Outcast

Album: Memories of a Beautiful Disaster (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Durbin penned this song with Motley Crue lead guitarist Mick Mars and Swedish hard rock band Hardcore Superstar. Both acts also play on the track.
  • The song deals with bullying, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. Durbin explained: "Middle school through high school was when I got bullied most until I said, 'I'm not going to take it -- no more timid little James,' and I created an alter-ego for myself and became 'Crazy James.' I literally made people call me that. I put it on my dental records and had to change it recently. [Laughs] I finally got some dignity and some pride in myself when I finally decided this is who I am. I'm a freak, yeah. I'm crazy. I'm f---ing out of my mind and that's when I started getting serious about my music and my band and writing songs while I trained my voice to go high. This song really coincides with that crazy James s--t – 'You're the outcast, you cry when we all laugh, I'll be the one that you want, I'll be the outcast.'"
  • This is one of several tracks on Memories of a Beautiful Disaster inspired by Durbin's difficult experiences of being picked on during his school days. "The underlying theme of the album is bullying and being an outsider, because growing up, I wasn't the popular kid at school," Durbin explained to Billboard magazine. "I've heard from fans about how inspiring I am to their kids through singing covers on 'Idol,' and now I get to put out my record and give these people real emotion, stuff that I've gone through and someone to look up to."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

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