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Catapulting to international fame within the mid-2000s following the discharge of their iconic ballad ‘Hey There Delilah’, Plain White T’s have come a great distance since they first emerged on the Chicago underground scene in 1997.
Honing their unmistakable mix of pop rock sensibilities and introspective lyricism on every new launch since, the final two and a half a long time have seen the four-piece attain actually monumental heights. From early appearances at Warped Tour to changing into double GRAMMY award nominees and topping the charts in a number of nations, they’ve made an indelible mark on popular culture, constantly delivering infectious pop rock anthems alongside the way in which.
Celebrated for his or her poignant storytelling, on the coronary heart of the Plain White T’s magic lies frontman Tom Higgenson’s potential to translate profound feelings into lyrical gems that resonate universally. Portray vivid portraits of life’s triumphs and tribulations, his heartfelt musings on nostalgia, love, and loss have lengthy captured the essence of the human expertise, resonating deeply with audiences internationally.
A songwriter who wears his coronary heart firmly on his sleeve, as Plain White T’s rejoice the discharge of their self-titled album, Tom talks Rock Sound by ten lyrics that outline his band’s profession.
“Nicely, have they got radios in heaven? // I hope they do // ‘Trigger they’re taking part in my tune on the radio // And I’m singing it to you // In the event that they don’t have radios in heaven // Right here’s what I’ll do // I can deliver my guitar when my time is up // And I’ll play it for you”, ‘Radios in Heaven’ – ‘Cease’ (2002)
“That tune was written about my nice grandma, who had simply handed away on the time. I used to be very shut together with her. Each weekend once I was a child, I might go to my grandma’s home on Friday night time. I might keep there, and my nice grandma would come over. She lived in a distinct suburb, however each Friday night time all through my childhood was spent with my grandma and my nice grandma. On Saturday afternoons, we’d take a stroll to the park to feed the geese and fly a kite, and I’ve all these stunning recollections of these occasions.
When my nice grandma handed away, I felt like I wanted to do one thing for her, so I wrote a tune. I don’t bear in mind the place the concept of getting radios in heaven got here from, but it surely was such a pleasant thought. The band have been nowhere close to being on the radio at that time, but it surely was placing somewhat little bit of hope out into the world that perhaps at some point we’d get there. I needed to point out her that I used to be doing one thing worthwhile down right here, and I used to be considering of her while I did it.”
“It received’t cease in the event that they don’t cease yelling // It’s not the way in which of working your issues out // I can’t stand being round this yelling // So I’m discovering my manner out”, ‘Breakdown’ – ‘All That We Wanted’ (2005)
“This was written for a buddy of mine who killed himself once we have been in our 20s. I used to be actually affected by it. He was down for some time, and there was nothing that anyone may do, so it was a tragic second for me and my buddies. I felt as if I wanted to write down one thing to pay my respects to him, or perhaps it was simply to get it off my chest. Generally there are issues that weigh my coronary heart down, and by writing about them it feels as if I’m giving them a brand new life. That one way or the other helps me cope.
I don’t assume his dad and mom have been preventing on a regular basis or something like that, but it surely was a simple story for me to inform. I needed to let folks know that they’re not alone and that everyone goes by dangerous shit generally. There are occasions when that doesn’t finish in a constructive mild, however I attempt to at all times be hopeful with my lyrics.”
“I can fill the entire flooring to the ceiling // With all of the lifeless flawed selections I’ve made // And though we attempt to be taught // From every others errors // We’ll do it once more”, ‘Huge Dangerous World’ – ‘Huge Dangerous World’ (2008)
“I really like this lyric. It’s about acknowledging that you simply’re a fuckup and also you’re doing silly shit however understanding that likelihood is you’ll in all probability do it once more. I really like the way in which that tune bounces, and the way the bassline goes towards the guitar. It’s such a feel-good tune, though the lyrics are about getting by a tricky time. You attempt to be taught out of your errors, however you’ll in all probability fuck up once more sooner somewhat than later, as a result of all of us do.”
“Racecars and spaceships and carnival rides // Ghosts within the graveyard that come out at night time // These are the wonders of the youthful”, ‘Wonders of the Youthful’ – ‘Wonders of the Youthful’ (2010)
“I really got here up with the title of this album earlier than writing any of the songs. I went to see a Cirque du Soleil present referred to as ‘O’ in Las Vegas, and it made me really feel like I used to be a child watching ‘The Goonies’ or ‘Again to the Future’. It took me again to that harmless sense of marvel and amazement, and at 30 years previous I realised I wanted to examine again in with among the issues I cherished once I was a child.
Every stanza of this tune individually paints its personal little image of what life is like whenever you’re a child, and there’s even a reference to ‘The Goonies’ in there. I needed to make a tune, and an album, that mirrored on issues I cherished as a child, but additionally explored what they imply to me now as an grownup. It’s one in every of my favorite Plain White T’s albums.”
“So, when the day comes and I don’t get up // I’ll float away, full of affection, like helium // From heaven I received’t fear // ‘Trigger I left behind one hell of a narrative”, ‘Helium’ – ‘Ought to’ve Gone To Mattress EP’ (2013)
“That is about my 14-year-old son, who’s my finest good friend. As you grow old, you begin to really feel your mortality somewhat bit extra. Once you’re younger, you are feeling invincible, however when you get older and the folks round you begin dying you start to see the fragility of life. This line is about acknowledging that I’m not going to be right here endlessly, however fortunately my son goes to hold on my legacy. He’s going to be one of the best factor I go away behind, and that reassures me that the whole lot shall be okay once I’m gone.”
“Days like these don’t come up any larger // We’ve bought important road lit up like a fireplace // Nothing compares to respiratory the air // Once I’m again in my hometown // Sometime my children will run like I did // On these streets and previous playgrounds!”, ‘American Nights’ – ‘American Nights’ (2015)
“That is additionally a reference to my son. I had an incredible childhood, and I really like considering again to what it was prefer to be a child. That’s an ongoing theme not solely in my music, however in my life. Now that I’ve a child, I need to make it possible for he has a childhood as nice as mine was, or hopefully a good higher one.
There’s one thing magical in regards to the place you grew up in, and through the pandemic I took my son to see the locations the place I spent my childhood. We went to my previous highschool grounds and the park throughout the road from the home I grew up in, and I confirmed him how I used to spend my days. I needed to let him see the place I got here from, as a result of I believe your geography helps to mould the individual you might be. I hope my son’s childhood is as magical as mine was.”
“Time goes by too quick // Gotta attempt to make it final // Gotta attempt to make my life higher // Attempt to decelerate and preserve all of it collectively // Take it day-to-day // Discover myself alongside the way in which”, ‘Pause’ – ‘American Nights’ (2015)
“It is a reminder to myself that it’s good to push pause generally. I really feel like I want that reminder extra usually lately, as a result of I’m at all times simply doing one factor after one other. I used to be on the cellphone with a good friend lately and I requested once we may see one another once more, as a result of it had been a couple of weeks. She informed me that we hadn’t caught up for 2 months, and I used to be shocked. The older you get; time goes by quicker and quicker. Often, you must cease and catch your breath. It’s like that ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ quote: ‘Life strikes fairly quick. Should you don’t cease and go searching on occasion, you could possibly miss it.’”
“They received’t go away you behind // However that isn’t to say that it’s not on their minds // Possibly it will sensible so that you can be within the room subsequent time // Be part of the land of the residing”, ‘Land of the Residing’ – ‘Parallel Universe (Deluxe Version)’ (2019)
“I really didn’t write that lyric, our guitar participant [Tim G. Lopez] did. After we’d be within the studio, he’d at all times be the one who would say, ‘Oh, you guys can deal with it’. If there was ever an argument, he’d keep out of it and let the remainder of us work it out. Nevertheless, every time songs would come out, he’d at all times be the man who stated, ‘I at all times hated that half’. The remainder of us can be stood there like, ‘Why didn’t you say something!’
He claims that lyric isn’t autobiographical, however to me it’s like, ‘Yeah, perhaps it will be sensible so that you can be within the room subsequent time!’ You’ll be able to’t actually bitch about it should you selected to not have a say in it, and I’m fairly certain that’s what the road is about, though he received’t admit it. I really like the concept of becoming a member of the land of the residing although, as a result of we will all really feel like zombies generally. You’ve bought to snap out of it, open your eyes, and see the place you’re actually at.”
“Conversations about artwork // The spaghetti tattoo in your arm // Yeah, we talked till the restaurant lights got here on”, ‘Spaghetti Tattoo’ – ‘Plain White T’s’ (2023)
“I went on a date with this woman who I’d been messaging through the pandemic. We’d had loads of time to speak and get to know one another beforehand, as a result of through the pandemic we couldn’t actually do anything. After we lastly bought to fulfill up in individual, we went to a restaurant and sat speaking for hours. At one level we seemed round and we have been the one folks within the restaurant. We have been the assholes protecting the employees there, and so they have been all ready for us to depart.
This tune is me recounting that night time. I’m obsessive about artwork, I’m a giant collector and I paint too, so we talked about that lots. She additionally really had a tattoo of a plate of spaghetti on her arm, which she allow us to take a photograph of for the only cowl artwork.”
“Nearly fell asleep on the drive dwelling // I ponder should you would give a shit // Acquired all these demoed songs on my iPhone // And if I died, then none of ’em would ever be hits”, ‘Would You Even’ – ‘Plain White T’s’ (2023)
“That is about the identical woman who I went on that date with however was written a few months later. We’d been hanging out, but it surely was somewhat bit cold and warm, and a few nights have been higher than others. I keep in Malibu once I go on the market, which is stupidly far out from anything in LA. We’d hang around till tremendous late, after which I’d must drive 45 minutes again to Malibu. I used to be so drained, and after a not-so-great night time out together with her, that is what I used to be interested by.
I puzzled if I fell asleep proper then and crashed my automotive, would she even care? It was a foolish emo second, however I believed it was cool. I used to be in the midst of scripting this new album, so I had a bunch of demos on my cellphone. I believed, ‘If I died proper now, nobody would ever hear these songs’. This album that I really like would by no means see the sunshine of day, and that’s manner sadder than having a nasty night time with a woman.”
Plain White T’s self-titled album is out on November 17 through Fearless Information.
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