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).
Thelma + Louise
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lipstick on, in the Thunderbird
Let's roll
Drive right off of the world (huh)
Leave your job and your gaslight man
Modern life was a big let-down
We're bored, felt like a brick in the wall
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Oh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Runaways under big blue skies
Desert winds, yeah, we made headlines
When you showed him what it means to say no
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart explodingOh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
And suddenly we're Thelma and Louise
You said let's get the hell right out of here, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
Oh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
Days like these
We wanna get away
The lyrics of Bastille's song Thelma + Louise are a tribute to the classic 1991 movie of the same name, which tells the story of two female friends who embark on a road trip that takes a dramatic turn. The song describes a sense of frustration and disillusionment with modern life, urging the listener to break free from the confines of their routine and escape to a place where they can feel truly alive. The opening line of the song sets the tone for this sentiment: "Skipping town, down to Mexico, lipstick on, in the Thunderbird, let's roll, drive right off of the world".
The song paints a picture of rebellion and adventure, using evocative imagery to conjure up the feelings of escapism and abandon that the singers of the film experience. The line "Runaways under big blue skies, desert winds, yeah, we made headlines, when you showed him what it means to say no" suggests that the characters are not just running away from something, but are also taking a stand against oppression and making a statement. The chorus repeats the idea that "Days like these you wanna get away, close our eyes, pretend we're miles away, hear the sound of my heart exploding", emphasizing the sense of urgency and excitement that comes with pursuing a dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Skipping town, down to Mexico
Leaving our current life behind to start fresh in a new place.
Lipstick on, in the Thunderbird
Making ourselves feel confident and powerful as we embark on this adventure.
Let's roll
Let's begin this new journey and not look back.
Drive right off of the world (huh)
Let's leave everything behind and start anew.
Leave your job and your gaslight man
Leaving behind a toxic job and partner who made us doubt our own reality.
Modern life was a big let-down
Our previous way of life left us feeling unfulfilled and unhappy.
We're bored, felt like a brick in the wall
We were trapped in monotony and felt like we were just another faceless person in society.
Days like these you wanna get away
We all have moments where we want to escape our current situation.
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Visualizing ourselves in a different place can help us cope with difficult situations.
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Feeling intense emotion and excitement at the idea of starting a new life.
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
Asking if the other person feels the same level of excitement.
She said to me
The other person acknowledges the intensity of our shared feelings.
Runaways under big blue skies
We are running away from our previous life and embracing the freedom of the open road.
Desert winds, yeah, we made headlines
Our daring escape caught the attention of the media.
When you showed him what it means to say no
We stood up for ourselves and refused to be controlled.
And suddenly we're Thelma and Louise
We are like the famous movie characters who also escaped their old lives.
You said let's get the hell right out of here, oh
The other person was the catalyst for this adventure and pushed us to make the decision to leave.
Days like these / We wanna get away
Reiterating the desire to escape and start over.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dan Smith, Rami Yacoub, Mark Crew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jasmin-yp6mc
Skipping town, down to Mexico
Lipstick on, in the Thunderbird
Let's roll
Drive right off of the world (huh)
Leave your job and your gaslight man
Modern life was a big let-down
We're bored, felt like a brick in the wall
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Oh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Runaways under big blue skies
Desert winds, yeah, we made headlines
When you showed him what it means to say no
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
She said to me
Days like these you wanna get away
Close our eyes, pretend we're miles away
Hear the sound of my heart exploding
Oh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
And suddenly we're Thelma and Louise
You said let's get the hell right out of here, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
Oh, oh
Can you hear the sound of my heart exploding?
Days like these
We wanna get away
@veseystreet
Been a fan since 2013 and they’re pretty much the only band that has never disappointed me. I love how their sound just keeps evolving, and they’re not afraid to keep doing exactly what they want to do. Keep it up guys and I’m SO excited to eventually hear the new music live when you come back to the States xx
@gilbertgrape1464
totally agree
@band_otaku
same!! ive liked so many bands but i eventually move on, but bastille has remained my favorite since i discovered them in 2013. i like how honest they are with their music and it makes me look forward to what theyre gonna put out every time! love them so much they're pretty much the soundtrack of my life at this point
@saturn2491
same here!! I started listening when I was 9ish and I’m now 17 graduating high school and it’s insane that i got to grow up with this band :,)
@daniel.olimma
Same here bro 🤝🏽
@aliciahall8466
Agree!
@missbeliever5133
The part when he sings "suddenly we're thelma and louise" gives me goosebumps everytime 😍😍😍 1:53
@timmyturnup6539
Ive replayed it like 75 times 😂
@timmyturnup6539
“You said lets get the hell right out of HEEEEERE”🎶🎶🎶
@tochukwuudu7763
You said let's get the hell right out here😭