Batphone

Album: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Tranquility Hotel Base and Casino album finds the Arctic Monkeys as the house band at a moon-based luxury resort. It seems the only way to maintain a genuine connection with someone at the titular lunar location is through hand held devices by means of a secure line.

    I've recognized the glow of your low beams numerous times
    I'll be by the Batphone if you need to get a hold


    A bat phone is a private telephone number that is handled at a higher priority than a public line. The name derives from Commissioner Gordon's secure line to Bruce Wayne's phone in the 1960s Batman TV show.
  • Turner makes reference during the song to what he believes is a fictional cosmetic.

    I launch my fragrance called Integrity
    I sell the fact that I can't be bought


    During an interview with Pitchfork, it was pointed out there actually is a fragrance called Integrity now. Turner responded:

    "Oh, s--t. I'm sure I checked when I wrote that, and it didn't exist yet. So I'm probably going to get in trouble then, huh? With something like that, I can't sit here and tell you I wanted to make some comment about integrity and my relationship to it, and then make a f---ing perfume out of it and write a smart-ass line like that. It's more like I see the shape of the letters of 'integrity' on the perfume bottle in my mind's eye - once you know what that font looks like, then it writes itself after that."
  • Arctic Monkeys performed the song live for the first time during their show at Zénith de Paris on May 29, 2018.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.