Drawing inspiration from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner's formative years in the gritty streets of north Sheffield, "Hello You" is a blend of nostalgia and hidden pain reminiscent of a grand Hollywood production.
In true Turner fashion, he weaves lyrics that pack a punch, revealing the turmoil beneath the glitz and glamor. With a hint of wry humor, he croons, "I could pass for 17 if I just get a shave. And catch some Zzzs." It's a bittersweet line, capturing the essence of a half-joke that holds a kernel of truth, where the weight of the world rests upon his shoulders.
While Turner's life has evolved far beyond that 17-year-old-looking protagonist, he remains connected to his past through the timeless power of music. "There's always a bit of you that thinks you can pass for 17 still," he smiled to Mojo magazine. "Desperately trying not to say the actual lyrics there, but I ended up doing just that."
Why not rewind to Rawborough Snooker Club?
Where can one find such an establishment?
Rawborough isn't a real place. It is, however, the fictional location of the 1958 British noir thriller Tread Softly Stranger, filmed about eight miles from where Turner grew up.
"To be honest, I haven't seen the film," Turner told Mojo magazine. "But I know about it, because when they were shooting it my grandad got a job driving, moving lights around. And he told us about it. When I was 16 or 17, I used to go with my grandad to the snooker club in Chapeltown. I couldn't use the real name of the snooker club in the song – it's too many syllables, isn't it, but 'Rawborough' seemed like a better fit, it would be clunky otherwise."
Tread Softly Stranger stars Diana Dors, Britain's very own blonde bombshell, alongside George "Inspector Wexford" Baker. Set against the backdrop of Rotherham, the crime drama weaves a web of intrigue and mystery.
Lego Napoleon movie, written in noble gas-filled glass tubes
After the monumental success of 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968, the famous filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick, set his sights set on a new project about Napoleon. Alas, fate had other plans, and the film remained a mere dream. However, from the ashes of this unrealized vision, Kubrick birthed another cinematic gem: A Clockwork Orange.
Fast forward to the present, where Alex Turner playfully muses on the creators of The Lego Movie (2014) picking up Kubrick's abandoned concept. "Well, there's Lego Star Wars and Lego Batman," said Turner to Radio X. "I was imagining those guys taking the Napoleon script that Stanley Kubrick never made. I think it was maybe something like that - they gave it to the Lego guys."
While Turner's mention of the makers of The Lego Movie picking up the idea is a whimsical thought, the line is more a contemplation on the actual creative process of songwriting itself. Turner reflects that in his younger days, he might have shied away from incorporating such fanciful lyrics. "I suppose in the past you would have left out anything that felt like it was on the outskirts of being about the creative process," he explained, "and probably wasn't welcome in the lyrics of the song. I guess there's a reference to having ideas in that moment."
Arctic Monkeys' sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, released in May 2018, garnered critical acclaim. It also divided opinions among listeners because of its stylistic departure. As the South American leg of the album's tour ended, Turner began contemplating new music that returned to a guitar-driven sound, albeit one distinct from their previous album, AM.
Arctic Monkeys started writing for their new album in April and May 2019 at La Frette in Paris with Tranquility producer James Ford. They ultimately scrapped the recordings as the band felt the need to explore new creative avenues, and a fresh approach was necessary.
Following the pandemic lockdown, Arctic Monkeys reconvened with James Ford in the summer of 2021 to lay down music again. For their new recording headquarters, they chose Butley Priory, an ancient monastery nestled along the Suffolk coast. Drawn to its unique energy and having attended several events there, the band found inspiration within its hallowed walls.
Among the remnants of their La Frette sessions, a very early demo of "Hello You" stood as one of the few surviving fragments. Recognizing its potential, they embarked on refining and recording it for inclusion on The Car.
Arctic Monkeys recorded the orchestration at RAK Studios' Studio 1 in London. Turner and Ford co-arranged the strings with British music supervisor, composer, and arranger Bridget Samuels.
The Car earned critical acclaim, with both NME and Time Out naming it the best album of 2022.
Arctic Monkeys performed "Hello You" live for the first time on September 23, 2023 during the encore at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
