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).
Good Grief
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching through my fingers
Watching through my fingers
Shuts my eyes and count to ten
It goes in one ear out the other, oh
One ear out the other, oh
Now you'll be missing from the photographs
Missing from the photographs
Watching through my fingers
Watching through my fingers
In my thoughts you're far away
And you are whistling a melody
Whistling a melody
Crystallizing clear as day
Oh, I can picture you so easily
Picture you so easily
What's gonna be left of the world if you're not in it?
What's gonna be left of the world? Oh
Every minute and every hour
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Every stumble and each misfire
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Watching through my fingers
Watching through my fingers
Caught off guard by your favorite song
I'll be dancing at a funeral
Dancing at a funeral
Sleeping in the clothes you love
It's such a shame we have to see them burn
Shame we have to see them burn
What's gonna be left of the world if you're not in it?
What's gonna be left of the world? Oh
Every minute and every hour
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Every stumble and each misfire
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
"If you want to be a party animal, you have to learn to live in the jungle
Now stop worrying and go get dressed"
You might have to excuse me
I've lost control of all of my senses
And you might have to excuse me
I've lost control of all of my words
So get drunk, call me a fool
Put me in my place, put me in my place
Pick me up, up off the floor
Put me in my place, put me in my place
Every minute and every hour
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Every stumble and each misfire
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Watching through my fingers
Watching through my fingers
'Cause every minute and every hour
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
The lyrics of Bastille's hit song Good Grief explore themes of loss and grief, with the singer reminiscing about a loved one who is no longer with them. The opening line, "So, what would you little maniacs like to do first?", is a reference to the 1985 movie Weird Science and sets the tone for the song's nostalgic and somewhat chaotic feel. The phrase "watching through my fingers" is a common expression used when someone is scared or anxious, and it underscores the singer's feelings of apprehension and unease as they recall memories of the past.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Every minute and every hour, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more / Every stumble and each misfire, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more," emphasizing the depth of the singer's longing for their loved one. The verse "Caught off guard by your favorite song / I'll be dancing at a funeral / Sleeping in the clothes you love / It's such a shame we have to see them burn" further exemplifies the complex emotions associated with loss - the singer is both grieving but also remembering happier moments with the loved one. The reference to dancing at a funeral can also be seen as a celebration of life, rather than just sadness.
Overall, the song is a moving meditation on the experiences of loss and grief, and the powerful emotions that they can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching through my fingers
I am scared to face reality and watch from a hiding place
Shuts my eyes and count to ten
I take a deep breath and imagine for ten seconds to calm myself
One ear out the other, oh
I don't listen to unwanted words that don't matter to me anymore
Burning bright right 'til the end
Living life to the fullest without any regrets is a must
Now you'll be missing from the photographs
You choosing to leave affected even our pictures
In my thoughts you're far away
You are not near me, but I can still think of you
Whistling a melody
You are happy without me and doing something to keep yourself occupied
Crystallizing clear as day
I have a clear visual of how you look and act like in my mind
Oh, I can picture you so easily
Thinking of you is no big deal because I know you too well
What's gonna be left of the world if you're not in it?
My life holds no meaning without you in it
Every minute and every hour
Every fleeting moment without you is painful
I miss you, I miss you, I miss you more
Expressing how much I long to have you by my side
Caught off guard by your favorite song
Your memory hits me suddenly, triggered by a song you loved
I'll be dancing at a funeral
I'm prepared to celebrate your life even if it is on your death day
Sleeping in the clothes you love
I sleep with your clothes because it reminds me of your presence
It's such a shame we have to see them burn
I feel regret to see the things that remind me of you get destroyed
You might have to excuse me
I apologize in advance for my behavior
I've lost control of all of my senses
My emotions have taken over and I can't think coherently
I've lost control of all of my words
My words are not consistent with my thoughts and feelings
So get drunk, call me a fool
I drink to forget, even if it means making myself look foolish
Put me in my place, put me in my place
I need someone to tell me the truth and help me cope
Pick me up, up off the floor
I need someone to lift me up and bring me back to reality
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.