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Looking back at this post, in my mind, it’s possible that there’s more to this lyric than I first thought…

Timing wise, Electricity was recorded by AM in Sheffield in January 2012, which means that Alex is likely written it during this month, or a bit before (for the B-side of the Record Store release of R U Mine?).

AM were on the SIAS tour for much of 2011 (May onwards) and setlist.com shows that Miles played 505 with them no less than 13 times that year.

Miles also went out to Australia with them on 26th December 2011 as support for their tour out there. This is when we get THE performances of Little Illusion Machine. 😍

gif from  i-m-a-leaf-on-the-wind x

Back to, "Be my baby, be my GTO." We know how Alex loves to play with lyrics and especially give double meanings.

GTO cars are the most sought-after collector cars, so Alex could be saying, be my most desired. But, when looking at the actual translation from Italian;

Gran Turismo Omologato = Grand Touring Approved

Could Alex be saying, be that person who is approved to go on big tours with me??

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My new favorite hobbie is cutting milex videos like this so I can specifically appreciate how gay and intimate they are

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Its funny to think about how Milex use female pronouns in their songs to talk about each other, especially when you take into account how miles has been going by "she" on instagram, and how Alex tends to put himself in a female position in his songs. Maybe this points to something they tell only each other 🤔

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S: @any_meni

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My headcanon of how this video was shot

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And what did the Wirral Riddler do?

Maybe he planted an Electric Flower? 🌷

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The nightmarish vibe of "Four out of Five" caught my attention and I immediately thought of a Miles Kane song from the same era: LA 54 (309). There's another nightmare in this song, which Miles admitted was torturing him while his stay in LA. And it started at 3:55 am every night.

So when you pointed out that "4 out of 5" changes mood from min. 3:55, I said "WTF! Either there's real telepathy in Milex universe, or they write together about common experiences, using different metaphors".

Choose your fighter...

Deep dive on Four Out of Five as a musical representation of a manic episode...

...says someone who deals with some level of mania and depression on a regular basis, so obviously I read this stuff into lyrics all the time... ... but here are my thoughts on this, that have just started developing - I'd love to hear what you have to say.

The song starts out with a nice upbeat groove and along with some lyrical storytelling - perhaps about being given sooo many options on what to do next:

lyrics*

Advertise in imaginative ways, start your free trial today Come on in, the water's lovely Look, you could meet someone you like During the meteor strike, it is that easy Lunar surface on a Saturday night, dressed up in silver and white With coloured Old Grey Whistle Test lights Take it easy for a little while Come and stay with us, it's such an easy flight Cute new places keep on popping up Since the exodus, it's all getting gentrified

And it starting to get a bit overwhelming... aka the Information-Action Ratio.

Second verse/chorus repeats, much as above. Puttering along fine, handling the barrage of messages coming at you - all is fine. I said, all is FINE!

Third verse, well, it gets a bit more anxious, and maybe even perfectionistic frustration comes out - e.g. perhaps "nice" is not nearly good enough:

I'm in no position to give advice, I don't want to be nice And you know that

What really got me, though, starts at 3:55, and continues to escalate until the end of the song. At this point - the instrumentation starts to really ramp up, and the lyrical repetition feels like manic thoughts/impulses (to my mind they do, anyway).

Then a little mashup of a lyrical themes from earlier pops up, with a slightly revised lyric:

I put a taqueria on the moon (The Information-Action Ratio) It got rave reviews, four stars out of five

... notice the change from "roof" earlier in the song, to now stating "I put a taqueria on the moon" - reminds me of the idea of a moonshot - referring to the Apollo Mission and the mandate that JFK made to get a person on the moon. An almost impossible achievement; no one thought it was possible. We are still talking about it more than 50 years later.

If you will allow me, let's hypothesise this could be the album AM. We know, Alex has told us, that he and the rest of the monkeys, etc, put everything into it. It was an attempt at a "perfect" record.

But, despite rave reviews from some places, it only got 4/5 stars ratings by some critics - as low as a 3.5 by Rolling Stone. So, perhaps he feels he shot the moon, but still can't achieve a perfect score from the judges.

But who cares. He is rich and famous, millions of people do think it's one of the best albums of all time. Who cares about what the critics say, right?

It was a HUGE success. Obviously. He is being too hard on himself. He knows it, and everyone was probably saying the same to him...

Take it easy for a little while (take it easy for a little while) Come and stay with us, four stars out of five

... but those 'nice, but not great' reviews kept haunting. Far more than any of the more positive reviews. A constant flashing sign going off in his mind. Telling him that he's gotta do more, better, not good enough, must put more of himself into it.

This elegantly formed couplet repeats another five times as the outtro continues - from about 4:05-5:12 when the song ends. During this time, a sax is introduced, and with the piano + guitar, play increasingly wild licks and slightly discordant notes, and start overlapping each other; evoking an out of control merry-go-round from a nightmare scene... You can't stop it. You can't get off. You can't shut it out.

And finally - ends with a ringing vocal chorus of "Four stars out of five".

Those 'nice' reviews keep ringing out. They won't stop haunting him.

And that is the end of the song!

Ahem, the bridge!?

The only other thing that I think I need to mention is the bridge:

All the nights that never happened And the days that don't exist At the Information-Action Ratio Only time that we stop laughing Is to breathe or steal a kiss

Being queer and recognising SOMETHING in Alex and Miles' relationship, I obviously go directly to milex, no detours.

All the nights that you were happy - laughing, in love - but not working (didn't happen? - maybe a stretch)... everything is wonderful (reflected by more calm instrumentation, pacing and melodies).

... But by the final two lines of this bridge, the vibe is dashed to the ground... by this idea of always needing to get to that next rung on the ladder.

I can get you on the list for all the clubs

And the final blow - dare I say it? The words that you can't believe you said. That the one you love just needs to get to your level, and guess what, you can "help" them do that! Cos obviously they can't get their on their own.

I can lift you up another semitone

Okay I might have been feeling a bit defensive for Miles there. But bloody hell he has gone through some shit for NO FUCKING REASON besides music journos being low-life fuck-heads, as far as I can tell.

*deep breaths!*

Thanks for reading :) Much love and blowing of kisses for all!

*lyrics from spotify - let me know if there are any (substantially) wrong...

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In this interview from 2019, Miles talks about:

a) how he didn’t want his creativity to become a blank canvas (at 6.07)

b) Paul Weller in The Style Council having a French Riviera vibe. (at 8.45)

Coincidence? Influence? Ideas from the past that were jotted down in notebooks for future use? Just words? 🤔

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Oh this is interesting!! Some more thoughts...

*In "Batphone", the redecorating motif reminds me of the various personas an artist (singer) goes through in order to "sell his perfume" which is misleadingly called "integrity".

*Feels like the "Batphone" narrator promises to the mysterious "midnight scooter rider" that he will always be there for them 💕

*Flying shoes recall a superhero...Does Alex identify himself with Batman? And is Miles Robin, his best friend and ally? And if so, since Batman & Robin puppets were sold under the name "bendable figures", are Alex & Miles the main protagonists in "Golden Trunks"??

Some interesting lyric parallels.

@lalaballa 💕 was asking for more lyric theories and discussion! This has probably been talked about but I couldn’t find it when I searched.

She’s a midnight scooter rider and I watch her passing by

I’ve recognised the glow of your low beams numerous times

Watching the object of your affection from afar – through fairly opaque blinds in the sitting room perhaps. Like you’ve lost touch with them and you’re sat at home wondering how they are and how they feel.

Can a fly by night provider be the exception to the rule

I’ll be in a nose dive in my flying shoes

Suggests a transient relationship or maybe the fly by night provider will finally be the one that sticks (and not break your heart). You’re in your flying shoes in a nose dive preparing for an emergency landing (heartbreak) because it’s happened so many times.

I can still hear her breathing when I’m sleeping all alone

Right behind your closed eyes like a memory from your youth

You know them so well you can imagine they’re still right next to you and like you’ve known them your whole life.

Loving you is it worth my time?

You can take it, break it, make it something blue

They have redecorated it all

They’ve changed all the lights and the bar’s down the side

You don’t really want to love the object of your affection anymore because of the pain. But concede that you’re powerless and they can do whatever they want to your heart. Redecoration suggests a complete overhaul – perhaps relating to physical appearance or that the person has turned over a new leaf and wants to be different.

Ultimately, love is cruel but no matter what they’ve done to you, you’ll be on standby – by the Batphone – waiting for them to call.

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love that at the end of a sntm performance alex either seems ecstatic and proud or helplessly drunk and dizzy like he just had an out of body experience.

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Alex Turner and Miles Kane not knowing what personal space means.

(since 2008) (x)

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Dracula Rabbit Teeth 🧛🐰

Oh look someone filmed Miles with graffiti that looks like bunny ears....

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Bless shoe head #wardrobe #adidas #gucci #OOTD @adidas @Gucci

Via his TikTok

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Go look at his wedding ring finger when he’s playing pool in warp speed chic 😘

Hello 💜 I assume you saw my TBHC spam… I’d apologise, but it feels more like performing a public service to be honest 🤣

You want me to watch Warp Speed Chic you say? Anything for an anon request! For context, we’re having a heatwave in the UK (29 degrees C) and I don’t think this will help the temperature of my house 🤣 still, we shall persist!

I haven’t seen this since whenever my original post was, possibly January from memory? So pre work coffee, let’s go.

As a general rule, I dislike man buns (intensely), and goatees, and untrimmed beards, so add them together and it should double or triple the dislike right? But this whole film proves that if you have enough talent, charisma, and looks you can basically pull anything off. To be fair I now have a soft spot for a couple of wrestlers with man buns so maybe Alex has warmed me up to the idea… I digress. But long haired, bearded Alex is just peak to me, it’s inexplicable. Don’t get me started, I could ramble all day… but I’m digressing again. Focus.

The Ultracheese on drums? Sure. Whispered Star Treatment? Please 😭

How could I forget this exists? I’m going to need a full version, plus a full instrumental of the entire album. Wait, why am I watching this again? Pool, right. Sorry anon.

Okay, let’s rewind. Pool.

Hmm, I can see something there, not sure if it’s down to the unusual angle, the lighting or if it is a ring of some kind. It would be a low place to wear a ring but I have known other guitarists wear rings below the first knuckle (Paul Smith comes to mind). I’m far from an expert (perhaps I need to study more!) but I don’t recall Alex wearing any rings apart from the Death Ramps one (until he lost it 🤦🏻‍♀️).

There are people on here with much more knowledge than me, so please feel free to weigh in! Screenshots below for reference.

Maybe it was Taylor’s and he wore it as a cute “miss you” gesture. But to be fair, I wore a ring on my wedding finger when I was single and for years before I was engaged because I was an independent woman that don’t need no man 🤣 so if it is a ring, perhaps Alex had the same thought!

Not sure I properly answered your ask anon, sorry, but kudos if you stuck with me (and to anyone who had the misfortune to see this ramble). But can confirm watching Warp Speed Chic definitely cheered me up, so thank you anon 🥰✨ have a lovely day 🌈

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thank you thank you thank you ☺️

can we please have more posts like these?

I have missed this kind of discussion on my dash

Milex fandom rise up!!

Just thinking…

The car is a 1967 Pontiac GTO (credit and thanks to @puppetsspace)

Electricity

Song by Arctic Monkeys ‧ 2012

Darlin' tell me something I don't know

Be my baby, be my GTO

Call me something no one else calls me

I forget how I want it

That electricity

My heart was breaking and got left unlocked

Didn't see you sneak in but I'm glad you stopped

Tell me something I don't already know

Like how you get your kisses to fill me with electricity

Love like locked horns

Love like dominos

Be my midnight

Be my ebb and flow

I forget how I want it

How it crept up on me

It takes over

Electricity

And my heart was breaking and got left unlocked

Didn't see you sneak in but I'm glad you stopped

Tell me something I don't already know

Like how you get your kisses to fill me with electricity

Separated

There I face it

Love like thunder

Love like falling snow

Tell me something I don't already know

Like how you get your kisses to fill me with electricity

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no homo