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).
An Act of Kindness
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is what you show to me
Not more than I can take
Not more than I can take
Kindness is what you show to me
It holds me 'till I ache
Overflow and start to break
Oh I, kind of hoping this will turn me round
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
An act of kindness
Is what you show to me
It caught me by surprise in this town of glass and eyes
Kindness, so many people pass me by
But you warm me to my core and you left me wanting more
Oh I, got a feeling this will shake me down
Oh I, kind of hoping it will turn me round
Oh I, got a feeling that however slow
Oh I, kind of hoping this will reach my soul
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
Oh my back's up against the wall
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
Want nothing in return
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
Oh my back's up against the wall
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
Want nothing in return
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
And now it follows me every day
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
Back's up against the wall
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
And you want nothing in return
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
The lyrics of Bastille's song "An Act of Kindness" speak to the transformative power of kindness and its impact on the singer's life. The song portrays kindness as something that is both unexpected and precious, capable of providing comfort and healing. The repetition of the phrase "is what you show to me" emphasizes the personal nature of the kindness portrayed in the song, suggesting that it has a profound effect on the singer.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of vulnerability on the part of the singer. They express a feeling of being overwhelmed and on the verge of breaking, but also a hope that this act of kindness will bring about a positive change. This reflects the idea that sometimes small acts of kindness can have a powerful influence on a person's emotional well-being, offering solace and the potential for personal growth.
The chorus repeats the idea that this act of kindness follows the singer every day, highlighting its enduring impact. The lyrics suggest that this act of kindness stands out in a world that can often be cold and indifferent. It is portrayed as a source of warmth and a reminder that there is goodness and compassion in the world. The song ultimately conveys a sense of gratitude for the kindness shown and the desire to reciprocate and hold onto that feeling.
Overall, "An Act of Kindness" is a song that explores the profound impact that a simple act of kindness can have on an individual. It highlights the power of human connection and compassion in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
An act of kindness
A compassionate gesture
Is what you show to me
It's how you treat me
Not more than I can take
Not exceeding my capacity
Not more than I can take
Not exceeding my capacity
Kindness is what you show to me
Compassion is your display towards me
It holds me 'till I ache
It embraces me until I feel pain
Overflow and start to break
Overflow and begin to shatter
Oh I, got a feeling this will shake me down
Oh, I have a sensation that this will deeply affect me
Oh I, kind of hoping this will turn me round
Oh, I am somewhat anticipating that this will change my direction
And now it follows me every day
And now it accompanies me daily
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
And now it accompanies me incessantly
It caught me by surprise in this town of glass and eyes
It unexpectedly shocked me in this town full of transparency and scrutiny
Kindness, so many people pass me by
Compassion, numerous individuals ignore me
But you warm me to my core and you left me wanting more
But you comfort me deeply, and you made me crave for more
Oh I, got a feeling this will shake me down
Oh, I have a sensation that this will deeply affect me
Oh I, kind of hoping it will turn me round
Oh, I am somewhat anticipating that this will change my direction
Oh I, got a feeling that however slow
Oh, I have a sensation that regardless of the slowness
Oh I, kind of hoping this will reach my soul
Oh, I am somewhat anticipating that this will touch my soul
Oh my back's up against the wall
Oh, I feel cornered
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
I experience guilt, I experience guilt
Want nothing in return
Desire no reciprocation
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
I experience guilt, I experience guilt
Oh my back's up against the wall
Oh, I feel cornered
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
I experience guilt, I experience guilt
Want nothing in return
Desire no reciprocation
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
I experience guilt, I experience guilt
And now it follows me every day
And now it accompanies me daily
And now it follows me every day, every day, every day
And now it accompanies me incessantly
And you want nothing in return
And you desire no reciprocation
I feel guilty, I feel guilty
I experience guilt, I experience guilt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK CREW, DANIEL SMITH
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.