The band's founder and singer Craig Minowa has a degree in Environmental Science, and his environmental, political, and social awareness is reflected in much of Cloud Cult's music. (Note: Craig Minowa actually has stated he intentionally doesn't sing about environmental awareness because he lives it...he doesn't need to preach it) The band's self-created non-profit record label, Earthology Records, uses the most environmentally friendly methods available to ensure minimum damage to the environment.
After two solo LP's, The Shade Project (1995), and Who Killed Puck? (2000), Minowa's sudden loss of his two-year-old son and subsequent separation from his wife, Cloud Cult emerged with They Live On The Sun in 2003, combining concepts of Minowa with performances by cellist Sarah Young and drummer Dan Greenwood, who shortly became members of the band. This album was deeply personal and painful album for Cloud Cult and you don't often hear songs from it in concert.
Minowa continued to use music to cope with the loss of his son on the following album Aurora Borealis. This album did begin to branch out more into exploration of pain and loss instead of just feeling it.
Minowa reunited with his wife, and the next album is widely considered their crowning achievement. Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus involved collaboration from a variety of musicians and has garnered praise from critics, even being acclaimed as "a work of insane genius". This album is capped off with the "happy-go-lucky" song, Lucky Today. This album was selected by esurance to be animated into a commercial. This was a contest for the most environmentally sound band because esurance labels themselves as the paperless insurance provider.
On April 10th 2007 Cloud Cult officially released their sixth LP, The Meaning of 8 (although it was available for sale online in late January): the first single was titled "Take Your Medicine." In April 2008, the band followed it with Feel Good Ghosts.
In 2009 band announced a break till 2010, though they released limited re-releases of their albums Lost Songs from the Lost Years, They Live on the Sun and Aurora Borealis (the last two as a double-disc).
Their concerts are certainly a sight to be seen. Along with Minowa on Guitars (and other fun things), they have got bass, drums, violin and cello. There are two official band members who actually do very little music during the shows; Minowa's wife Connie and Scott are painters. They create original works of art during the show (breaking only occasionally to sing or sometimes Scott plays Trumpet). Then, at the end of the show, they silent auction these paintings off to the highest bidder.
Their official website is www.cloudcult.com.
Best Friend
Cloud Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I just gotta hope that I can keep on holdin
I am your best friend
I can't give up but I can't get down
Gotta fake it til I make it; things'll turn around
And you are my best friend
And every time I think I've finally found the truth
Start over again
I'll take you on my side
I'll make you terrified, terrified, terrified.
And every time I think I've finally found the truth
It transforms and shapeshifts
Start over again
I can't hold on but I can't let go
So I just gotta hope that I can keep on holdin
I am your best friend
I can't give up but I can't get down
Gotta fake it til I make it; things'll turn around
And you are my best friend
And every time I think I've finally found the truth
It transforms and shapeshifts
Start over again
The song "Best Friend" by Cloud Cult explores the complicated emotions and struggles of a friendship that seems to be hanging by a thread. The opening lines, "I can't hold on but I can't let go / So I just gotta hope that I can keep on holdin," express the singer's conflict between wanting to maintain the friendship and feeling unsure if it's worth holding onto. The repetition of "I am your best friend / and you are my best friend" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of the bond between these two individuals, despite the difficulties they are facing.
The lyrics also express a sense of frustration and insecurity. The line "Gotta fake it til I make it; things'll turn around" suggests that the singer is putting on a brave face and trying to maintain the friendship, even though they don't know how things will turn out. The repeated phrase "terrified, terrified, terrified" implies that the singer feels scared or uncertain about the future of the relationship.
The repeated lines about finding the truth, only for it to "transform and shapeshift," suggest that the singer is struggling to make sense of the situation. The final line, "start over again," implies that this friendship may have gone through several cycles of difficulties and renewals.
Overall, the song "Best Friend" explores the complex emotions surrounding a friendship that is worth holding onto, even when it's difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't hold on but I can't let go
I'm stuck in a situation where I want to move on, but I can't bring myself to do it.
So I just gotta hope that I can keep on holdin
All I can do is hold on and hope for the best.
I am your best friend
I consider you to be my closest and most trusted friend.
I can't give up but I can't get down
I'm facing a challenge that's difficult to overcome, but I refuse to give up or become discouraged.
Gotta fake it til I make it; things'll turn around
I need to pretend that everything is okay until it actually becomes okay, and then things will get better.
And you are my best friend
You are my confidant and closest companion, and I cherish our relationship.
And every time I think I've finally found the truth
I believe that I've discovered what's really going on in a situation.
It transforms and shapeshifts
But the reality keeps changing and becoming something unpredictable and unexpected.
Start over again
So I have to restart my search for the truth and keep trying to figure everything out.
I'll take you on my side
I'll always be there to support and protect you, no matter what challenges come our way.
I'll make you terrified, terrified, terrified.
I'll scare away anything that threatens to harm you, and make sure you feel safe and secure.
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.