Their music is a mix of hard rock styles. The band cites influences such as Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana.
Early on, vocalist Lacey Mosley began playing music with drummer James Culpepper. Later on guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya were recruited. "Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical," said Mosley. When they were still playing as Listen, they played with bassists Josh C. and Jonathan B.. The bassist was replaced by Kirkpatrick Seals in 2002 after he left his previous band The Grove.
All five members of the band are of the Christian faith. This faith in Jesus influences their music, but lead singer Lacey Mosley doesn't necessarily believe that makes Flyleaf a strictly Christian band. "We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?'" Mosley said. "I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding Christ saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that".
Flyleaf released a song "Cassie" that was about the shooting of Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. They were shot in the head after admiting they were Christian. This is just one example of how Flyleaf are touched by events and touch others through their music.
Flyleaf released their first full-length studio album, "Flyleaf", in October 2005. The album was re-released in United States in October 2007 along with their latest digital EP, "Much Like Falling", that was released onto the iTunes store. The re-released version of "Flyleaf" contains additional acoustic tracks.
On the 10th of November 2009, Flyleaf released their second album, called "Memento Mori". The album is a little less heavy than their debut album. Two songs that were released before the official release are "Beautiful Bride" and "Again".
Songfacts reports that their third album will be called "New Horizons". The title track premiered on 89X Radio on August 1, 2012, and will be released on iTunes on August 21, 2012.
On October the 22nd 2012, Lacey Sturm/Mosley declared that she was leaving Flyleaf and that the band was splitting up. This was only a week before their new album was due to be released (New Horizons - 30th October 2012).
On November 7, 2022, it was announced by Flyleaf that Sturm had returned to the band, with the band now calling themselves "Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm".
Official site: www.flyleafmusic.com
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Flyleaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring your friends
Its fun to lose
And to pretend
Shes overboard
Myself assured
I know I know
A dirty word
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out its less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
Im worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out its less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out its less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
The lyrics to Flyleaf's cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" explore themes of rebellion, confusion, and identity. The first verse encourages the listener to "load up on guns" and "bring your friends," indicating a sense of rebellion and a desire to rebel against societal norms. The line "It's fun to lose and to pretend" also showcases a disregard for consequences and a willingness to engage in risky behavior. The second verse includes the iconic lines "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido," which have often been interpreted as nonsensical, but could be seen as embodying the concept of self-identity.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Hello" 16 times, which could be interpreted as a way of seeking attention and making oneself noticed. The line "With the lights out, it's less dangerous" suggests a desire for anonymity and a sense of safety in darkness, perhaps reflecting feelings of fear or anxiety. The repeated phrase "Entertain us" implies a sense of boredom or a lack of fulfillment, and the subsequent line "I feel stupid and contagious" expresses feelings of insecurity and self-doubt.
The final verse includes the lines "I found it hard, it's hard to find / Oh well, whatever, nevermind," indicating a sense of apathy or resignation toward the difficulties of life. Overall, the lyrics to Flyleaf's version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" explore complex themes of rebellion, identity, and disillusionment, painting a picture of a confused and disenchanted youth culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Load up on guns
Get ready for a fight
Bring your friends
Bring backup, it's more fun to fight as a group
Its fun to lose
Sometimes it's entertaining to not win
And to pretend
Acting like you don't care can be amusing
Shes overboard
Someone has gone too far
Myself assured
Feeling confident in oneself
I know I know
Realizing the situation
A dirty word
Something inappropriate or taboo
Hello (x 16)
Repetitive greeting
With the lights out its less dangerous
Being in the dark can make things seem less scary
Here we are now Entertain us
We're here, please entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Feeling foolish and like you might be spreading negative energy to others
A mulatto
A person with mixed racial heritage
An albino
A person with a lack of melanin in their skin or hair
A mosquito
A small, irritating bug
My libido
My sex drive
Yea
Agreement or affirmation
Im worse at what I do best
I'm not very good at what I'm supposed to excel at
And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite my flaws, I feel grateful for my talents
Our little group has always been
Our small circle of friends is constant
And always will until the end
We'll always stick together
And I forget
Sometimes I lose track
Just what it takes
Exactly what is needed
And yet I guess it makes me smile
Despite the confusion, it somehow makes me happy
I found it hard
It was a struggle
Its hard to find
Not easy to locate
Oh well, whatever, nevermind
Oh well, let's not think about it anymore
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Maddie-bk5kw
What makes this so great is that this band has an amazing vibe. Lacey doesn't care if her voice sounds perfect, she's just trying to feel the song and understand the lyrics.
There's a reason why Flyleaf were so successful. Their music and stage presence was so honest and never felt artificial. They were happy just to have their words heard.
@dudewithlaptop8663
if her voice was perfect on this song I'd be pissed. she's covering kurt cobain
@LotharXjorn
agreed alot of emotion out of Macey and Flyleaf , you cant help but appreciate the talent.
@vasocreta
well said
@sammijo_syko
Maddie this cover is shitty just plan out horrible i cant even get through it just please stop insulting the memory of kurt with this shit
@ualiglasses2146
Maddie give this girl a raise
@yogawarriorgirl
Lacey's voice was PERFECT for a female cover of this song! She's great for grunge songs like this.
@camskii
Amanda Lockridge Tori Amos does the best cover by a fucking enormous long shot
@SHOBBYVILLIAN
Grunge is a shit! But i love Lacey sz
@jackmcmullin8616
I hate it