Helena Beat

Album: Torches (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second single by American indie pop group Foster the People, from the band's debut studio album Torches. The anthemic song is about the come down youngsters get, when after partying hard and getting totally wasted, they arrive back home and think: Now What?

    Their bass player Cubbie Fink explained at the Lollapalooza festival that the song is about: "The facade in Hollywood that there's all these young, beautiful people partying in this drug culture and getting lost in it. They're searching for the fountain of youth."
  • Frontman Mark Foster told MTV News this song is his favorite from the band's live set. "I get to run around with a guitar and bang on drums," he laughed. "So, you know, it's good."
  • The Ace Norton directed video is set in a post-apocalyptic world and finds the band members being kidnapped by some deranged kids. Foster described it to MTV News as "Lord of the Flies meets Mad Max." The video goes with the "Fountain of Youth" theme in the lyrics.
  • The title doesn't show up in the lyrics, but it's pronounced "Hell-A-Na Beat."
  • According to an interview with The Music Network, Mark Foster titled the track after an ex who was "partying a lot." He went on to explain that the lyrics embody the attitude of Hollywood's drug culture scene. "They're the young, hot, up and coming, powerful people that are gonna run the world," he said. "But they're just going out and doing drugs every night. "They're saying it with this big smile of their face like 'I'm great, everything's great,' 'but don't you see that you're completely out of your mind on drugs right now that you can't even stand?' Their whole life is f--ked."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Motley Crue

Motley CrueFact or Fiction

Was Dr. Feelgood a dentist? Did the "Crüecifixion" really happen?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.