Original members Kyle Even and David Schmitt started the project in 2007, they didn't anticipate that their “just for fun” intent would explode into an internationally sought-after duo within just a couple of years. The story of Breathe Carolina is a modern day music fairytale, about two friends who recorded tracks on Mac program GarageBand at home in Denver, Colorado, put them on to MySpace and rapidly gained a huge online following.
The duo's self-released debut EP Gossip hit iTunes in 2007, and after a phenomenal response, they released their debut album "It’s Classy, Not Classic" in 2008. The album entered the Billboard Top 200 at #186. Their genre-clashing blend of crowd-pleasing pop, rock and electronica was a hit, and no longer confined to the bedroom – Breathe Carolina were a global force ready to be heard.
After signing with Fearless Records in 2009, their album Hello Fascination took their music to a bigger, brighter and more blistering dimension. Recorded with the stellar production team of Mike Green (Paramore, The Higher, Set Your Goals) and Matt Squire (Taking Back Sunday, 3OH!3, Panic At The Disco), their sound became re-defined with the addition of live instruments and hooky pop choruses. The album debuted at #43 on the Billboard Top 200, at #5 on the Independent Chart and #2 on the Electronic Chart. The title track “Hello Fascination” was featured on MTV’s The City and received placement on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. It even became the featured track on NBC’s The Jay Leno Show promos.
The duo followed up their second UK headline tour of the year with a whole summer on Vans Warped Tour 2010, followed by a direct support slot to Mayday Parade on the Fearless Friends Tour in Fall 2010.
2011 has been quite the year for the band, as "Blackout"'s steady ascension up the Top 40 single chart, embraced by fans across the nation as their new party anthem, has made them one of the only independent acts taking on the pop goliaths at Top 40. 'Hell Is What You Make It' debuted at #2 on the Billboard Electronic Chart, with The NY Times calling the album "one of the best pure pop albums of the year". A performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, main playlist rotation across all MTV networks for video "Blackout" and an Artist Of The Week slot on MTV's PUSH program fueled the genre-blending duo's success story.
Starting out in a bedroom in the suburbs of the Mile High City, Breathe Carolina was one of the first bands to start making waves via social networks. They truly came into their own on Fearless Records-released sophomore full-length Hello Fascination. A step to a brave next level, the album entered the Billboard Top 200 at #43, and went on to sell over 60,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Their juxtaposition of hardcore guts and pop glory found a happy niche between both rock and pop fans, the album's title track landing placements on the promos for NBC's Jay Leno Show, 30 Rock and Monday Night Football, MTV's The Hills and The City.
With national radio dates with fellow Top 40 acts including Flo-Rida, Selena Gomez, Kreayshawn, Hot Chelle Rae, Cobra Starship and The Fray sees the band ending 2011 on an all time high.
Dressed Up to Undress
Breathe Carolina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Can you keep up? Can you compete?
You tip and you toe to the middle of where we meet (where we meet)
And you're all ears and I'm all eyes
You take the lead and I'll take off my disguise (my disguise)
Why you dressing up tonight?
We don't need money to kill the lights.
And why you talking over it?
I don't need words to feel those lips.
And I love how you're up for it.
Anything we want is in our grip
It seems to me that we could be
Dressed up to undress.
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
Uh oh oh
You pick me up, I'll take you down
I'll tip and I'll toe to the back of your mind somehow (somehow)
If I confess would you come clean?
You take off the mask and we'll live like royalty (uh oh oh like royalty uh oh oh)
(Whoa)Why you dressing up tonight?
We don't need money to kill the lights.
And why you talking over it?
I don't need words to feel those lips.
And I love how you're up for it.
Anything we want is in our grip
It seems to me that we could be
Dressed up to undress.
How long 'till dawn?
I'm all for taking you on
How long 'till dawn?
I'm all for taking you on
Why you dressing up tonight?
We don't need money to kill the lights.
And why you talking over it?
I don't need words to feel those lips.
And I love how you're up for it.
Anything we want is in our grip
It seems to me that we could be
Dressed up to undress.
The song 'Dressed Up to Undress' by Breathe Carolina talks about a moment of intimacy between two people. The initial lines set the pace of the song with the 'Uh oh oh' sounds creating an upbeat vibe. The song then introduces two individuals who are willing to explore each other's interests in a non-judgmental way. The lines "You tip and you toe to the middle of where we meet, And you're all ears, and I'm all eyes, You take the lead, and I'll take off my disguise" imply that both parties are eager to get to know each other better and reveal their true selves in a comfortable environment.
The chorus contains lines that reinforce the message of the song. They highlight how both individuals are not concerned about societal norms but are more focused on the moment they are sharing. The lines "Why you dressing up tonight? We don't need money to kill the lights. And why you talking over it? I don't need words to feel those lips. And I love how you're up for it. Anything we want is in our grip. It seems to me that we could be. Dressed up to undress" emphasize how the people involved in the music ascribe little value to external images but more to the connection between each other.
The lyrics use euphemisms that can be interpreted in many ways, and the phrases "taking you on" and "dressed up to undress" suggest that this might be a sexual encounter. However, the romantic aspect of the song's lyrics cannot be overlooked, and it also talks about being comfortable with your partner that you don't have to pretend to impress them.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you keep up? Can you compete?
Are you capable of keeping pace and competing with me?
You tip and you toe to the middle of where we meet (where we meet)
You carefully make your way to the center of where we converge and intersect.
And you're all ears and I'm all eyes
You pay close attention while I carefully observe and scan the situation.
You take the lead and I'll take off my disguise (my disguise)
You take control and initiate things while I drop my facade and reveal my true self.
Why you dressing up tonight?
What's the reason for you putting on fancy clothes and accessories?
We don't need money to kill the lights.
We don't require cash to turn off the lights and get intimate.
And why you talking over it?
What's the point of talking over the music playing in the background?
I don't need words to feel those lips.
I don't require verbal communication to experience the sensation of your lips against mine.
And I love how you're up for it.
And I admire and appreciate how enthusiastic and eager you are about this.
Anything we want is in our grip
We can have whatever we desire and crave with ease.
It seems to me that we could be
From my perspective it appears that we have the potential to be
Dressed up to undress.
Adorned in fancy clothing but ultimately planning to remove it and get naked together.
You pick me up, I'll take you down
You elevate me and I'll bring you back down to reality.
I'll tip and I'll toe to the back of your mind somehow (somehow)
I'll carefully work my way to the deeper and more subconscious parts of your mind in some way or another.
If I confess would you come clean?
If I revealed a truth, would you reciprocate with your own honesty?
You take off the mask and we'll live like royalty (uh oh oh like royalty uh oh oh)
You remove the façade you put up and we'll live as carefree and privileged individuals.
How long 'till dawn?
How much time do we have until sunrise?
I'm all for taking you on
I'm completely on board with engaging in this with you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID SCHMITT, KYLE EVEN, MATTHEW BACH SQUIRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind