Bobby Rodriguez and Joey Valdepena first met, briefly, in New York in the l… Read Full Bio ↴Bobby Rodriguez and Joey Valdepena first met, briefly, in New York in the late ‘90s and they reconnected in LA in 2001 and thus their band, Fiction Company, was born. On their debut EP, Maps and Measures, Valdepena provides vocals and plays guitar, while Bobby plays keyboards and contributes back-up vocals.

Their work has previously appeared on the soundtrack to Blood and Chocolate (a cover of Billy Idol’s “Flesh for Fantasy”) and the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack (“Design”), Grammy-nominated as Best Compilation Soundtrack Album in 2006.

Rodriguez and Valdepena wrote all the songs on Maps and Measures, though they recruited a wide range of LA-based musicians to contribute music to the album. These include guitarist/bassist Dan Horne, who co-wrote “Crystal Ship”; guitarist/producer Scott Ford, who worked with them on “Dark of the Day”; Boogie Jones, a long-time inspiration for the band, helping them to mold their sound over the years, here offering back-up vocals; Gregory Butler, who produced “In Your Head”; and Tom Radon, who plays drums on “Crystal Ship,” as well as having co-written that track.

Rodriguez says of the album’s title, “It’s where you are and where you’ve been. It’s a point of measurement with which you can gauge your progress. Or in this case, our progress.” They’ve both come a long way, personally and professionally, to produce this work. The album’s emotional high point is “Dark of the Day,” in which Valdepena’s lyrics reveal a poignant, personal back story: “I wrote the concept for ‘Dark of the Day’ very soon after my brother drowned last year. I remember feeling so empty, but thoughts of being with him made me happy. It was like I was ashamed to be happy because someone I loved was just gone all of a sudden. It was in June and it was sunny. The birds were singing and the flowers blooming. It was just dark at the same time.”

The band’s arresting and genuine lyrics are backed by an interesting, multi-textured sound—a result of their extensive, varied influences. While Rodriguez’s points of reference are The Mamas and the Papas, The Beatles, NWA and Elton John, Valdepena cites “Weird Al” Yankovic, Damon Albarn, Paul Simon and Belle and Sebastian. Fiction Company is its own unique creation, a true collaboration between two artistic soul mates.

for more info visit: www.mrgrecordings.com

La la
Fiction Company Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I looked up and there you were
And I wondered what to do
You looked back and I just stared
I have faith that's for sure

Chorus
She said la la la la la la
How could you?

La la la la la la
How could you?

Pictures of the way you move
And we walked
walked on through
You could take this word with you
Make it quick, make it fast
that's for sure

Chorus

And I wondered
How could you?

Chorus

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics, the singer describes a moment of unexpected encounter with someone they are attracted to. They express feeling unsure about how to react to this person's presence, leading to a gaze between them. Despite their uncertainty, the singer mentions having faith, implying that they believe in the possibility of something more.

The chorus, repetition of "la la la la la la," serves as a powerful expression of frustration, confusion, and disappointment. It symbolizes the singer's struggle to comprehend the actions of the person they are attracted to. The line "How could you?" is a rhetorical question, highlighting the deep impact of the other person's actions on the singer.

The lyrics further describe the dynamic between the singer and the person they are attracted to through the imagery of movement. The "pictures of the way you move" suggest that the singer observes and admires the other person's actions and behavior. The phrase "we walked, walked on through" implies that they embarked on a journey or experience together, although it is unclear what this entails.

The singer also indicates a desire for the other person to take something with them, possibly referring to a memory or impression. They emphasize the need for it to be quick and fast, perhaps indicating the urgency they feel to make a lasting impact on this person or to have some sort of closure.

Overall, these lyrics capture the singer's mixture of emotions, including curiosity, longing, and frustration, as they ponder the actions of someone they are attracted to. The repetition in the chorus intensifies the emotional impact of their confusion and disappointment, while the imagery of movement and the desire for a memorable impression hint at a fleeting or unfinished connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I looked up and there you were
When I raised my eyes, I unexpectedly saw you

And I wondered what to do
It made me ponder on what actions to take

You looked back and I just stared
As you glanced in my direction, I could only gaze back

I have faith that's for sure
I possess unwavering belief and trust

She said la la la la la la
She expressed herself with nonsensical sounds

How could you?
I express surprise and disappointment in your actions

Pictures of the way you move
Mental images of your graceful motions

And we walked walked on through
Together, we continued our journey

You could take this word with you
You can carry this message with you

Make it quick, make it fast
Perform the task promptly and swiftly

And I wondered
I questioned and pondered