The band was formed by Jack Steadman (vocals, guitar, bass), Jamie MacColl (bass, guitar, banjo, vocals), Suren De Saram (drums) under the name of The Canals when they were 15. Ed Nash (bass, keyboard, mandolin) later joined the trio as they switched between various aliases before picking Bombay Bicycle Club. The band took their name from a chain of curry houses in the London Area and have released four studio albums, "I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose" (2009), "Flaws" (2010), "A Different Kind Of Fix" (2011) and "So long, See You tomorrow" (2014).
After winning the opening slot at V Festival 2006 ('Road to V' competition) and also played Reading / Leeds Festival for the three years running, in Febuary 2007 they released their début EP The Boy I Used To Be. This was followed up in October with the release of their second EP How We Are. In mid-July of 2009 they released their first album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose consisting of 12 tracks. The album peaked at number 46 on the UK Official Album Charts.
In Summer 2010 they released their second album, Flaws . A UK tour co-incided with the release of the album which - surprisingly - is an acoustic recording. Venues on the tour reflected this new acoustic orientation, which gained them a number 8 on the album charts.
The lead single from their third album, A Different Kind Of Fix was released on June 23, 2011 and peaked at #40 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States, the band's first chart appearance in the country. The album reached the number 6 position on the UK album charts.
The band added Amber Wilson to their live party as an additional keyboardist and background vocalist. Singer/songwriter Lucy Rose also joined the live performances on vocals, after featuring on several songs from the albums "Flaws" and "A Different Kind of Fix".
On November 5th, 2013 "Carry me" was released as an advance of their fourth studio album through Island Records. "Luna" was the second single to be extracted from the album "So long, see you tomorrow" which coveted the band their first UK number 1.
After a long 6-year hiatus, the band made a comeback in 2020 with "Everything Else Has Gone Wrong", their fifth record. The album was released on January 16th via Mmm... Records, with eleven tracks.
"We’re thrilled to say that our 5th album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong, is out now.
When we started discussing the possibility of making another record after our a few years away as a band, we said we’d only release an album if we were confident that it stood up to our previous work. We’ve ended up with an album we’re really proud of, and we hope you agree that it’s been worth the 6-year wait.
Recording this one was definitely one of the most enjoyable recording processes we’ve had as a band. Working with John Congleton, we had an initial session in London in early Spring last year at Konk studio, where we’d done our first and fourth albums. We then went to LA in late Summer to record the majority of it with John. Spending 3 weeks in LA was an unforgettable experience for the four of us. It was the first extended period of time we’d spent together in a long while and reinforced what we’d been missing during these few years. We hope that positive energy that was there during those 3 weeks has translated onto the record.
We’ve touched previously on how the album is about the comfort that music can provide in times of need. Hopefully, this record can give you that escape should you ever need it.
We want to get to as many places as possible to play these new songs for you. Wherever you are in the world, fingers crossed we’ll see you soon.
Lots of love
Bombay x."
Sixteen
Bombay Bicycle Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That doesn't work for everyone.
But I'm thinking this could be a one,
If we put our minds to it.
And I came round today,
So I had so much to say;
And I know you hate seeing me this way,
You realise, you realise;
It's real life, it's real life.
You realise, you realise;
It's real life, it's real life. (x2)
Trying to prove you're alright;
And losing track of the time.
Even when the Summer's passing by.
And bringing it down to focus;
And try to bring it down but I'm hopeless;
Andwe should write this down, so we can remember it.
And yes there was a time
When we were two of a kind,
but now I can't even remember why.
You realise, you realise;
It's real life, it's real life.
You realise, you realise;
It's real life, it's real life.
Trying to prove you're alright;
And losing track of the time.
Sixteen is on the side.
Don't waste anytime inside.
Even when the Summer's passing by
The song "Sixteen" by Bombay Bicycle Club is a reflection on teenage years and the desire to hold onto the carefree lifestyle and friendships. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is looking for someone to share their experiences with, but acknowledges that not everyone is a good fit. However, they hope that this particular relationship could be one that works out if they both put in the effort. The second verse talks about the singer speaking with their friend and acknowledging that their behavior may not be ideal, but they are still enjoying themselves. The repetition of "it's real life" emphasizes the theme of experiencing life without inhibition and embracing the present.
The chorus acts as a reminder that time moves quickly, and the teenage years pass by in the blink of an eye. The lines "Trying to prove you're alright" and "And losing track of the time" highlight the pressure teens often feel to fit in and impress their peers, while still enjoying their youth. The following lines "Even when the Summer's passing by" suggest that the singer is not afraid of change, but they want to make the most of their time while they can.
The bridge urges the listener to focus on what's important and to hold onto memories, even if they may not be the happiest. The final lines "Sixteen is on the side, don't waste any time inside" send a message to the listener to enjoy their youth, be adventurous, and not spend too much time indoors.
Overall, "Sixteen" captures the essence of teenage life, the pressures and freedoms that come with it, and the desire to hold onto the good times.
Line by Line Meaning
And so far we had someone
Up until now, we have had a companion by our side.
That doesn't work for everyone.
However, having someone by our side is not necessarily what everyone desires or finds helpful.
But I'm thinking this could be a one,
Despite that, I think this relationship could be meaningful and special.
If we put our minds to it.
If we both make an effort.
And I came round today,
I came by today.
So I had so much to say;
Consequently, I had a lot to share and express.
And I know you hate seeing me this way,
I am aware that you dislike seeing me like this.
But I'm having fun.
Regardless, I am having a good time.
You realise, you realise;
I want you to acknowledge, to acknowledge;
It's real life, it's real life.
This is reality, this is reality.
Trying to prove you're alright;
Attempting to demonstrate that everything is fine;
And losing track of the time.
And getting caught up in the moment.
Even when the Summer's passing by.
Even though the Summer season is quickly going by.
And bringing it down to focus;
And trying to focus on the moment;
And try to bring it down but I'm hopeless;
And that effort to focus is futile, I am failing;
And we should write this down, so we can remember it.
We should record this in writing, so that we can recall this moment vividly in the future.
And yes there was a time
In the past, there was a time
When we were two of a kind,
When we were similar in some ways,
but now I can't even remember why.
However, now I cannot recall why that was the case.
Sixteen is on the side.
The number sixteen is painted on the side of something.
Don't waste time inside.
Do not squander time indoors.
Even when the Summer's passing by.
Even as the Summer season is coming to an end.
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.