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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Piledriver Waltz say to the dance floor? You're driven to waltz.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Piledriver Waltz"
Song by Alex Turner and Arctic Monkeys
from the EP Submarine and the album Suck It and See
Released14 March 2011 ("Submarine")
6 June 2011 ("Suck It and See")
RecordedApril 2010 (original)
January–February 2011 (re-recording)
Studio
  • One Inch, London
  • Air, London[a] ("Submarine")
    Sound City, Los Angeles ("Suck It and See")
GenreBaroque pop
Length3:23
LabelDomino
Songwriters
  • Alex Turner
  • Jamie Cook
ProducerJames Ford

"Piledriver Waltz" is a song by the English musician Alex Turner from his debut solo extended play (EP), Submarine (2011), and was later re-recorded for the Arctic Monkeys' fourth studio album, Suck It and See (2011). A baroque pop song, it is centered around a forlorn love having breakfast at the "Heartbreak Hotel". It was written by frontman Alex Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook, and was produced by James Ford.

Film director Richard Ayoade contacted Turner to discuss making music for a film adaptation of Joe Dunthorne's novel Submarine (2008). Turner initally felt he wasn't qualified, but considered it an exception due to his friendship with Ayoade. Turner wrote five original songs for the film, with "Piledriver Waltz" being the only one that was not written specifically for it. It was first recorded in April 2010 at One Inch Studios in London, with the strings being recorded at Air Studios by the Composers Ensemble. The song was later re-recorded between January and February 2011 at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles for Suck It and See.

Piledriver Waltz was first released onto the soundtrack for Submarine on 14 March 2011, and the re-recorded version later made its appearance on Suck It and See on 6 June. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its composition and musical structure. Critics have deemed it to be a standout on Submarine, and also in Arctic Monkeys discography as a whole.

Background and release

[edit]
Alex Turner in 2023
Jamie Cook in 2008
"Piledriver Waltz" was written by both Alex Turner (left, pictured in 2023) and Jamie Cook (right, pictured in 2008).

Following the release of Arctic Monkeys' third studio album, Humbug, in August 2009, they began writing material for their next album, Suck It and See (2011).[1] During this time, film director Richard Ayoade was directing a film adaptation of Joe Dunthorne's 2008 novel, Submarine. Ayoade contacted frontman Alex Turner to see if he could compose songs for the film. Initally, Turner felt that making music for a film was something he was not "qualified" to do, but considered it "an exception" due to his friendship with Ayoade.[2][3] Turner wrote five original songs for the film,[2] however "Piledriver Waltz" was not written specifically for it.[4] Turner showed Ayoade an early version of "Piledriver Waltz", Ayoade liked it, and they had both decided that it should be used.[4]

Turner recorded "Piledriver Waltz" in April 2010 at One Inch studios in London, with James Ford serving as producer.[2][5] The song was written by Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook. It was mixed by Ford,[6] and mastered by George Marino for the Suck It and See re-recording.[7] Although not being credited, Ford provides drums on the original recording.[4] The strings were recorded at Air Studios, arranged by Owen Pallett and performed by the Composers Ensemble.[5] "Piledriver Waltz" was later re-recorded between January and February 2011 at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, California, for Suck It and See.[8]

"Piledriver Waltz" was first announced as the sixth and final track on the EP on 7 February 2011,[9][10] and was released alongside the EP on 14 March through the Domino Recording Company.[11] Submarine was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2011, followed by a 3 June release in the United States, where "Piledriver Waltz" was featured in.[12][13] A music video was also released, which features footage of actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, who play Oliver Tate and Jordana Bevan in the film respectively.[14] During the promotion of Suck It and See, it was revealed on 10 March 2011 to be the ninth track on the album.[15] The song, along with the album, were released onto streaming on 30 May 2011, and in the United States on 6 June.[16] The Norwegian musical project Boy Pablo performed a cover of "Piledriver Waltz" during the 2020 Verftet Online Music Festival.[17]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

"Piledriver Waltz" is a mid-tempo ballad[18] that has been considered a baroque pop song;[19] it has a length of three minutes and 23 seconds.[6][7] Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music described "Piledriver Waltz" to be the "most musically complex" of the EP.[11] Its sound style has been called "woozily romantic", particuarly in the lyrics "You look like you've been for breakfast at the Heartbreak Hotel".[20] The Rolling Stone staff considered it to have elements of "agony and woe" in it.[21] Lyrically, the song tells a story of a forlorn love having breakfast at the metaphorical "Heartbreak Hotel",[22][23] where the waitresses working there, and the food itself, feel miserable.[22] Additionally, it was described by Alex Hudson of Exclaim! to be a "big departure from the snarky, electrified garage rock Turner is known for with Arctic Monkeys."[18]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Piledriver Waltz" received positive reviews from music critics, with some considering it to be a standout on Submarine.[24][20][25] Ali Plumb, writing for BBC News, ranked it at number two on a list of songs that shaped five teen films, stating that he preferred the Submarine version over the Suck It and See one.[26] Emily Barker of NME wrote that "Piledriver Waltz" may not be the most "motivating anthem", but that it was "still a banger."[27] McAlpine considered it to be the most "reproachful" song off of Submarine.[11] Neil Ashman of Drowned in Sound praised the song's composition, writing that it was the most "finest" and most "direct" song on the EP.[20] The staff writing for Consequence claimed that "Piledriver Waltz" had some of Turner's "most vivid and abstract metaphors".[28] Rob Hakimian, writing for Beats Per Minute, deemed it to be his favorite off of Submarine.[24] Matt Mitchell of Paste placed it at number 40 on a list of the 40 Greatest Arctic Monkeys Songs, highliting Crook's guitar playing on the Suck It and See recording.[29] In August 2023, the staff at Rolling Stone placed "Piledriver Waltz" at number 19 on a list of the 30 Greatest Arctic Monkeys Songs.[21] Sophie Williams of NME deemed "Piledriver Waltz" as the band's fortieth-best song.[30]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the digital liner notes.[6][7]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Strings

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Muir, Ava (21 June 2018). "Arctic Monkeys' Career So Far: From Rubble to the Ritz". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Periscope up: Richard Ayoade and Alex Turner unite their talents in hot new Brit flick Submarine". The Independent. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Alex Turner: GQ Music Issue 2011: The Survivors". GQ. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Arctic Monkeys – Alex Turner's Guide To 'Suck It And See'". NME. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 Submarine (Vinyl liner notes). Alex Turner. Domino. 2011. RUG398T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 3 "Piledriver Waltz — Song by Alex Turner". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Piledriver Waltz — Song by Arctic Monkeys". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  8. ↑ Moody, Paul (July 2011). "Arctic Monkeys: Suck It and See". Q (300): 104. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2026 – via Rock's Backpages.
  9. ↑ Michaels, Seans (7 February 2011). "Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner to make solo debut". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Nissim, Mayer (7 February 2011). "Alex Turner to release 'Submarine' EP". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 McAlpine, Fraser (14 March 2011). "Alex Turner – Submarine EP Review". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  12. ↑ White, James (14 January 2011). "Ben Stiller Talks Submarine". Empire. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Submarine (2011)". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  14. ↑ Hakimian, Rob (14 March 2011). "Video: Alex Turner – "Piledriver Waltz"". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys name new album 'Suck It And See'". Uncut. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  16. ↑ Goodwyn, Tom (30 May 2011). "Arctic Monkeys stream new album 'Suck It And See' online". NME. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  17. ↑ Lavin, Will (4 April 2020). "Watch Boy Pablo cover Arctic Monkeys' 'Piledriver Waltz' for Verftet Online Music Festival". NME. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  18. 1 2 Hudson, Alex (13 March 2011). "Alex Turner "Piledriver Waltz" (video)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "'Submarine' at 10: an oral history of the Alex Turner-soundtracked indie". NME. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Ashman, Neil (18 March 2011). "Alex Turner - Submarine". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  21. 1 2 "The 30 Best Arctic Monkeys Songs". Rolling Stone. 28 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  22. 1 2 Galea, Aidan (4 April 2011). "Album Review: Alex Turner – Submarine OST". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  23. ↑ Thompson, Paul (22 March 2011). "Alex Turner: Submarine OST | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  24. 1 2 Hakimian, Rob (10 March 2011). "Listen: Alex Turner – "Piledriver Waltz"". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  25. ↑ Gill, Andy (18 March 2011). "Album: Alex Turner, Submarine, Domino - Reviews - Music". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  26. ↑ Plumb, Ali. "Five songs that shaped these blockbuster teen films". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  27. ↑ Barker, Emily (6 November 2013). "50 Mouth-Watering Songs To Cook To". NME. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "Every Arctic Monkeys Album Ranked From Worst to Best". Consequence. 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  29. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (1 September 2023). "The 40 Greatest Arctic Monkeys Songs". Paste. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  30. ↑ Williams, Sophie (17 December 2020). "Every Arctic Monkeys song ranked in order of greatness". NME. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
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