Courtesy of Universal Island Records
I found The Fratellis my freshman year of high school on Pandora Radio. I hadn’t really developed a music taste and mostly listened to the ten top pop songs on iTunes. After hearing the band's albums Costello Music and Here We Stand, I immediately gravitated toward their comical, exciting, driven songs. I loved the fun, often nonsensical lyrics that told stories of an “Acid Jazz Singer,” “Mistress Mabel” and “Henrietta.” The Fratellis are not a band that everyone knows, but they affected my music taste growing up and may be more mainstream and hold more staying power in the media than you might think.
I found The Fratellis my freshman year of high school on Pandora before I had Spotify and Apple Music.
The Fratellis are originally from Glasgow, Scotland. Soon after releasing their single “Henrietta” in 2006, they began to climb the UK charts. Their first album Costello Music went number two in the UK in two weeks. Their music is influenced and defined by being from the United Kingdom and the sing-a-long pub songs found there. As someone who grew up in London, England, their music feels like an effortless connection to a place I once called home. Through this Pandora station I had randomly added, I discovered so much music that was new to me. It was exciting to learn about all these indie British bands who were creating music radically different from the Britney Spears and B.O.B. tracks I had been listening. (Though I will say both of these artists still hold a special place in my heart – I will always love singing along to “Toxic” and “Airplanes.”)
Courtesy of Spotify
When I studied abroad in England last semester, I was excited and surprised to find that The University of Kent held nights where they would play indie classics that kids in England grew up listening to every week. A few people at my high school in Atlanta knew who The Fratellis and similar bands were, but not the majority. At the University of Kent, on those indie nights in the student bar, everyone knew all the lyrics to “Flathead” and “Creepin Up The Backstairs.”
The Fratellis' popularity has traveled to the U.S., especially because of their hit “Chelsea Dagger.” This song is used often as many sports teams' goal songs and continues to be a rallying cry for fans who have the memorable melody ingrained in their heads. Notably, the Chicago Blackhawks use this song for every goal they score during their hockey games. It blares over speakers accompanied by fans gladly singing along. It’s a song that evokes the happiness and communal spirit of a British pub and complements the frenzied environment of a winning goal. In 2014, Sports Illustrated ranked NHL teams' goal songs. The Blackhawk's goal song, “Chelsea Dagger,” was number one.
This band’s sound has always struck me as unusual. I think it is not only the British and pub song feeling to it, but also the lyrics and subjects of the songs. It's fast music that makes you want to jump and sing along. It’s a little bit of rock, alternative, jam band and indie all mixed together in a flurry of drum beats and low British accents. They can turn dark subjects into comedy. The Fratellis possess a black humor that take songs about drunken revelries and crying and turn them on their heads.
The Fratellis continue to produce music and have found a way to keep their voice fresh. This year alone, they've released their newest album In Your Own Sweet Time, toured America and have a slew of sold-out gigs scheduled across the UK for this winter. I’m excited for their rebellious sound to continue evolving. I will always remember the first time I heard them with a sweet nostalgia.
