Bohemian Like You

"Bohemian Like You"
Original release CD1 cover
Single by the Dandy Warhols
from the album Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
B-side
ReleasedJuly 11, 2000 (2000-07-11)
GenrePower pop[1]
Length3:31
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Courtney Taylor-Taylor
Producer(s)
The Dandy Warhols singles chronology
"Get Off"
(2000) 		"Bohemian Like You"
(2000) 		"Godless"
(2001)
Alternative cover
2001 reissue cover
Music video
"Bohemian Like You" on YouTube

"Bohemian Like You" is a song by American alternative rock band the Dandy Warhols. The song was written by frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor after seeing a woman pull up in her car to the traffic lights outside his apartment.[2] It was released as the second single from the band's third studio album, Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, on July 11, 2000.

Upon its original release, it failed to reach the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 42, even after a yearlong tour.[3] After featuring in a popular Vodafone advertisement, it was re-released on October 9, 2001, and peaked at No. 5 on the same chart.[4]

Background

Lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor said the song was inspired when he saw a woman in a car stopped at the traffic light below his apartment window and began to fantasize about a relationship with her. He said, "My silly little brain ran amok with the dream of love and vintage motor malfunctions. It was only natural to weave it into a song on the spot."[2]

Critical reception

Louis Pattison of NME called the song "the quintessential Dandy Warhols moment to date".[5] In 2011, Robert Webb of The Independent called it "a defining song of the last decade".[2]

The A.V. Club noted the various influences from "retro" music present in the song, including how the guitar intro seems to imitate that of "Little Bitch" by the Specials as well as "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones.[6]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Taylor-Taylor.[7]

The video shows the band playing in a karaoke bar (the now-closed Slabtown bar in Portland, Oregon)[8] while different people sing the lyrics of the song as displayed on the television at the bar. In this video, the scenes correspond with the lyrics. In the first verse, a man approaches a young woman who is working on a hearse with her friends. They both flirtatiously sing the lyrics to each other as a sign of attraction. The man is so attracted to the woman that he stares at her lower body and then visualizes her naked. Then the video switches to a waiter while he is serving a group of customers at a table. One of the girls in the group is attracted to the waiter and the two begin to flirt and mime the lyrics to the second verse. She visualizes him naked. For the third verse the waiter and the mechanic who was fixing the car are in the same apartment. While the mechanic and her new love interest exchange a look, the woman from the restaurant emerges from a curtain wearing a babydoll. She then takes the waiter's hand and pulls him away. The video ends with the characters from the video singing the lyrics in the karaoke bar along with many other people including a man spinning a hula hoop around his waist.[9]

Track listings

Original 2000 release

All tracks are written by Taylor-Taylor except "Hells Bells", written by Angus Young, Brian Johnson, and Malcolm Young

UK 7-inch single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You" 
2."Hells Bells" (AC/DC cover) 
UK CD1[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You" 
2."Hells Bells" (AC/DC cover) 
3."Lance" 
UK CD2[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You" 
2."Retarded" 
3."Dub Song" 
Australian Tour EP[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You"3:30
2."Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth (Heroin Is So Passe)" (live)3:07
3."Minnesoter"3:03
4."Get Off" (C11H15NO2 mix)6:41
5."Hells Bells"6:00

2001 re-release

UK CD single[14][15]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You"3:31
2."Hells Bells"6:50
3."Lance"2:50
European CD single[16]
No.TitleLength
1."Bohemian Like You"3:31
2."Hells Bells"6:50

Personnel

The Dandy Warhols

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Platinum 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[35] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 11, 2000 Alternative radio Capitol [37]
United Kingdom August 28, 2000
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [38]
International September 11, 2000 CD [38]
Australia October 16, 2000 [39]
United Kingdom (re-release) October 29, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 [40]

The song has been featured in several movies, including The Replacements, Summer Catch, Igby Goes Down, Clockstoppers, Flushed Away, Little Nicky, Foolproof, Delirious and Man of the Year. Among the television series it has been featured on are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Numb3rs, Six Feet Under, Daria, Fresh Meat, and Chuck. A very obvious variation of the song is used as the opening theme song for the American version of the game show Cash Cab. The song was also featured in season 7 of Dancing with the Stars for Cody Linley and Julianne Hough's tango performance. For many years it has been the theme music for the BBC Radio phone-in show 6-0-6. It has also been featured in the PlayStation game Test Drive Le Mans in 2000.[citation needed]

In 2006, a mashup between the song and "Horny" by Mousse T. was released as the single "Horny as a Dandy". It reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.[41]

The song was the subject of a minor controversy in 2011 when British conservative politician Theresa May played the song as she walked from a conference speech. It was initially speculated that the track was "Rocks" by Primal Scream, who posted a statement on their website condemning her "inappropriate" use of their song, calling her a "legalised bully" and "the enemy".[42] After discovering the track was his, Dandy Warhols frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor posted an angry tirade on the band's official website, writing: "Why don't these assholes have right-wing bands make them some right-wing music for their right-wing jerkoff politics? Oh, because right-wing people aren't creative, visionary, or any fun to be around."[43]

In 2015, the song was played at the opening of John Bishop's tour DVD Supersonic.[citation needed]

Advertising

The song was used extensively by British telecommunications provider Vodafone when it introduced its brand to many of its worldwide operations in 2001–2004.[44]

Elsewhere, it featured prominently in a number of advertisements commissioned by Ford Motor Company for its Ford Focus car range.[45] It also enjoyed a short run in America in 2002 in a commercial featuring the Ford Mustang.[citation needed] In Australia, Holden used the song in an advert to promote its Holden Astra range,[46] although the line "You got a great car/Yeah, what's wrong with it today?" was edited out. The song also featured in a 2004 advertisement for GM Summerdrive in the United States.[47] In November 2008, it featured (without words) on advertisements for the Citroën C4 Picasso.[48] In summer 2010, the track was used in an advertisement for Next clothing.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (August 19, 2005). "Just dandy". The Guardian. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Robert Webb (July 22, 2011). "Story of the Song: The Dandy Warhols, Bohemian Like You". The Independent. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols Search". The Official Charts Company. May 6, 2013.
  4. ^ Ciar, Byrne (November 23, 2005). "How to get ahead in music: Make an ad!". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  5. ^ Pattison, Louis. "Dandy Warhols: Bohemian Like You". NME. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Zaleski, Annie (June 11, 2013). "Screw The Strokes: How The Dandy Warhols kick-started the '00s rock 'n' roll revival". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 40. September 30, 2000. p. 89. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Korfhage, Matthew (February 4, 2016). "Slabtown Building Will Be Demolished for Apartments". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You". November 16, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2012 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Bohemian Like You (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2000. CL 823, 7243 889249 7 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Bohemian Like You (UK CD1 liner notes). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2000. CDCLS 823, 7243 8 89249 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Bohemian Like You (UK CD2 liner notes). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2000. CDCL 823, 7243 8 89250 2 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Bohemian Like You (Australian CD EP liner notes). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2000. 7243 8 89429 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Bohemian Like You (UK CD single liner notes). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2001. CDCLX 823, 7243 5 50084 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Bohemian Like You (UK cassette single sleeve). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2001. TCCL 823.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Bohemian Like You (European CD single liner notes). The Dandy Warhols. Capitol Records. 2001. 7243 5 50798 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 74.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 47. November 17, 2001. p. 27. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  20. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 51. December 25, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bohemian Like You". Irish Singles Chart.
  22. ^ "The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You". Top Digital Download.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  24. ^ "The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 49. December 1, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  29. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. September 2, 2000. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. December 16, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Best of 2000: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 44.
  32. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  33. ^ "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2006. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  34. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You". Radioscope. Retrieved December 31, 2024. Type Bohemian Like You in the "Search:" field.
  35. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2002" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  37. ^ "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1358. July 7, 2000. p. 111. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  38. ^ a b Stavenes Dove, Siri (September 2, 2000). "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 36. p. 14. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  39. ^ "The Dandy Warhols – Releases". EMI Music Australia. Archived from the original on July 15, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  40. ^ "Reviews – For Records Out on 29 October 2001" (PDF). Music Week. October 20, 2001. p. 24. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  41. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Horny as a Dandy by Mousse T vs Dandy Warhols Search". Official Charts Company. May 6, 2013.
  42. ^ Connor, Alan (October 5, 2011). "Primal Scream and Theresa May: a case of mistaken identity". guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  43. ^ Taylor-Taylor, Courtney (October 5, 2011). "About This Political Rally in the U. K. Playing "Boho"". dandywarhols.com. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  44. ^ "Bohemian rhapsody". smh.com.au. September 16, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  45. ^ Nichols, Natalie (December 17, 2000). "They're on the Fringe by Choice". latimes.com. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  46. ^ "Jingle junkies". smh.com.au. August 4, 2003. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  47. ^ "GM /Chevy 'Frisbee' 2004 TV ad - Summerdrive (ft. Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You)". July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2012 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ "C4 Picasso / Citroën (2008)". November 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2012 – via YouTube.