History
Formed in 1987, Backyard Babies originally consisted of singer/bassist Tobbe (Tobias Fischer), guitarist Dregen, guitarist Johan Blomqvist, and drummer Peder Carlsson. They were then called Tyrant and played several live shows in their local area and recorded a rough demo. Tobbe was soon replaced by frontman Nicke Borg on vocals and guitar, and Blomqvist switched to bass. Fischer went on to be a professional photographer and web designer in Stockholm, continuing to work occasionally with his old bandmates.
In 1989, the band changed their name to Backyard Babies and recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden. The band self-released a debut EP titled Something to Swallow. This got them signed in 1993 by Swedish label Megarock Records.
Backyard Babies released their debut album Diesel & Power in 1994. The music on it took influences from rock, punk, and blues. In addition to the album, the band also released the single "Electric Suzy" with a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks as the B-side. After touring with former Hanoi Rocks members in Demolition 23 and doing a short headline tour in late 1995, premiering new songs that remain unreleased, the band was put on hiatus, as guitarist Dregen formed the garage rock band The Hellacopters. Dregen appeared on two albums with the Hellacopters" Supershitty to the Max! (1996) and Payin' the Dues (1997).
The Backyard Babies reunited in 1997, with a new record contract with MVG Records. They recorded their most critically acclaimed album, Total 13. Critics compared the album favorably to the New York Dolls, Ramones, and The Damned. They toured the United Kingdom with good response. A single was released from the album, "Bombed (Out of My Mind)", with the B-side "Rocker" featuring a duet with Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe. Their next single was the self-released "Is It Still Alright to Smile?". The B-side of the single was a cover of the Faster Pussycat track "Babylon" featuring guest appearances from Ginger of the Wildhearts and Nicke Andersson who had played with Dregen in the Hellacopters. In 1998, the band toured the United Kingdom once more, this time in support of Alice Cooper.
After the collaboration on the song "Babylon", Dregen, Ginger, and Nicke Andersson formed the side project Supershit 666, which released a six-track EP in 1999. Dregen returned to the Backyard Babies soon after as the band took off for another tour of the United Kingdom, this time in support of AC/DC.
The Babies recorded a follow-up to Total 13, titled Making Enemies is Good which has been described by some critics as a more "controlled chaos" approach than their previous effort. Two of the singles from it were hits "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate", the latter of which was co-written with Ginger. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.
On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen was on the front pages of Swedish national newspapers. After returning home from a club where he was DJing, he and his friend were assaulted, robbed, and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued recording their next album; Stockholm Syndrome. The album, released in 2003, was viewed by some fans as a return towards a more energetic and raw sound. The album won them a Swedish Grammy. The album spawned three singles, "Minus Celsius", "A Song for the Outcast" and "Friends".
During 2005, the band toured the United States (with openers The Chelsea Smiles & Crash Kelly) and Europe alongside Social Distortion. The album People Like People Like People Like Us, produced by Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters, was released in 2006. It spawned two singles: "The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)" and "Dysfunctional Professional". A self-titled album was released in August 2008. The first single was "Fuck Off and Die". The second single "Degenerated" is supported by an animated video clip. Their self-titled 2008 album reached number 1 on the Swedish albums chart.
The compilation album Them XX was released in 2009 to honor the band's 20th anniversary. The accompanying tour was rumored to be their last. After a hiatus, the band reconvened with an announcement in May 2014. Their 2015 album Four by Four reached number 2 on the Swedish albums chart. In September 2018 they played at the Hard Rock Hell Sleaze festival in Sheffield, England. The band released their eighth studio album, Sliver & Gold, in 2019. In 2022, in an interview with The Sound Lab, Dregen confirmed Backyard Babies were on hiatus due to commitments with The Hellacopters but there were plans to create more music in the future.
Discography
Diesel & Power (1994)
Total 13 (1998)
Making Enemies Is Good (2001)
Stockholm Syndrome (2003)
People Like People Like People Like Us (2006)
Backyard Babies (2008)
Four by Four (2015)
Sliver & Gold (2019)
Highlights
Backyard Babies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I saw what the whole world's seen
Gotta get away, gotta get away
Cause I know that nothin' lasts forever
In my dreams
But there's a highlight let me be
I need a kick, you need a fix
Generation breakdown destination hellbound
But I know that nothin' lasts forever
Hallucinating, stuck together
There's a highlight let me be
Only you and me
It will blow me away
I will never forget
It took a piece of my soul
One day I will burn my hand
And I'll be resurrected in the promised land
Among the gods I feel power and joy
I made my choice but nothin' will last forever
In my dreams
There's a highlight let me be
Don't let me out
Nothin' will last forever
Hallucinating, stuck together
There's a highlight can't you see
Only you and me
Nothin' will last forever
In my dreams
There's a highlight let me be
The lyrics to Backyard Babies’ song Highlights are about a conflict between wanting to escape the monotony of life and knowing that nothing lasts forever. The first verse describes a sense of confusion and overwhelm, with the singer seeing both red and green and feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders. They recognize the transience of life and want to get away, but at the same time acknowledge that there are highlights to be found. The second verse addresses the idea of living in the moment and seizing opportunities while they’re available. The singer and their companion are living on borrowed time and part of a generation destined for destruction, but there are still moments of connection and beauty to be appreciated. The bridge carries the theme of mortality further, acknowledging that one day the singer will die but also that they will be resurrected in the promised land. Despite the fleeting nature of life, there are still highlights to be found in the present.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the tension between appreciating the present and acknowledging the inevitability of impermanence. The singer is torn between the desire to escape and the urge to stay and enjoy what’s in front of them.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw red, I saw green
I witnessed chaos, confusion, and disorder around me.
I think I saw what the whole world's seen
I believe that the problems I have witnessed are universal and affect everyone.
Gotta get away, gotta get away
I need to escape from the chaos and find peace.
Cause I know that nothin' lasts forever
I am aware that everything is temporary and will not exist forever.
In my dreams
In my imagination or inner world
But there's a highlight let me be
But there is something positive or uplifting that I want to focus on.
I need a kick, you need a fix
I need excitement, and you need a substance to feel better.
We are livin' on borrowed time
We are not living forever, and we need to make the most of our limited time.
Generation breakdown destination hellbound
Our generation is facing problems that are leading us towards a negative outcome.
Hallucinating, stuck together
We are not thinking clearly, and we are all in this together.
There's a highlight let me be
There is something positive or uplifting that I want to focus on.
Only you and me
We are the only ones who can make a difference for ourselves.
It will blow me away
It will have a significant impact on me.
I will never forget
I will always remember this experience.
It took a piece of my soul
It affected me deeply and left me feeling incomplete.
One day I will burn my hand
Someday, I will make a mistake or face a consequence that will hurt me.
And I'll be resurrected in the promised land
I will eventually recover and find a better place.
Among the gods I feel power and joy
I feel strong and happy when I am surrounded by greatness.
I made my choice but nothin' will last forever
I chose a certain path, but I know that it will not last forever.
There's a highlight let me be
There is something positive or uplifting that I want to focus on.
Don't let me out
Do not allow me to be distracted from the positive thing.
There's a highlight can't you see
There is something positive or uplifting that I want to focus on that is right in front of you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREAS SVENSSON, ANDREAS TYRONE SVENSSON, NIKLAS ROGER BORG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BLUES WAS THE CATALYST
When I listen to great music like this that just happened to miss out on massive international exposure due to unfortunate timing I feel like I need my own show on community radio to spread the word.
yasuSR311
バックヤードベイービーズ。カッコイイよねーーー🎵🎵🎵
Kai Atterfors
On a train from Stockholm. In. My ear the soundtrack of the future of what we know ,