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.
Careful What You Wish For
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I never thought I'd be here
Running past you now
But you're holding out on me
Strip of lace on your collar bone
I think I caught you catching me
I space off
Is there is a time for us?
Or will we just hold on quietly,
White knuckles and dry tears?
And play our part in this
No spoiler, no reveal
Careful what you wish for
Careful what you wish for
'Cause these bulbs are the fluorescent kind
And no one looks good in this light
The crack is wide enough, already
Any more would be too bright,
To keep this alive
Yeah this sweet dull ache
In the shadow and half light
Careful what you wish for
Careful what you wish for
'Cause these bulbs are the fluorescent kind
And no one looks good in this light
Careful what you wish for.
Careful what you wish for.
'Cause these bulbs are the fluorescent kind
And no one looks good in this light
The lyrics of Bell X1's "Careful What You Wish For" explore the idea of how sometimes we can yearn for things or people that may not be good for us in the end. The first verse starts off with the realization that time is running out and things are moving quickly, which comes as a surprise to the singer. He then talks about running past someone while they are holding out on him, implying that there are issues or obstacles in their relationship. The line "strip of lace on your collar bone" suggests a moment of intimacy or attraction, but the singer is also aware of his own tendency to space out and not fully engage.
The chorus warns of the consequences of getting what you wish for. The image of "these bulbs [being] the fluorescent kind" symbolizes the harsh truth and reality of a situation, and the fact that "no one looks good in this light" suggests that sometimes the truth can be painful or difficult to face. The second verse reflects the idea of wanting to keep a relationship alive even though it may be fading, and the fear of losing what little is left. The final line "in the shadow and half-light" further emphasizes this feeling of uncertainty and insecurity.
In summary, the lyrics of "Careful What You Wish For" caution against blindly pursuing desires without considering the consequences, and acknowledge the struggle of trying to make a relationship work even when it feels like it's fading away.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming faster now
The inevitable future is approaching at an accelerated pace
And I never thought I'd be here
I never could have predicted that I would end up in this situation
Running past you now
Moving forward while leaving someone behind
But you're holding out on me
The other person is not giving their full commitment or effort
Strip of lace on your collar bone
A detail noticed on the other person's body
I think I caught you catching me
I suspect that the other person is also interested in me
I space off
I lose focus and drift into thought
Is there is a time for us?
Do we have a future together?
Or will we just hold on quietly,
Is silence our only option?
White knuckles and dry tears?
Struggling to hold on while showing little emotion
And play our part in this
Continuing to follow the script in this situation
No spoiler, no reveal
Neither of us is willing to take the first step towards vulnerability
Careful what you wish for
Be cautious about what you desire
Cause these bulbs are the fluorescent kind
The harsh light of reality can expose unflattering truths
And no one looks good in this light
The unfiltered truth can be harsh on everyone
The crack is wide enough, already
The relationship is already damaged
Any more would be too bright,
Any further exposure could be devastating
To keep this alive
Striving to preserve what remains of the relationship
Yeah this sweet dull ache
The bittersweet feeling of holding onto something that's slipping away
In the shadow and half light
This relationship exists in a space of uncertainty and obscurity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maximusaurelius7306
Beautiful...thanks Bell X1, still listening in 2019!
@eires1882
seriously underrated band
@SMELLTHEBULL
Absolutely!
@Hubbledriver
But they are our secret.
@alddominatinMC
Its an sad reflection on the state of the current music industry that this band is not internationally renowned and famous. Instead we are subjected to Miley Cyrus licking hammers...
@STIPOWER97
damn right
@lannaldo
DominatinMC absolutely agree 100%, best comment ever
@kevlally
You can sing that!
@MyGoose75
this band is amazing and are just getting better and better best irish band on the go at the moment
@tallllus
I absolutely love this band.