The Ultracheese is one of the most beautiful songs from Arctic Monkeys. It's simply so nostalgic, he is so direct yet so poetic, and I think in a way it's a song that talks about such an specific situation but at the same time can be pretty relatable in many senses. Alex Turner is simply a genius.
Brilliant! Also I think that "Get freaked out from a knock at the door/When I haven't been expecting one/And didn't that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?" is Alex referring to "Knock a Door Run", a song he wrote long ago, maybe not that much after he himself participated in Knock a Door-Run. Now he's on the other side of the door, so he's the one being freaked by it, even tho "once upon a time" that was fun for him and he was the one who knocks. Alex reflecting here on how the WPSITWIN era(that started it all and set the tone) was long ago, and how he dramatically changed since. Maybe even admitting he became one of those people he thought he'd never become(Miracle Aligner 2016 music video with all that fake tan?). Anyways, thanks Matty, you really opened my eyes for the song!
Wow i love your thoughts too!! This song is truly so deep... I wonder if in addition to your points, the whole "knock at the door when i haven't been expecting one" could represent someone telling him they're a fan... Used to be exciting but now it makes him anxious or something?
Fwiw, my take on this is (which carries on from the interpretation of the opening four lines of the song)… “Get freaked out from a knock at the door” - this is the new sound (discussed in the four lines of lyrics above) knocking at his door and freaking him out because it’s so new and different. Could even be the piano getting delivered? “When I haven’t been expecting one” - he wasn’t expecting to create such a new sound for the band (which he’s mentioned in interviews). And, as you say, the Steinway was a present so he wasn’t expecting to get a piano and even more so wasn’t expecting to use it to create a new sound. “Didn’t that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?” - he was less nervous when transitioning to new sounds in the past because they weren’t as radical a departure as TBHAC, but really he wishes it wasn’t such a big deal now
I looooove nerding out about all the details, lyrics included!! I run a discord from my Patreon where we talk about stuff like this all the time; perhaps you'd be interested in joining us over there?
I really enjoyed this. I didn’t think of ultracheese like how you guys talked about it but the themes in the car definitely match. Like Mr Schwartz literally spells out how they’re changing and that they’re gonna do what they want. I can’t wait for more!!!!
Interesting viewpoints, thanks for sharing. I’ve always taken that first verse more literally though. When facebook first came about everything you did was posted on your ‘wall’. I think he’s saying that he still sees people he used to know (from pre arctic monkeys - school friends etc.) on his facebook wall. Even though he isn’t really friends with them. It was also a bit of a controversial concept when it was first introduced - how can you have 500 ‘friends’. It redefined what the word friend meant. He’s saying they weren’t really friends in the pre-facebook sense to begin with. I read the second verse as a personal moment between him and his then girlfriend - he wrote her a cheesy song on piano that will only ever be heard by him, her, and the piano, because it’s the ultracheese. But then the went for a walk bit is him splitting up with her - go for a walk/take a hike/etc.. I thought the bit about dressing up was more about the lack of freedom he has now, because of his fame, and when he does go out, he has to ‘disguise’ himself with hat/sunglasses or whatever. Thought the politics coming along was about why he split up with her. Last bit i thought of was the dawn weighing a tonne is like a follow up line to That’s Where You’re Wrong from the Suck It and See album, where he is singing about the forthcoming move to LA, urging himself to ‘make a wish that weighs a tonne’. The ‘tonne’ is the weight of his fame, which at this point he appears to think has cost him his relationship with Miss. Sweet Dreams, TN.
I honestly don't thinks The Ultracheese has to do with us fans, though I really enjoyed your analysis! I see it more as a reflecting on the past and getting old and actually romance. TBHC has quite a few lines regarding love, and I think "What a death I died writing that song start to finish with you looking on it stays with us, Steinway and his sons 'cause it's the ultracheese" is one of them. He had a home studio in LA and this line feels like him recalling a moment with his significant other in which he wrote a cheesy love song for them. Same with the final verses, maybe recalling sh*t they've been through bur that their love is still there.
incredible, thank you for giving an insight to a song wich i had nave really put too much consideration in the lyrics, i now understand this masterpiece better 👍
I agree the most of the things you said but i really don't think Alex killed the "AM/SIAS Rockstar" and he never will. Cause instrumentaly we still see am traces on new album and on interviews he said "we wanna do something like r u mine at the end of the tbhc tour because we have that energy..." and The Car actually meant to be AM2 at the beginnings, also the live arrangements of the new album, new knee socks outro etc. kinda shows that alex like his greasy rockstar persona.
Fair enough, i suppose you could compartmentalize and say the greasy rockstar persona as a recording artist died, but remains alive as a performer/entertainer. If not that, then I'm curious what you think the "death i died..." Line might mean?
Actually i dont think we should consider this song as a letter to the fans. I think its a personal song. So for me the “What a death i died writing this song start to finish with you looking on…” line is him just struggling writing the song in presence of someone loved
To me it's a bit of repressed trauma coming out regarding the sacking of thier first bass player and the loss of innocence e fame and age brings in general.
The Ultracheese is one of the most beautiful songs from Arctic Monkeys. It's simply so nostalgic, he is so direct yet so poetic, and I think in a way it's a song that talks about such an specific situation but at the same time can be pretty relatable in many senses. Alex Turner is simply a genius.
I agree on all fronts!!
Easily one of the most underrated. Incredible record and a damn near perfect closing track. I can only dream of making such a good closer in my life.
Brilliant! Also I think that "Get freaked out from a knock at the door/When I haven't been expecting one/And didn't that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?" is Alex referring to "Knock a Door Run", a song he wrote long ago, maybe not that much after he himself participated in Knock a Door-Run. Now he's on the other side of the door, so he's the one being freaked by it, even tho "once upon a time" that was fun for him and he was the one who knocks. Alex reflecting here on how the WPSITWIN era(that started it all and set the tone) was long ago, and how he dramatically changed since. Maybe even admitting he became one of those people he thought he'd never become(Miracle Aligner 2016 music video with all that fake tan?). Anyways, thanks Matty, you really opened my eyes for the song!
Wow i love your thoughts too!! This song is truly so deep... I wonder if in addition to your points, the whole "knock at the door when i haven't been expecting one" could represent someone telling him they're a fan... Used to be exciting but now it makes him anxious or something?
Fwiw, my take on this is (which carries on from the interpretation of the opening four lines of the song)…
“Get freaked out from a knock at the door” - this is the new sound (discussed in the four lines of lyrics above) knocking at his door and freaking him out because it’s so new and different. Could even be the piano getting delivered?
“When I haven’t been expecting one” - he wasn’t expecting to create such a new sound for the band (which he’s mentioned in interviews). And, as you say, the Steinway was a present so he wasn’t expecting to get a piano and even more so wasn’t expecting to use it to create a new sound.
“Didn’t that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?” - he was less nervous when transitioning to new sounds in the past because they weren’t as radical a departure as TBHAC, but really he wishes it wasn’t such a big deal now
I love that you take on my favourite artists, and analyze them fully. Don’t have a lot of friends I can really nerd out with about lyrics.
I looooove nerding out about all the details, lyrics included!! I run a discord from my Patreon where we talk about stuff like this all the time; perhaps you'd be interested in joining us over there?
I always knew alex was talking to me 🥺😤
Youre very special to him 🥰
Yesss im excited for more arctic monkeys content from you!
Love Arctic Monkeys so much!! What songs are you interested in hearing about?
@@mattygregmusic i love to see some 60 second theory vids of R u mine, secret door, balaclava
@@dedemianmia9854secret door would be nuts
Mega W Matt. I love this song. I listen to the last two records of Arctic Monkeys as much as anything else.
big agree, thanks for the support!
@@mattygregmusic always my guy! 💪
I really enjoyed this. I didn’t think of ultracheese like how you guys talked about it but the themes in the car definitely match. Like Mr Schwartz literally spells out how they’re changing and that they’re gonna do what they want. I can’t wait for more!!!!
I really must dig deeper into all the songs on The Car! Thanks so much for watching :)
Interesting viewpoints, thanks for sharing. I’ve always taken that first verse more literally though. When facebook first came about everything you did was posted on your ‘wall’. I think he’s saying that he still sees people he used to know (from pre arctic monkeys - school friends etc.) on his facebook wall. Even though he isn’t really friends with them. It was also a bit of a controversial concept when it was first introduced - how can you have 500 ‘friends’. It redefined what the word friend meant. He’s saying they weren’t really friends in the pre-facebook sense to begin with. I read the second verse as a personal moment between him and his then girlfriend - he wrote her a cheesy song on piano that will only ever be heard by him, her, and the piano, because it’s the ultracheese. But then the went for a walk bit is him splitting up with her - go for a walk/take a hike/etc.. I thought the bit about dressing up was more about the lack of freedom he has now, because of his fame, and when he does go out, he has to ‘disguise’ himself with hat/sunglasses or whatever. Thought the politics coming along was about why he split up with her. Last bit i thought of was the dawn weighing a tonne is like a follow up line to That’s Where You’re Wrong from the Suck It and See album, where he is singing about the forthcoming move to LA, urging himself to ‘make a wish that weighs a tonne’. The ‘tonne’ is the weight of his fame, which at this point he appears to think has cost him his relationship with Miss. Sweet Dreams, TN.
Also interesting
You articulate your points so well, it’s great to see. This is a really brilliant analysis. Im a hardcore AM fan and even I learned something.
Thank you so much for the kind words and the support my friend 🙏
I honestly don't thinks The Ultracheese has to do with us fans, though I really enjoyed your analysis! I see it more as a reflecting on the past and getting old and actually romance.
TBHC has quite a few lines regarding love, and I think "What a death I died writing that song start to finish with you looking on it stays with us, Steinway and his sons 'cause it's the ultracheese" is one of them. He had a home studio in LA and this line feels like him recalling a moment with his significant other in which he wrote a cheesy love song for them. Same with the final verses, maybe recalling sh*t they've been through bur that their love is still there.
fair enough! interesting take; im curious as to how you think this angle would fit in with the lyrics holistically?
This was beautiful.
Heey look it's me!! hehe
I really enjoyed this talk and everything else we discussed in the masterclass! Looking forward to the next one!
cant wait :)
6:52 me taking every chance I can to mention Julian Casablancas in every conversation
literally same
incredible, thank you for giving an insight to a song wich i had nave really put too much consideration in the lyrics, i now understand this masterpiece better 👍
Thanks for watching!
I agree the most of the things you said but i really don't think Alex killed the "AM/SIAS Rockstar" and he never will. Cause instrumentaly we still see am traces on new album and on interviews he said "we wanna do something like r u mine at the end of the tbhc tour because we have that energy..." and The Car actually meant to be AM2 at the beginnings, also the live arrangements of the new album, new knee socks outro etc. kinda shows that alex like his greasy rockstar persona.
Fair enough, i suppose you could compartmentalize and say the greasy rockstar persona as a recording artist died, but remains alive as a performer/entertainer.
If not that, then I'm curious what you think the "death i died..." Line might mean?
Actually i dont think we should consider this song as a letter to the fans. I think its a personal song. So for me the “What a death i died writing this song start to finish with you looking on…” line is him just struggling writing the song in presence of someone loved
Hey mate could you make a video about “the view from the afternoon” or “a certain romance”?
Lyrics or music?
@@mattygregmusicsorry, music like u did w/ hard to explain
To me it's a bit of repressed trauma coming out regarding the sacking of thier first bass player and the loss of innocence e fame and age brings in general.