Bastille debuted in June 2011 with their 7" single, "Flaws"/"Icarus" (released on Young & Lost Club). This was then followed by their EP 'Laura Palmer' later in 2011. After adding a few more tracks online, the band received a lot of attention from indie rock fans on the web, helping secure some support slots. During the summer of 2011, they performed at a number of major UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, and Blissfields.
On 27 April 2012, "Overjoyed" came out, being the debut Virgin Records single from Bastille. This was confirmed by EMI on 1 May 2012. After the video release of "Overjoyed" on YouTube, 'Q Magazine' introduced the song as its track of the day for 7 March 2012. Fans seemingly devoured the tune.
"Bad Blood" was released on Virgin Records on 20 August 2012. Following the video release of "Bad Blood" on YouTube, Bastille were named "The New Band of the Day" by writers for 'The Guardian' on 25 July 2012. In not too long, Bastille performed at the major UK Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2012. They played an October 2012 headline tour that brought them into the spotlight alongside Emeli Sandé, with Swiss Lips supporting them.
Bastille's single "Flaws"/"Icarus" was featured in the soundtrack of the popular British Channel 4 television show 'Made in Chelsea'. As well, "Weight of Living, Pt. II" was part of the soundtrack for FIFA 13. "Of The Night", Bastille's dual cover of both Snap!'s "Rhythm is a Dancer" and Corona's "The Rhythm of the Night", was used to advertise Dancing on Ice in the run up to its 2013 series.
Bastille played their first show outside of Europe on 3 December 2012 at Hong Kong's Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival.
Bastille's song "Oblivion" featured in the soundtrack of the television show The Vampire Diaries in the Season 4 Episode 9 titled "O Come, All Ye Faithful".
They supported Two Door Cinema Club on their UK tour throughout January/February 2013 and toured through Europe in April to promote their debut album.
The band have also released four mixtape-style EPs : "Other People's Heartache Pt 1" in 2012 (featuring covers, among others, of "Blue Jeans" by Lana del Rey, "The Rhythm of The Night" by Corona) , "Other People's Heartache Pt 2" (featuring covers, including, "Sweet Nothing" by Calvin Harris, "No Scrubs" by TLC and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac), "VS: Other People's Heartache Pt 3" (featuring collaborations with other artists, including "Remains" with Skunk Anansie and Rag'n'Bone Man, and "bad_news" with MNEK). "Other People's Heartache (Pt. 4)" was released in 2018 (featuring more covers, one of "Wild World" by Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and an original song Grip in collaboration with Seeb, and the latest addition to this series (Pt. 5) was released in 2022 (including the song Run Into Trouble and a cover of "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen).
Of the Night
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burning, burning, burning
Floating through the room as the hairs on my arms are
Rising, rising, rising
I'm chemically drawn closer to you
Eyes wide, eyes wide open
Will you be my future or just an escape?
Love me, love me, love me
You'll never get to heaven on a night like this
Those nights when your friends are gone
When you're holding on for someone to leave with
Those nights when you crave someone
To be there at dawn, to wake with, 'cause aren't we all just
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
Looking for somebody you can wake up with?
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
We are, we are
Pulling at my t-shirt, your hands everywhere
Rising, rising, rising
As you trip and fall, dragging me up the stairs
What's your, what's your name, now?
You try to get to heaven on a night like this
But you, you never get to heaven on a night like this
Those nights when your friends are gone
When you're holding on for someone to leave with
Those nights when you crave someone
To be there at dawn, to wake with, 'cause aren't we all just
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
Looking for somebody you can wake up with?
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
We are, we are
The lights, the lights, the lights
They cut a path across the room
The lights, the lights, the lights
A blinding look from me to you
And I'll be your rabbit in the headlights
We'll never get to heaven
I'll be your rabbit in the headlights
We'll never get to heaven
Those nights when your friends are gone
When you're holding on for someone to leave with
Those nights when you crave someone
To be there at dawn, to wake with, 'cause aren't we all just
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
Looking for somebody you can wake up with?
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
We are, we are
Yeah, yeah
From my brain
The lyrics to Bastille's "Of the Night" describe a night out at a club or party, where the singer is drawn to someone they're interested in. They can feel the person's eyes on them, and they're physically and chemically attracted to them. The singer wonders if this connection could be more than just a fling or an escape from the daily grind. The chorus warns against expecting too much from a night like this, because it often leads to disappointment. The second verse adds more detail to the scene, with the two people getting physical and the singer still unsure of the other person's name. The bridge highlights the fleeting, transient nature of the connection, as the lights create a momentary connection between the two. The final chorus brings the focus back to the singer's longing for a deeper connection in a world that can feel hopeless.
Overall, "Of the Night" is a bittersweet song about the joys and pitfalls of seeking connection in a chaotic world. The verses convey a sense of attraction and excitement, but the chorus is a cautionary tale about setting unrealistic expectations. The bridge suggests that even temporary connections can feel powerful and intense, although the idea of never reaching "heaven" suggests that this satisfaction is fleeting at best. The final chorus is a plea for hope and companionship, in a world where both can be hard to find.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel your eyes in the back of my head
I sense your gaze upon me even without looking
Burning, burning, burning
Intense and consuming
Floating through the room as the hairs on my arms are
Moving effortlessly, causing hairs on my arms to stand on end
Rising, rising, rising
Continuously increasing in intensity
I'm chemically drawn closer to you
I feel a physical and emotional pull towards you
Eyes wide, eyes wide open
My eyes are open wide, focused on you
Will you be my future or just an escape?
Are you someone I can commit to long-term or are you just a temporary distraction?
Love me, love me, love me
Expressing a desire for love and affection
You'll never get to heaven on a night like this
You cannot achieve true happiness or fulfillment in this moment
Those nights when your friends are gone
Referring to times when close companions are absent
When you're holding on for someone to leave with
Desiring someone to leave with, potentially for romantic reasons
Those nights when you crave someone
Wanting companionship and connection with another person
To be there at dawn, to wake with, 'cause aren't we all just
Desiring someone to wake up with and start the day alongside as we all seek companionship and love
Looking for a little bit of hope these days?
Searching for a glimmer of positivity and optimism in a difficult time
Looking for somebody you can wake up with?
Desiring a companion to share the start of each day with
The lights, the lights, the lights
Referencing bright and intense lighting in the environment
They cut a path across the room
Creating a visual effect of illuminated pathways in the space
A blinding look from me to you
Eye contact between two people that is intense and possibly overwhelming
And I'll be your rabbit in the headlights
I will be frozen and overwhelmed by my feelings for you, like a rabbit caught in headlights
We'll never get to heaven
Emphasizing the earlier sentiment of not being able to find true fulfillment or happiness in the moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel Campbell Smith, Mark Blair Crew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam
on Fake it
Has anyone translated the news captions in the music video?
Jeannie Smith
on Pompeii
I like it.