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).
The Anchor
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let alarms ring out
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Let the days be dark
Let me hate my work
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Bring me some hope
Something to hold onto
Morning, or day, or night
You were the light that is blinding me
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
'Cause when it feels when I'm lost at sea
You're the song that I sing again and again
All the time, all the time
I think of you all the time
Let the parties end when we lose our friends
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Let the years roll on 'till the static comes
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Bring me some hope
By wandering into my mind
Something to hold onto
Morning, or day, or night
You were the light that is blinding me
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
'Cause when it feels like I'm lost at sea
You're the song that I sing again and again
All the time, all the time
I think of you all the time
All the time, all the time
I think of you all the time
Bring me some hope
By wandering into my mind
Something to hold onto
Morning, or day, or night
You were the light that is blinding me
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
'Cause when it feels when I'm lost at sea
You're the song that I sing again and again
All the time, all the time
I think of you all the time
All the time, all the time
I think of you all the time
In "The Anchor," Bastille explores the idea of finding solace and stability in a chaotic and noisy world. The song begins with the acknowledgment of the distractions and noise around, symbolized by loud fools and ringing alarms. However, amidst all this chaos, there is someone who stands out and cuts through the noise. This person becomes the anchor, providing a sense of stability and clarity.
The lyrics express a yearning for hope and a longing for something to hold onto. The singer welcomes the darkness and even hates their work, but the presence of this person cuts through all of it. They bring light, both literal and metaphorical. They are blinding in their impact, illuminating the singer's path and making them feel anchored.
The chorus reinforces the importance of this person's presence. They are the anchor that the singer ties to their brain, providing stability and security. When the singer feels lost at sea, this person becomes the song that they sing again and again, providing comfort and familiarity.
The second verse presents a similar sentiment, with the hope that parties end and years roll on, as the noise and chaos fade away. This person cuts through everything, offering a consistent presence and support. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the enduring thoughts and memories of this person, as they are constantly on the singer's mind.
Overall, "The Anchor" speaks of the profound impact someone can have on one's life, acting as a stabilizing force in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Their presence brings hope, light, and a sense of purpose, allowing the singer to navigate through the noise and find comfort in their thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
Let those fools be loud
Allow others to be noisy and foolish
Let alarms ring out
Allow loud and alarming sounds
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Because you bring clarity and calmness
Let the days be dark
Allow the days to be gloomy and depressing
Let me hate my work
Allow me to dislike my job
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Because you bring clarity and calmness
Bring me some hope
Give me a reason to be optimistic
By wandering into my mind
By entering my thoughts unpredictably
Something to hold onto
Something to grasp and rely on
Morning, or day, or night
Any time of the day
You were the light that is blinding me
You were the overwhelming brightness in my life
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
You're the stabilizing force in my thoughts
'Cause when it feels like I'm lost at sea
Because when I feel disoriented and adrift
You're the song that I sing again and again
You're the melody I repeatedly sing
All the time, all the time
Constantly, without interruption
I think of you all the time
You are always in my thoughts
Let the parties end when we lose our friends
Allow the celebrations to stop when we no longer have companions
'Cause you cut through all the noise
Because you bring clarity and calmness
Let the years roll on 'till the static comes
Allow time to pass until the interference and confusion occurs
Bring me some hope
Give me a reason to be optimistic
You were the light that is blinding me
You were the overwhelming brightness in my life
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
You're the stabilizing force in my thoughts
'Cause when it feels like I'm lost at sea
Because when I feel disoriented and adrift
You're the song that I sing again and again
You're the melody I repeatedly sing
All the time, all the time
Constantly, without interruption
I think of you all the time
You are always in my thoughts
Bring me some hope
Give me a reason to be optimistic
By wandering into my mind
By entering my thoughts unpredictably
Something to hold onto
Something to grasp and rely on
Morning, or day, or night
Any time of the day
You were the light that is blinding me
You were the overwhelming brightness in my life
You're the anchor that I tie to my brain
You're the stabilizing force in my thoughts
'Cause when it feels when I'm lost at sea
Because when I feel disoriented and adrift
You're the song that I sing again and again
You're the melody I repeatedly sing
All the time, all the time
Constantly, without interruption
I think of you all the time
You are always in my thoughts
All the time, all the time
Constantly, without interruption
I think of you all the time
You are always in my thoughts
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.