It’s a new era for the Arctic Monkeys. After getting their start as indie dance-floor magnets in the early 2000s before going on to explore classic, experimental, and jazz rock, the U.K. band is back with “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball,” a smooth, cinematic slow jam about a bitter breakup. The song and accompanying music video—which shows the group recording in the studio—arrived alongside the announcement of the band’s next album, The Car.
The Car marks Arctic Monkeys’ first full-length since the band’s jazz-inspired 2018 LP, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino. Written by frontman Alex Turner and produced by James Ford, “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” maintains some of the jazz elements they picked up from that project. But with its wistful strings and languid vocals, it’s enough of a departure to create a world of its own.
Lyrically, “Mirrorball” finds Turner trading Arctic Monkeys’ signature tongue-in-cheek seduction for earnest heartbreak. The song documents a breakup, and on the first verse, Turner seems to have known the relationship was headed that direction.
Don’t get emotional, that ain’t like you
Yesterday’s still leaking through the roof
That’s nothing new
That doesn’t make the split any easier, though, and he’s reluctant to say his final goodbye on the hook.
So 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?
On the second verse, Turner and his partner handle the breakup in different ways. His partner wants to wallow in the negatives while Turner urges them remember the time before things fell apart.
You’re getting cynical and that won’t do
I’d throw the rose tint back on the exploded view
Darling, if I were you
Turner closes out the verse a little bitter—after all, it seems he was the one who got the “baby, it’s been nice” breakup speech.
And how’s that insatiable appetite?
For the moment when you look them in the eyes
And say, “Baby, it’s been nice”
The Car is due out October 21. In the meantime, you can check out all the lyrics to “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” on Genius now.
