Day eventually signed a recording contract with major label Epic Records in 2002 and has since re-released his debut as well as producing a follow up, Stop All The World Now. Despite initially sluggish sales, Stop All The World Now was certified gold in early 2005 and has produced a number of singles, including "Collide", Day's most successful to date, and the hit "She Says". The track became Epic Records’ first platinum single, eventually selling 1.5 million downloads.
After a five year tour before the release of Stop All The World Now followed by a three year tour, Day took some time off and focused on writing music. Since then Day released his Be There EP in May 2009 which will be followed by Sound The Alarm in September 2009.
Stop All the World Now (2003–2008)
After the EP's release, Day relocated to London, England to record Australia's follow up, which was provisionally titled From a Northern Sky. The album, which would eventually become Stop All The World Now, was recorded in London's famous Olympic Studios with Martin "Youth" Glover, the bassist for British band Killing Joke, whose previous production credits included The Verve's Urban Hymns, one of Howie's favorite albums.
While certain tracks on Australia had featured session musicians, Stop All The World Now saw Howie joined for the first time by a permanent backing band, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Les Hall, drummer Laurie Jenkins and ex-Verve bassist Simon Jones. In addition, the majority of the album's songs were co-written with either Better than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin or Jump Little Children's Jay Clifford.
A full band tour to promote Stop All the World Now began on September 27, 2003. Due to other commitments, Simon Jones was unable to tour with the group and was replaced by Jeremy Curtis. The album was released one week and three days later on October 7 to tepid critical reactions. Rolling Stone's Pat Blashill referred to Stop as "not bad" but "indistinct", but Popmatters' Devon Powers noted that though Australia had been an album one falls for passionately, "Stop All the World Now is an album you have a crush on, not one you fall deeply, complexly, and foolishly in love with. And crushes have a way of disappearing suddenly, without a trace."Stop
Sales of Stop were initially sluggish, but slowly began to rise beginning in late 2004 with the single release of ballad "Collide", which became a popular radio hit and was featured on TV shows such as Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Bones, and One Tree Hill as well as soundtracking a promotional trailer for the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Stop was finally certified gold in early 2005. Fan favourite "She Says", which was first released on 1998's White EP, was released as a follow-up to "Collide", although as of 2006 it has not achieved the same success, it became a mid-level hit.
Boosted by the slow burning success of Stop All the World Now, Epic released the Live From... EP on December 6, 2005. The 7-track EP contains live renditions of songs from Australia and Stop All the World Now as well as a cover of Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over". The EP has not been widely reviewed, though Allmusic referred to the release as "holiday market product," "tepid", and "directionless".
Sound The Alarm (2009)
Howie Day released his third full length, "Sound The Alarm", under the Epic music label on September 8, 2009. After an extensive tour schedule following the release of "Stop All The World Now", Day decided to take some time off, during which he sorted through his emotions by writing songs, many of which have made their way onto Sound the Alarm. “I toured for five years straight before Stop All The World Now came out, then for three years non-stop after it was released," Day says.
To get his desired range of sounds and moods, Day recorded in a variety of locations, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Minneapolis, and Bloomington, Indiana, between the spring of 2006 and fall of 2008. He also collaborated with several musicians and producers, including Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall), Mike Denneen (Aimee Mann, Fountains of Wayne), Mike Flynn (The Fray, Augustana), Warren Huart (The Fray, Augustana, Better Than Ezra]) and Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin — each one of them an expert in pulling superlative performances out of the artists they work with.
Sound The Alarm
Howie Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I couldnt rescue you
And I dont know if my best
Is enough for me anymore
Well I can take it as a test
And I will see when I console
And Id change it if I could
But somethings wrong
And at times I miss you
And know that youll make it all to real
I wish it was fate
Sound the alarm
I know well make it right, al-right
I know this night
Alright, thats right
Well I dont know if I could turn
From every bridge that I have burned
To overcome a sense of loss
You gain so much
At such a cost
And at times I miss you
I know that youll make it all to real now
I wish it was fate
Sound the alarm
I know well make it right, alright
Know this night, alright
This time I miss you
I know that youll make it all to real
I wish it were fate
Sound the alarm
I know well make it right, alright
I know tonight youre alright
Right alright right alright
You know well be alright, tonight
The lyrics to Howie Day's song "Sound The Alarm" depict a person grappling with the anxiety and uncertainty that arise from the thought of not being able to rescue or help someone they care about. The singer is unsure if they can survive the guilt of being unable to rescue the person, and questions if their best efforts are enough. They view their inability to help as a test that they must face and try to console themselves by saying that they would change things if they could but ultimately understand that somethings can't be fixed.
The person understands that missing the person they care about or wishing things were different does not change the reality, but they are compelled to vocalize their wish anyway. They yearn for the feeling of security that comes from knowing things will be alright, and repeatedly reassure themselves that they and the other person will be alright, even when they aren't quite sure if that is the case. In essence, the lyrics explore the feelings of helplessness, guilt, and the desire for assurance that come with loving someone deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
I dont know if I could last
I am unsure if I can handle the situation at hand for a long time.
When I couldnt rescue you
When I was unable to save you from whatever you were going through.
And I dont know if my best
I am not sure if my best efforts will suffice anymore.
Is enough for me anymore
If putting in my best is worth it or not.
Well I can take it as a test
I can consider this situation as a challenge to overcome.
And I will see when I console
I will find out if my efforts have been successful when I attempt to provide comfort.
And Id change it if I could
If I had the power, I would alter the current circumstance.
But somethings wrong
Unfortunately, there is an issue that cannot be fixed easily.
Oh its understood
I am aware of the situation and accept it.
And at times I miss you
Occasionally, I feel a strong desire to be with you.
And know that youll make it all to real
I am aware that being with you will make things more intense.
I wish it was fate
I desire the current situation to be predetermined by destiny.
Sound the alarm
I am suggesting that we need to take action to change the current unsupported state.
I know well make it right, al-right
I am highly confident that we will resolve this issue successfully.
I know this night
I have faith in our abilities to solve our problem tonight.
Alright, thats right
We are capable of achieving what we set out to do, I believe.
Well I dont know if I could turn
I am not confident that I can leave my past mistakes behind.
From every bridge that I have burned
From every broken relationship that I have caused.
To overcome a sense of loss
In order for me to come to terms with my sense of grief.
You gain so much
The act of moving on and letting go can also bring new opportunities.
At such a cost
However, doing so comes with a heavy price.
This time I miss you
At this moment, I am feeling your absence acutely.
I know that youll make it all to real now
I am sure that being in your presence will make everything more challenging.
I wish it were fate
I desire for our fate to be written in the stars and beyond our control.
I know well make it right, alright
I am confident we will find a way to make things right.
Know this night, alright
Believe that we will be successful this very night.
Right alright right alright
I want us to be sure that we are fully capable of resolving our problem.
You know well be alright, tonight
We can reassure each other that everything will be okay tonight.
Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.