SONG OF THE DAY
“Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis (Costello Music, Fallout Records, 2006).
WHERE I HEARD IT
Season 6 of CBS’ Cold Case, but I immediately recognized it during the episode “Lotto Fever”, so attributing to this source isn’t 100% true. I just can’t remember where I’ve heard the song first, so I’mma gonna go with this one.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “Chelsea Dagger” is a song by The Fratellis and their second single. It was released on August 28th, 2006 from their debut album Costello Music, which was released in the United Kingdom on September 11th of that year.
– It is supposed to be named after both Jon Fratelli’s wife Heather, a burlesque dancer whose stage name – Chelsea – he borrowed for the song, and also as a play on the name of pop singer Britney Spears.
– The song became their first significant chart hit, peaking at #5 in the UK Singles Chart, therefore marking their first UK Top 5 hit as well as their highest charting single to date.
– This surprised the band, who weren’t going to release the song as they thought it might be too risqué to do well.
– It lasted 29 weeks in the UK Top 100.
– This song was #77 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.
– It was produced by Tony Hoffer, the highly-acclaimed American record producer famous for his work with the likes of Beck, The Kooks and Supergrass.
– The song also in the trailer for the films Run, Fat Boy, Run, Shrek The Third, Knocked Up, and The Game Plan, as well as the television commercials for Balls of Fury, Open Season, Youth in Revolt, Dinner For Schmucks and Amstel Brewery.
– It is also the theme song to the FX situation comedy The League.
– Scott Waites uses it as his entrance music and it is played before the advertisement breaks on ITV4’s coverage of the Grand Slam of Darts.
– In ice hockey, it is played at the United Center for all Chicago Blackhawks goals and wins, and a version of the chorus is played on the organ during the listing of the game’s “Three Stars”. When played at the United Center, Blackhawk fans change the verse to “bring your goalie over here-let us score on him just for the hell of it!” Chelsea Dagger was embraced as a theme song by the Blackhawks fans during the 2008-2009 season, when they lost in the Conference Finals to the Detroit Red Wings. The song gained even more attention as the Blackhawks’ goal song during the 2009-2010 season, which culminated in the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961.
– The Fratellis are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland.
– The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli (born John Lawler), bass guitarist Barry Fratelli (born Barry Wallace), and drummer, backing vocalist, occasional guitarist and banjo player Mince Fratelli (born Gordon McRory). During live shows, they are assisted by pianist/rhythm guitarist, Will Foster.
– The group’s debut album Costello Music debuted at a high #2 on the UK Album Charts and was also successful in the United States peaking at #48 on the Billboard 200.
– It also produced other singles such as “Flathead” that made #67 on the UK Singles Charts and #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 which became a hit after featuring in an iPod commercial.
– Its success resulted in the band touring internationally, playing shows in Europe, the United States and Japan. They cut short the US leg of their tour, canceling nine dates, citing fatigue from their many months of touring as the cause.
– The band’s ensuing popularity saw them win the 2007 BRIT Award for Best British Breakthrough Act.
– Since the Hop Farm Festival appearance in July 2009, the Fratellis are on hiatus and have each moved on to new bands. Jon formed a new band with singer/songwriter Lou Hickey called Codeine Velvet Club. He released an album with the band in December 2009 and toured during late 2009 and early 2010, before declaring that he will be leaving the band to pursue a solo career, taking the backing band with him.
– Barry has stated that he is starting his own musical project in the coming months and will let Fratellis fans know about it via The Fratellis website. No further news has been announced as of June 2010, but it is known that Barry recently became a father, which may explain the lack of news.
– Mince has joined a heavy metal band called Throne o’ Diablo and is regularly performing with them and recording material.
– In a June 2010 interview, Jon said on the band’s future “Back home, it’s been misjudged. People need absolutes and definites, but I’ve never lived my life like that. I have no plans to work with the Fratellis right just now, but that doesn’t mean not ever. Sometimes, you find people you like to play with, and that’s what it’s like with the Codeine band. It’s good to have choices.”
– The band’s first gig was in a basement in Glasgow in February 2005 and the band were spotted by a record company talent scout shortly after. Music Week’s Stuart Clarke said, “A month after the scout discovered them, labels were flying up to Scotland to see them. Most, if not all, the major labels and a handful of indies showed a lot of interest in the band.”
– The band were flown to LA to record the album in the Sunset Sound recording studio, which was previously used by Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys. The choice to record in Sunset Studios rather than the UK was due to Jon’s desire to create an old-fashioned, analog sound. They were in Studio 3, which contains vintage equipment. Jon said, “It makes you feel a bit more like you’re part of something you were interested inâ€.
– The album was named Costello Music after a studio they used to rent in Budhill, Glasgow.
– Critics likened the album to the works of The Libertines, Babyshambles and Arctic Monkeys, all bands known for their British rock roots.
– Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said that “they sound like songs by about 15 other Britpop acts” but went on to say “it’s one thing to copy a look, a sound, or a formula, it’s another to do it so utterly convincingly and with such infectious raucousness”.
– Costello Music received mixed reviews. Pitchfork Media’s Stuart Bertman called The Fratellis “artless but amiable”, “predictable”, and “intermittently rewarding”. Elizabeth Goodman of Rolling Stone called the single “Flathead” “preternaturally catchy” and stated that “it makes you elated in the moment”. Helen Phares of Allmusic called it “high energy” and “fun in the moment”. Stylus Magazine’s Ryan Foley shared similar views, describing it as “beyond infectious” and claiming that they fill “their three-minute, pop-punk ditties with melodic snarl, flouncing sass, and enough lusty sing-along parts to keep the punters busy”.