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Rating: "We're Arctic Monkeys. This is I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. Don't believe the hype." That's how Alex Turner, frontman of the Arctic Monkeys, introduces his band and the song in question at the beginning of the promotional video for the single. They, in a way, offspring of the New Musical Express, the biggest British music magazine, invite us not to believe in the "hype," which as a verb means "to advertise," but as a noun means "hullabaloo" in the sense of the excitement over something invalid. They, who three days after the release of this single ended up on the NME cover, thus achieving national popularity. We understand, then, that Arctic Monkeys decide from the start to shake off any possible label of being a commercial band, without particular talent.
And the confirmation of this we get from the song itself. "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" is truly a masterpiece. It starts with a guitar riff in pure garage rock style followed by a short solo crescendo, riding the wave of bands that exploded the previous year like Bloc Party or Franz Ferdinand; however, as soon as the first verse begins, you realize that Arctic Monkeys have an edge, as evidenced by brilliant citations present in the lyrics: Duran Duran (your name isn't Rio/but I don't care for sand) or even Alessandro Manzoni's The Betrothed (there ain't no look no Montagues or Capulets). Alex Turner shows us how to describe in an innovative way a serious theme like the temptation for a woman you can't have because you're already committed. Musically, these four young men know their stuff, managing to create a crescendo atmosphere fueled by Matt Helders' drums, playing for two and a half minutes without a break, leading to the end of the track, where Turner's voice, finally worn out, fades into the last chord. RATING 10/10.
We must not forget the two B-Sides, the additional tracks included in most singles, which are often overlooked. "Bigger Boys And Stolen Sweethearts" is a slower and more pop ballad compared to the A-Side. It was also present as the single in the demo collection "Beneath The Boardwalk," and it narrates high school crushes and hearts broken by love. A good track, not up to the song that precedes it. Better, however, is "Chun Li's Spinning Bird Kick", the band's first instrumental track, characterized by a continuous and engaging guitar riff, where Matt Helders' drums are the protagonist, offering excellent tempo changes that make listening to the track similar to reading a literary transposition of an action story in a Spike Lee film.
In conclusion, after this single, things were never the same again for the Arctic Monkeys; the young lads from Sheffield conquered the United Kingdom, breaking record after record with their debut album.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (02:54)
Stop making the eyes at me, I'll stop making the eyes at you
And what it is that surprises me, is that I don't really want you to
When your shoulders are frozen
(cold as the night)
Oh but you're an explosion
(you're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, with a bang-go!
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
From 1984!
I wish you'd stop ignoring me, because it's sending me to despair
Without a sound yeah you're calling me, and I don't think it's very fair
That your shoulders are frozen
(cold as the night)
Oh and you're an explosion
(you're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
Lighting the fuse might result in a bang, ba ba bang-go!
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or...
I don't know what ya looking for
I said I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
From 1984!
And oh there ain't no love no, Montague’s and Capulets
We just banging tunes 'n' DJ sets 'n'
Dirty dance floors and dreams of naughtiness
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
From 1984!
02 Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts (02:58)
There's always somebody taller
With more of a wit
And he's equipped to enthrall her
And her friends think he's fit
And you just can't measure up no
You don't have a prayer
Wishing you had made the most of her
When she was there
They've got engaged
No intention of a wedding
He's pinched your bird
And he'd probably kick your head in
Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts
You're better off without her anyway
You said you wasn't sad to see her go
Yeah but I know were though...
Now you don't know what she's up to
You can only assume
She's not in front of the shops then
They've gone to his room
But she's gone round in her school stuff
And that's what he likes
I know you thought she was different
And you thought she was nice
But she's not nice
She's pretty fucking far from nice
She's looking at you funny
Rarely looking at you twice
Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts
You're better off without her anyway
You said you wasn't sad to see her go
Yeah but it's clear you were though...
(Solo)
Have you heard what she's been doing?
Never did it for me
He picks her up at the school gate
At twenty past three
She's been with all the boys
But never went very far
She whacked English and Science
Just to go in his car
They've got engaged
There's No intention of a wedding
He's pinched me bird
And he'd probably kick my head in, oh
Now the girls have grown
Yeah but I'm sure that they still carry on in similar ways
Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts
Oh I'm better off without her anyway
I said I wasn't sad to see her go
But I'm only pretending, you know
Yeah, I'm only pretending, you know
Yeah, I'm only pretending, you know
Oh I was only pretending, you know
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