Fluorescent Adolescent

Album: Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
Charted: 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The writing of this is co-credited to Johanna Bennett, Alex Turner's ex-girlfriend. The song's roots lie in a Mediterranean holiday Turner and Bennett took during which they were reminiscing about characters they knew at school. He recalls in The Times magazine July 28, 2007: "It started off as a joke. Then it were like, 'Here's another verse." We were having a laugh. Some of the lines were hers. I couldn't have not credited her. It's just right, really." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England
  • The song's music video was directed by comedian Richard Ayoade, who is best known for playing the computer geek Maurice Moss in the UK Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd. Ayoade also helmed the band's Live At The Apollo DVD.

Comments: 6

  • Nicolas Oe from BrazilCan someone tell me if there is any relation between the "Remember when you used to be a rascal" phrase and Miles Kane? Was wondering after read this https://www.songfacts.com/facts/arctic-monkeys/505
  • Eve from Ringwood, United KingdomFantastic! Man, I can't get this song outta' my head and it's so damn catchy! I knew the words to it the 2nd time I listened to it!
  • Chloe from St. Louis, MoSounds like the story of a girl who can't get good sex, ahaha.
  • Indigo from Adelaide, Australiadefinately my favourite arctic Monkeys song
  • Jared from Perth, Australiaprobably the best rock song of the past 10 years
  • Marina from Winnipeg, Canadaarctic monkeys are truely unforgetable.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.