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There'd Better Be a Mirrorball

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"There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"
Single by Arctic Monkeys
from the album The Car
Released29 August 2022 (2022-08-29)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length4:25
LabelDomino
Songwriter(s)Alex Turner
Producer(s)James Ford
Arctic Monkeys singles chronology
"Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino"
(2018) 		"There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"
(2022) 		"Body Paint"
(2022)
Music video
"There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" on YouTube

"There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys released on 29 August 2022, through Domino Recording Company. The song was included on their seventh studio album The Car (2022). Written by lead singer Alex Turner and produced by James Ford, "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" is a traditional pop and jazz track. While composing it, Turner thought the song felt like the start of the record.

Music critics praised "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"'s production, lyrics, and instrumental arrangement. The song was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. It debuted at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Turner directed the accompanying music video which features 1970s-inspired aesthetics and captures the band at different stages of the recording process. The video was also released on 29 August 2022, and filmed by Turner with his own 16mm video camera, alongside Zackery Michael, Ben Chappell, and Mark Bull. Arctic Monkeys performed the song on television shows such as Later...with Jools Holland and Late Night Berlin.

Composition and lyrics

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Musically "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" has been described as a jazz-influenced[1][2][3][4] and "Bond-esque" ballad,[2][5][6] being compared to the works of Burt Bacharach and The Walker Brothers.[5] Some music journalists also noted an influence of 1960s pop music and traditional pop on the song.[1][7][8]

The song deals with a breakup, and the lyricism has been described as "oblique" and "introspective",[3][5][2] with The Guardian noting: "Turner sings about the dying days of a relationship without any of his usual brio. Instead, this song’s refrain almost feels like a plea: “If you wanna walk me to the car / You oughta know I’ll have a heavy heart / So can we please be absolutely sure that there’s a mirrorball?”"[5] Lead singer Alex Turner said of the song: “On Mirrorball, before the words even come in, that instrumental piece [establishes] the feel of the record”, and while composing it thought it felt, “like how the next record starts.”[9]

The string section was recorded at RAK Studios' Studio 1 in London, engineered by long-time Arctic Monkeys collaborator Loren Humphrey.

Music video

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The song's music video was directed by lead singer Alex Turner and filmed by Turner and frequent collaborators, Zackery Michael, Ben Chappell, and Mark Bull. The video features the band at different stages of the recording process, at both Butley Priory, and La Frette studios.[10] Turner brought his own 16mm video camera to document the sessions, later compiling his footage for the video.[9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[5]
NME[11]

Writing for Pitchfork, Matthew Strauss noted that the song's production "gesture[s] toward the otherworldly retroism of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" while remaining "grounded" lyrically; he opines that the song is "emblematic of a new, post-AM Arctic Monkeys: a little mysterious, yearning, and downcast - and quietly beautiful."[12] Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian wrote, "Arctic Monkeys are clearly still invested in writing ballads that move with the slowness and smoothness of treacle dripping from a spoon. "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" seems slight at first – but by the time it's over, there's no doubting its power."[5] Stereogum chose the song as one of the best tracks of that week, describing it as "[splitting] the difference between Bond theme and brokenhearted lament" with "Alex Turner’s croon leading the way through exquisite lounge music and a soaring string" arrangement."[13]

Accolades

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The song was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[14]

Publication Rank List
Billboard 45 The 100 Best Songs of 2022[15]
Consequence 40 Top 50 Songs of 2022[16]
The Guardian 6 The 20 Best Songs of 2022[17]
NME 5 The 50 best songs of 2022[18]
Stereogum - Our 50 Favorite Songs Of 2022[19]

Charts

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Chart performance for "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Greece International (IFPI)[20] 76
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 31
Lithuania (AGATA)[22] 100
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 16
Portugal (AFP)[24] 68
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 25
UK Indie (OCC)[26] 2
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 37

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Patel, Anish (31 August 2022). "The Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner is channeling Bob Dylan with his new look". GQ UK. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Reilly, Nick (30 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys return with "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"". Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ a b Patton, Alli (30 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys Release Breakup Single "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"". American Songwriter.
  4. ^ Murray, Tom (30 August 2022). ""There'd Better Be a Mirrorball": Arctic Monkeys release first single in four years". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f D'Souza, Shaad (30 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys: "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" review – Alex Turner channels Bacharach". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  6. ^ Lobb, Adrian (24 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner shares details of new album The Car in Big Issue exclusive". The Big Issue. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  7. ^ Potter, Jordan (30 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys share first single in four years, 'There'd Better Be a Mirrorball'". Far Out. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Release New Single "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"". SPIN. 30 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (30 September 2022). "Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner: 'I'm comfortable with the idea that things don't have to be a pop song". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Arctic Monkeys - There'd Better Be A Mirrorball (Official Video)". YouTube. 30 August 2022.
  11. ^ Bassett, Jordan (30 August 2022). "Beautiful new song 'There'd Better Be A Mirrorball' is Arctic Monkeys at their most earnest". NME. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  12. ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Arctic Monkeys: "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  13. ^ Stereogum, Staff (2 September 2022). "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. ^ Lee, Taila (15 November 2022). "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". Grammys.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  15. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Consequence. December 7, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "The 20 Best Albums Of 2022". Consequence. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "The 20 Best Songs Of 2022". The Guardian. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  18. ^ "The 50 Best Songs Of 2022". NME. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "Stereogum's 50 Favorite Songs Of 2022". Stereogum. December 13, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  20. ^ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 43 2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  22. ^ "2022 43-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – There'd Better Be a Mirrorball". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  28. ^ "British single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – There'd Better Be A Mirrorball". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
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