"Piledriver Waltz" is a song by the English musician Alex Turner from his debut solo extended play (EP), Submarine (2011), and was later re-recorded for the Arctic Monkeys' fourth studio album, Suck It and See (2011). A baroque pop song, it is centered around a forlorn love having breakfast at the "Heartbreak Hotel". It was written by frontman Alex Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook, and was produced by James Ford.

Film director Richard Ayoade contacted Turner to discuss making music for a film adaptation of Joe Dunthorne's novel Submarine (2008). Turner initially felt he wasn't qualified, but considered it an exception due to his friendship with Ayoade. Turner wrote five original songs for the film, with "Piledriver Waltz" being the only one that was not written specifically for it. It was first recorded in April 2010 at One Inch Studios in London, with the strings being recorded at Air Studios by the Composers Ensemble. The song was later re-recorded between January and February 2011 at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles for Suck It and See.

Piledriver Waltz was first released onto the soundtrack for Submarine on 14 March 2011, and the re-recorded version later made its appearance on Suck It and See on 6 June. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its composition and musical structure. Critics have deemed it to be a standout on Submarine, and also in Arctic Monkeys discography as a whole.

Background and release

Following the release of Arctic Monkeys' third studio album, Humbug, in August 2009, they began writing material for their next album, Suck It and See (2011). During this time, film director Richard Ayoade was directing a film adaptation of Joe Dunthorne's 2008 novel, Submarine. Ayoade contacted frontman Alex Turner to see if he could compose songs for the film. Initially, Turner felt that making music for a film was something he was not "qualified" to do, but considered it "an exception" due to his friendship with Ayoade. Turner wrote five original songs for the film, however "Piledriver Waltz" was not written specifically for it. Turner showed Ayoade an early version of "Piledriver Waltz", Ayoade liked it, and they had both decided that it should be used.

Turner recorded "Piledriver Waltz" in April 2010 at One Inch studios in London, with James Ford serving as producer. The song was written by Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook. It was mixed by Ford, and mastered by George Marino for the Suck It and See re-recording. Although not being credited, Ford provides drums on the original recording. The strings were recorded at Air Studios, arranged by Owen Pallett and performed by the Composers Ensemble. "Piledriver Waltz" was later re-recorded between January and February 2011 at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, California, for Suck It and See.

"Piledriver Waltz" was first announced as the sixth and final track on the EP on 7 February 2011, and was released alongside the EP on 14 March through the Domino Recording Company. Submarine was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2011, followed by a 3 June release in the United States, where "Piledriver Waltz" was featured in. A music video was also released, which features footage of actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, who play Oliver Tate and Jordana Bevan in the film respectively. During the promotion of Suck It and See, it was revealed on 10 March 2011 to be the ninth track on the album. The song, along with the album, were released onto streaming on 30 May 2011, and in the United States on 6 June. The Norwegian musical project Boy Pablo performed a cover of "Piledriver Waltz" during the 2020 Verftet Online Music Festival.

Composition and lyrics "Piledriver Waltz" is a mid-tempo ballad that has been considered a baroque pop song; it has a length of three minutes and 23 seconds. Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music described "Piledriver Waltz" to be the "most musically complex" of the EP. Its sound style has been called "woozily romantic", particuarly in the lyrics "You look like you've been for breakfast at the Heartbreak Hotel". The Rolling Stone staff considered it to have elements of "agony and woe" in it. Lyrically, the song tells a story of a forlorn love having breakfast at the metaphorical "Heartbreak Hotel", where the waitresses working there, and the food itself, feel miserable. Additionally, it was described by Alex Hudson of Exclaim! to be a "big departure from the snarky, electrified garage rock Turner is known for with Arctic Monkeys."

Critical reception "Piledriver Waltz" received positive reviews from music critics, with some considering it to be a standout on Submarine. Ali Plumb, writing for BBC News, ranked it at number two on a list of songs that shaped five teen films, stating that he preferred the Submarine version over the Suck It and See one. Emily Barker of NME wrote that "Piledriver Waltz" may not be the most "motivating anthem", but that it was "still a banger." McAlpine considered it to be the most "reproachful" song off of Submarine. Neil Ashman of Drowned in Sound praised the song's composition, writing that it was the most "finest" and most "direct" song on the EP. The staff writing for Consequence claimed that "Piledriver Waltz" had some of Turner's "most vivid and abstract metaphors". Rob Hakimian, writing for Beats Per Minute, deemed it to be his favorite off of Submarine. Matt Mitchell of Paste placed it at number 40 on a list of the 40 Greatest Arctic Monkeys Songs, highliting Crook's guitar playing on the Suck It and See recording. In August 2023, the staff at Rolling Stone placed "Piledriver Waltz" at number 19 on a list of the 30 Greatest Arctic Monkeys Songs. Sophie Williams of NME deemed "Piledriver Waltz" as the band's fortieth-best song.

Credits and personnel Credits are adapted from the digital liner notes. Submarine (original recording) Alex Turner guitar, piano, lead vocals, songwriter The Composers Ensemble strings Owen Pallett arrangement Andrew Hewitt conducting Jake Jackson  recording Additional personnel James Ford producer, mixing engineer, drums

Suck It and See (re-recording) Alex Turner lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, songwriter Jamie Cook guitar, keyboards, songwriter Nick O'Malley bass guitar, backing vocals Matt Helders drums, backing vocals Additional personnel James Ford producer Craig Silvey mixing engineer Morgan Stratton assistant mixing engineer Bryan Wilson assistant mixing engineer James Brown engineer David Covell assistant engineer Sean Oakley assistant engineer George Marino mastering engineer

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