He made his theatrical debut this summer in the film Girl Most Likely, opposite Kristen Wiig, Annett Benning and Matt Dillon. The film follows a semi-successful playwright (Wiig) who fakes a suicide attempt to get her ex-boyfriendโs attention. After her plan is foiled, she moves back to New Jersey with her drug addict mom (Benning). When she returns home, she falls for the younger boy band wannabe Lee (Criss).
Criss is quickly becoming one of the most sought after actors and musicians of his generation. He has gone from YouTube sensation to a sixโtime Billboard charting musician and composer, who currently stars as Blaine Anderson on Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Awardโwinning series Glee. Criss made his Broadway debut last January as J. Pierrepont Finch in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. With Criss as the leading man, the revival made just under $4 million โ the most lucrative three weeks of its 11โmonth run.
After making a splash as a guest star on the second season of Glee, Criss was quickly promoted to a series regular. His breakout performance of Katy Perry's โTeenage Dreamโ in his first episode set a milestone for Glee. The song debuted at #1 on Billboard for the first time in the showโs history and sold over 200,000 tracks in its first week. Criss made his first major television appearance in 2009 as Josh Burton on ABCโs Eastwick, with Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price and Jaime Ray Newman, and also appeared in CBSโ Cold Case.
Prior to his television career, the San Francisco native pursued his acting degree at the University of Michigan. In his senior year, Criss and his friends created a Harry Potter musical parody entitled, A Very Potter Musical as a fun project for their classmates, friends and other Harry Potter fans. Along with starring as the boy wizard himself, Criss also lent several of his songs to be used in the show. Within weeks of posting the musical online, it became a YouTube hit, garnering millions of views and musical theaterโworld attention.
Using A Very Potter Musical as a springboard, Criss and his writing partners started StarKid Productions. Within a year, they wrote and produced subsequent online hits, Me and My Dick and A Very Potter Sequel, the latter of which he wrote all the music and lyrics for. As a result, the StarKid brand has grown to become just as popular as the shows themselves, spawning an enormous cult following from all over the world. Having established their home base in Chicago, StarKid Productions wrapped their latest original musical comedy with a twoโweek sold out run in February 2012. Entitled Starship, Criss was responsible for the music and lyrics.
Criss and StarKid Productions appeared on the Billboard charts through four separate releases โ all within the year 2012. These include the #1 spot on Billboardโs Top Cast Album for โStarship,โ the #11 spot on Billboard's Top Cast Albums with their cast soundtrack for the original musical โMe and My Dick,โ along with the #19 spot on the Top Compilations chart for โA Very StarKid Album,โ and the #30 spot on Billboard's Heatseekers chart with Crissโ selfโreleased EP โHuman.โ With overwhelming success on the music charts, Criss has defied what many try to achieve under various music genres. โHumanโ was released as an acoustic collection of 5 original songs, differing greatly from the more Broadwayโesque music found on โMe and My Dickโ and the popโrock stylings featured on โA Very Starkid Album.โ
human
Darren Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel like I'm lost
I feel like I'm not sure
If I feel anything at all
But believe me
I'm not helpless
I just need someone to love
That just makes me a dumb human
Like you.
I feel like a shortstop
Along third base
I may just help you but
I still don't like your face
But believe me
I'm not hostile
I just want to hear you laugh
When I'm sarcastic like that
And that just makes me a dumb human
Like you.
Why... do I have this
Incredible need to stand up and say
Please pay attention?
It's the last thing that I need to
Make myself see well
That ain't my intention
No...
I feel like an artist
Who's lost his touch
He likes himself in his art
But not his art too much
But believe me
I've got something
I just don't know how to say
That I'm just fine with the way
With the way that I'm moving
But that just makes me a dumb human
That just makes me
That makes me a human like you...
The lyrics of Darren Criss's song "Human" express a sense of uncertainty and insecurity with oneself, and a desire for love and connection with others. The first verse depicts feelings of being lost and unsure, but also recognizes that the singer is not completely helpless. The following verses express mixed feelings towards others - wanting them to laugh and connect, but not necessarily liking them or their faces. The chorus then acknowledges that these flaws and insecurities are what make the singer - and by extension, all humans - imperfect and "dumb".
The bridge of the song asks a rhetorical question - why does the singer feel such a strong need to be noticed and receive attention? The final verse takes a more positive turn, with the singer acknowledging their own artistic abilities and contentment with the way they're moving forward in life. Throughout the song, there is a sense of vulnerability and authenticity in expressing these feelings of self-doubt and imperfection.
Overall, "Human" is a relatable and introspective song that explores common human emotions and the complexities of our relationships with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like a loser
I feel worthless or defeated
I feel like I'm lost
I am unsure of where I am going or what I want
I feel like I'm not sure
I am uncertain
If I feel anything at all
I am emotionally numb
But believe me
I am sincere in what I say next
I'm not helpless
I have strength and ability
I just need someone to love
I am searching for emotional support
So my situation's rough
My life is difficult at the moment
That just makes me a dumb human
Despite my flaws and struggles, I am human just like you
I feel like a shortstop
I feel out of place or uncomfortable in my surroundings
Along third base
I am doing something that I don't fully enjoy
I may just help you but
I am willing to assist you, despite my reservations
I still don't like your face
I have a personal dislike for you
But believe me
I am being honest
I'm not hostile
I am not trying to cause harm or conflict
I just want to hear you laugh
I desire to bring joy into the situation
When I'm sarcastic like that
I am being humorous in an ironic or satirical way
I feel like an artist
I identify with being creative
Who's lost his touch
I am struggling with maintaining my artistic abilities
He likes himself in his art
I enjoy expressing myself through my creativity
But not his art too much
I am not fully satisfied with my artistic output
I've got something
I have a unique quality or talent
I just don't know how to say
I have difficulty expressing myself
That I'm just fine with the way
I am content with how my life is progressing
With the way that I'm moving
I am comfortable with my current direction in life
Why... do I have this
I am questioning my motives or actions
Incredible need to stand up and say
I have a strong desire to communicate something
Please pay attention?
I am asking for acknowledgement or recognition
It's the last thing that I need to
It is not my top priority
Make myself see well
Improve my own perception or understanding
That ain't my intention
It is not my goal or purpose
That makes me a human like you...
These struggles and desires are universal, making me no different from anyone else
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keiku
I say this for like every song but honestly this one is number one for me
tabitha knaggs
Still my all time favorite song. The amount of school projects I've done to this song is amazing. ๐๐
Grace J
i'm a little late, but i have to say that i'm glad there's such a great person like you that it's actually doing something right now. I always fall in love with artists, bands, shows or stories that are all over, like... I just got in LOVE with glee about a month ago and started watching it, now i'm on the 5th season and i felt bad because I thought it would be nothing left, I knew you, Darren, had a singing story even before but I didn't realize you were still on this, and so... I don't think you'll understand the happiness it brought to me when I saw the date you uploaded this... i felt like i can finally be in time to be part of something special, something great. I love you, and i think you're one of the kind, you may not be perfect, nobody is, but you're definitively of the best the world has seen. Please, keep on being the way you are, HILARIOUS <3
kenna elise
So glad to see you put these songs up! Can't wait to see what you're going to make in the future!!!
sheli rabani
i cant stop hear this amazing song!!
Elielson lima
Perfeito๐๐๐
Sevde
now I understand, he has always been this good and talented ๐๐
Amy Barlow
You inspire me, Darren Criss. I just love your voice, and I have never met you, but you seem like a wonderful person.
Jimmy Arrans
I love this song because its so real...no matter how much our ego lets us think we are on top the truth is we are all dumb human's. Love it.
Renata Goicochea Flores๐ฉโ๐ฆฝ
me he vuelto fan tuya Darren y de tu carrera. Me encantas ๐๐๐ besos y buena suerte en todo