Any Man In America

Album: Any Man In America (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the title track from Texan alternative rock band Blue October's sixth studio album. The record chronicles the deeply personal events that transpired in singer Justin Furstenfeld's life after the band's previous release. They include an emotionally draining custody battle over his daughter with his ex-wife, and being thrown into a mental hospital after the singer suffered a breakdown on an airplane. "These past few years have been hell," Furstenfeld told Noisecreep. "It's been such a tough time dealing with my mental breakdown and the custody issues. All of my friends just disappeared from my life. It was just me and my songs in the studio for two years straight. I was only seeing my daughter every two months for four days – and that's if she would show up. For example, I have to go pick her up tomorrow morning in Nebraska and bring her back to Texas for seven days. But she called me up this morning to say that she didn't want to be around me because of someone I've been seeing. I felt like saying, 'I already bought the tickets. That's your college fund I'm using up.' I feel a little strange being this honest with you, but I know there are a lot of men going through the same thing as I am right now."
  • Furstenfeld's vocals on this song and the rest of the album are a mixture of fragility and power similar in style to the singing of Peter Gabriel. The Blue October founder told Noisecreep that the British artist has been an influence on him. He said: "I grew up on his solo stuff and I've always been a huge fan of his voice. He has a really great way of being dramatic but not too personal. He's kind of vague in his delivery. Sometimes I scream at my radio, 'Dude, just say it! What's her name, what's her number and where does she live?' But that's not Peter [laughs]. I've always been into songwriters that call people out on their s--t. But if you're going to do that as a writer, you have to be willing to point the finger right back at yourself too. I definitely have no problem doing that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."