Read Full Bio ↴A Great Big World is the new incarnation of Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino.
Axel’s known for the 2011 viral hit “This Is the New Year,” which solidified him as an indie pop presence with staggering YouTube views and numerous syncs on film and television. Teaming up with longtime collaborator Chad, he’s expanding his horizons immensely into A Great Big World.
The seeds for the partnership were planted early, even before Ian’s solo career took off. While both studying music at NYU, Ian tracked Chad down in the school’s practice rooms.
Chad smiles, “I kept blowing him off, and then I heard him singing nervously at the piano. I was like, ‘your voice is amazing. Let’s work on these songs. Let’s be friends.’”
Ian laughs, “I kind of forced my friendship on him. I stalked him and made him listen to my songs. He told me I needed to be singing. This realization changed my life. Our relationship is super special. I feel like we’ve known each other forever.”
Ian was the artist, and Chad shared writing duties and became his manager. Playing around New York, Ian eventually stepped into the spotlight and released an independent solo album entitled This Is the New Year in 2010.
The title track featured a vocal cameo from Chad. The song’s low budget music video shot at a Brooklyn party garnered over 1.5 million views and stirred an overwhelming viral buzz. Given the track’s success, tinyOGRE Entertainment signed Ian, remixing and re-releasing the record through Sony. “We finally got to quit our day jobs and do this,” Chad goes on. “It was surreal how quickly everything moved forward from that point.”
As they hit the road, “This Is the New Year” continued to gain steam. MTV utilized it as the theme song for their hit documentary series I Used to Be Fat and then it played over the title credits of Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve. Their music became a favorite of music supervisors. One Tree Hill, Amazing Race, ESPN, and Good Morning America all incorporated their songs, and Rachael Ray invited them to perform on her nationally syndicated talk show.
They completed their first national tours and opened shows for Ingrid Michaelson, Five For Fighting, and Glee star Matthew Morrison. Their live performances feature a warm, engaging interplay reminiscent of the intimacy and energy of artists like Elton John, Regina Spektor, and Simon and Garfunkel.
In late 2011, tinyOGRE Entertainment informed all of their artists that they were shutting down. “It was bittersweet,” admits Ian. “On the one hand, we lost our whole team. On the other, my relationship with Chad was as strong as it ever was. We were re-capturing the creative spark we had in college. Our music wasn’t just about ‘Ian Axel.’ We had always been in this together.”
That’s when A Great Big World was officially born. Making positive, piano-driven pop bursting with harmonies and woven together with a fun theatrical twist, the duo crafted a six-song EP funded entirely on Kickstarter by fans. “It’s optimistic pop music,” Chad says. “There are fewer songs about heartbreak and more about the big picture. But even the most painful of our songs are hopeful.”
They’ve certainly chased their dreams and they’re going to continue to do so. But there is something even greater at play. “Writing is our therapy,” Ian concludes. “And when we can connect with people through our music, it’s transformational. We’re not alone. Our songs are your songs. And that’s what it’s all about.”
www.agreatbigworld.com
Everyone Is Gay
A Great Big World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't pretend that you're straight
You can be who you are any day of the week
You are unlike the others
So strong and unique
We're all with you
If you're straight well that's great
And make gay little babies
For the whole human race
Make a world we can live in
Where the one who you love's not an issue
'Cause we're all somewhere in the middle
We're all just looking for love to change the world
What if the world stops spinning tomorrow?
We can't keep running away from who we are
If you're gay then you're gay
If you're straight well that's great
If you fall in between that's the best way to be
You've got so many options
Every fish in the sea wants to kiss you
'Cause we're all somewhere in the middle
We're all just looking for love to change the world
What if the world stops spinning tomorrow?
We can't keep running away from who we are
And we're all here in it together
We're one step closer to breaking down the walls
Everyone is gay
The lyrics of A Great Big World's song Everyone Is Gay promote acceptance and support for LGBTQ+ individuals. The opening lines "If you're gay then you're gay, don't pretend that you're straight" highlight the importance of being true to yourself and not hiding one's sexuality for society's sake. The following lines "You can be who you are any day of the week, you are unlike the others, so strong and unique, we're all with you" emphasize the idea that being different is not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be celebrated and embraced.
The song also touches upon the topic of procreation and the misconception that being gay is a hindrance to human reproduction. Lines such as "You can help procreate and make gay little babies for the whole human race" make it clear that being gay does not prevent individuals from contributing to society in meaningful ways. The lyrics suggest that a world without discrimination, where love is not an issue, can be created by accepting and celebrating people for who they are.
The chorus "We're all somewhere in the middle, we're all just looking for love to change the world" highlights the universality of the human experience and the importance of love in making the world a better place. The lyrics suggest that personal differences should not be a barrier to love and acceptance, and that everyone should be allowed to love who they want to love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're gay then you're gay
Don't hide who you truly are and embrace your true self.
Don't pretend that you're straight
Don't be ashamed of your sexual orientation and stop pretending to be someone you're not.
You can be who you are any day of the week
Being yourself is not a choice, it's a right that shouldn't be limited to specific days only.
You are unlike the others
You're unique and special in your own way and that's what makes you stand out.
So strong and unique
Your strength, resilience, and uniqueness contribute to making the world a better place.
We're all with you
You're not alone, and many people support and stand by you.
If you're straight well that's great
Being straight is an acceptable sexual orientation, and no one should discriminate based on that.
You can help procreate
One of the benefits of being straight is the ability to contribute to the human race's reproduction process.
And make gay little babies
Even if you're straight, you can still have gay children, which is perfectly fine.
For the whole human race
Our differences should unite us, not divide us, and we should focus on the common goal of bettering the world for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Make a world we can live in
Create a world where everyone can feel safe, accepted, and respected, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Where the one who you love's not an issue
A world where people can love whoever they want without fear of persecution or discrimination is the kind of world we should strive for.
'Cause we're all somewhere in the middle
Most of us don't fall under any specific categories and are somewhere in the middle.
We're all just looking for love to change the world
Love is a powerful force that can spur us to action and create positive changes in the world.
What if the world stops spinning tomorrow?
If everything fell apart and the world ended, our sexual orientation wouldn't matter anymore.
We can't keep running away from who we are
We shouldn't deny our true selves and should embrace our identity without fear or shame.
If you fall in between that's the best way to be
Being somewhere in between the binary of gay or straight is just another way of being human, and it's perfectly acceptable.
You've got so many options
There are so many different ways to love and express one's sexuality, and embracing those options can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Every fish in the sea wants to kiss you
No matter what your sexual orientation is, there are many people out there who love you and are attracted to you.
And we're all here in it together
We're all part of the same human family, and our differences should bring us closer, not push us apart.
We're one step closer to breaking down the walls
By embracing our differences and breaking down barriers, we can create a more tolerant and accepting society.
Everyone is gay
This line is meant to be cheeky and provocative, emphasizing that everyone falls somewhere on the spectrum of sexuality, and that it's not something to be ashamed of or stigmatized.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAD VACCARINO, IAN AXEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@saltyfella4983
This song was the thing that made my young homophobic 10 year old self realize that being gay was, you know, OKAY!!! I grew up in a religious family so I never really knew that two genders loving each other was even allowed at all, and whenever somebody mentioned it I would act so weirded out and disgusted..
This song taught me that no matter who you love, we are all people who just want peace in the world..
Now that I’ve matured and grown, I can proudly say that I was very stupid for judging people for who they love..
Especially since I found out I’m a lesbian
[Edit: I put an update in the replies!]
@hajimehinata757
i remember listening to this everyday before I came out to my parents.
they never fully excepted me.
i still love them wholeheartedly.
and I'm now a proud pansexual trans man. :)
edit: Nevermind, I don't next time I hear my mom say she needs time to mourn, im gonna let her mourn her own life.
@Honey_why
Me 9 months ago thinking i'm straight is awfully funny
hold up i think i'm straight again
wait, no nevermind.
hold up-
🏳🌈Yeah so, actually, i'm gay and trans masc-
me i forgot how many months ago;
I just found out i'm straight. I thought i'm bisexual but i just don't really get attracted to girls. I support everyone from the lgbtq+ community, i'm straight ally and i have no reason to hate anybody for who they love.
This whole comment is just me having a fucking crisis
@cheezepizza2518
Did I just get complimented..? Am I really the bet thing to be? DO ALl ThE fIShIEs rEaLlY waNNa KiSs mE?!
@hatty.c5072
ALL OF THE FISHIES WILL KISS ALL OF THE PEOPLES :)
@cheezepizza2518
Hatty .c YOU GET A FISHY KISS AND YOU GET A FISHY KISS
@hatty.c5072
Nadine Bibbs EVERYONE GETS FISHY KISSES
@megasauruss
bro, it's even better if you're pan
@cheezepizza2518
SlimeInArt You know, I used to be, but everyone called me bi so I just went with it.
@Manga_Ace
I'm straight and I can admit with full chest that this song is a bop
@patrickdrake1103
Yes bow before us
@tyflex7121
Real asf
@Goth.Moth.
Im sorry I ruined the 69 likes