Walk Tall

Album: The Boxer (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from The Boxer, the debut solo long player by Kele Okereke, who is the lead singer of UK indie rock band Bloc Party. While writing the album, Okereke decided not to overthink the lyrics and he only realized it had a governing theme after he'd finished the album. He told The Guardian: "All the songs are about something ending and something starting. They're all about saying that this way of behaving has to stop."
  • Okereke went with a more dance/electro sound for The Boxer. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Okereke was asked if he intended this opening track to be an intentionally unapologetic introduction to his new electronic direction. He replied: "It wasn't really about the sound of the record, although for the people who know me from Bloc Party, I guess that track will be a departure. It was more about this idea of holding your head high, which I'm realizing is a recurring theme in the record, this idea of internal strength. Even the title, "The Boxer: It's about keeping on going when things are tough, keeping on with the fight."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?