’t miss The National’s 2007 Daytrotter Session while you’re down there.
tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/W7iFtBbIVZ
— Maggie Rogers (@maggierogers) May 29, 2018