The first ASU incarnation came together in 1996 when founding member Ian Eskelin decided to broaden his solo act and take a bunch of mates out on the road. The good old rock 'n' roll and notorious stage antics won them immediate acclaim.
Heady days ensued. The boys were signed to a leading record label, and after five No. 1 singles, watched their American youth group following grow into a legion of loyal fans. Over the past six years ASU has played more than 1000 shows. And only recently, during a rare yearlong break from the road in 2000, Ian took time to properly court and wed his new bride Peggy. The couple lives in Nashville, Tennessee, as do the newest faces in the ASU line-up.
Brothers Matt and Mike Payne, originally from Rockford, Illinois, have joined Ian on drums and guitar respectively, and Jeremy Hunter, a Seattle-native, is bassist and Revolution recording engineer. While the four-piece ASU team worked on the new album they took the time to rethink the ASU platform. Ian wanted to communicate something more personal. "I've written all kinds of songs, but the thing I really love and get most excited about is when I write songs that express my faith in three minutes in new and creative ways. That for me is an outpouring of my faith, my calling."
Certainly Ian's savvy use of metaphor, imagery and twisted cliché could charm a literature student for hours. His song-writing skills are clearly illustrated throughout the new record and particularly in songs like the Lennonesque "We Are The Future" and title track "Revolution". "Sweet Jesus" and the worshipful "Making It Beautiful" are perhaps more obvious in their spiritual message, but the common thread of all the tracks is the one thought-provoking challenge that Ian claims has never been more pertinent. "There are several songs on this new record that talk about change, the idea that we can make our lives better by helping to make the world better. Each of us, individually through Christ can make small differences. More than ever, I feel these songs are relevant — no matter what the circumstances of the day."
Revolution was two-and-a-half years in the writing and is the result of an artist honing his craft while personally living the themes of exploration, change, discovery and challenge. Ian has remained very "hands-on" in the production and long-term friend Mark Freegard (Manic Street Preachers, Del Amitri, and The Breeders) has mixed Revolution and ASU's self-titled debut album. Ian is not shy to express his satisfaction. "It's a ten song record and I really tried hard to trim the fat. I wanted the album to have a strong message and for people to be able to enjoy listening to every song. The guys are extremely talented musicians and really helped me with a fresh perspective on these songs."
Musically, Ian, Matt, Mike and Jeremy promise more emphasis on solid rock 'n' roll fundamentals without loosing the fun elements fans have come to love. "It's been easy to perform the songs on Revolution with the same excitement we had when we first started. The new material is written from the heart, and I feel extremely passionate about it. I want the music to be as important to the listener as it is for me. Whether in a car, living room or concert hall, I want people to leave an ASU experience reflective, energized and uplifted."
From http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/allstarunited.html
Hang On
All Star United Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She says that she forgets the day that I met her
Was just another of her casualties
Temporary 'til she found something better
Oh brother
There goes another
My mother she just sits up and cries:
Everything is all right
You know who loves you
Hang on, Hang on
Everything is OK
No, she wasn't worth it anyway"
She was a dizzy dish of cool khaki
But the gap inside her head was offensive
There was another from a Seinfield scene
Well her manly hands were far too aggressive
No worry,
What's all the hurry
My mother she just sits up and cries:
Chorus
The lyrics of All Star United's song Hang On describe a relationship that was short-lived and ultimately unfulfilling. The woman in question is described as a beauty queen with ADD, suggesting that she is flighty and hard to pin down. The singer notes that he was just one of many casualties in her romantic history, a temporary fling until she found something better. The second verse introduces another woman, this one with a "gap inside her head" and "manly hands." The singer is unimpressed by her and notes that his mother disapproves as well. Despite these setbacks, the chorus provides a message of hope and reassurance, encouraging the singer to hang on and reminding him that he is loved.
The lyrics of Hang On paint a picture of a youth culture that is marked by superficiality and fickleness, where relationships are fleeting and people are easily discarded. The references to beauty queens, cool khaki, and Seinfeld suggest a world that is driven by appearance and trends rather than deeper values. The ADD mentioned in the first verse suggests a lack of attention and focus, perhaps emblematic of our fast-paced and distracted society. The chorus, therefore, stands as a beacon of hope in the midst of this cultural moment, reminding listeners that love is a lasting and meaningful force that can sustain us.
Overall, the lyrics of Hang On are a commentary on contemporary relationships and youth culture, highlighting the challenges of finding meaning and connection in a world that values surface-level attractiveness and quick fixes. The song speaks to the need for perseverance and faithfulness in relationships, reminding listeners that love is worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a beauty queen with ADD
She was a beautiful woman who had attention deficit disorder.
She says that she forgets the day that I met her
She claims to not remember the day they first met.
Was just another of her casualties
He was just another person who got caught up in her destructive behavior.
Temporary 'til she found something better
He was just a temporary fix until she found something or someone better.
Oh brother
Expression of sarcastic disbelief.
There goes another
Just another failed relationship.
My mother she just sits up and cries:
Mother is disappointed and upset over the situation.
Hang on, Hang on
Everything is all right
You know who loves you
Hang on, Hang on
Everything is OK
No, she wasn't worth it anyway
Stay strong, everything will be okay. You are loved and valued, and regardless of this failed relationship, it was not worth it in the end.
She was a dizzy dish of cool khaki
She appeared cool and collected but was actually quite unstable.
But the gap inside her head was offensive
Her lack of intelligence or thoughtfulness was off-putting.
There was another from a Seinfield scene
Referencing Elaine's 'man hands' boyfriend on Seinfeld.
Well her manly hands were far too aggressive
Her physical behavior was too forceful or aggressive.
No worry,
What's all the hurry
No need to worry or rush into anything.
My mother she just sits up and cries:
Mother is still upset and disappointed over the situation.
Hang on, Hang on
Everything is all right
You know who loves you
Hang on, Hang on
Everything is OK
No, she wasn't worth it anyway
Again, stay strong, everything will be okay, and this person was not worth it. Mother is reassuring and supportive.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN, RICHARD EVERLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind