After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Sparkle
Everclear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shaky hands super load and teenage mouth
We were all charmed and taken by your talk
Now I shudder when I hear the rhythm of your walk
Now I've got no place to go I've got no place to go
I've got no one nowhere no one
I have given up on the sparkle that I saw in your eyes
The belly fire pulls the spirit from the corporate whore
I'm embarrassed by the plaid you wear
If I were you I'd hide behind that stupid bleach blond hair
Now I've got no place to go, I've got no place to go
I've got no one, nowhere, no one
I have given up on the sparkle that I saw in you
Yeah, that simple minded sparkle that I thought I saw
Yes, I have wondered why you changed
I like it when you were super loud
I have wondered why you changed
I like it when you were super loud
Now I've got nowhere to go, I've got no place to go
I've got no one, nowhere, no one
Now I've got no place to go, I've got no place to go
I've got no one, nowhere, no one
I wonder if you're giving in, tell me why you're giving in
Tell me why you're giving in
The lyrics of Everclear's song "Sparkle" speak of a disillusionment with someone who was once admired, possibly a former friend or associate. The first verse references the person's charisma and the impact they had on those around them. However, there's a shift in tone, as the singer now finds the person's presence unsettling or even repulsive. The lines "I'm embarrassed by the plaid you wear" and "If I were you I'd hide behind that stupid bleach blond hair" suggest that the person has lost their authenticity and is now trying too hard to fit in with a certain crowd. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer has nowhere to go and no one to turn to, possibly indicating some sort of personal crisis.
The second verse compounds this sense of disappointment and betrayal. The singer has "given up on the sparkle that [they] saw in [the other person's] eyes" and accuses them of selling out ("The belly fire pulls the spirit from the corporate whore"). The final lines suggest a plea for the other person to explain themselves, to reveal why they have changed so much from the person the singer used to know and admire.
One interpretation of the song could be that it's a commentary on the pressures of conformity and the temptations of selling out in order to achieve success. The other person may have changed their behavior and appearance in order to fit in with a certain trend or group, forsaking their original personality and values. The singer, disillusioned by this transformation, feels lost and alone, with no clear path forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when you seemed real shiny with the sweat of your voice
I recall when you used to captivate us with your words and your voice sounded passionate and enthusiastic.
Shaky hands super load and teenage mouth
Your shaky movements and loud voice made you seem rebellious and youthful.
We were all charmed and taken by your talk
Everyone was drawn in by your charismatic persona and the way you expressed yourself.
Now I shudder when I hear the rhythm of your walk
I feel uneasy and uncomfortable when I see the way you carry yourself now.
Now I've got no place to go I've got no place to go I've got no one nowhere no one
I feel lost and alone with nowhere to turn and no one to turn to.
I have given up on the sparkle that I saw in your eyes
I have lost faith in the glow and enthusiasm that I used to see in you.
I have sinned the sin of wanting more
I have been guilty of wanting more than what you were able to give and expecting too much from you.
The belly fire pulls the spirit from the corporate whore
The fiery passion and authenticity you once had is now consumed by the corporate world and its superficial values.
I'm embarrassed by the plaid you wear
I feel ashamed of the way you dress, which seems to represent a superficial trend rather than your true self.
If I were you I'd hide behind that stupid bleach blond hair
If I were in your shoes, I would try to conceal my insecurities by using physical appearance as a mask.
Yeah, that simple minded sparkle that I thought I saw
The bright and enthusiastic persona that I once saw in you seems superficial and simplistic now.
I like it when you were super loud
I enjoyed your enthusiastic and boisterous behavior because it seemed genuine and authentic.
Now I've got nowhere to go, I've got no place to go I've got no one, nowhere, no one
Once again, I feel lost and alone with no direction or support in my life.
I wonder if you're giving in, tell me why you're giving in
I'm curious if you're abandoning your true self and giving in to societal pressures, and I want to know why.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ART ALEXAKIS, CRAIG MONTOYA, RALPH SCOTT CUTHBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Coesaurus Wrecks
Best everclear song of all time, not that they didn't have plenty of other good ones...
atomcraft
I'm having a nostalgic moment. Everclear were my band during my formative teenage years. These guys and Foo Fighters. I haven't heard this album in a while. I'm from New Zealand and I think I was their biggest fan here. I still just want to mosh out and scream the lyrics at the top of my lungs when I hear this album. Not many people I know here would feel the same way. My forever perpetual smile that no one can touch.
Ryan Stroup
Despite Art having a cheap amp that would have to be cooled by ice packs and a beat up Bluesbird guitar in 1993, this album still rocks to this day no matter what.
paulnaylor
Thanks for putting these up! This is such a great song.
MasonsLIe
A true gem of a song
pluckyduck11y
art definitely is one of the underrated 90s rock writers
MasonsLIe
Hardly anyone knows this song which is really sad because it's such an amazing song. Everclear, one of the best bands of the 90s
cktable
This song is fucking incredible the intensity is unmatched
mah boh
@skotxmeyerx9 love the part from 2:00 and I would like to hear more than only two of those catchy "Ye-eee-eh!"
Hi I'm Kara Rae Ophelia
FUCK YEAH!
hope your still listening friend...