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).
Durban Skies
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that I've got to be thankful for
In the heat, try to love these streets
In this town, it all went down
Our chromosomes in sepia tones
In my mind, in my mind
Before from our small island
Brought right back to these shores
To these shores, to these shores
It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies
Oh oh oh.
All that I've got to be thankful for
On the day you made your vows
The heaven's opened, rain poured down
It poured down
Down, down
Grey and brown, the seventies
It suits you wore, and the ones you loved
Were so young, were so young,
Lord, you were so young
It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies
Oh oh oh.
All that I've got to be thankful for
Oh, all that I've got to be thankful for
All that I've got to be thankful for
It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies
When you take me there, ooh
When you take me there
It's alive, It's alive
When you take me there
It's alive, It's alive
The song "Durban Skies" by Bastille is a nostalgic look back at the singer's memories of Durban, a coastal city in South Africa. The lyrics take us on a journey through the city streets seen through the singer's eyes as he drives with a companion. The opening lines, "All that I've got to be thankful for," hint at his appreciation of the experience and the relationship he shares with the person driving him. The chorus, "When you take me there, you show me the city, I see it through your eyes," suggests he is seeing the city in a new light, through someone else's memories and experiences, and gaining a deeper appreciation for it.
The second verse, "On the day you made your vows, the heaven's opened, rain poured down, it poured down," adds a layer of emotion to the song, suggesting that the memories being revisited are not just about the city but also about a significant personal event, perhaps a wedding. The line "were so young, Lord, you were so young" adds a bittersweet quality to the memory, emphasizing the passage of time since that moment.
Throughout the song, the chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's newfound appreciation for Durban and the importance of sharing experiences with another person. The song ends with the line "when you take me there, it's alive," underscoring the power of memory and shared experience to breathe life back into places that may have faded from memory.
Line by Line Meaning
All that I've got to be thankful for
The singer expresses their gratitude for their life experiences so far.
In the heat, try to love these streets
Despite the difficulties of living in hot, challenging circumstances, the singer chooses to appreciate the city.
In this town, it all went down
Important events have happened in this town that have greatly impacted the singer.
Our chromosomes in sepia tones
The memories of this town are colored with a vintage feel and convey a sense of nostalgia.
In my mind, in my mind
The memories of the town persistently occupy the artist's thoughts.
Where you lead your lives
The singer is curious about how the locals live their lives in this town.
Before from our small island
The singer and/or their peers previously resided on a small island before coming to this town.
Brought right back to these shores
The singer has returned to this town, which feels familiar and almost like home.
It's alive, It's alive
The energy of the town adds an extra dimension to the surroundings.
When I see it through your eyes
Experiencing this town through someone else's perspective provides the artist with a new level of understanding and appreciation for the town.
Now I understand your lives
Through observing and interacting with the locals, the singer better comprehends how the town and its inhabitants operate.
You show me the city
The people who live in this town provide a guided tour to the artist of the area, highlighting important features.
I see it through your eyes
The singer now sees the town differently, adapting their perception based on the perspectives they have been exposed to.
We drive through the city
The singer is taken on a tour of the town via car.
Beneath the Durban Skies
Throughout the tour, the singer takes in the beauty of the skies over the town, which add an extra layer to the city's ambiance.
On the day you made your vows
A specific day is being referenced in which someone made a commitment to someone else.
The heaven's opened, rain poured down
The weather on this momentous day was dramatic, with the sky opening up and rain pouring down from the heavens.
Grey and brown, the seventies
A muted color palette reminiscent of the aesthetics of the 1970s is utilized to describe the scene.
It suits you wore, and the ones you loved
The clothes worn by those present and the people they care about are recalled by the singer.
Were so young, were so young, Lord, you were so young
The participants in the event were young and naive, with divine intervention being invoked to emphasize this point.
When you take me there, ooh
The artist is eager to be taken back to the town for further exploration.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: 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.