Light Up the Sky

Album: The End Is Where We Begin (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • TFK frontman/songwriter Trevor McNevan had the idea for this song for some time. He told New Release Tuesday: "Although it's in the same vein as some of our other high-octane songs, like 'Fire It Up,' it's quite different. I wanted it to have that U2 Vertigo type vibe; that big stadium energy with single notes on the main guitar riff, instead of chords."
  • This was a challenge for McNevan to sing as its one of the highest songs vocally he's written to date. He told NewReleaseTuesday: "With every record, you try to push yourself. When your writing it's no big deal, but when you get tracking, you realize, 'wow, I'm gonna really have to step into this!' And this was the first song written for the new album that had actual rhyming in it. I grew up on old school hip hop and have always been into rhyming. That's where I came from, and I think it has given me a lot of unique advantages as a vocalist and as a writer. It also has its setbacks. You have to remember that not everybody is listening for a clever or witty lyric or vocal pattern, and it can easily throw them off or sometimes just go right over their heads. I hate predictable rhymes. This song is like an explosive; it builds and then explodes, comes right back down, builds, and then explodes again. Musical pyro!!! I wanted the listener to feel the energy, and feel the emotion behind it. It's a call to action."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?