1991 - 2000
Brian, Paul, Dom and Damien Rice form Juniper, having met in school. They go to college, play some weddings, 21st's and Bar Mitzvahs... and for a while have a Sunday night residency in the Kildrought Lounge and Bar, Celbridge. They meet Dave, who weans them off the Neil Diamond and Roxette covers. Band move into house in country, release EP, Manna, and two singles in Ireland. Damien leaves band, the others read about Chuck Yeager and his Right Stuff. They call the new band Bell X1. Bell X1 support Elliott Smith and Bon Jovi in the same 1 week period, leading to severe identity crisis, making small music with big hair. They make their first album, Neither Am I, in the summer/autumn of 1999 with Nick Seymour of Crowded House and release it in Ireland a year later, after much touring and a couple of old singles.
2001
Band take some time to indulge musical differences. Paul records and tours as drummer with Tipperary siren Gemma Hayes, Brian's away with Offaly hearthrob Mundy, and Dave and Dom join Richie Mullen of Lino Richie Carpets, Finglas, in touring cabaret show. Bell X1 regroup in late summer and write songs for what would become Music in Mouth in a house by the sea in Wexford.
2002
Second album recording starts in Ridge Farm studios in Surrey, with producer Jamie Cullum. After 4 weeks they move to the Fallout Shelter, London. The studio has no teapot!! Some moaning. The band take turns to make dinner. Some of it is shit. The world Cup happens. Mixing finishes in July and everyone goes away for a while. Come back and mix it all again. Borrow a friend's house in Kilkenny, record some more songs, play hurling, are laughed at by locals. Music in Mouth finally finished in December, a few days after the birth of Jamie's daughter Ellie, who was both conceived and born during the making of the record.
2003, 2004
The album Music in Mouth is released on July 21st 2003, to tremendous applause, and the band play with all sorts to try to flog it. Tom McRae, Keane, Starsailor, Aqualung and Snow Patrol show them the highways and byways of the UK and continental Europe. Songs from the record appear in many TV series, from Teachers to The OC, and at home the album goes double platinum, with four top 40 singles. In July 2004, the band gather in yet another house in Wexford to write a new record.
2005
Flock is recorded in Dublin and mixed in London, with Roger Becherian producing and Phil Hayes knob twiddling. A shrine to Daniel O' Donnell (Irish singing deity, ref Cliff Richard without ever having had a brush with cool) is created in the green room, Dave creates Pistachio Nut Shell Installation and mustaches are grown. The band take a break from recording and sell out a mini tour in the USA, where they record a live session for Nic Harcourt’s essential show on KCRW in L.A.
Flock is released in Ireland and hits the heights of #1 in the album charts. The band leaves Island Records and sets up its own record label called BellyUp records. A live album called Tour De Flock is released - it is a 2-disc compilation featuring 16 tracks from their sold-out gig at The Point Theatre, Dublin on December 1, 2006.
In 2008, Flock is released in the USA and the band appears on the St. Patrick's Day edition of the Late Show with David Letterman.
On 2nd October, Brian Crosby quits saying "It's been an extraordinary privilege to be in a band with your mates for more than 15 years. I'm really grateful for everything I got to do with Bell X1, for all the adventures we had and for the great support of our fans. It's been particularly wonderful to have connected with so many people and to have got to meet people all over the world doing what I love. I look forward to continue making those connections. At the same time I'll be applauding the boys continued success."
As well as promoting Flock in the USA, the band gets busy recording a new album Blue Lights On The Runway. It finally sees the light of day in 2009, with lead single The Great Defector becoming their biggest hit to date (no. 3 in the Irish charts).
2011
The band will release its newest album Bloodless Coup in stores and online on April 1 in Ireland, April 4 in the UK, April 8 in Germany and Benelux, April 12 in the USA and Canada, and April 26 in France. The album's lead single is “Velcro,” which the band performed on The Rachael Ray Show on St. Patrick's Day.
Amsterdam Says
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks like they're thinking, thinking of jumping
I wake to the church bells playing those funky tunes, hey jude
Up in the tower, carillonneurs thumping
I'm trying to love you but you treat me like a hotel
You're coming and going, but you never say where
I'm trying to love you, but I see your heart is elsewhere
I'm dragging my suitcase through Chinatown and the Rokin Dam
The racket it's making banging a tourist
Now this is my home,
Though these roots will only ever be so long
It is what it is
I'm trying to love you but you treat me like a hotel
You're coming and going, but you never say where
I'm trying to love you, but I see your heart is elsewhere
Amsterdam says goodnight
I'm trying to love you but you treat me like a hotel
You're coming and going, but you never say where
I'm trying to love you, but I see your heart is elsewhere
Amsterdam says with steel in her voice
"I may seem rude to you but I prefer to hear it straight
And not have to wade through the bullshit between the lines
I know I'm beautiful, and I shouldn't work, but I do
And I can do better than you."
The lyrics of Bell X1's "Amsterdam Says" are about a person who is trying to love someone but is constantly treated like a hotel. The verses describe different aspects of Amsterdam, such as the cars by the water and the church bells playing funky tunes. The bridge describes the singer's struggle to love someone who is not fully committed and is constantly coming and going without any explanation. The chorus repeats the idea that Amsterdam says goodnight, as if the city is somehow empathetic to the singer's emotions.
The last verse of the song takes a more confrontational tone, as Amsterdam speaks with steel in her voice. She declares that she prefers to hear things straight and doesn't want to have to deal with any "bullshit between the lines." Amsterdam also asserts her own beauty and work ethic, stating that she can do better than the singer. This final verse provides a sense of closure to the song, with Amsterdam asserting her own agency and the singer coming to terms with the reality of the situation.
Overall, "Amsterdam Says" is a reflection on the difficulty of loving someone who is not fully invested in the relationship. The song draws upon vivid images of Amsterdam to create a sense of atmosphere and place, while the lyrics themselves are introspective and emotive.
Line by Line Meaning
Cars by the water, water that makes this place stand still
Cars parked by the water give the appearance that Amsterdam is standing still
Looks like they're thinking, thinking of jumping
The people standing by the water may be considering jumping in
I wake to the church bells playing those funky tunes, hey jude
The singer wakes up to the sound of church bells playing music, including 'Hey Jude'
Up in the tower, carillonneurs thumping
The carillonneurs in the church tower are playing the music loudly
I'm trying to love you but you treat me like a hotel
The artist feels like they are being used for convenience, like a hotel
You're coming and going, but you never say where
The other person is inconsistent and does not communicate their plans
I'm trying to love you, but I see your heart is elsewhere
The singer realizes that the other person's heart is not fully dedicated to the relationship
Amsterdam says goodnight
The city of Amsterdam metaphorically says goodnight, closing off the day
I'm dragging my suitcase through Chinatown and the Rokin Dam
The artist is walking through different parts of Amsterdam with their suitcase
The racket it's making banging a tourist
The suitcase is making a lot of noise and may be attracting attention from tourists
Now this is my home,
The singer considers Amsterdam their home
Though these roots will only ever be so long
The artist realizes that they will only have limited roots in Amsterdam as they are not originally from there
It is what it is
The current situation cannot be changed and must be accepted
Amsterdam says with steel in her voice
Again, the city of Amsterdam metaphorically speaks, this time with firmness and determination
"I may seem rude to you but I prefer to hear it straight
The singer imagines Amsterdam saying that they appreciate straightforward communication
And not have to wade through the bullshit between the lines
Amsterdam dislikes dealing with insincere or confusing messages
I know I'm beautiful, and I shouldn't work, but I do
The artist imagines Amsterdam saying that despite being attractive, the city still requires work
And I can do better than you."
Amsterdam metaphorically rejects the idea of settling for someone who does not respect or appreciate all that the city has to offer
Contributed by Brayden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Taylor Coman
"I may seem rude to you, but I prefer that you were straight
And not have to wade through the bullshit between the lines
I know I'm beautiful and I shouldn't work, but I do
And I can do better than you"
Most heartbreaking lyrics ever
Becky W
this sing gives me goosebumbs :) just beautiful, love Bell X1
Enrico Baldolini
I discovered Bell X1 only a few days ago, Bloodless Coup is absolutely astonishing! I hope Bell X1 will get the success they deserve, in Italy too.
Frankssssss
Again, when I hear this, the verse (especially the first) reminds me a lot of the verses in U2's Running To Stand Still, right?
Becky W
does anyone know/have the lyrics to the song?
Canberk Eşmeliler
any chords for this song ?!
gnamo30
Thank You!!!
patricia mc donald
Just here on night duty thinking about music at 6.06am on the 10/12/2020
Ryan Reid
Paul says 'i may seem rude to you, but i prefer to hear it straight' (also posted on the bellyboard forum for you gnamo30 :)
gnamo30
what does Paul say @4:58-5:02???