Club Called Heaven

Album: single release only (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single by American experimental electro-pop band Black Cards, formed in July 2010 as Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz' new main project. The band is composed of bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, drummer Spencer Peterson (of Saves the Day and formerly of Hidden in Plain View), lead guitarist Nate Patterson (of The Receiving End of Sirens) and lead vocalist Bebe Rexha.
  • The concept of Black Cards started when Wentz got together with songwriter-producer Sam Hollander (Gym Class Heroes, Katy Perry). Wentz explained their collaboration on the band's website: "When [Fall Out Boy] went on hiatus, I wasn't really sure what to do with myself. I knew I wanted to keep traveling the world with my family. We had been to Jamaica recently. I spent a lot of time hanging around the beaches, and I started to get inspired again by [reggae] songs like 'Two Sevens Clash' and 'Warriors,' . I'd never heard any of these songs but could imagine them having an everlasting imprint, like people would dance to this stuff forever. I could feel these songs really meant something. Not just in Jamaica but globally, crossing through culture and language.

    I started collaborating via e-mail with my friend Sam, who I knew from working on [the Gym Class Heroes' 2006 album] As Cruel As School Children. He had been listening to a lot of old British stuff and we mashed that with the island vibe in the studio. I wanted to try a female vocalist [because] I couldn't imagine trying to replace Patrick. Combine all this with my nonsense and ideas. Stuff I could never write or never had a perspective to write from in FOB."
  • Prior to hooking up with Wentz and company, Staten Island native Bebe Rexha had virtually no previous experience in the music business. Wentz explained that when he Hollander began cutting the tracks, they had no vocalist. However, they recruited Rexha after overhearing her auditioning in the next room for a different project. He recalled: "I just heard this voice blasting and I said, 'Why are we so focused on finding a quirky, British girl? There's somebody in the next room who has these awesome melodies and can really sing and isn't jaded.'"

    He added: "We have completely different influences. If I cite a band from the punk scene, she often has no idea who I'm talking about. Then she'll cite a dance band and I'll have no idea who she's talking about. She's just an awesome, natural talent."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.