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.
Motorcades
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say I'm just showing off
In front of the visitors
You say I'm going
For cheap, cheap laughs
He's my offstage prompter
It's true he helps me connect
I don't know that that's about,
What's that about?
We will receive you
In the good room
That still smells of Pledge
Pictures of our smiling faces
Stations of the cross
Of teeth and puberty
She cries at motorcades
She cries at motorcades
She cries at motorcades, she cries
Now before you start
I'm not making fun
People cry at the
Strangest things
Mine is the Venezuelan national anthem
So many deepest of feelings
So much emotional porn
Public declarations
Windy words that fill
The sails of empty vessels
She cries at motorcades
She cries at motorcades
She cries at motorcades, she cries
What is it that gets her?
Is it the strong arm of the state?
Little flags and outriders
Shiny gloves that part
The sea of the little people
Or is the getting from A to B?
Behind tinted windows
Carry the weight of the world
But it's the least we can do
To ease your passage
Leave us in this
Blissful ignorance
The song "Motorcades" by Bell X1 is a commentary on the spectacle of power, politics, and celebrity. The song's lyrics describe a scene where the singer is accused of being flashy and insincere in front of guests. He then speaks about his "offstage prompter" who helps him connect with his "big Napoleon," a metaphor for the inflated sense of self-importance that often comes with success. The chorus is a repeated refrain about a woman who cries at motorcades. The song then turns to the singer's own tendency to cry at the Venezuelan national anthem and the idea that many people cry at strange things. The second verse explores what it is that moves the woman to tears at the motorcades - the spectacle of pomp and circumstance, the feeling of being carried along by the weight of the world, or something else entirely. In the end, the song seems to suggest that there is something to be said for being able to tune out the spectacle and find blissful ignorance.
Line by Line Meaning
You say I get a little nasty
You think I act inappropriately or impolitely.
You say I'm just showing off
You accuse me of trying too hard to impress others.
In front of the visitors
When I'm around people who are not typically in our circle.
You say I'm going
You comment that my behavior is leaning towards.
For cheap, cheap laughs
You believe that I am trying to be funny for the sake of it.
He's my offstage prompter
He helps me get in touch with my innermost self.
It's true he helps me connect
He leads the way to a meaningful relationship with myself.
With my big Napoleon
With my larger-than-life ego that seeks validation.
I don't know that that's about,
I'm not sure what that means or why it's important.
What's that about?
Why is that relevant or significant?
We will receive you
You are welcome in our home.
In the good room
In the room reserved for special guests.
That still smells of Pledge
That has just been cleaned with Pledge.
Pictures of our smiling faces
Photos of us looking happy and content.
Stations of the cross
A religious reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.
Of teeth and puberty
Images capturing our growth and changes as we age.
She cries at motorcades
She becomes emotional when watching a procession of motor vehicles.
Now before you start
Please listen to what I have to say first.
I'm not making fun
I am not trying to ridicule or mock anyone.
People cry at the
Different things evoke strong emotions in people.
Strangest things
Even seemingly insignificant things can trigger tears.
Mine is the Venezuelan national anthem
This is the specific thing that causes me to cry.
So many deepest of feelings
So many profound and intense emotions.
So much emotional porn
So much content designed to manipulate emotions rather than inform or educate.
Public declarations
Statements made for public consumption rather than personal communication.
Windy words that fill
Meaningless words that only serve to make noise.
The sails of empty vessels
Words that sound impressive but contain no real substance.
What is it that gets her?
What is it that affects her so deeply?
Is it the strong arm of the state?
Is it the sight of forces acting on behalf of the government?
Little flags and outriders
Small flags and individuals riding ahead of the procession.
Shiny gloves that part
Gloved hands that signal the beginning or end of the procession.
The sea of the little people
The mass of ordinary citizens who are there to watch the event.
Or is the getting from A to B?
Or is it the simple act of transportation from one place to another?
Behind tinted windows
Shielded from the view of the people watching the motorcade.
Carry the weight of the world
Burdened by heavy responsibilities.
But it's the least we can do
We feel obligated to provide this service.
To ease your passage
To make your journey smoother and more comfortable.
Leave us in this
Allow us to remain in this state of blissful ignorance and lack of understanding.
Blissful ignorance
A state of not knowing or understanding what is really going on.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Karthok
Such an amazing song. Everything about it is just so enjoyable. The lyrics are well written and fun to think about, the pacing is so versatile that I can listen to this song in any mood, happy, sad, hyped, whatever. And just the tone and the rhythm, my god I could listen to this until I die.
Laurie B.
Great song!
Rob O'Driscoll
Nice one lads
OsKlenMr
Great as always [2]