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).
Tuning Out...
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees,
Oh night divine, oh night, that leads to morn.
Fall on your knees,
Oh hear the angel voices.
Oh night divine, oh night, when Christ was born.
Oh night, oh holy night, oh night divine.
Hold me in your arms,
Hold me in your arms,
I'll be buried here with you.
And I'll hold in these hands,
All that remains.
Bastille's song Tuning Out starts with a reference to a well-known Christmas hymn 'Oh Holy Night', specifically to the lines that describe the night of the birth of Jesus Christ. The reference to the hymn is interpreted as a way of drawing a parallel between the hope that was felt during the birth of Christ, and the feeling of hopelessness and longing in modern times. The world, as the lyrics suggest, is still weighed down by sin and error, but the birth of Christ is seen as an event that has given worth to the soul, and a feeling of hope to the world.
The second verse shifts the focus from the theme of hope to one of holding on to someone dear. The repeated line "Hold me in your arms" is a plea to be close to someone who is important to the singer, someone who they are willing to be buried with. The final line "All that remains" is ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways - it could be taken to mean that everything else has been lost or destroyed, leaving only what is left in the arms of the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of Tuning Out touch upon themes of hope, loss, and the importance of human connection. Through referencing a well-known hymn, the song draws a connection between the need for hope then and now, and through its plea to be held, it speaks to the importance of human touch, intimacy, and connection in the face of life's uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
The night is quiet and peaceful and the stars are shining brightly, creating a serene and reverent atmosphere.
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
This night is very special because it marks the birth of a beloved Savior.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
For a long time, the world lived in sin and wrongdoings without any hope for redemption.
'til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
However, when the Savior appeared, it gave humans hope and made them feel valued and important.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
The world was tired and had lost hope, but the birth of the Savior gave them a sense of excitement and hope.
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
A bright new day is on the horizon, full of possibilities and opportunities.
Fall on your knees,
Kneel in respect and awe to honor the significance of the moment.
Oh hear the angel voices.
Listen to the heavenly angelic voices singing songs of joy and celebration.
Oh night divine, oh night, that leads to morn.
This night is a divine and special one that will ultimately lead to a glorious morning full of hope and love.
Fall on your knees,
Kneel once again to show devotion and reverence.
Oh hear the angel voices.
Once again, listen to the choir of angels singing a celestial song.
Oh night divine, oh night, when Christ was born.
This is a divine and holy night that marks the birth of Christ, a significant religious figure.
Oh night, oh holy night, oh night divine.
This is a holy and divine night that is incredibly significant and worth celebrating.
Hold me in your arms,
The singer wants to be embraced and held by someone as a comforting gesture.
Hold me in your arms,
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the need for comfort and safety.
I'll be buried here with you.
The artist wants to stay with the person they are addressing, even after death and be buried alongside them.
And I'll hold in these hands,
The artist will carry something important and valuable in their hands.
All that remains.
They will hold and cherish whatever remains after a difficult or challenging situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL SMITH, MARK STERLING CREW, DP
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.