There'd Better Be a Mirrorball

Musically "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" has been described as a jazz-influenced[1][2][3][4] and "Bond-esque" ballad,[2][5][6] being compared to the works of Burt Bacharach and The Walker Brothers.[5] Some music journalists also noted an influence of 1960s pop music and traditional pop on the song.[1][7][8]

The song deals with a breakup, and the lyricism has been described as "oblique" and "introspective",[3][5][2] with The Guardian noting: "Turner sings about the dying days of a relationship without any of his usual brio. Instead, this song’s refrain almost feels like a plea: “If you wanna walk me to the car / You oughta know I’ll have a heavy heart / So can we please be absolutely sure that there’s a mirrorball?”"[5] Lead singer Alex Turner said of the song: “On Mirrorball, before the words even come in, that instrumental piece [establishes] the feel of the record”, and while composing it thought it felt, “like how the next record starts.”[9]

The string section was recorded at RAK Studios' Studio 1 in London, engineered by long-time Arctic Monkeys collaborator Loren Humphrey.

The song's music video was directed by lead singer Alex Turner and filmed by Turner and frequent collaborators, Zackery Michael, Ben Chappell, and Mark Bull. The video features the band at different stages of the recording process, at both Butley Priory, and La Frette studios.[10] Turner brought his own 16mm video camera to document the sessions, later compiling his footage for the video.[9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Guardian	[5]
NME	[11]

Writing for Pitchfork, Matthew Strauss noted that the song's production "gesture[s] toward the otherworldly retroism of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" while remaining "grounded" lyrically; he opines that the song is "emblematic of a new, post-AM Arctic Monkeys: a little mysterious, yearning, and downcast - and quietly beautiful."[12] Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian wrote, "Arctic Monkeys are clearly still invested in writing ballads that move with the slowness and smoothness of treacle dripping from a spoon. "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" seems slight at first – but by the time it's over, there's no doubting its power."[5] Stereogum chose the song as one of the best tracks of that week, describing it as "[splitting] the difference between Bond theme and brokenhearted lament" with "Alex Turner’s croon leading the way through exquisite lounge music and a soaring string" arrangement."[13]