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).
Power
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause pain, I can take it easily
Did you really think I'd fall to my knees
Just to pray for some sweet simplicity?
'Cause woah, you're squeezing my heart
Too hard in your bare hands, they hold too tight
And woah the air is on fire
Power, power
I will never understand the power you're holding over me
Power, power
Oh you've had it too long, yes you've had it too long
Pain, just synapses firing in our brain
So when you cut me, cut me deep
Hurt the ones you love the most easily
'Cause in time we show our Achilles's heels
And woah, you're squeezing my heart
Too hard in your cold bare hands, they hold too tight
And woah the air is on fire
This room feels electric, cord here in your sights
Power, power
I will never understand the power you're holding over me
Power, power
Oh you've had it too long, yes you've had it too long
If you're gonna hit me, hit me harder (hit me, hit me harder)
'Cause you better knock me out the first time
And if you're do this with the plaster (do this with the plaster)
Power, power
Blows my mind to think I ever let you hold it over me
Power, power
I will never understand the way I let you hold it over me
Power, power
Well you've had it too long, yes you've had it too long
Power, oh, oh, power, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Power, power
I let you have it too long, yes you've had it too long
The lyrics of "Power" by Bastille reflect on the idea of power dynamics in a relationship. The song talks about the power that one person holds over the other and how it affects them. It begins with the person asking their partner to give their best shot and bring on the pain because they can take it easily. They make it clear that they would not fall and pray for an easy way out. The person then talks about the same power that their partner is holding over them, the way it feels like their heart is being squeezed too tight in cold, bare hands.
The song further talks about how pain is just a firing of synapses in the brain, and the one who cuts deeply sometimes ends up hurting the ones they love the most. The person also mentions that over time, we all show our Achilles heels, almost like inviting the partner to discover it in them. The person later asks their partner to hit them harder since they need to come out strong the first time if they are going to hit them. The lyrics end with a realization that the person has allowed their partner to have the power over them for too long.
Overall, the song analyzes how power dynamics in a relationship can affect a person's self-esteem and autonomy. It talks about how the power balance can tilt to one side, and the one who holds it can use it in ways that could end up hurting the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Aim, throw your best shot right at me
Challenge me with your worst, I can handle it
'Cause pain, I can take it easily
Pain is just a sensation and it won't defeat me
Did you really think I'd fall to my knees
I won't submit to you, even if you want me to
Just to pray for some sweet simplicity?
I won't beg for mercy or a simpler fate
'Cause woah, you're squeezing my heart
Your grip on me is too tight and painful
Too hard in your bare hands, they hold too tight
You're holding onto me too tight and it's hurting me
And woah the air is on fire
The tension in the room is palpable and overwhelming
This room feels electric, cord here in your sights
The atmosphere is charged with tension, and you're the source
Power, power
You have power over me that I don't understand
I will never understand the power you're holding over me
I don't know how you have this hold on me and it confuses me
Oh you've had it too long, yes you've had it too long
You've been in control for too much time and it needs to end
Pain, just synapses firing in our brain
Pain is just electrical impulses in our nervous system
So when you cut me, cut me deep
If you want to hurt me, hurt me properly and leave a lasting mark
Hurt the ones you love the most easily
It's easier to cause pain to people you love or are close to
'Cause in time we show our Achilles's heels
Eventually, our weaknesses are exposed and exploited
If you're gonna hit me, hit me harder
If you're going to attack me, give it your all from the start
'Cause you better knock me out the first time
If you don't incapacitate me from the first blow, I'll fight back
And if you're do this with the plaster
If you want to fix things with a half-hearted attempt
Blows my mind to think I ever let you hold it over me
I can't believe I allowed you to have this much power over me
Well you've had it too long, yes you've had it too long
You've held onto your power for too long and it's time to let go
Power, oh, oh, power, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The power dynamic in this relationship is overwhelming and all-consuming
I let you have it too long, yes you've had it too long
I'm responsible for letting you keep control for too long, and now it's time to reclaim it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
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.