"Wolf Like Me" is the first single from American art rock band TV on the Radio's album Return to Cookie Mountain, released in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2006 on 4AD. The single's B-side was the song "Things You Can Do", which was also available as a bonus track on the U.S. release of Return to Cookie Mountain. It was released in two formats: CD single and 7-inch vinyl.
The song is the band's most successful single in the United States, where it peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2006. It was also their second top 100 hit in the UK where it peaked at number 89.
"Wolf Like Me" was covered by the American alternative rock band Local H as the intro track on their EP Local H's Awesome Mix Tape 1, released in October 2010.
Contents
Personnel
On "Wolf Like Me":
Vocals – Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone, Katrina Ford
Drums – Jaleel Bunton
Bass, guitar – Kyp Malone
Guitar, samples, synth – Dave Sitek
Guitar – Jaleel Bunton
Baritone saxophone – Martin Perna
Music video
The music video for "Wolf Like Me" starring poet Beau Sia was directed by Jon Watts and mixes two cinematic styles: black-and-white silent film and 1980s B-movie. America's Next Top Model cycle 4 winner Naima Mora was also featured in the video.
Reception
"Wolf Like Me" was voted in at number 63 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006, and at number 99 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time, 2009. In October 2011, NME placed "Wolf Like Me" at number 46 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
In popular culture
The song was featured in several racing video games Project Gotham Racing 4, Driver: San Francisco, Need for Speed: ProStreet and The Crew,
as well is a playable song on Battle of the Bands and Guitar Hero 5. The song was featured in One Tree Hill in the season 4 episode "Some You Give Away", which originally aired in 2006. The song plays during the closing credits/final minutes of Rescue Me Season 4, Episode 2, titled "Tuesday", which originally aired on June 20, 2007. The song was featured in the 2008 film Never Back Down, as well as the 2007 film The Invisible and the 2013 film Kill Your Darlings. In January 2010, it was used in a TV commercial "Destiny – Force Fate" by Nike to promote the 2010 Winter Olympics. In October 2022, the song was featured in the stop-motion animated film Wendell & Wild.
The song received renewed interest in 2026 after it was featured in the film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, increasing its streams 800% compared to the previous month.