Top Fifteen Arctic Monkeys Songs

Well the time has come again. Arctic Monkeys fans are in the midst of one of the most anticipated albums of the decade.

For those of you who live under a rock, allow me to explain.

The Arctic Monkeys are a garage rock band that leapt to fame almost instantly back in the early 2000s with the release of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (aka UK's fastest selling debut album in history). Since then, they have released four incredible albums and have become increasingly successful. After the release of their last album in 2013, it had appeared they had broken up. Christmas 2016 did bear gifts however; we got word that the boys had stopped touring with others and had returned to Sheffield to make our dreams come true.

With nothing else to do but wait, I have decided to create a top fifteen list of my personal favorite songs from the Arctic Monkeys. Keep in mind that this is an incredibly difficult task, as I do believe that nearly every song deserves a spot on this list. Oh well. Let's get to it then.

15: "Fake Tales of San Francisco"

One of the first songs that established the Arctic Monkeys as the cheekiest band around, the whole song depicts a scene in a music club and pokes fun at pompous people and overly magisterial musicians. The quote that truly places this song on a top-15 list is "So all that's left is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf." No one is quite sure why it resonates with us so well, but there is some truth behind it. Almost any music lover has understood the magic of somehow liking your significant other's favorite music just because they love it and love is truly deaf.

14: "Suck it and See"

Alex Turner had really outdone himself with this one. This song titled the 2011 album and gave Arctic Monkeys a completely new sound for their repertoire. The only problem is that many other songs on the album almost sound exactly like this song, meaning that "Suck it and See" is the only song on the album I can give a top fifteen spot to in good spirit.

13: "No. 1 Party Anthem"

This is probably the most brilliantly written song on the 2013 album, AM. The song describes a scene from a crowded bar a bit differently than typically described. It places you in the midst of a scenario between a presumably too drunk male who is trying to pick up unspoken cues from an attractive stranger. The twist here is this: instead of using an upbeat tune, the song is slowed down to feel surreal. This almost makes the listener feel as if they too are Alex Turner, and silently begging for a party anthem to ease awkwardness and make this stranger approachable.

12: ""Arabella"

For me personally, this is the song that made me truly love the Arctic Monkeys. Every girl who ever hears this song just wants to be as cool and mysterious as Arabella. Well, that and we all just want Alex Turner to proclaim that a sunset's beauty pales in comparison to ours. The lyrics are creative, the melody is dimensional, and the end has a killer guitar solo. It's a win all-around.

11: "Do I Wanna Know"

"Do I Wanna Know" is undoubtedly the most popular song of the last album, and honestly probably would rank higher on this list had it not been so overplayed. It's a good song, and one of the only songs in which Alex Turner reveals a truly vulnerable position. He spends the song asking his lover if he even wants to know how she feels about him, or if he is better left in the dark. Don't worry Alex, if it doesn't work out, you can always call any of us when you're high.

10: "Mardy Bum"

This is the song an Arctic Monkeys newbie falls in love with when they decide to move past the AM album and venture to the older stuff. It's fun. It's lighthearted. It reminds you of the early days of your first love. It's impossible to be in a bad mood after you listen to it. Simple as that.

9: "Crying Lightning"

I have claimed that Alex Turner's lyrics are all illustrious, but the lyrics in "Crying Lightning" are truly unparalleled. It is one of those tracks that will require numerous listens before you can truly understand the depth and the meaning behind it.

8: "Brianstorm"

The drumming in and of itself deserves a spot on this list. Matt Helder's talent aside, the clever title is superseded by even more cleverly written lyrics. I rarely find this song on top song lists and it always baffles me. This song is one of the highlights of Favourite Worst Nightmare and an excellent track to open up the album with. My suggestion for new fans: watch the linked video of this song live and you'll understand.

7. "Cornerstone"

A true fan will love "Cornerstone." An even truer fan will love the music video. It is three and a half minutes of Alex Turner wearing a red turtle-neck and singing into a tape recorder, all while holding eye contact with a subpar camera. Even without the... er... "creative" music video, the song is beautifully written. It also happens to be one of the best songs on the 2009 album Humbug, with "Crying Lightning" being the only song remotely close in brilliance.

6: "Teddy Picker"

This is just another song that proves that lyrically, there is nothing Alex Turner cannot do. In this song, he criticizes the music industry and inadvertently claims producers are so desperate for new sounds to sell that they ignore quality. Overall, it cuts the music industry deeply, but the worst cut is that of the last line:

"Assuming that all men are equal, who would want to be men of the people when [sic] there's people like you"

Ouch.

5: "Do Me a Favour"

This is honestly the only Arctic Monkeys song that has ever made me cry. If anyone has ever gone through even the slightest of heartbreak, this song will bring back all the emotions from the day it was over. No break-up song will ever quite encapsulate the mixture of emotions that this song does. It alternates between pain and anger by changing up both the tone of the lyrics and the intensity of the music throughout the song. This is also one of the best examples of the versatility of the Arctic Monkeys. Somehow the boys are able to completely change the entire song in a matter of seconds without any messy transitions.

4: "Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"

"We are the Arctic Monkeys and this is 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.' Don't believe the hype." This is the original Alex Turner quote. This is the original Arctic Monkeys song. This is the reason we love them so, and the reason they sold out shows in Sheffield before they were anything. Good job boys. That is all.

3: "505"

Another beautiful example of the versatility of the Arctic Monkeys. What starts as a wistfully melancholy song slowly builds into a passionate declaration of love and loss. It is hard not to scream-sing "I crumble completely when you cry," and it's even harder not to fall in love with Alex Turner as he scream-sings it.

2: "Fluorescent Adolescent"

"Used to get it in your fishnets. Now you only get it in your nightdress."

This song is incredibly fun and cheeky, which is why it remains one of the most well known Arctic Monkey's song. Turner describes an older couple's diminished sex-life through the years and cleverly ties in humorous metaphors (is that a mecca dauber or a betting pencil?). I've come to find this also happens to be the only Arctic Monkey's song that you will actually hear at a pop-geared bar or club. Tested and true. Trust me, there were tears.

1: "R U Mine"

I am so sorry to any fan who reads this and thinks 'of course she picked a song from AM as number one'. My bad. I do however have reasoning behind this decision. R U Mine is one of the songs that connects both old and new listeners. It has the dark, suave sound that is exclusive to AM, but still has a harder rock sound that is a bit reminiscent of earlier albums. In layman's terms, everyone likes R U Mine. Even if you aren't a fan of the AM album, it is undeniably an incredible song. It is near impossible to be an Arctic Fans and not love it. As much as we all hate to admit it, it's true.

Honorable Mentions:

When the Sun Goes Down, Certain Romance