The band is currently made up of: Max Kerman (vocals, guitar), Mike DeAngelis (vocals, guitar), Nick Dika (bass), Tim Oxford (drums), and Anthony Carone (vocals, keyboard, guitar)
Originally called Charlemagne, the band changed their name when another band of the same name threatened to sue them. The band is named after Arkell Street in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, ON, near McMaster University, where they lived and would practice their music. All five original band members attended McMaster where lead singer Max Kerman graduated with an honours BA in Political Science. Kerman met guitarist Mike DeAngelis at a McMaster Welcome Week event where the two discovered they had an identical taste in music.
In 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records, and have since signed with Universal Records Canada and Last Gang Records.
Arkells' debut album Jackson Square was released 28 October 2008 on Dine Alone Records. In late 2008, Arkells toured Canada as opening act for Matt Mays & El Torpedo.
In April 2010, Arkells won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year, and on May 15, 2010, were picked to open for Them Crooked Vultures at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. They made headlines while playing a set at Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto after the 2010 Much Music Video Awards, when rapper Shad and pop singer Kesha joined them onstage to freestyle and sing along during a cover of Ms. Jackson by Outkast.
In 2011, the band wrote and recorded their second album Michigan Left, which was released on October 18 of that year. On 6 October 2011 it was announced that Dan Griffin would be leaving the band to go back to school. He was replaced by Anthony Carone.
In 2012, Arkells won the 2012 Juno Award for Group of the Year.
On May 13, 2014, the band released the single "Come to Light", and confirmed the title of the record would be High Noon. The record was released on Dine Alone/Universal Records, August 5, 2014. The band would go on to with the Juno Award for Group of the Year and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards. High Noon was also long listed for the Polaris prize in 2015.
On October 23, 2015, the band released a new EP, "Study Music", which they self-produced and released on Universal Music Canada/Dine Alone Records.
Arkells began teasing new material from their forthcoming album on tour in the spring of 2016. The fourth album, Morning Report, was released on August 5, 2016.
At the Juno Awards of 2017, Arkells were nominated for Juno Award for Group of the Year and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. They performed their viral hit "Drake's Dad" live on the television broadcast
The Arkells released their fifth studio album, Rally Cry, on October 19, 2018, accompanied by a Canadian tour featuring Lord Huron as the opening act. The tour featured the Arkells' largest arena show at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 16, 2019.
On February 25, 2020 the band released the new single and video "Years in the Making". Later that year, on July 30, they released the single "Quitting You", and announced the release of Campfire Chords, a full-length album featuring acoustic versions of earlier songs, on August 20. Each member recorded his part at home during the COVID-19 quarantine and sent it to Carone, who then edited, mixed and produced the pieces into complete songs.
On March 25, 2021 the band released the new single and video "You Can Get It", featuring guest vocals by K.Flay.
Dirty Blonde
Arkells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweating under the sheets
On the third floor
Street sweeper baby passing by
And I tell you
It's starting to roar
Now I could smell her sun kissed skin
In the bed lying near me You haven't tipped your hand yet
You're keeping your cards
Close to your chest
Your thigh highs
And your dirty blonde hair
I'm waiting on you
I got this
Twin bed and it's ours to share
Your thigh highs
And your dirty blonde hair
I'm waiting on you
I'm waiting on you
Lover, what's your next move?
I wasn't dreaming of
Any feelings of love
When I met you
I could hardly come up
With three hundred a month
But you loved my red rented room
Now even with the lights turned off
We know this is so clear
I said baby girl
"Put it on me"
She said
"Boy, you're mine indefinitely"
Your thigh highs
I'm waiting on you
I got this
Twin bed and it's ours to share
Your thigh highs
And your dirty blonde hair
I'm waiting on you
I'm waiting on you
Lover, what's your next move?
Give me your number
Pick any colour
I can tell your fortune tonight
Give me your number
Pick any colour
I can tell your fortune tonight
Convince me
With no words
Fix this
Busted lover
Your thigh highs
And your dirty blonde hair
I'm waiting on you
I got this
Twin bed and it's ours to share
Your thigh highs
And your dirty blonde hair
I'm waiting on you
I'm waiting on you
Lover, what's your next move?
Your thigh highs
I didn't plan for this
But baby I'm not scared
I got this
Twin bed and it's ours to share
I'm waiting on you
I'm waiting on you
Lover, what's your next move?
The song "Dirty Blonde" by Arkells is a tale of a man who is holding out for a love interest who hasn't yet revealed her cards. The song kicks off with the singer unable to sleep, "sweating under the sheets", as a street sweeper passes by. The lyrics vividly describe the anticipation of waiting for his love interest, who he describes with picturesque detail as wearing "thigh highs", and sporting "dirty blonde hair." This is a recurring motif that appears throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's strong attraction to his partner.
The singer goes on to describe how he wasn't looking for love when he first met his partner. He was struggling financially, but his partner supported him and even loved the tiny, red rented room he called home. Even though the lights are turned off, it is clear to both of them the extent of their love for each other.
The song continues with the singer asking for his partner's number and saying that he can tell her fortune tonight. The song ends with the singer asserting his confidence in their relationship, stating he isn't scared, and he has a twin bed to share with his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't fall asleep
The singer was unable to fall asleep.
Sweating under the sheets
The singer was sweating under the bed sheets.
On the third floor
The singer was on the third floor of a building.
Street sweeper baby passing by
A street sweeper was passing by the artist's location.
And I tell you
The artist is informing the listener that something is happening.
It's starting to roar
The singer is describing an escalating situation.
Now I could smell her sun kissed skin
The singer could smell the sun-drenched skin of a nearby person.
In the bed lying near me
The person with sun-kissed skin was lying in the same bed as the artist.
You haven't tipped your hand yet
The artist is awaiting a signal from the other person about their intentions or feelings.
You're keeping your cards
The other person is hiding their intentions or feelings.
Close to your chest
The other person is keeping their intentions or feelings within themselves.
Your thigh highs
The artist is observing the other person's thigh-high stockings.
And your dirty blonde hair
The singer is observing the other person's dirty blonde hair.
I'm waiting on you
The singer is waiting for the other person to make their intentions clear.
I got this Twin bed and it's ours to share
The singer and the other person are sharing a twin bed.
Lover, what's your next move?
The artist is asking the other person to make a move or express their intentions.
I wasn't dreaming of
The artist did not have any expectations of falling in love.
Any feelings of love
The singer did not anticipate experiencing love.
When I met you
The singer is referencing when they first met the other person.
I could hardly come up
The artist was struggling financially.
With three hundred a month
The artist's monthly income was only $300.
But you loved my red rented room
The other person was still attracted to the artist despite their financial situation.
Now even with the lights turned off
The singer and the other person are lying in bed together.
We know this is so clear
The situation between the artist and the other person is obvious and both parties acknowledge it.
I said baby girl 'Put it on me'
The singer made a suggestive comment to the other person.
She said 'Boy, you're mine indefinitely'
The other person responded positively to the singer's comment and is indicating their romantic interest in the singer.
Give me your number
The singer is asking for the other person's phone number.
Pick any colour
The artist is offering the other person to choose anything they want.
I can tell your fortune tonight
The artist is claiming to have psychic abilities and offering to read the other person's fortune.
Convince me
The singer is asking the other person to show how much they care.
With no words
The singer wants the other person to show their affection without speaking.
Fix this
The artist wants to establish a clear romantic relationship with the other person.
Busted lover
The artist is describing themselves as someone who has been rejected or hurt in love.
Your thigh highs
The artist is once again observing the other person's thigh-high stockings.
I didn't plan for this
The singer did not expect to be in a romantic situation with the other person.
But baby I'm not scared
Despite their surprise, the artist is not afraid of the romantic situation with the other person.
Lover, what's your next move?
The singer is still waiting for the other person to make a move or express their feelings.
Contributed by Sydney T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.