AhHa

Album: Grand Romantic (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was released as the second single from Nate Ruess' Grand Romantic album. "It's three or four songs rolled into one, and in my mind, the perfect opening track for the whole album (the same way 'Some Nights' was written as the album opener)," he said. "In fact, I always saw it as 'Some Nights' evil twin when I first started writing it a few years ago. I'd say more - but I'd rather save it for the album and let the song get you ready for it."
  • The song finds Ruess struggling with the pain of a bad relationship but concludes on an optimistic note by quoting the album title:

    I found songs among the tragic
    Hung my hat on sadness
    But mom, I think I'm ready to free this grand romantic in me


    Ruess told MTV News; "I think at some point in my life I had my heart broken so many times that I was just willing to never get too up and never get too down."

    "I think that the album is very romantic, but not in some sort of overt buying-flowers-for-someone type of way," he added. "I like to just think that romantic is the ability to feel the highs of falling in love, being in love - just the appreciation of wonderful things that happen. And then also acknowledging the low moments and being willing to go there."
  • Nate Ruess sings here:

    It's for the best you didn't listen
    It's for the best we get our distance


    He previously used the same lyric on the fun. track "Some Nights." Asked during a Reddit AMA if there is some personal significance to the couplet, or whether it is more of an artistic call back, Ruess replied: "It's a little bit of both. Coincidentally, it was my favorite lyric on the album. And so I figured I'd carry it over."
  • The song features some multi-tracked laughter. Ruess explained to Rolling Stone: "I was on tour with fun., and I think 'Some Nights' was pretty big at the time in the States. I was laying in my bunk, and somehow I started hearing this laughing. I thought it would be interesting to freestyle over the laughing."

    "A lot of the stuff I'm singing on the song is from the first take and off the top of my head," he continued. "Not only melodically, but lyrically. I went into the studio by myself and recorded the laughing. I did eight different voices of me laughing, and then just started singing over it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.