Arctic Monkeys
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

THE REVIEW

"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.