The band has released seven studio albums: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), Humbug (2009), Suck It and See (2011), AM (2013), Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018) and The Car (2022) (the first six of which debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Each of the band's first five singles "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor", "When the Sun Goes Down", "Leave Before The Lights Come On", "Brianstorm" and "Fluorescent Adolescent" hit the UK Top Five, but their sixth single, "Teddy Picker", only went Top 20 and their seventh single, "Crying Lightning" peaked at #12.
The band's rise to success started in late 2004/early 2005 when demo songs that had been handed out in CD form at gigs found their way onto the internet. These demos rapidly spread among message boards and friends leading to a growing fan base for the band, and were collected on the unofficial Beneath the Boardwalk, which the band recognizes on their website. The band owe much of their success to viral buzz via the Internet, and have eschewed typical 'commercial' channels, including refusing to appear on the UK's (now discontinued) Top Of The Pops music program, which was often seen as a gateway to success.
The band's debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, held the record for the largest first week sales of a debut album in the UK (in its first week, it sold more than the rest of the Top 20 albums combined). The album sold over 360,000 copies in its first week, but lost the title in November 2007 to Leona Lewis's album Spirit.
On 19th June 2006 the band officially announced that founding member and bassist Andy Nicholson had left the band after missing the American leg of their tour due to 'fatigue' and the other band members couldn't stand the constant 'missing his girlfriend syndrome' so they told him to sling his hook. Former Dodgems bassist Nick O'Malley was initially brought in as a stand-in, and played the band's remaining summer commitments. He was then announced as Nicholson's permanent replacement.
The single "Leave Before The Lights Come On" came out on August 14th, but only reached Number 4 on the UK charts, denying the band a third consecutive number 1 single.
Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not won the 2006 Mercury Prize, was chosen as the best album of year 2006 by Q Magazine, and received a slew of other accolades.
Their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare was released on April 23rd 2007. It was preceded by "Brianstorm", the first single from the album, which was released a week before. Like its predecessor, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" sold more than the rest of the Top 20 combined, and - due to an error on iTunes - every song on the record appeared on the UK Top 200 Singles the next week.
When asked about Favourite Worst Nightmare Turner commented, "We haven't changed that much. It's still about making contact with girls or not making contact with girls".
The band began to write and record demos for the third album in January 2008, Turner said "We had tunes that we'd already been playing on tour so we recorded them. That’s six [songs]. We’re going to take it easy and start practicing over the summer and doing new stuff."
The band premiered new material from the unreleased album during their January 2009 tour of New Zealand, playing small venues in Wellington and Auckland ahead of the Big Day Out festival. Their first show in more than a year was on January 13, 2009 at Wellington's Town Hall. In both cities, the new songs played were "Crying Lightning", "Go-Kart", "Dangerous Animals" and "Pretty Visitors." The full setlist from the Auckland gig is available online. Also played was a cover of the Nick Cave song "Red Right Hand." During their last tour, the band had played new songs "Put Me In A Terror Pocket", "Sandtrap," and "The Fire and The Thud" live.
Lead singer/songwriter Alex Turner started a two-man project with the singer from the Rascals, Miles Kane.
The band is called 'The Last Shadow Puppets'
The Arctic Monkeys band released their album Humbug in August of 2009, preceded by the single "Crying Lightning"
They released their fourth studio album, Suck It And See, on June 6th, 2011.
They released their fifth studio album, AM, on September 9th, 2013.
They released their sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, with no preceding single releases, on May 11th, 2018.
They released their seventh studio album, The Car, on October 21st, 2022, preceded by the singles "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball", "Body Paint" and "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am".
http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/
10 mardy bum
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen your frown and it's like looking down
The barrel of a gun
And it goes off
And out come all these words
Oh, there's a very pleasant side to you
A side I much prefer
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on
Well, now then, mardy bum
Oh, I'm in trouble again, aren't I?
I thought as much
'Cause you turned over there
Pulling that silent disappointment face
The one that I can't bare
Well, can't we just laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on
And, yeah, I'm sorry I was late
But I missed the train
And then the traffic was a state
And I can't be arsed to carry on in this debate
That reoccurs, oh, when you say I don't care
But, of course I do, yeah, I clearly do
So laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on
The opening lines of "Mardy Bum" set the tone for the whole song - the singer is addressing someone he cares about who is in a bad mood, and he feels helpless to change it. The use of the phrase "looking down the barrel of a gun" is an effective metaphor for the tension and aggression that often arises during an argument. However, the singer does not want to give up on this relationship - he acknowledges that there is a "very pleasant side" to the other person, and that is the person he would rather be with. He remembers happier times when they "cuddled in the kitchen" and it felt like their relationship was "up, up and away."
The second verse explores the frustration the singer feels at being unable to break through his partner's defences. He recognises the way they pull a "silent disappointment face" and feels powerless to change it. He tries to explain himself, telling them that he cares about them, but his words fall on deaf ears. The final verse ends on a slightly optimistic note, though, as the singer pleads with his partner to "laugh and joke around" once more, just like they used to. The song as a whole feels sad and resigned - the singer knows that happy times are possible, but also recognises that it's difficult to overcome the bad days.
Line by Line Meaning
Now then Mardy Bum
Addressing someone who is being grumpy or moody.
I see your frown
Noting the other person's negative facial expression.
And it's like looking down the barrel of a gun
Feeling like you're in danger or being threatened by the other person's mood.
And it goes off
The other person's mood explodes or erupts.
And out come all these words
The other person begins to speak and express their negative feelings.
Oh there's a very pleasant side to you
Acknowledging that there is a positive side to the other person despite their current mood.
A side I much prefer
Expressing a personal preference for the other person's positive side.
It's one that laughs and jokes around
Describing the positive side of the other person as playful and lighthearted.
Remember cuddles in the kitchen
Recalling a past moment of intimacy and warmth between the two people.
Yeah, to get things off the ground
Explaining the purpose of the past intimate moment.
And it was up, up and away
Describing the positive feelings that were generated in the moment.
Oh, but it's right hard to remember
Admitting that it's difficult to focus on the positive when the other person is being negative.
That on a day like today when you're all argumentative
Noting the current negative behavior of the other person.
And you've got the face on
Describing the other person's negative facial expression.
Oh I'm in trouble again, aren't I
Feeling like you're in trouble or at fault for the other person's negative mood.
I thought as much
Realizing that the other person is upset and it's expected that you'll be blamed.
Cause you turned over there
Noting the other person's physical movement to show disapproval or disappointment.
Pulling that silent disappointment face
Describing the specific negative facial expression the other person is making.
The one that I can't bare
Expressing dislike or discomfort with the other person's negative facial expression.
Can't we laugh and joke around
Asking the other person to move past their negative mood and return to a more positive, playful interaction.
Yeah I'm sorry I was late
Apologizing for being late to something.
Well I missed the train
Explaining the reason for being late.
And then the traffic was a state
Further explaining the reason for being late.
And I can't be arsed to carry on in this debate
Expressing fatigue or frustration with continued arguing or negativity.
That reoccurs ,oh when you say I don't care
Repeating a common argument the two people have had before.
Well of course I do, yeah I clearly do!
Asserting that you do care, despite the other person's accusation.
Still it's right hard to remember
Admitting that it's still difficult to focus on the positive in the current negative situation.
That on a day like today when you're all argumentative
Reiterating the other person's negative behavior.
And you've got the face on
Describing the other person's negative facial expression again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pax
on 505
yo this is sick
robin
on When the Sun Goes Down
DAMNNN THEY ARE GOOD GOOD
robin
on Old Yellow Bricks
damn looking at these comments remind me that there is so many things to understand about the lyrics
Birgit Eierhoff
on Do I Wanna Know
The sound goes into the blood. :)
Jeannie Smith
on Do I Wanna Know
I like it.