I'll Shine For You, That's What I'll Do: Bell X1 (and bonus Duke Special!)

I should have done an introduction to Duke Special and Bell X1 before making that last post, for my boyfriend's sake if for no other reason. So, here goes!

I'm not entirely sure that it's possible to write an introduction to Duke Special. He's a wonderfully eccentric, charming, slightly awkward gentleman from Ireland. He plays the piano and sings with great enthusiasm, and you know, I'm not even going to try to encapsulate the man in words, let's just have a couple of videos.

Don't you just want to cry now?

HE IS JUST THE CUTEST.

And yes, I went out of my way to pick the one with the Jedward reference. :p



Bell X1 is at least possible to describe in words. Apparently, they gained fame in the US after their song "Eve, The Apple Of My Eye" was used in a lesbian kiss scene in The O.C., but I guess that fame never translated to Canada...okay, I'll stop being bitter about that. I did not know that about The O.C., but I suppose that's why we blog.
In any case, Bell X1 are Irish, and they come from County Kildare. There is a complicated history involving Damien Rice, which we won't delve into terribly deeply, but in summary: Damien Rice and most of Bell X1 used to be in a band called Juniper, and when Damien left Juniper over "creative differences", Bell X1 came to be formed.

Their first album, Neither Am I, was released in 2000. Here is Man On Mir, which hit #30 on the Irish singles charts.

I feel I know the man on Mir  

I'd love to see what he can see

Their second album, Music In Mouth, was released in 2003. It went double-platinum in Ireland, and gave them four singles that were also successful in Ireland. It was received much better both critically and popularly, and it's also just a damn good album. Here is I'll See Your Heart and I'll Raise You Mine, mostly because it was my introduction to the band so it will forever hold a special place in my heart. This is off of their live DVD Tour de Flock.

What's with the angel
and what's with the devil
They keep swapping shoulders
and I can't tell which from which

2005 brought about the release of Flock, which received heapings of praise and has so far gone five-times platinum in Ireland. Ireland loves these boys. <3 Here is the single Rocky Took A Lover, again from the Tour de Flock DVD.

He said 'The sun gives life, and it takes it away
But like all the greats, it'll burn out someday'
She said 'I don't mind, I don't want to get bored
I don't want to end up beached on this shore
I want to be that star'

Blue Lights On The Runway was released in 2009. I should probably tell you about the amazing single The Great Defector, but instead, I'm going to link you to A Better Band because it has a Star Wars reference in it.

Oh, these walls are closing in on me like the Death Star bin 

Oh, that'll learn me, that'll squeeze out all the sin

Bloodless Coup, their most recent studio album, was released in 2011. Here is Built To Last, which is probably my current favourite Bell X1 song, so you'd better fucking love it, too.

We're made like the past

We were built to last