The band name originated from a slang phrase used by students at Eric Sean Nally's high school where Foxy Shazam meant "cool shoes". On February 7, 2010, their single Unstoppable was featured in Super Bowl XLIV.
In 2008, the band were named one of the 100 bands you need to know by Alternative Press. They toured with bands such as The Strokes, Bad Rabbits, and The Young Veins. In 2010, the band were placed on Spin's list of ten bands you need to know. Since then, they've appeared on TV programs such as the Daily Haibt. Also in 2010, vocalist Eric Nally helped write songs for Meat Loaf's album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear.
Foxy Shazam have previously toured with Hole and played this year's Lollapalooza festival. They've been appearing in more magazines supporting their latest release like Alternative Press and Spin. They played a 3 song set for The Daily Habit Show on Fuel.tv. They recently performed a 5 song set for shockhound.com. They also recently performed 3 songs acoustic for Spin Magazine, one of which was a brand new song entitled "I'm in love with a boy." The band performed a full set and interview on Chicago's JBTV in July 2010. The band have also performed a live an exclusive version of "oh Lord" for music discovery app and namesake Shazam.
Foxy Shazam's first album, The Flamingo Trigger is seen as a post-hardcore album, with some slight classical influences. The band more resembled peers such as Chiodos and The Fall of Troy. With their second release, Introducing, the band incorporated more genres into their sound, and even making ballads, though still with some post-hardcore influence. Their latest release, Foxy Shazam, has influences ranging from Gospel, Soul, and Glam Metal. The band continues to surprise fans by keeping themselves original.
A quote from lead singer, Eric Sean Nally: "When I listen to a Foxy Shazam record I think of Evel Knievel, Bruce Springsteen, my childhood, Van Morrison, my old friends from high school I don't talk to anymore, Elton John, the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and beyond, Iggy Pop and my first kiss. One of my favorite things to do when listening to my music is to close my eyes and picture a crowd of six million people all chanting "Foxy! Foxy! Foxy!" The lights go out and my band walks on stage. It gives me goose bumps. It all makes sense to me. When you listen to our record, think of your favorite things and it'll make sense to you as well. Foxy Shazam is not concerned with what category it falls into. We want to stand for our generation. We want to be the biggest band in the world. We want to be the Michael Jordan of Rock N' Roll."
Many media outlets compare the band to Queen and Meat Loaf because of their use of theatrics and over-the-tops lyrics. The band themselves have noted the similarities but believe that they are just all influenced by the same things. It's not always music that influences the band, it could even be a smell that triggers a memory.
Eric Sean Nally has said an album that influenced him was Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. The magazine Alternative Press has compared the band to bands like Queen, My Chemical Romance, and The Darkness while also believing that the band has a very unique sound that should best be seen live.
Wanna-be Angel
Foxy Shazam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Awesome, Awesome Yeah!
I want this world to think I care,
I don't care at all!
For you I wear this mask,
At home I tear it off!
'Cause I don't need it,
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I want my fans to think I'm so punk rock
So punk rock and roll!
And all you hipsters say I'm gay,
Well I'm not gay at all!
For you I wear this mask,
At home I tear it off!
'Cause I don't need it,
No, I don't need it at all!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Do you want to be dead?
Do oh yes I am, yes I am!
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Come on, everybody, come on!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Do you want to be dead?
Do oh yes I am, yes I am!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
The Foxy Shazam song "Wanna-be Angel" is a commentary on the human desire for external validation and the masks people wear to conform to societal expectations. The lyrics express the singer's desire to be perceived as awesome, caring, and punk rock while embracing their true self when no one is watching. The lines "For you I wear this mask, at home I tear it off" convey the idea that the singer only puts on a façade for others and not for themselves. The repeated refrain of "I'm a wannabe angel" further reinforces the idea that the character is not authentic and is trying too hard to fit in.
The song also touches on the idea of mortality, with the repeated line "Do you want to be dead?" and the reference to burning in Hell, implying a fear of eternal punishment for not living up to expectations. This fear of death and judgment can drive people to wear masks and try to be something they're not in order to be accepted.
Line by Line Meaning
I want my friends to think I'm awesome,
Awesome, Awesome Yeah!
I desire my comrades to consider me as impressive,
Impressive, Impressive Yeah!
I want this world to think I care,
I don't care at all!
I wish this planet to believe that I sympathize,
I don't sympathize at all!
For you I wear this mask,
At home I tear it off!
'Cause I don't need it,
I don't need it at all!
For you, I put on this facade,
But when I'm alone, I discard it!
Because I have no use for it,
None at all!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I desire to be an angel so badly,
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I want my fans to think I'm so punk rock
So punk rock and roll!
And all you hipsters say I'm gay,
Well I'm not gay at all!
I aspire for my admirers to regard me as extremely punk rock,
So punk rock and roll!
And even though you hipsters accuse me of being homosexual,
I'm definitely not homosexual!
Do you want to be dead?
Do oh yes I am, yes I am!
Are you wishing to be deceased?
Yes, I am indeed!
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
It's highly possible that you'll end up in Heaven,
But I'll be suffering in Hell.
You'll most likely end up in Heaven,
And I'll be consumed in flames in Hell.
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Come on, everybody, come on!
I aspire to be an angel so badly,
Come on, everybody, come on!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC NALLY, JOHN FELDMANN, SCHUYLER WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hofi52
I want my friends to think I'm awesome,
Awesome, Awesome Yeah!
I want this world to think I care,
I don't care at all!
For you I wear this mask,
At home I tear it off!
'Cause I don't need it,
I don't need it at all!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I want my fans to think I'm so punk rock
So punk rock and roll!
And all you hipsters say I'm gay,
Well I'm not gay at all!
For you I wear this mask,
At home I tear it off!
'Cause I don't need it,
No, I don't need it at all!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Do you want to be dead?
Do oh yes I am, yes I am!
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
You'll probably end up in Heaven,
And I'll be burning in Hell.
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Come on, everybody, come on!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
Do you want to be dead?
Do oh yes I am, yes I am!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
I'm a wannabe, I'm a wannabe angel!
‡Rose‡
Webon, seriously thank you very much for giving the lyrics of the complete song! I wanted to make a video of this song but with subtitles in Spanish, and now I can translate the song, Seriously, Thank!!!!
and greetings from Mexico, and YES I'm starting to listen to the music of Foxy Shazam!✨
And
Sorry if you didn't understand, I don't speak English lol
D T
Freddie Mercury’s soul right here 🖤
Odd Kritter
Foxy is the best!!!
Brad Walsh
Just the greatest!