News

Alistair Griffin – Always Formula 1

• 26th Nov 2012

Alistair Griffin cemented his road trip soundtrack credentials when he provided, for the second time in three seasons, the theme to the BBC’s final montage of the F1 season. Back in 2010, the BBC used ‘Just Drive’ for the final montage in Abu Dhabi, a feat which was repeated with the Dramatico released single ‘Always No. 1’ being used as the soundtrack to the station’s coverage in Brazil on November 25th.

It is particularly fitting as Griffin comments: “The song is about reflecting on past glories, and though life and time moves on, those glories can’t be taken away, you’ll always have them. It seemed particularly appropriate this year in the world of F1 with the great Schumacher finally leaving the stage with Sebastian Vettel seemingly filling his shoes”.

One of Griffin ‘s biggest supporters is good friend and BBC anchor Jake Humphrey and Griffin says the song is also about saying goodbye to someone, and looking to a new start. “On a personal note my old pal Jake Humphrey is moving on too. The closing lines “it’s a brand new life it’s a glorious day, a golden sun…they’ll write your name in the fire and blood and you will always be, number one” seem particularly fitting this year…”

‘Always No. 1’ is a song to soundtrack new beginnings. Displaying perfectly how to produce the instrumental components for an anthemic pop tune, the song is taken beyond a simple ‘stadium pop’ formula by his lyrics. Emotionally intelligent and sometimes vulnerable, the power of the word lies at the core of Alistair’s songwriting style.

Alistair certainly knows how to write a sporting anthem, Sky used ‘Just Drive’ as the theme tune for their F1 channel for the 2012 season and ‘This Is London’ was used in the London 2012 Olympic coverage. Already recognised for its emotive encouraging style, ‘Always No. 1’ was also used to close Andy Murray’s semi final win on the BBC Wimbledon coverage this year. His new project with The Games Maker Choir further accentuates his ability with a performance at this year Sports Personality confirmed.

With performances earlier this year to 20,000 fans at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix and Hard Rock Calling, Alistair has taken his music to audiences both familiar and new. First single ‘Just Drive’ from his album ‘Albion Sky’ received a brilliant reaction when it was revealed as Sky’s Formula 1 theme, even attracting praise from F1 drivers past and present including Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Eddie Jordan and Damon Hill. It topped a recent poll as “best driving related theme song ever”.

Griffin’s album ‘Albion Sky’, released in July, was produced by Ed Buller (best known for his work with Suede, Pulp, White Lies and The Courteneers). Written by Griffin with collaborations from Brian Howes, Eliot Kennedy and Paul Banks, the resulting album is a revealing tome of a musician matured and comfortable in his own skin.