Inspiration behind Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘Ruby’ revealed
nme.comKaiser Chiefs drummer and songwriter Nick Hodgson has revealed the original inspiration behind the band’s hit song ‘Ruby’.The Leeds group released ‘Ruby’, the lead single from their second album ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’, in 2007 which went on to become their first UK Number One.In a new video feature posted by The Other Songs where Hodgson retold the story for a live audience, he recalled playing a verse on the keyboard when someone called Ruby walked in, prompting him to sing the tracks famous hook, “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby…“.“At the time we didn’t say who Ruby was,” he shared. “But I can tell you now that Ruby was a dog.”Hodgson also elaborated on the meaning behind ‘Ruby’ in a TikTok last year in which he sang a stripped back version of ‘Ruby’ and played the piano.A text box flashed onto the screen, which read, “Ruby was our family dog”, alongside a picture of a black labrador, adding: “When I was writing it Ruby (the dog) walked in and I sang…”He then played the chorus and concluded with the text: “I’m very glad she did.”The song naturally sounds like it is about a woman, opening with vocalist Ricky Wilson singing, “Let it never be said that romance is dead/ ‘Cause there’s so little else occupying my head,” before he asks Ruby in the chorus: “Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)/ Know what you’re doing, doing to me?”This is the piano that i started writing Ruby on.
Look out for the original Ruby. Ricky went onto write the verse lyrics. #indie #alt #alttiktok #altmusic #indietiktok #noughtiesmusic #kaiserchiefs #songwriter #songwriterstories #piano #songwriting ♬ original sound – Nick J.D.
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