I feel about Belle & Sebastian the way Pulp Fiction‘s Vincent Vega feels about Europe — they’re similar to other alternative bands but just a little bit different.

It has something to do with the makeup of the band, I’m sure. Seven members, several of whom trade off lead vocals, playing traditional rock band instruments as well as cellos, violins and plenty of woodwinds. You’re pretty much guaranteed to have a unique sound given that lineup.

Much credit also must go to band leader Stuart Murdoch, whose gentle vocals and prodigious songwriting talent have shaped the band from its inception. The septet has done a marvelous job of bringing his unique vision to life.

Today’s song, “Jonathan David,’ is sung not by Murdoch but by guitarist Stevie Jackson, who also plays the starring role in the song’s video. The track is sung from the perspective of the third wheel in a love triangle (excuse the mixed metaphors), and draws a parallel to the Biblical story of Jonathan and David.

Interestingly, that tale is about the two men’s love for each other (which some scholars have argued had a homosexual nature) rather than their shared love for a woman. Whether or not this song should be read that way is up for discussion.