The group has a unique sound mixing several different genres of rock including alternative rock, pop rock, industrial, and electronic.
The band's song "Take Me Home" peaked at #25 on US alt rock radio charts in 2010. The band has one full-length album "Let's Build Something to Break" on Universal Motown and is releasing an EP "You Belong" independently in Spring 2011.
Members:
- Jason Evigan (vocals),
- Spencer Bastian (guitar),
- Christian Meadows (guitar),
- Ryan Folden (drums);
Discography:
- The Becoming EP (2007)
- Let's Build Something to Break (2009)
- You Belong EP (2011)
The Real Thing
After Midnight Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That we use to hide behind when we're awake
Money is everything, we blanket ourselves under the greed
Fancy cars, elastic smiles, what a show
I better wrap my heart in cellophane
This is not the real thing
This is not real, is not real
Every thing around you
You still conceal
This is not the real thing
This is not the real thing
I delve for absolution,
But my thoughts get distracted by desire
Yea it's all about who you know
And it's all about being the biggest star
The sugar keeps us sweet for an hour at a time
All aboard the bullet train
This is not the real thing
This is not real, is not real
You fake, you take, you break
Every thing around you
You still conceal
This is not the real thing
This is not
I want it all and I want it now
Pick me up from the ground then throw me down
I'm scared of you
Who throws opinions each and every way
You're not real
You're not real
This is not real
You're not real
You fake, you take, you break
Every thing around you
You still conceal
(This is not real)
You fake, you take, you break
Every thing around you
You still conceal
This is not the real thing
This is not the real thing
I saw you on the screen last night
You looked glamorous with pearl,
Diamonds and Novocain
You looked happier than sin
Your bleeding heart is paper-thin
You are so far away from where you belong
This is not the real thing
This is not real, is not real
You fake, you take, you break
Every thing around you
You still conceal
This is not the real thing
This is not the real thing
The real thing
The lyrics to After Midnight Project's song The Real Thing speak to the glamorization of material possessions, fame, and success that is prevalent in society. The use of pills represents the desire to escape the pressures of reality and the need to maintain a facade of happiness and success. The line "money is everything, we blanket ourselves under the greed" highlights how this desire for wealth and fame has become a blanket for individuals to hide under, masking their true selves. The reference to "elastic smiles" emphasizes the artificial and superficial nature of this lifestyle. Despite the material success, the singer acknowledges that this lifestyle is not fulfilling and that they need to protect their heart by wrapping it in cellophane.
The chorus, "This is not the real thing," is a mantra against this artificial lifestyle. The repetition emphasizes the point and the frustration with how the world is set up. It is a call to authenticity and meaning, calling out those who "fake, take, and break" everything around them, yet still conceal their true selves. The desire for success and possessions is seen as a potential distraction from the quest for absolution and self-discovery. The bridge mentions the fleeting nature of the sugar that keeps the individuals happy for a short time, like all the material possessions in life.
Overall, the song is a critique of the materialistic and superficial aspects of modern society, calling for individuals to seek "the real thing" - true meaning and fulfillment in life beyond possessions and fame.
Line by Line Meaning
These pills are the medicine
We use drugs to escape reality
That we use to hide behind when we're awake
We use drugs to hide from problems even while awake
Money is everything, we blanket ourselves under the greed
We obsess over material wealth and let it consume us
Fancy cars, elastic smiles, what a show
We use flashy belongings and fake smiles to hide our true selves
I better wrap my heart in cellophane
I need to protect myself emotionally from this fake world
I want it all and I want it now
We're greedy and impatient
Pick me up from the ground then throw me down
We crave attention and validation, only to be let down
I'm scared of you, who throws opinions each and every way
We're afraid of those who try to control and judge us
You're not real, you're not real
We see through the fakeness of others
I saw you on the screen last night, you looked glamorous with pearl, diamonds and Novocain
We're bombarded by fake images of perfection
You looked happier than sin, your bleeding heart is paper-thin
We can see the pain behind the fake facade
You are so far away from where you belong
We feel disconnected from this fake world
This is not the real thing, this is not real, is not real
We are aware that this fake world is not reality
You fake, you take, you break every thing around you, you still conceal
The people in this fake world hide their true selves while causing harm to others
This is not the real thing, the real thing
We long for authenticity and truth
Contributed by Ruby F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.