Current members of Blue October include Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar) and Will Knaak (guitar).
Popularized by their platinum-certified album Foiled (2006), which features the hit singles “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” the group has continued to evolve… shifting from a far more pensive sound to one that is more optimistic and reflective of lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld’s transformation—which will also be the focus of his soon-to-be-released documentary film, I Want It.
Once known for their stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, Blue October couldn’t be more distinct from the band it once was, which is why their latest studio album, I Hope You’re Happy, looks to push the envelope even further with a whole new approach. Justin Furstenfeld is quoted as saying "I think Blue October should never be limited to the instruments we have in the band. I’m always about bringing in whoever can play what’s best for the song in. I’m also a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, and if you were to him all you can have is a guitarist a bassist and a drummer, he’d go “what?!” That’s how I feel. We took all the tools we had gotten from working all these kinds of people over the twenty-year span and made a really good album and we’re super proud of it. It’s nice and colorful and positive and universally themed. It’s something you can really sink your teeth into and not get sick of. You can always discover little new secrets about it along the way."
Their latest album, I Hope You're Happy, was released on August 17, 2018 on the band's own Up/Down Records label and was produced by Justin Furstenfeld and engineer Eric Holtz.
Previous band members have included Liz Mulally, Brant Coulter, Dwayne Casey, Piper Dagnino, Julian Mandrake, CB Hudson and Matthew Ostrander.
Blue October has an official site www.blueoctober.com/.
For the British band, please see Blue October UK
Somebody )
Blue October Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Held me by my feet and let me go
I fell between the seat, but nothing broke
I've yet to feel that brilliant afterglow
The one I knew of years ago
Now I'm twisted
Twisted from the waist and spun around
Promised only sky but given ground
The clown I knew of months ago
[Chorus]
I only wanted to be somebody
So fucking bad, I came unglued
I only wanted to be somebody
So here we are now, face to face
And I'm fucking you
So you caught me!
Wishing I were better than the rest
You hit me and left bruises on my chest
And when I wouldn't cheat
I spit upon your test
The test I tore up weeks ago
And now my fist is
My fist is for your face to cock the jaw
When I begin to rise, you start to fall
Now you know how it feels to drop the ball
The ball I threw back days ago
[Chorus]
So I'll just stand right here for now
I should have won, but how?
I break a smart ass grin
Who let the loser win?
Let's break a smart ass grin
Let's let the losers win!
The lyrics to Blue October's song "Somebody" seem to describe the emotional rollercoaster of someone who is longing for success and validation but is met with disappointment and frustration. The first stanza paints a picture of someone feeling helpless and lost, dropped and twisted by those around them. The second stanza seems to address a person who has specifically hindered the singer's progress, potentially someone who has taken advantage of their trust, causing physical and emotional harm. The chorus is a cry for recognition; the singer just wants to be somebody, to be seen and respected, but their desperation has caused them to come unglued. The final stanza offers a hint of rebellion, almost as if the singer has come to terms with the fact that they may not win but is happy to let the losers feel like they have.
Throughout the song, it's clear that the singer is struggling to come to terms with their place in the world. They feel like they've been broken down by those around them, unable to catch a break. They are desperate to prove themselves but seem to be stuck in a cycle of disappointment. The anger and frustration in the lyrics are palpable, but there's also a sense of sadness underneath it all. It's as if the singer is pleading with the world to recognize that they're worth something.
Line by Line Meaning
So you dropped me
You let go of me, after holding me by my feet
Held me by my feet and let me go
You held onto me, but later released me from your grasp while I was upside down
I fell between the seat, but nothing broke
I fell down between the seats, but luckily I wasn't hurt
I've yet to feel that brilliant afterglow
I have not felt the same level of happiness I used to feel years ago
The one I knew of years ago
The previous feeling of complete happiness from years ago
Now I'm twisted
I feel distorted and screwed up
Twisted from the waist and spun around
Feeling physically twisted and disoriented
Promised only sky but given ground
I was promised so much, but only received disappointment
Realized the makeup is for a clown
Figuring out that someone's impressions and expressions are just for show and not real
The clown I knew of months ago
Someone who tries too hard to put on a show to impress others months ago
I only wanted to be somebody
I had a strong desire to be important and noticed by others
So fucking bad, I came unglued
I wanted it so badly that I lost my grip on things and was no longer in control
So here we are now, face to face
We are now confronting each other directly
And I'm fucking you
I am overpowering and dominating you
So you caught me!
You found me doing something wrong
Wishing I were better than the rest
Desiring to be better than others
You hit me and left bruises on my chest
You hit me hard enough to leave bruises on my chest
And when I wouldn't cheat
When I refused to be unfaithful to you
I spit upon your test
I rejected the test you gave me or the standards you were trying to hold me to
The test I tore up weeks ago
The same test that I had destroyed a few weeks earlier
My fist is for your face to cock the jaw
I am using my fist to punch you in the face and break your jaw
When I begin to rise, you start to fall
As I am progressing and becoming stronger, you are losing power and becoming weaker
Now you know how it feels to drop the ball
Now you understand what it feels like to fail or make a mistake
The ball I threw back days ago
The same mistake or situation that I had previously been in and given to you
So I'll just stand right here for now
I will remain in this position for the time being
I should have won, but how?
I should have been victorious, but am uncertain how that could have happened
I break a smart ass grin
I smirk and show a sarcastic smile
Who let the loser win?
Who gave the underdog an opportunity to succeed?
Let's break a smart ass grin
Let's show a sarcastic smile and not take this seriously
Let's let the losers win!
Let's give the underdogs a chance to succeed!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFTON GEORGE BAILEY, PAUL CROSSDALE, DONALD DENNIS, MELBOURNE GEORGE MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BlizzardBeaches
on Congratulations
Spent many nights in 2006 crying myself to sleep listening to this song from Blue October's Foiled album. Although different than the interpreted mean, It helped me realize that often times a relationship is dead long before it's over.