Gatsbys began with the disbanding of two bands called One Point Two and Good For Nothing. Bobby Darling was a guitarist for One Point Two and met up with Nic Newsham and Ryan Van Wieringen who were the lead singer and guitarist from Good For Nothing. The completion of Gatsbys didn't come until they recruited Kirk Huffman (formerly of K Through Six) to play bass and Dustin McGhye as their drummer, to make them a five piece band.
When Kaylan Cloyd from the band Acceptance got his hands on a Gatsbys demo, he handed it off to record label Rocketstar Recordings owner Darrick Bourgeois. Shortly after this, they were signed by the local record label and worked with producer Aaron Sprinkle to record their 2002 debut album Why We Fight. Their first show after being signed drew in a crowd of 500+, which was largely due in part to the extensive promoting by Rocketstar.
After Why We Fight came out, the band regrouped dropping drummer McGhye and picked up the Waxwing and Bugs in Amber drummer Rudy Gajadhar. Then in 2003, the band released their second album titled Ribbons & Sugar. Ribbons & Sugar was a concept album loosely based around George Orwell's fable Animal Farm. It became apparent to critics and fans alike after this release of Ribbons & Sugar that literary references in their lyrics were a thing to be expected. It also found them exploring ambitious experimental pop, opting for strange time signatures and tempo changes.
Gatsbys signed a two record deal with Rocketstar, and with Ribbons & Sugar being their second album, their Rocketstar contract ended and both parties decided that neither wanted to renew the contract, and both decided to go their separate ways.
Following its release, the band started to field numerous offers from other, bigger record labels. Slightly embittered by the receiving, the band signed a one-record deal with Chicago-based LLR Records (formerly Little League Records) in 2004. Their contractual record, the more mellow and subdued In the Land of Lost Monsters EP, was in part a response to the post-Ribbons record label attention the band received. Just about all of the labels that approached them thought they were excellent musicians, but wanted the band to write choruses for the next record, a normal songwriting technique the band had up to that point, seemed to avoid. Gatsbys, feeling uncomfortable about forgoing their integrity in order to get a record contract, continued writing music that they liked and in the way they wanted to write it. Doing so simply brought them more acclaim as a progressive rock band.
Several months after the EP's release, the band settled on Fearless Records, home of such acts as the now-defunct post-hardcore/indie rock legends At The Drive-In. With their 2005 album Volcano, it became clear that, as a band, the group had progressed to further musical heights, and was highly capable of writing music that is different from other bands that are usually clumped into the same category as Gatsbys.
Volcano having its central theme revolving around, what else but a volcano (particularly Pompeii, which becomes clear after seeing the title of the second song on the album) had yet once again literary references through out it, ranging from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, to Lord of the Flies, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Enders Game, and Speaker for the Dead.
During the touring that followed the release of Volcano, Gatsby's added a new member, Kyle O'Quin who is also a member of the band Surrounded By Lions.
During the tour that followed the release of Volcano, Gatsbys added Kyle O'Quin (also a member of the band Surrounded By Lions). A few months after O'Quin was added to the band, Ryan Van Wieringen met up with the band in Arizona while they were on tour there and rejoined the line up. Since then, he has been touring and performing live as part of the band.
Van Wieringen did not, however, participate in writing any guitar parts for their self-titled fourth full-length album, released August 8th, 2006. The album bears all the hallmarks of a Gatsbys record: an album of musical experimentation in a pop context, peppered with numerous pop culture and literary references, which appear in both the lyrics and song titles, ranging from works by Philip K. Dick to the television show Lost. The album is, however, noticeably bitter towards the music industry, even compared to previous Gatsbys releases, scalding both current "trend" bands and greedy record labels.
The band has been relatively inactive since the release of the self-titled album. The band has played a handful of shows in and around the Seattle area, and on April 27, 2007, they played their first out-of-state show since the self-titled album's release at Colgate University. In a forum post at Gatsbys fansite Snicker At The Swine, Bobby stated the following on the band's decision to ever go on tour again or write another album:
“ If i find I have more to say with Gatsbys I will write more music. We're not gonna just play to play. The only way I'll do more Gatsbys is if we are making new music. Which I am totally open to. I really have been working on new Gatsbys music. I'll probably lay down some demo shit the next time I'm at Casey's.”
During the hiatus, most of the members have started side projects.
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground.
Wild Orchid Children.
Redredblue.
Keith Ledger.
Search/Rescue.
Zero Cool.
Rudy also played all of the drum parts for Forgive Durden's release "Razia's Shadow".
Just Like Heaven
Gatsby's American Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one that makes me scream she said
The one that makes me laugh she said
And threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you, promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you
Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
Why are you so far away? she said
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
Oh I'm in love with you
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream
Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone alone
Alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved
And drowned her deep inside of me
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven
The song "Just Like Heaven" by Gatsby's American Dream is a cover of the original song by The Cure. The lyrics focus on the idea of escapism to reach a state of happiness and love. The song opens with the singer requesting their lover to show them the "trick" that makes them so happy, and promises to run away with them if they do. The singer dreams of various ways to make their lover happy and wonders why they are so far away when they are in love with them. The singer then describes the ethereal qualities of their lover, referring to them as "soft and only," "lost and lonely," and "strange as angels."
The second verse begins with the singer waking up from a dream, realizing that their lover is no longer with them, and finding themselves alone above a raging sea. The sea symbolizes the depth of the singer's emotions and the pain they feel from the loss of their lover. The song ends with a repeating chorus about how the lover is "just like heaven."
The song's lyrics have been widely interpreted as an exploration of the themes of loneliness, escapism, and the different stages of a romantic relationship. The music video for the original song features the band performing in a surreal, dreamlike forest setting, further emphasizing the theme of escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me, show me how you do that trick
Gatsby is asking Daisy to show him how to win her heart, like a magic trick.
The one that makes me scream she said
Daisy wants to feel the powerful effects of love, which could make her scream in joy and happiness.
The one that makes me laugh she said
Daisy also wants to experience the fun and humor of being in love and sharing happy moments with somebody.
And threw her arms around my neck
Daisy shows physical affection towards Gatsby, which is unusual for her, as she is married to Tom.
Spinning on that dizzy edge
Gatsby is on the edge of danger and uncertainty, as he enters a relationship with a married woman.
I kissed her face and kissed her head
Gatsby is in a state of euphoria and overwhelming affection for Daisy.
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
Gatsby is dreaming of different strategies to win Daisy's love and affection.
To make her glow
Gatsby wants to make Daisy feel special, loved, and happy.
Why are you so far away? she said
Daisy is emotionally distant from Gatsby, as she is not ready to leave her husband for him yet.
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
Daisy is frustrated that Gatsby cannot see her love for him, even though she cannot express it directly to him either.
Oh I'm in love with you
Daisy confirms that she loves Gatsby and wishes to be with him, but is not sure if that is truly possible.
You Soft and only
Gatsby sees Daisy as a gentle and fragile woman, who needs love and care to flourish.
You Lost and lonely
Gatsby is aware of Daisy's inner turmoil and emotional distress, due to her unhappy marriage and unfulfilled desires.
You Strange as angels
Gatsby sees Daisy as a pure and celestial being, who is out of reach from the ordinary world.
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Gatsby imagines Daisy as a free and adventurous spirit, who is not afraid of taking risks and exploring new horizons.
Twisting in the water
The image of Daisy twisting in the water represents her being caught in the currents of life, trying to find her way to safety and happiness.
You're just like a dream
Gatsby thinks of Daisy as his perfect dream girl, who embodies all his desires and fantasies.
Daylight licked me into shape
Gatsby has woken up from his dreams of being with Daisy, and is trying to face the reality of the situation.
I must have been asleep for days
Gatsby has lost track of time and reality, as he has been swept away by his feelings for Daisy.
And moving lips to breathe her name
Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy, and cannot stop thinking about her, even when he wakes up.
I opened up my eyes
Gatsby is finally seeing the truth about his situation and his chances of being with Daisy.
And found myself alone alone
Gatsby realizes that he is alone in his pursuit of Daisy, and that she may never be his.
Alone above a raging sea
Gatsby feels helpless and abandoned, as he struggles to overcome the obstacles in his way.
That stole the only girl I loved
Tom has taken Daisy away from Gatsby, and he feels as if he has lost the only person he truly loved.
And drowned her deep inside of me
Gatsby is consumed by his love for Daisy, and feels as if he has lost a part of himself when she left him.
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christian's Pastrana
Show me, show me
Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream she said
The one that makes me laugh she said
And threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you, promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you
Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
Why are you so far away? she said
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
Oh I'm in love with you
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream
Just like a dream
Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone alone
Alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved
And drowned her deep inside of me
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven
c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶XFa҉ed̶ꨄ
Clever how they slowed the melody down to let the emotions burn in carefully seeping through the heavy beat, sounds & rhythm. A rendition as beautiful as the original. It's Just Like Heaven ✨💘💖✨
seheadhunter50
Dude Wtf this is one of the best songs I've ever heard. I've been looking for a cover that sounded like this
Linky Poo C:
I love The Cure and although I am not familiar with the band that covered this I think they did it justice :)
Daveyduck
The beat of the drums is so so good in the ears!
Aidan
Nothing will ever beat the orginal version but this cover was done well i like it
Asong writtenaboutyou
I like it. It's got a twist to it. It's different
Christian's Pastrana
Show me, show me
Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream she said
The one that makes me laugh she said
And threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you, promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you
Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
Why are you so far away? she said
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
Oh I'm in love with you
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream
Just like a dream
Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone alone
Alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved
And drowned her deep inside of me
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven
Heather Gauvey
My favorite cover
brunilda
Guts. Dude, you gotta have guts to do something like this. I actually kinda like it :-)
brunilda
Great ending.