THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

608-Arctic Monkeys-Fluorescent Adolescent.

2007-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09. Some good old plain, straight to the point talk, from Yorkshire folk.

The Arctic Monkeys were formed in Sheffield, England, in 2002, by Alex Turner, (lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards) Matt Helders, (drums) Jamie Cook, (guitar, and vocals) and Andy Nicholson, (bass, and backing vocals) Nicholson left the group after their first studio Album in 2006, and was replaced by Nick O’Mally, (bass guitar) and the quartet remain active at the time of writing. The Arctic Monkeys took their name from a band that Matt Helders father had played in during the 1970’s, evidently the name had been used on several occasions by other groups. Alex Turner has said, ‘He passed it down from generation to generation, like a recipe.’ The Arctic Monkeys are recognised as one of the first bands to come to the public’s attention via the Internet, with commentators suggesting that they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed. The group initially began to record demos, which grew to 18 tracks, which were eventually burned on to CD’s, and given away at gigs. A fan of the band filmed one of their gigs, and posted it on his website alongside the collection of demos, and unknown to the Arctic Monkeys, they were gaining popularity via a ‘MySpace’ site set up by their fans.

The discography of the Arctic Monkeys includes seven studio Albums released between 2006-2022, and 23 singles released between 2005-2022. In the UK the first six of their studio Albums all reached Number 1, with their seventh stalling at Number 2, while on the UK singles chart, 15 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,’ (2005) and ‘When the Sun Goes Down,’ both reaching Number 1. In America on Billboard, they have never had a top 40 single, but all seven of their studio Albums have made the Billboard 200 Album top 30 chart.

‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ was the second of three singles released from the Arctic Monkeys second studio Album ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare,’ from April 2007. The songs music was co-written by all four band members, with the lyrics credited to Alex Turner, and Johanna Bennett, with the production being by James Ford, and Mike Crossey.

Alex Turner was born Alexander David Turner, on January 6th, 1986, in Sheffield, England, he has been named by some music critics as the best lyricist of the 21st Century. Among his musical influences, Turner cites the poetry of John Cooper Clarke (see also best songs 816) and the lyrics of the ‘Hip-Hop’ artists Roots Manuva, and Method Man (see also best songs 369 and 166.) Away from the Arctic Monkeys, Turner has released one solo Album, ‘Submarine,’ in 2011, and two studio Albums, and seven singles between 2008-2016, with his other group ‘The Last Shadow Puppets.’ Both of those studio Albums reached Number 1 in the UK, two of their singles made the UK top 40, with ‘The Age of the Understatement,’ (2008) peaking the highest at Number 9.

‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ was co-produced by James Ford, and Mike Crossey. James Ford is known for being a member of the English Electronic music duo ‘Simian Mobile Disco,’ as well as a member with Alex Turner in ‘The Last Shadow Puppets,’ he is one of the most sought after music producers of the 21st Century, with his productions including Albums by Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and Blur. Mike Crossey is a Northern Irish record producer, and songwriter, who produced the Arctic Monkeys first EP ‘ Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys,’ he has also produced, and written for other acts, including ‘The 1975,’ ‘Imagine Dragons,’ and ‘Twenty One Pilots.’

The lyrics to ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ are credited to Alex Turner, and his then girlfriend Johanna Bennett, who would later go on to marry the Kings of Leon’s lead guitarist Matthew Followill, (see also best songs 551 and 106) in 2009. Johanna Bennett has said,’We were on holiday and had cut ourselves off from everything. We were in a really quiet hotel and didn’t watch TV or listen to that much music. So as not to drive each other mad we started messing around with these words like a game, singing them to each other. It’s great to think that it came from something we did for fun on holiday. It’ll always be a good memory for Alex and I. He doesn’t usually write lyrics with other people, though I think he enjoyed it. ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ is a song about ageing, and nostalgia for youth. It describes a woman who dreams of her youth, while her current life is unsatisfying, and boring.

‘You used to get it in your fishnets, now you only get it in your night dress. Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness, landed in a very common crisis.’