Thank goodness for persistent parents. Jeremy is now the frontman and chief songwriting force behind Days Difference, a young quartet from Virginia Beach, VA, who are gearing up to release their self-titled debut album — a breezy collection of pop gems that showcases the melody-minded songwriting, expressive vocals, and dynamic piano sound of 20-year-old Jeremy. Jeremy formed Days Difference in May 2004 with his 22-year-old brother Jonathan on drums and another set of brothers, 21-year-old Micah and 22-year-old Jeremiah Ricks, who play bass and guitar, respectively. The siblings met when Jeremy and Jonathan filled in for a no-show pianist and drummer at a high school concert that Micah and Jeremiah were performing. “We jammed it out onstage and the chemistry and connection we had together was incredible,” Jeremy recalls. “We knew it was special and that we had to do something together.”
Fully committed to giving the band a shot by May of 2006, Days Difference spent several years honing their propulsive pop sound by opening for artists such as Paramore, Lifehouse, Third Eye Blind, Jack’s Mannequin, and Yellowcard when those artists came through Virginia Beach. In 2007, they released an independent album, Numbers, then embarked on a nationwide tour, in which everything that could have gone wrong did: a tire on their trailer fell off, a show was canceled when the promoter got hit by a car, Jonathan got a concussion playing soccer, Micah broke his collarbone playing football, and they received a $500 parking ticket to top it all off. “I never really believed the whole ‘earn your keep’ thing, but we’ve really paid our dues,” Jeremy says.
The tour may have been grueling, but “it taught us a lot,” Jeremy says. “We really grew as a band and as friends. We had some tough times, but we never doubted ourselves.” You can hear that confidence and camaraderie in the songs on their debut album, an all-killer, no filler set that brims with fresh-faced enthusiasm and the wide-ranging talent of this young group of musicians. To help bring out their best, the band’s team enlisted several veteran co-writers and producers, including Wayne Wilkins (Beyoncé, Natasha Bedingfield), Andrew Frampton (Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue), Stefanie Ridel Fair (Fergie, Pussycat Dolls), Michael Smidi Smith (Pussycat Dolls, Tupac), and Tim Myers, former bassist for OneRepublic. Myers and Jeremy co-wrote four key tracks: the irresistible first single “Radio Song,” the touching ballad “Imperfections,” and the radio-ready “Falling Into You” and “Magnetized.”
“From the second we worked together, Tim and I saw eye to eye on everything, including the way the melodies and lyrics were supposed to sound,” Jeremy says. “It’s almost as if he were my musical twin, but better. As far as co-writing, I just wanted to create the best songs possible. Great songs make great bands, and if you don't have great songs, then there's really no point in releasing an album. We wanted to make an album of hit singles — with great lyrics, great melodies, and great hooks. If you strike that chord with every song, people will connect with you better.”
Certainly the folks at Universal Motown saw the potential in Days Difference and their ability to connect with a wide audience. The band signed to the label a mere 24 hours after playing a well-attended industry showcase in June 2008. Disney has also climbed aboard, casting Jeremy, Jonathan, Micah, and Jeremiah as members of Miley Cyrus’s backing band in the big-screen version of Hannah Montana: The Movie, which hits theaters in April, a month after Days Difference perform at the taste-making music festival South by Southwest in March.
Jeremy, for one, can’t wait to get things going. “I’m excited to go around the country and meet people and play for them,” he says. “I love music and I figure that when you love something and you’re able to share it with others, it’s inspiring. As a band, we want to have a positive effect on people and influence them in a good way. What better way than to pursue your dreams and do what you really love?”
Days Difference will be released in Summer 2009 on Universal Motown Records.
Inside Out
Days Difference Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Entire world
Faster, faster, fading faster
Your dreams are under patrol
You've been living in this city of ghosts
For far too long
Slowly, slowly, changing slowly
You're starting to play along
Tonight you'll fight
To smile on the inside
Tonight you'll try
To make this right
Now it seems you'll never want to
Get off the ground
Your get are planted, your wish is granted
But this reasoning's unsound
Will you ever die if you never live
One single day?
Your heart beats to the sound of angels
But you can't feel a thing
Tonight you'll fight
To smile on the inside
Tonight you'll try
To make this right
Make this right, make this right
Don't act like you never cared
And come down, come down from there
I see it on your face
You want to leave this place
Come down, come down
This is your last try
To let it go, let it go
Tonight, tonight,
I'll fight to make you right
Tonight I'll fight
To make you smile
The lyrics of Days Difference's "Inside Out" appear to be about a person who is facing a difficult situation in life, feeling trapped and overwhelmed, and is struggling to find a way out. The singer is speaking to this person, offering encouragement and support, while also acknowledging that the fight to overcome these challenges will not be easy. The first verse speaks to the idea of being isolated and alone in the face of opposition, as the person's dreams are "under patrol." However, the second verse suggests that the person is starting to change and adapt to their circumstances. The chorus provides an empathetic voice, acknowledging that the struggle to find inner peace and contentment is a universal one.
The second verse talks about the person being rooted in one place, while their wish for a new life is fulfilled, but the reasoning behind their wish fulfillment is questionable. The next line asks if a person can die if they never live. The heart beating to the sounds of angels refers to the music that is the metaphorical source of inspiration for people, yet they remain unmoved by it. The singer then tells the person to try and conquer their feelings of being trapped by smiling on the inside, further urging them to find a way to make it right.
The final lines of the song encourage the person to come down from their isolation and feeling of being trapped, promising that tonight, they will fight to make everything right.
Line by Line Meaning
My dear it's you up against the whole
Entire world
You are facing the entire world by yourself, my love.
Faster, faster, fading faster
Your dreams are under patrol
Your dreams are slowly disappearing and it's happening faster than you realize.
You've been living in this city of ghosts
For far too long
Slowly, slowly, changing slowly
You're starting to play along
You've been living a life without passion for too long and it's making you change slowly to fit the mold of the world.
Tonight you'll fight
To smile on the inside
Tonight you'll try
To make this right
You will fight the battle within yourself and try to make everything right tonight.
Now it seems you'll never want to
Get off the ground
Your get are planted, your wish is granted
But this reasoning's unsound
You don't seem to have any desire to move forward or make progress. While you are content, it's not necessarily the best reasoning.
Will you ever die if you never live
One single day?
Your heart beats to the sound of angels
But you can't feel a thing
If you never actually live, will you truly have ever existed? You are emotionally detached and can't feel anything even though you have the capability.
Don't act like you never cared
And come down, come down from there
I see it on your face
You want to leave this place
Come down, come down
Don't pretend that you never cared about anything. It's clear that you want to escape from this place.
This is your last try
To let it go, let it go
This is your final opportunity to let go of everything that's been holding you back.
Tonight, tonight,
I'll fight to make you right
Tonight I'll fight
To make you smile
Tonight, I will fight alongside you to make everything okay. I want to see you smile again.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEREMY SMITH, JEREMIAH RICKS, JONATHAN SMITH, MICAH RICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tvdnatural
The studio's dark, got the candles on
I'm trying to write words to the perfect song
But nothing will rhyme, nothing sounds right
Now you're gone
It's raining outside so you can't be far
You're probably still soaked sitting in your car
Trying to make sense of all that we said
But you can't
And the words comin' outat the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again 'til I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Keys in the lock, now you're probably home
Walking through the door taking off your clothes
I turn up the sound, hoping somehow
I'll reach you
But I know that I can't, so I dial your phone
I don't leave a message, I just play the song
And hope that you hear, I hope that it's clear
As soon as you hold it up, up to your ear
'Cause the words comin' out of the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again till I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
And I wanna wrap these words around you
'Cause I'll do whatever it takes for this song to find you
And the words comin' out of the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again till I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
The studio's dark, got the candles on
I'm trying to write words to the perfect song
But nothing will rhyme, nothing sounds right
Now you're gone
@lynsayymarie8844
I liked this song when it first came out heard it on tvd again & now I have a stronger bond with it 💜
@iwantmarcy780
I didn't realize how saturated the mv looked until now 😂 Makes me feel nostalgic. I miss songs and vids like this. Came back here after 9 years <3
@gorgeous616
i can't get over how amazing this video is. you all look so good. as usual and Jeremy your voice is heaven.
@SillySmileyCorky
These guys have real talent... why aren't they on the radio more?? They need a new album soon!!! Also, they need to go on another tour :) -hakuna matata
@CShorty55
Jeremy has a great voice. This band deserves to be huge.
@tvdnatural
The studio's dark, got the candles on
I'm trying to write words to the perfect song
But nothing will rhyme, nothing sounds right
Now you're gone
It's raining outside so you can't be far
You're probably still soaked sitting in your car
Trying to make sense of all that we said
But you can't
And the words comin' outat the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again 'til I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Keys in the lock, now you're probably home
Walking through the door taking off your clothes
I turn up the sound, hoping somehow
I'll reach you
But I know that I can't, so I dial your phone
I don't leave a message, I just play the song
And hope that you hear, I hope that it's clear
As soon as you hold it up, up to your ear
'Cause the words comin' out of the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again till I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
And I wanna wrap these words around you
'Cause I'll do whatever it takes for this song to find you
And the words comin' out of the speakers
Are the only way I've got left to reach ya
My soul plays the keys, and my heart plays the drums
I need you to hear me so turn the radio on
Now I'm tryin' and I'm dyin' to see ya
I know I hurt ya but I really didn't mean ta
Got my pain on the mic, layin' it all out tonight
I'll do it again and again till I get it right
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
Turn em up, turn up the speakers
The studio's dark, got the candles on
I'm trying to write words to the perfect song
But nothing will rhyme, nothing sounds right
Now you're gone
@lildevil76
met these guys two years ago at a show, their so sweet. glad to see theyre growing <3
@kkaren29911
a lot of people should hear how great they are:)i luv them
@sonsmtmd7
Great job guys...so creative and fun.
@Kimmg78
i never thought i would like days difference, to be honest. but once they started singing at the btr concert, i fell in love.♥