Like many bands in the then-burgeoning alt-rock movement of the mid-'90s, Better Than Ezra enjoyed their period of greatest chart success immediately following their debut major-label release (Deluxe), which spawned their highest-charting hits. At least commercially (and in terms of mainstream radio play), the band has experienced slightly diminishing returns with each successive release; however, unlike the majority of their contemporaries, Better Than Ezra's extremely loyal fan base has kept the group from dropping off of the musical map. Ezra's followers, who refer to themselves as Ezralites, have never cared whether radio stations play the band or not--in fact, many fans follow the band religiously, attending scores of their performances. It is Ezra's loyal fans and a relentless touring schedule which has allowed them to continue to produce new music, remain extremely viable in the music world, and out-live their projected shelf life. Additionally, Better Than Ezra's independence and survival in a business that has chewed up and spat out many bands who they used to jockey for chart position seems to indicate that the band will be around to satisfy their fans' rapacious appetite for their music for many years to come.
In addition to vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin from Monroe, Louisiana, the current members of Better Than Ezra are bass guitar player Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb. Original drummer, Cary Bonnecaze, left the band after the release of Deluxe. Original lead guitarist, Joel Rundell, committed suicide in 1990. Multi-Instrumentalist James Arthur Payne also from Monroe, Louisiana tours with the band, fills in vocal, keyboard, guitar, and harmonica parts, and is a fan favorite.
Who or what Ezra might be is a mystery that the band members have no interest in clearing up. Drummond once told a reporter that the meaning of the band's name is "so lame you wouldn't even want to print it." However, it has also been said that the name came into being when the then nameless band entered a battle of the bands in competition with a group named Ezra. Needing a name to register they simply said that they were better.
In 2005, Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry used the band's song "Juicy" as the background music for the second season of the show's promotional advertisement.
The band is slated to headline A Taste of Fort Collins in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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In 2009 there were line-up changes and a new album released. Drummer Travis McNabb left to tour with the Country music group Sugarland. The split was friendly and McNabb still serves on the Ezra charitable organizations. McNabb was replaced by Michael Jerome as touring and ?future? drummer, with Blair Sinta filling in on parts of the album Paper Empire and 2 dates of the bands summer 2009 concert tour.
Travis McNabb played his last show with Ezra on Feb. 15, 2009 in Metairie, Louisiana.
Paper Empire was released on May 12, 2009.
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Juicy
Better Than Ezra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got somebody's dying
You're like a soap opera cover
My love of suffer demands
Juicy
Juicy
You're like a salve for a leper
You sweeten somebody's pain
Juicy
Juicy
Yeah, you gotta live for your own
You say you got all the sordid detail
Check out retail
Watch it sell
J-J-J-Juicy
(I got a delay)
(Mothers, children on the street can't get enough to eat) Juicy
(Off the record issues fly...Don't know the reason why?) Juicy
(Meet me down the checkout stand...You could be the lover man) Juicy
(Conscience bleeding in a song, Juicy as the day is long.)
(Goodbye)
Yeah, you gotta live for your own
You say you got all the sordid detail
Check out retail
Watch it sell
I've got to see that lie
You say what you've got to say
You gotta know it's a bitter poison, sapping all your soul away
The Better Than Ezra song "Juicy" is a commentary on the sensationalism and commodification of media and popular culture. The lyrics describe the allure and addictive qualities of celebrity gossip and scandalous headlines, likening them to a sweet but destructive force. The chorus repeats the word "Juicy" as a kind of mantra or badge of honor for those who revel in this culture of excess and drama.
The verses focus on the consequences of this obsession with juicy gossip. The first verse describes someone who is literally dying, juxtaposed against the glamorous and superficial image on a soap opera magazine cover. The second verse describes someone in pain who is temporarily soothed by the salve of juicy tidbits. Both images suggest that the obsession with juicy details is a kind of escape, a way to avoid facing the harsh realities of life.
The bridge of the song features a series of disconnected lines that range from social commentary ("Mothers, children on the street can't get enough to eat") to ambiguous personal confessions ("I've got to see that lie"). The final verse suggests that indulging in juicy gossip is ultimately poisonous, draining one's soul and sapping the energy needed to live a fulfilling life.
Overall, "Juicy" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking pleasure and distraction at the expense of deeper meaning and purpose. The song suggests that we must be mindful of our obsessions and addictions, and strive to live with intention and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go
Setting the stage for what's to come
I got somebody's dying
Feeling a sense of loss and despair
You're like a soap opera cover
Being dramatic and sensational for attention
My love of suffer demands
Being drawn to pain and tragedy
Juicy
Referring to something that is scandalous or sensational
Juicy
Repeated emphasis on the above
You said somebody's saying
Reacting to gossip and rumors
You're like a salve for a leper
Trying to fix other people's problems
You sweeten somebody's pain
Making someone feel better at your own expense
Juicy
Referring to something that is scandalous or sensational
Juicy
Repeated emphasis on the above
Yeah, you gotta live for your own
Taking care of yourself first and foremost
You say you got all the sordid detail
Being privy to controversial or unsavory information
Check out retail
Capitalizing on this information for profit
Watch it sell
Seeing the financial success of this strategy
J-J-J-Juicy
Emphasizing the sensationalism of it all
(I got a delay)
Possible feeling of being distracted or overwhelmed
(Mothers, children on the street can't get enough to eat) Juicy
Contrasting triviality and serious issues to highlight the former's lack of importance
(Off the record issues fly...Don't know the reason why?) Juicy
Acknowledging the lack of reason or rationale behind many sensational news stories
(Meet me down the checkout stand...You could be the lover man) Juicy
Connecting materialistic values with sexual appeal and relationships
(Conscience bleeding in a song, Juicy as the day is long.)
Acknowledging the guilt or shame associated with using exploitative tactics for profit
(Goodbye)
Ending the song with a sense of finality
Yeah, you gotta live for your own
Reiterating the importance of prioritizing oneself
You say you got all the sordid detail
Echoing the earlier sentiment of being privy to controversial or unsavory information
Check out retail
Reiterating the idea of capitalizing on this information for profit
Watch it sell
Reiterating the success of this strategy
I've got to see that lie
Feeling a need to uncover falsehoods or deceit
You say what you've got to say
Being unafraid to speak up or express oneself
You gotta know it's a bitter poison, sapping all your soul away
Recognizing the negative effects of engaging in scandalous or immoral behavior
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, MTUME MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TEDDY RILEY, GENE GRIFFIN, MARKELL RILEY, BRANDON MITCHELL, JAMES MTUME, AQIL DAVIDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ladyFIERCEgaga
i googled "ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah juicy" to find this
@amandaellis9656
Hahaha glad I’m not the only one! 😂
@devingarmaker
Same!
@david09richards
Me too
@faithzirkelbach-ngai2158
SAME
@johnreese1584
Ftw
@Inferno31415
I have listened to this song for as long as I can remember on the radio. I have been searching for it a lot lately but with out any success. Today I heard it on Islands and asked the waiter who did it and he looked it up for me. My endless search is over. My life is now complete.
@haleymiller3586
Literally same
@mandafox9031
2019 and still rock out to this song
@MThomasB
Good music is timeless.