The band was formed with five members in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The band consisted of vocalist Shawn O'Brien, lead guitarist Thomas Buser, rhythm guitarist Wes Jenkins, bassist and keyboardist Brandon Lawrance and drummer Johnny Bay.
O'Brien and Buser started the project in 2010. They released a couple of singles online. When O'Brien decided that he was going to become a solo artist, he had set up several different projects across the nation with many different people. But none of those projects had topped Above This. The name comes from the experience that one may face when dealing with rejection, misjudgment, or denial from their friends or family. When O'Brien got kicked out of his first legit band around 2009, he told himself that he wouldn't join another band anytime soon, but after meeting the other members of the band and connecting, they became a band.
Some time later, Jenkins, Lawrance and Bay left the band and Buser took over the role for producing the instrumentals while O'Brien did the vocals. During these years, they released two albums "7L7" in 2010 and "Titanium" in 2013, and two EPs, "Empire" in 2012 and "Hyrax" in 2015.
Eventually Buser also left the project, and O'Brien continued on with the project with different collaborations. The album "Alloquy" was made with Zachary Stitleler in 2015, and the album "Chapter 7" was made with Cameron Ayala and Nicholas Shtyrlov in 2016.
Shtyrlov eventually became a more integral part of the band, now producing all instrumentals for Above This.
O’Brien has built an empire consisting of producers, designers, promoters and engineers that have helped him successfully release several albums since they started. O’Briens ability to recruit talent via social media has allowed the internet band to monetise its music worldwide. Over the years the project has experimented with a variety of sounds including rapping and edm/trap and O’Brien continues to work on future projects amongst different genres.
There Can Only Be One Second Best!
Above This Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got another one to my eyes, your demise
I'm fucking great
Cause this is, the end of the world, yeah
I wasnt satisfied from the first time that I saw your fucking face
I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that you thought that I would back down
But not that easily, I have alot of hate built up inside of me
Cause, this is the best time that I've ever had
We've been through all of the good and the bad
Take your mind set, and head for the hills
This is my life and I've got skills that kill
Oh, I'll shake the Earth as I'm stomping the ground
I'll take this weight off me pound by pound
You really think that I'd let you get through to me
Then suddenly, I come out of nowhere and push you into oncoming traffic
Ooh. That really looks like it hurt!
What do we do?
Wait what was his name?
I think im going insane.
Let's call this scene "pathetic hit and run"
Why can't I be like the other kids?
I try to fit into the crowd like you always did
I built myself up over night and strive to be the best
Tears are words that the heart cannot express
Drop this motherfucker into the pit
I don't know why the fuck I try so hard, every chance I get
What's wrong with my past?
I swear to god I'll try my hardest just to make this last
Right NOW!
Turn me on, kill the bass, This is on, smash the place
I, must say
I'm pretty impressed by all your failed attempts to embarrass me
Two wrongs don't make a right. but do two rights make a wrong?
Whoa man, I dont know, do they?
In this song, Above This expresses their frustration towards a person who thought they were better than the band. The opening lines "Straight into my eyes, your demise" suggest that the subject being addressed is looking straight into the eyes of the band and experiencing their own downfall. The repetition of "I got another one to my eyes, your demise" creates a sense of satisfaction for the band's artist, as if they are constantly watching their subject fall.
The chorus "I'm fucking great / Cause this is, the end of the world, yeah" shows the band's confidence in their own abilities and their disregard for the opinions of others. The rest of the song discusses the band's journey and their rise to success, as well as the obstacles they faced along the way. They take pride in their hard work and their ability to overcome the negativity thrown their way.
Overall, the lyrics of "There Can Only Be One Second Best!" showcase the band's strength and determination, as well as their disdain for those who doubted them.
Line by Line Meaning
Straight into my eyes, your demise
I am staring at you and predicting your downfall
I'm fucking great
I am extremely confident and capable
Cause this is, the end of the world, yeah
I am exaggerating my success and taking pleasure in my victory
I wasn't satisfied from the first time that I saw your fucking face
I immediately disliked you upon our first encounter
I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that you thought that I would back down
Your underestimate of me is amusing and unfounded
But not that easily, I have a lot of hate built up inside of me
I am motivated by anger and resentment
Take your opinions, and shove them right up your ass
I do not value or care about your thoughts or beliefs
Cause, this is the best time that I've ever had
I am very satisfied and happy in this moment
We've been through all of the good and the bad
We have experienced both positive and negative aspects of life
Take your mind set, and head for the hills
I advise you to leave and change your outlook
This is my life and I've got skills that kill
I am confident and skilled in what I do
Oh, I'll shake the Earth as I'm stomping the ground
I have immense power and influence
I'll take this weight off me pound by pound
I will gradually remove my burdens or problems
You really think that I'd let you get through to me
You believe you can influence or affect me, but you are wrong
Then suddenly, I come out of nowhere and push you into oncoming traffic
I will retaliate or harm you unexpectedly and severely
Ooh. That really looks like it hurt!
I am glad to see you suffer
What do we do?
I am pretending to ask for advice, but I already know what to do
Wait what was his name?
I am feigning ignorance or indifference to the person I harmed
I think I'm going insane.
I am questioning my emotional state or sanity
Let's call this scene 'pathetic hit and run'
I am mocking or belittling the situation I caused
Why can't I be like the other kids?
I feel inferior or excluded from my peers
I try to fit into the crowd like you always did
I am attempting to conform or assimilate like others
I built myself up overnight and strive to be the best
I have improved myself rapidly and desire to excel
Tears are words that the heart cannot express
Crying conveys emotions that are difficult to articulate
Drop this motherfucker into the pit
I want to dispose of or harm this person
I don't know why the fuck I try so hard, every chance I get
I question my motivation or effort despite repeated attempts
What's wrong with my past?
I am reflecting on and questioning my personal history
I swear to god I'll try my hardest just to make this last
I am committed to doing my best to sustain this situation or relationship
Right NOW!
I am emphasizing the importance and urgency of the present moment
Turn me on, kill the bass, This is on, smash the place
I want to energize and excite the environment or audience
I must say, I'm pretty impressed by all your failed attempts to embarrass me
I am sarcastically acknowledging and dismissing your feeble efforts
Two wrongs don't make a right. but do two rights make a wrong?
I am questioning the concept of moral equivalency
Whoa man, I don't know, do they?
I am continuing to question and debate the validity of moral equivalency
Contributed by Cooper G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jon Evans
So good.
Jon Evans
Yo I need the lyrics for this
Dale Kukowski
2:25- 2:49 sick
Arvin Nulchand
I thought you did cuz the original song is like 3:30. This is longer but I like it better than the original 3
Arvin Nulchand
you added the dubstep part right ?
Cemetery Abyss
This is the original song, they took out the dubstep part because it was stolen.
THEsteamyBULL
dubstop.
Cemetery Abyss
No :\