Arctic Monkeys

2002–2005: Early years and record deal

Arctic Monkeys were formed in mid-2002 by friends Alex Turner, Matt Helders, and Andy Nicholson (who left the band shortly after their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, was released). Turner and Helders were neighbours and close friends, and they met Nicholson in secondary school. Turner, who had grown up in a musical household as his father was a music teacher, played guitar in the then-instrumental-only band, with Helders on drums, Nicholson on bass and a new band member, Jamie Cook, as a second guitarist. Initially, Turner was reluctant when it came to being the lead singer. As time passed, Turner became the lead singer and frontman of the band as he had "a thing for words", according to Helders.

Musical style and influences

Arctic Monkeys' musical style has been mainly described as indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival, psychedelic rock, alternative rock, lounge pop, post-Britpop, stoner rock, guitar pop, post-punk, punk rock, and hard rock. A key part of their sound, and one that translates across their whole discography, is Turner's intricate and often rapidly delivered lyrics, sung in a distinctive strong Sheffield accent that their music became famed for in their early years.

Legacy and influence

According to Vice, "in Britain at least, Arctic Monkeys have reached a point where they are too enormous, too beloved a force to truly fail" and are probably the UK's biggest, most culturally important band. Vice further states that they are "the band that your friends whose music taste can otherwise be described as "Match of the Day-wave" are desperate to see perform live; the band dads and little brothers have in common—simply because throughout their career, they have remained consistent, while their peers in both sound and age have failed to keep similar longevity." English poet John Cooper Clarke praised the band as "the nearest thing" to the Beatles, a sentiment also shared by former NME editor Conor McNicholas, who further called...

Do I Wanna Know?

"Do I Wanna Know?" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, with lyrics written by frontman Alex Turner. It was released on 19 June 2013 by Domino Recording Company as the second single from their fifth studio album, AM (2013).

It received a digital download release through iTunes as well as an accompanying music video. Before its release as a single, the song was premiered by the band live in May 2013 on the AM Tour, where it was often played as the opening number.

Composition

"Do I Wanna Know?" is performed in the key of G minor. Musically, it has been described as an indie rock, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, blues rock and alternative rock song. The song has a similar aesthetic style and lyrical content to their 2012 song "R U Mine?"; it is more downtempo while having similar guitar riffs. PopMatters describes it as "a cleaner, slower-burning 'R U Mine?'", while also finding its "stomping" style to be a "steadier take" on the music found on Humbug (2009). The song also contains the edgier sound found on their previous album Suck It and See (2011).

Release and reception

"Do I Wanna Know?" was first played live on 22 May 2013 in Ventura, California at the first concert of the band's AM Tour. Throughout the tour, the song was being played as the opening number. It was then released as AM's second single on 19 June 2013, appearing in digital download formats through iTunes. It was accompanied by a music video released on YouTube. The single was released with no promotion, allowing fans to purchase it through iTunes immediately. A 7-inch vinyl edition of the single was released on 22 July 2013, with a B-side titled "2013". On AM, "Do I Wanna Know?" appears as the opening track.

Music video

The music video for "Do I Wanna Know?", directed by David Wilson with animation agency Blinkink, was first released onto YouTube on 18 June 2013. As of June 2020, it has been viewed over one billion times, becoming one of only 12 rock videos to achieve this feat. The video begins with a black background and simple visuals of white sound waves (similar to the AM cover art) that vibrate in synchronisation, first with the percussion and lead guitar, then with the lead singer, Alex Turner. As the band enters with the chorus, coloured sound waves illustrate new voices. Simple sound waves then give way to fast-moving, representational line-drawing animations that morph between a variety of female, race car, race car engine, and road racing...

In popular culture

"Do I Wanna Know?" was used in a 2013 Bacardi commercial. In September 2014, the song was used in the pilot episode of ABC's TV series Forever, and the fifth episode of Israeli series Ish Hashuv Meod. An instrumental version of the song is used in the second season finale of the BBC series Peaky Blinders. The song was also present in Ubisoft's 2014 game, The Crew as one of the songs in the in-game radio.

Snap Out Of It

"Snap Out of It" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys from their fifth studio album, AM (2013). The song was released as the album's sixth overall single on 9 June 2014, impacting contemporary hit radio in the United Kingdom.

Music video

The music video was directed by Focus Creeps and was released on 16 June 2014. In the video, a woman (Stephanie Sigman) sits on her couch, and watches footage of the band recording in the studio. She gets fixated on frontman Alex Turner and starts crying, dancing, and puts her face close to the television. Towards the end, she also appears in the recording, alluding to, that in the story, they were a couple and now they had broken up.

Critical reception

In a 10/10 review of AM, Mike Williams of NME wrote that the song "swirls with such orchestral intensity that it wouldn’t feel out of place on a second Last Shadow Puppets album." Mic Wright of The Quietus commented that the song "has clicks, claps and the kind of catchy hooks that'll get you a job pumping out new songs for Icona Pop."

Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. It was released as the third single from their fifth studio album, AM, on 11 August 2013.

It was written by the group's lead vocalist Alex Turner while its production was handled by James Ford. Upon its release, many critics compared the composition of "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" with works by different artists.

Background and composition

The song was leaked on 29 July 2013 on YouTube and social networking sites, but quickly taken down. It was released as a single on 11 August 2013, together with an accompanying music video.

Critical reception

The song garnered acclaim from contemporary music critics. Mic Wright of The Quietus provided a positive review, writing the song has "enough swagger to make a young LL Cool J jealous." Caleb Caldwell of Slant Magazine reviewed the song positively, writing, "The heavy, molasses-slow rhythms, especially the late-night beats of "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High," draw on Dr. Dre's brand of West Coast G-funk, as does Turner's use of broken rhymes and long, syllable-crammed lines, delivered in his characteristic sneer." Kevin Harley of The Independent on Sunday praised the "tight, limber rhythms cushioning the G-funk comedown of the song."

Music video

A music video for "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?", directed by Nabil Elderkin, began filming in early July 2013 and was released on 10 August 2013. As of November 2023, it has over 170 million viewers on YouTube. The music video features Lamie Stewart as Stephanie.

Fluorescent Adolescent

"Fluorescent Adolescent" is a song by the English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. It was released as the second single from their second studio album Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007).

It was released on 9 July 2007 in the United Kingdom. The lyrics were written by Alex Turner and Johanna Bennett, Turner's girlfriend at the time, in a hotel room prior to the recording of Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Critical reception

The song has received a 9/10 rating from Planet Sound, becoming Arctic Monkeys' first single to do so since "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor". In 2023, Rolling Stone and Paste ranked the song number twelve and number nine, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Arctic Monkeys songs.

Music video

The music video was filmed in late April 2007 and was directed by The IT Crowd star Richard Ayoade. It features actor Stephen Graham (who previously appeared on the Scummy Man DVD and the "When the Sun Goes Down" video) as a clown. The music video premiered in the UK on 5 June 2007 on Channel 4, and was available online the next day.

505

"505" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys. Written by lead singer and frontman Alex Turner and produced by James Ford and Mike Crossey, it is the closing track on the band's second studio album, Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007).

Release and promotion

"505" was released on 23 April 2007 as the closing track from Arctic Monkeys' second studio album Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007). The song became a frequent closer of the band's live shows since 2007. It has been performed several times with Miles Kane, including during Arctic Monkeys' headline set at TRNSMT in 2018 and the last night of the band's three-days residency at the Emirates Stadium in London in June 2023. Turner and Kane also performed the song as The Last Shadow Puppets during their 2016 headline Rockwave Festival set.

Composition

The track features Alex Turner playing Hammond organ, as well as a guitar played by long-time collaborator Miles Kane. In the studio recording Matt Helders plays variations of Motorik beat on the drums at 140 BPM.

Reception

"505" received mainly positive reviews from critics. Marc Hogan of Pitchfork referred to it as "one of Turner's first proper love songs" stating further, "the closing '505', [sic] draped with an apparent Ennio Morricone organ sample, poignantly if none too adventurously describes Turner's longing to get back to a hotel room where his lover awaits".

Cover versions

American singer Nessa Barrett released a dream pop cover of "505" as part of the extended version of her debut album Young Forever. The first verse of Dua Lipa's "Hotter than Hell", references the song where Lipa sings "you probably still adore me with my hands around your neck."

R U Mine?

"R U Mine?" is a song by the English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. It features lyrics written by frontman Alex Turner, as well as music composed by the entire band.

The song was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2012 and was released physically for the Record Store Day on 21 April 2012 on a limited edition double A-side purple 7" vinyl along with new song "Electricity". The vinyl was limited to a run of only 1,750 copies.

Inspiration

Alex Turner said that the band drew inspiration from recent relationships, saying "There's a few references for people to pick up on in there – 'Some Velvet Morning', Tracy Island. That particular bit is like the thing Lil Wayne and Drake do. [...] I like that thing they do where they talk about something backwards, so they talk about it but then say what it actually is on the next line. [...] So I say, 'I'm a puppet on a string', just before mentioning Tracy Island. That's what it's about – uncertainty." Turner also described the track as "Kind of a lift from an Ashanti tune. We like the scales and the melodies on some of those records. The way the backing vocals might come right to the front and disappear again".

Reception

Music magazine NME ranked the song at number 49 among 100 greatest songs of 2010s.

Music videos

A music video to accompany the release of "R U Mine?" was first released onto YouTube on 27 February 2012 at a total length of three minutes and forty-four seconds and features radio DJ, musician and former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones debuting the song on his show on American modern rock radio station KROQ-FM while Matt Helders, Alex Turner and Nick O'Malley lip-sync the song in a car. In 2013, the video won the NME Award for Best Video.

A Certain Romance

"A Certain Romance" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys written by frontman Alex Turner. It is a re-recorded version of a 2004 demo, and serves as the closing track of their 2006 debut studio album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.

The song was conceived by Turner in his teens, and follows his observation of the activities and romance—and lack thereof—among youth.

Recording

Arctic Monkeys was formed in 2002, and began recording music in 2003. A series of eighteen demos collectively known as Beneath the Boardwalk were burned onto CDs and given out by the band in 2004, later earning traction through the Internet. Among these tracks is the earliest recorded version of "A Certain Romance". Frontman and lead singer Alex Turner believed the song, compared to Arctic Monkeys' previous recordings, was "contentious" and greater than the band itself. It was later re-recorded for their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not at The Chapel in South Thoresby in 2005. The song was a staple of their live repertoire in their early years.

Composition

"A Certain Romance" is an alternative rock song and the longest track on Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Written by Turner in his teens, it follows his observation of the activities of youth, and the romance and lack of it among them. At first he is scornful, though he eventually feels sympathy and sorrow for them, and accepts that "there isn't no romance around there." It was composed by the members of the band, including bassist Andy Nicholson, who left after the album was released. It features a wordless two-minute guitar solo intended to express emotions through the instruments themselves, a sound the band would replicate in their 2022 album The Car.

Reception

"A Certain Romance" received positive reviews from critics, and similarities between the 2004 demo and the studio version were noted. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called it an "insightful, oddly moving dissection of the chav phenomenon." NME described it as "a strangely even-handed song which starts out scorning local townies then appears to absolve them at the end of the song." Writing for Rolling Stone magazine, Barry Walters praised the "hyper-realistic observations" Turner made and believed the track "sums up" the album. Later, Rolling Stone wrote that "What starts as a critique of people who are ostensibly less sophisticated, stylish, or romantic, soon becomes an astute deconstruction of the snark, cynicism, and us-vs-them...

Arabella

"Arabella" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys from their fifth studio album, AM (2013). The song was confirmed as the album's fifth single by the band and their label Domino and impacted radio in Italy on 28 January 2014 and the United Kingdom on 10 March 2014.

A physical 7" vinyl single was also planned for release on 28 March 2014, but was ultimately cancelled.

Music video

An official music video for the song, directed by English director Jake Nava, premiered on 2 March 2014.

Reception

"Arabella" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. In 2023, Rolling Stone and Paste ranked the song number ten and number four, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Arctic Monkeys songs.

Leave Before The Lights Come On

"Leave Before the Lights Come On" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. The song was released on 14 August 2006 as the band's third single in the United Kingdom.

The song was not included on the band's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, though Alex Turner has stated that it could have been on the album as it follows a similar theme to many of the album tracks. It was the band's final release before promotion began for their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare in spring 2007.

Background

The single's release was confirmed on the band's website on 6 July 2006 and that the track would be released on 14 August as a three-track CD and a two-track 7-inch vinyl. The website did not offer any further information, but NME's website announced that the two B-side tracks for the single will be covers, "one of which will be their version of an old song and the other a cover of a track by one of their favourite groups." In July 2006, it was confirmed on Gonzo that "Put Your Dukes Up, John" by The Little Flames would be one of the cover versions. On 17 July, it emerged on an Arctic Monkeys fan site that the other cover version would be "Baby, I'm Yours" originally recorded by Barbara Lewis. The official website soon confirmed this and...

Music video

The video was released on the band's website on 3 August 2006. It was directed by John Hardwick, who was also at the helm for the video for "M.O.R." for the band Blur. The video was filmed in Sheffield in the Cultural Industries Quarter in July 2006 and features actors Kate Ashfield and Paddy Considine. The video starts off with Ashfield on the top of a building (the Showroom Cinema) about to jump off. She drops her shoe as Considine is walking in the street below. He sees Ashfield and immediately runs to the top of the building. He puts out his hand then he and Ashfield hug. The two walk to nearby cafe and sit down to have coffee. Ashfield makes an attempt to kiss Considine. He stops her, showing his wedding ring, then walks out of the...

When The Sun Goes Down

"When the Sun Goes Down" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. It was released on 16 January 2006 as the second single from their debut studio album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006).

It followed debut single "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" to number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Composition and lyrics

"When the Sun Goes Down" is composed in the key of B major with a time signature of 44 (common-time), and follows a tempo of 169 beats per minute.

Critical reception

On the single's B-side, Alfie Sansom from Argus Far described ‘Settle For A Draw’ as a "slower, cooler track, even if it sounds like it should be a Little Man Tate single." He continues to add that both ‘Stickin To The Floor’ and ‘7’ have the "frenetic energy and skidding riffs of the band’s original demo tapes, Beneath the Boardwalk, but lack the finesse of the album tracks".

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Paul Fraser and premiered on MTV2 on 21 December 2005. It starred Lauren Socha and Stephen Graham. The video used footage from a longer film, Scummy Man, which used the same actors who appeared in the music video to tell the story of 'Nina', the nameless "that girl there" from the song.