What If

Album: Simple Plan (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "What If" is an essay, inspired by the TV show Heroes, about changing and improving the world. Frontman Pierre Bouvier explained to TheyWillRockYou: "We had been watching a lot of TV these last couple of years and we've been really into the show Heroes. It was kind of inspired by the character Peter Petrelli who feels tortured and is trying to do the right thing even though a lot of people are opposing him and what he feels is the right thing to do. That's the way that we saw it for that song. I think if anyone is trying to do something important or something that might be seen as a little controversial, when you go through it you have to go through obstacles and its kind of confusing because you don't know if you want to do it or not. Look at someone like maybe Al Gore, he's taken some big leaps and done some crazy things and I think that he's probably had a lot of people opposing him. It's kind of about that feeling that you get when you go through something like that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.