2020 was poised to be Future Teens’ breakout year. After releasing their sophomore LP Breakup Season, cosplaying as Carly Rae Jepsen and zeroing on the romantic longing of fans worldwide, the Boston quartet was rising. While such a hard stop was part of every band’s story in 2020, the momentum hadn’t left the group — guitarists/vocalists Amy Hoffman and Daniel Radin, drummer Colby Blauvelt, and bassist Maya Mortman — straying too far from their central heartline. Deliberately Alive, their blustery follow-up EP, is Future Teens at their most explosive and earnest, showcasing a band in between journal volumes.
Fans of the band’s confessional tone will hear it ring throughout, regardless of the messenger. When Hoffman’s lead vocalist, you get “Guest Room,” a strutting emo-pop moment where there’s more than just the first of the month living rent-free in their head. Radin’s turn brings “Play Cool,” a vignette of gig life and the fallouts that can occur during a local opener’s set. Both deliver the classic Future Teens formula: open on a slice of East Coast life, sprinkle in some anxiety and self-facing critique, and let the band surge beneath. Winking one-liners characterize both Radin’s “Separated Anxiety,” which crackles the release to life, and Hoffman’s “Bizarre Affection,” featuring a starburst of an intro that disintegrates into another night alone.
(James Cassar)
// https://futureteens.bandcamp.com //
Happy New Year
Future Teens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You get the same old me
I don't have the resolution to change a thing
January
Won't be different than the last
Except of course I'm torn between two homes
My dog won't live through this winter
No one's ever stayed that long
Come on over
Want you to see my room
I'll have it this whole weekend
About as long as I'll have you
I can't remember
Feeling not so far away
I've been carrying more baggage each time I board the plane
I was never good at packing all my bags are overweight
And this flight keeps getting longer but the distance stays the same
And I'm just calling to tell you that I am not okay
The lyrics of Future Teens's song "Happy New Year" portray a sense of resignation and acceptance of the singer's current situation and emotional state as they enter a new year. The opening lines "Happy New Year, you get the same old me, I don't have the resolution to change a thing" express a feeling of staying stagnant and not being able to make significant changes or improvements in their life. It reflects a sense of self-awareness and perhaps a hint of self-deprecation, as the singer acknowledges their lack of motivation or ability to change.
As the song moves into the month of January, the lyrics suggest that the singer doesn't anticipate any substantial changes or improvements in the upcoming year. The line "January won't be different than the last, except of course I'm torn between two homes" hints at a feeling of internal conflict or a lack of belonging, as the singer feels torn between different places or situations. This could represent a struggle with identity, relationships, or a sense of place in the world.
The following lines delve into more personal and emotional struggles experienced by the singer. The mention of feeling "more sick than ever of talking on the phone" suggests a sense of exhaustion or frustration with communication and possibly a longing for more meaningful connections. The reference to the singer's dog not living through the winter adds a layer of melancholy and mortality, highlighting the transient and fragile nature of life and relationships.
The final verses of the song touch upon themes of distance, emotional baggage, and a sense of not being okay. The singer expresses a feeling of distance and detachment, both physically and emotionally, as they mention carrying more baggage each time they board a plane. The image of struggling with overweight bags symbolizes the weight of unresolved emotions or issues that the singer carries with them. The repeated mention of the flight getting longer while the distance stays the same alludes to a feeling of being stuck or unable to move forward. Ultimately, the singer ends with a stark statement, "And I'm just calling to tell you that I am not okay," revealing a vulnerability and honesty about their emotional state and struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy New Year
A greeting for the new year, despite not feeling any different
You get the same old me
I haven't changed and still have my flaws
I don't have the resolution to change a thing
I lack the motivation to make any changes
January
A new beginning, but nothing significant has changed
Won't be different than the last
Just like the previous year, nothing new
Except of course I'm torn between two homes
Struggling with a sense of belonging in multiple places
I'm more sick than ever of talking on the phone
Feeling overwhelmed by communication
My dog won't live through this winter
Considering the limited time left with a beloved pet
No one's ever stayed that long
Struggling with lasting relationships
Come on over
Inviting someone to visit
Want you to see my room
Sharing a personal space with someone special
I'll have it this whole weekend
Having the space temporarily, just like the presence of the person
About as long as I'll have you
Acknowledging the temporary nature of relationships
I can't remember
Struggling to recall a time when things were better
Feeling not so far away
Desiring closeness and connection
I've been carrying more baggage each time I board the plane
Emotionally burdened with each journey
I was never good at packing all my bags are overweight
Struggling to handle the emotional weight of past experiences
And this flight keeps getting longer but the distance stays the same
Feeling stuck in a situation despite physical movement
And I'm just calling to tell you that I am not okay
Reaching out for support and expressing vulnerability
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Ross Radin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wert Minkefski
Love this song, love this album, love this band. Can’t wait to see them live.
Jed Tabago
Been 3 years since I'm blasting this on the last 31st of the year and I still feel the same. When will I get out of this cycle?
orownik
awesome song, i luv itt
tako
Listening to this today! December 31st, 2020
Ayden B
Happy New Year!
pinoytrash
Happy new year. 🖤
darkrhozan09
Happy New Year <3
0xF
these guys are gonna be fucking big.
Christian Skinner
My heart
ramen god
happy new year, im still sad