Something to Talk About (2002) – Badly Drawn Boy

Posted on October 14, 2025 by observationblogger — 1 Comment

The instant the subject of About a Boy came up in conversation with a friend the other day – lo and behold – it appeared on my cable that same afternoon. Once that happens, there’s no turning it off for me. I only need to see one scene and I’m hooked till the credits roll. There isn’t a moment in that film I don’t enjoy rewatching.

I’ve always related to Will, Hugh Grant’s character, because of my own temperament and circumstances: “I am an island. I am bloody Ibiza!” It’s always struck me as the role Hugh Grant was born to play. About a Boy walks a delicate tightrope between witty, frivolous comedy and heartfelt drama. Such is my attachment to it that I even wrote about it in my Friday’s Finest segment.

Which brings me to today’s featured song – Something to Talk About – the defining track from the film’s soundtrack. Released as a single on June 10, 2002, it reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart. Damon Michael Gough, better known as Badly Drawn Boy, is the English indie singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist behind it. Impressed by his earlier work, the Weitz brothers (the film’s directors) invited him to compose the score.

The soundtrack blends short soundbite-style jingles with fully formed songs, all carrying that same laid-back groove and hip, understated cool. Something to Talk About belongs firmly in the latter category – it’s got the strut, flow, and quiet confidence of Will himself. Subtle, stylish, and effortlessly charming. It’s often said, but in this case it’s true: the song and the movie are inseparable. Each enhances the other. The track recurs throughout the film, yet never grows old; it becomes part of the film’s texture, setting the tone and amplifying its bittersweet charm.

I’ve been
Dreaming
Of the things I’ve learnt about a boy who’s
Bleeding
Celebrate to elevate
The joy is not the same without the pain
Oooh

Ipso
Facto
Using up your oxygen
You know I’m
Shallow
Calling out for extra help
You’ve got to let me in
Or let me out

Oooh something to talk about
Oooh something to talk about
Oooh Oooh Oooh

I’ve been
Dreaming
Of the things I learnt about a boy who’s
Leaving
Nothing else to chance again
You’ve got to let me in
Or let me out
Oooh something to talk about
Yeah something to talk about
Oooh Oooh Oooh

References:
1. Badly Drawn Boy – Wikipedia