To date they have released Four studio albums, as well as two live albums. Their self-titled album (2001, Island Records) was their best known release, with singles Flavor of the Weak and Another Perfect Day. Their 2003 follow up album Art of Losing had a slightly rockier edge to it and includes the singles The Art of Losing and The Breakup Song (both of which appeared on various movie soundtracks). However the album failed to meet the success of their first album and they were dropped by Island Records. Their third studio album Hearts on Parade was released by Maverick Records in 2005 with a much more poppy sound. It included the singles The Geeks Get the Girls and Hell Yeah!. There was much division between fans due to the "new sound" and poor record sales meant Maverick dropped American Hi-Fi in Autumn of 2005.
The band retured after 5 years, releasing their forth studio album Fight the Frequency but the album did not follow any sort of promotion nor much tour for support of the album.
As of 2012, the band is currently working on a new studio album and are now signed with Goomba Music.
American Hi-Fi have also released 2 Live albums. One released only in Japan called Rock N' Roll Noodle Shop: Live From Tokyo through Universal. The album is a live recording of a concert performed in Tokyo and includes mainly tracks from the self-titled album. However, it does include an early version of the track Teenage Alien Nation titled Waking Up to the End of the World, Happy (both from the Art of Losing Album) and cover of the Cheap Trick song Surrender.
The second live album was Live from Milwaukee.
According to an radio interview given by the band in 2001, their name came from a chance meeting with Keith Richards at a club. When they mentioned to him that they were looking for a name, he suggested "American Hi-Fi."
Frontman and founding member Stacy Jones previously drummed for the often mis-labelled all girl punk rock outfit Veruca Salt on their Eight Arms To Hold You tour but never recorded for the band leaving in 1998 to start American Hi-Fi.
Jones is a renowned producer and songwriter and has produced a mixed bag of artists from Hana Montana to Towers of London, also playing drums on various Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana tracks. Jones is also married to international photographer Jade Loop.
Band Lineup
Stacy Jones - Vocals, Drums and Guitar (2001-present)
Jamie Arentzen - Guitar and Vocals (2001-present)
Drew Parsons - Bass and Vocals (2001-present)
Brian Nolan - Drums (2001-2004,2007-present)
Jason Sutter - Drums on Hearts on Parade (2004-2007)
The Art Of Losing
American Hi-Fi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't got no valentine
Singled out, now I stand alone
The underdog in a modern world
Suburbia is hot tonight
But nothing seems to feel alright
I don't want your sympathy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Fit the mold and do what you're told
Get a job and start growing old
9 to 5 can make your dreams come true
But I don't want to be like you
I'm not cool and I'll never be
I break the rules and I guarantee
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
You call me a loser
Say I'm just a user
But I'll just keep on moving
Cause that's the art of losing
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
The lyrics to "The Art of Losing" by American Hi-Fi are about the struggle of trying to fit in with society while also trying to maintain one's individuality. The singer is lamenting their lack of a Valentine, feeling singled out, and being the underdog in a modern world. They note that suburbia is hot tonight, but nothing feels right. The singer doesn't want sympathy - just a little therapy. The chorus is a rebellious proclamation of wanting to start a riot and be their own person. They refuse to fit the mold and do what they're told by getting a job and growing old, preferring to break the rules and maintain their individuality.
The lyrics criticize the homogeneity that society often expects. The singer rejects the notion that conforming to societal expectations is the key to happiness, instead of emphasizing that being true to oneself is more important. They acknowledge that being unique may come at a cost, such as being called a loser, but they argue that this is just the art of losing.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of balancing individuality with societal acceptance, and the cost of maintaining one's own unique perspective in a conformist world.
Line by Line Meaning
Last call now I'm outta time
I'm running out of time and options
And I don't got no valentine
I'm alone on Valentine's Day
Singled out, now I stand alone
I'm alone and feeling left out
The underdog in a modern world
I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle in this modern, mainstream world
Suburbia is hot tonight
The suburbs are buzzing with activities tonight
But nothing seems to feel alright
Nothing feels right tonight
I don't want your sympathy
I don't want your pity
I just need a little therapy
I need some emotional healing
At least that's what they say to me
That's what others tell me
Hey ho let's go
Let's get going
I'm gonna start a riot
I'm going to create chaos and disorder
You don't want to fight it
You don't want to disagree with me
One two f*** you
I don't care what you think
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want anyone dictating my actions
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to conform to societal norms or expectations
Can't you see it's killing me
You don't understand how suffocating it is for me to be like you
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm the only one holding myself back
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
I won't give up easily, even if someone tries to bring me down
It's the art of losing
I can handle losing or being defeated
Fit the mold and do what you're told
Conform and obey
Get a job and start growing old
Work and age like everyone else
9 to 5 can make your dreams come true
Working a standard job can help you achieve your aspirations
But I don't want to be like you
But that's not the path I want to take
I'm not cool and I'll never be
I don't fit into the cool crowd and I never will
I break the rules and I guarantee
I don't play by the rules and I'm sure of it
You call me a loser
You label me as a failure
Say I'm just a user
You accuse me of taking advantage of others
But I'll just keep on moving
But I won't let your opinions put me down
Cause that's the art of losing
That's what losing is all about
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
Repeating the chorus
We're the kids
We are young and rebellious
We're the kids in America
We are the youth of America
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STACY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cody Panettiere
Last call now I'm outta time
And I don't got no valentine
Singled out, now I stand alone
The underdog in a modern world
Suburbia is hot tonight
But nothing seems to feel alright
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Fit the mold and do what you're told
Get a job and start growing old
9 to 5 can make your dreams come true
But I don't want to be like you
I'm not cool and I'll never be
I break the rules and I guarantee
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
You call me a loser
Say I'm just a user
But I'll just keep on moving
Cause that's the art of losing
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
Trey DeJ
I've been listening to these guys for a few months now and I think that they deserve to be wayyyyy more popular.
Brad Smith
it's all dark now lol
Markus
Alot of band become shit when they get too popular, so just enjoy what we've got here and hope the best for them ;)
Viper631
So much nostalgia from this song... back in 2008 my then gf (now wife) are hanging out with her friend back when we'd hang out all night driving around and this is probably one of the first songs we ever listened to together. This song brings back those memories every time I hear it. Love it
gmu_alum08
Wish I could say the same but I'm single however this song did give me the motivation to get back up after getting knocked down several times in college thinking my life was over. Miss songs with this much meaning!
Jared Batchman
Fun fact: I currently am living in that same house this video was shot at with 4 of my close friends. We still keep the parties alive there but these guys were on another level
ΣLECTЯ0N
This song’s 20 years old, we live in a different world today…
Bradstarzz
Prove it
Michael Holmgaard
I really miss this kind of music. When you were born in the 90s, you can only be disappointed in the way music has evolved...
gmu_alum08
@Michael Holmgaard Slipknot is still popular thank God. There are still some good holdovers from the late 90's and early 2000's out there. There's a four day concert festival in Dallas TX in late May with tons of greats!