Hard-Fi achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as "Cash Machine" and "Living for the Weekend", which all reached top 15 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Stars of CCTV was released on 4 July 2005, and although receiving critical acclaim (NME called it album of the year and was nominated for the Mercury Prize and two BRIT Awards, Best British Group and Best British Rock Act), it didn't reach #1 in the UK albums chart until six months later on 22 January 2006. It originally peaked at number 6. The band's second album, Once Upon a Time in the West, was released on 3 September 2007 and reached number 1 in its first week.
They are generally considered part of the indie rock scene, alongside bands such as Franz Ferdinand and have often been compared to a modern version of The Clash.
Hard-Fi's latest album, 'Killer Sounds' was released on 22 August 2011, and has produced 3 singles, 'Good for Nothing', 'Fire in the House' and the anthemic 'Bring It On' which also featured in the game Football Manager 2012. The band also recorded the track 'Like a Drug' for the hugely popular Twilight - Breaking Dawn film, and following demands from fans finally released it as a single on iTunes on 16 December 2011.
Television
Hard-Fi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When no one knows your name
I've never had too much
But I'd give it all for fame, baby, baby
She's there on the TV, so beautiful on screen
Selling me a life
I've never known and never seen, baby, baby
Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah
Politicians, don't wanna listen
They only wanna make money out of you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Newspaper headlines, I can't believe my eyes
No tales of war, destruction
But who said what last night on the TV
Well that could be me
Through the shop window it's a wide screen world
But I can't afford a thing and I never get the girl
It ain't easy, no, it ain't easy
If I only had you, if I only had you
If I only had you, if I only had
Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah
Politicians, don't wanna listen
They only wanna make money out of you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You know we always want something
But somehow we end up with nothing, nothing
If I only had you, if I only had you
If I only had, if I only had
Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah
Politicians, don't wanna listen
They only wanna make money out of you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The song "Television" by Hard-Fi showcases the era of mass media, specifically television, and how it has become a new religion to people, and the role it plays in peoples’ lives. The opening line, "Life means nothing when no one knows your name," indicates the underlying desire for fame and popularity in this new world of television. The next line, "I've never had too much, but I'd give it all for fame, baby, baby", shows how people are willing to sacrifice everything they have to get their name out there and be famous.
The chorus, "Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah, politicians don't wanna listen, they only wanna make money out of you," highlights the power that television has over politics and society as a whole. It shows how the government and people in power use television as a means to control the masses and make more money.
The lyrics express a sense of hopelessness, and how people are constantly trying to attain the perfect life that they see on TV, but it always seems out of reach. The line, "Through the shop window, it's a wide-screen world, but I can't afford a thing and I never get the girl" expresses this perfectly. People are mesmerized by the perfect world they see on television, but in their reality, it is unattainable.
Overall, "Television" is a commentary on how mass media influences the modern world, and how television has become a new religion to people, manipulating and controlling them while also offering them a glimpse of the perfect life that they can never have.
Line by Line Meaning
Life means nothing
Life is pointless
When no one knows your name
If you're not famous, your life has no value
I've never had too much
I don't have a lot of material possessions
But I'd give it all for fame, baby, baby
I'd trade everything I have for fame
She's there on the TV, so beautiful on screen
The woman on TV is incredibly attractive
Selling me a life
The TV is presenting a desirable lifestyle
I've never known and never seen, baby, baby
I've never experienced this life
If I only had you, if I only had
I want this life so badly
Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah
TV has become like a religion and is worshipped by many
Politicians, don't wanna listen
Politicians aren't interested in the people
They only wanna make money out of you
Politicians only care about making money
Newspaper headlines, I can't believe my eyes
I'm shocked by the headlines in the newspaper
No tales of war, destruction
There are no stories about important issues like war and destruction
But who said what last night on the TV
People are more interested in what was on TV than real news
Well that could be me
I aspire to be like the people on TV
Through the shop window it's a wide screen world
The world looks amazing through the store's window display
But I can't afford a thing and I never get the girl
I don't have enough money to buy anything and I can't attract women
It ain't easy, no, it ain't easy
Life is hard
You know we always want something
We always desire something more
But somehow we end up with nothing, nothing
Despite our desires, we often don't get what we want
Television, new religion, let everyone sing Hallelujah
The TV has become like a religion and is worshipped by many
Politicians, don't wanna listen
Politicians aren't interested in the people
They only wanna make money out of you
Politicians only care about making money
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD ARCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Hulston
this song brings back so many memories!! what a top album this was!
Hnem Hnem
Man, I can't get enough of hard-fi!!!!! :D
tim biglowe
Yes! Some people would call it post-punk/rock but its modern indie
Nurax
Discovered this song yesterday 🔥
Everaldo Beltán
I love this song!, it reminds me my celebrity crush
António Oliveira Tavares
this is the best hard-fi song. I love this guys : $
EminentKnight
Seriously underrated.
Rickey Layman
Why is this album so hard to find? It's not even on iTunes.
CodySmith_73
Poparena brought me here.
MJG
Best group evah