A brand new version of Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys’ hit anthem has been released – and it sounds totally different

The BBC Philharmonic, an 80-piece ensemble of strings, woodwind, brass and percussion, was tasked with creating a cover version of Arctic Monkeys’ I Bet You Look Good on the Dancer after it was nominated by Radio Sheffield listeners.

Musicians had just two weeks to adapt and perform frontman Alex Turner's composition, recording their parts in their own homes because of social distancing restrictions.

The results are now available to hear on the BBC Sounds service and on Facebook. The Philharmonic has, in the end, used a little guitar, drums and bass alongside the classical instruments to provide a backbone for the arrangement and keep the flavour of the original.

“It’s surreal and amazing to hear it played by the BBC Philharmonic,” said Radio Sheffield editor Rhidian Jones. “They’ve managed to keep the impact and energy of the original whist giving it a different spin. This song is a huge anthem of our area, and to hear it performed by such a talented orchestra is great.”

The song was first played on Toby Foster's Radio Sheffield breakfast show before being added to the Great Northern Playlist, a virtual mixtape made up of one tune from each of the North’s 10 BBC local radio stations. Each track on the BBC Sounds playlist will be interpreted by the Philharmonic.

Simon Webb, director of the Salford-based Philharmonic, said the musicians ‘rose up to the challenge and produced a truly incredible take on an Arctic Monkeys hit’.

Formed in High Green in 2002, Arctic Monkeys’ first album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history in 2006.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor featured on the LP and was the group’s first proper single. It reached number one on the UK singles chart in 2005.

Hundreds of nominations were submitted to find a ‘local anthem’ – the winner was picked by Foster,

The Great Northern Playlist will be the subject of a special edition of BBC Radio 2’s Sunday Night Is Music Night show from 7pm on August 16.

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