"The Great Defector" is the lead single from Bell X1's fourth studio album Blue Lights on the Runway.

It reached number one in the airplay charts and the band went on to feature on the cover of Hot Press the following month.

[5] The song was recorded in November 2008 in Ballycumber House, "a big, draughty, stately home... ...under the beady gaze of musty portraits of the Lords and Ladies of the estate from the 15th century".

[6] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News has praised Noonan's "flair for dialogue and his keen way with a metaphor", claiming "his cruel writing will make you swoon".

[10] Irish Independent journalist Eamon Sweeney described it as "an extremely Talking Headish song, but also happens to the best thing on the airwaves at the moment".