Human Drama was, in many ways, the personal vehicle for singer/songwriter J… Read Full Bio ↴Human Drama was, in many ways, the personal vehicle for singer/songwriter Johnny Indovina, who guided the band through a variety of lineup changes and stylistic experiments. During their lifespan, Human Drama released a series of recordings built around Indovina's passionate singing and dramatic melodies.

Indovina and Human Drama began their career in New Orleans in the early 80s as The Models, releasing two singles along with compilation appearances. A mid-'80s move to Los Angeles and the discovery of an already existing Australian band also named The Models set the stage for Indovina and company to begin their new incarnation.

The newly renamed Human Drama became a member of the "Scream scene" of the mid-'80s, which sprang up around the short-lived Los Angeles underground goth/metal club that brought Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to the world. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness", to the 1987 Scream Compilation LP, which led to a major label deal with RCA.

1989 saw the release of the debut Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death EP and the full length Feel LP. Both releases featured a electric guitar-oriented approach. Indovina felt that RCA wasn't properly promoting the band, and the band and label parted ways.

Moving to the independent Triple X label, the next Human Drama release was 1992's The World Inside. Stylistically different from the first two releases, Indovina moved Human Drama into a quieter, more strings-based sound. This album is widely regarded as Indovina and Human Drama's most important work. The LP earned the band critical raves and a near fanatical following, especially in Mexico. A solo performance of various cover songs by Indovina at the album's release party predicted the next Human Drama album. Released in 1993, PinUps was an open tribute to David Bowie's album of the same name, a collection of remakes of various sources of inspiration.

A move to New York city accompanied a temporary co-release stint on the Projekt label, resulting in two additional mid-decade releases, 1994's Human Drama EP and 1995's Songs of Betrayal, which was later re-released as two separate discs with additional tracks.

The next Human Drama release would be a live album. 1997's Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four Days Later, featuring many of the early Feel-era songs, along with some new cover song choices.

1999 brought Solemn Sun Setting, which saw a merging of the two "different" Human Drama styles, before the following year's career overview, Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World.

The final Human Drama album, 2002's Cause and Effect, continuing themes from Solemn Sun Setting, was an unexpected goodbye from Indovina and company, for both the band and their fans.

In 2004, Human Drama recorded their final track, the Beatles "Let It Be", which was given to fans who attended the band's farewell performance in Los Angeles. When asked why he chose "Let It Be" as their final recording Indovina answered, "I strived my entire career to write a song as good as that, but since I couldn't, I decided to record it as a salute to, what is in my opinion, the best song ever written".

Indovina has since moved on with his next project, Sound of the Blue Heart.

My Denial
Human Drama Lyrics

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In my safe haven I'm protected
Free to take another breath
Answers to all my questions running rampant
Simple as it may seem

I cannot run
I cannot hide
I'm an angel

I'm the devil
And both I deny

Beating heart, could it beat any faster?
Sometimes I wish it would just stop
Strong stand the walls of my denial
Long stay the scars that it brings

I cannot run
I cannot hide
I'm an angel
I'm the devil
And both I deny

I can't take another second
I won't last another day

If there's 'cause let it be ever shouldered
Sometimes I don't know what I want

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "My Denial" by Human Drama delve into the complexities of the human psyche and the struggle to reconcile the opposing forces within us. The singer describes his inner world as a safe haven where he seeks refuge from the chaos of life. However, even in this seemingly serene place, he is constantly confronted by the questions and contradictions that plague his mind. The simplicity of the answers eludes him, and he is left to grapple with his own truths.

The singer then admits to being both an angel and a devil, but denying both these aspects of himself. This duality is a fundamental part of human nature, but we often try to suppress it in order to conform to societal norms. The walls of denial that we construct become a prison, and the scars they leave behind are a reminder of the pain we have suffered.

In the chorus, the singer expresses his desperation and longing for release from this internal conflict. He cannot escape from himself, and the weight of his denial is becoming unbearable. The final line of the song - "Sometimes I don't know what I want" - encapsulates the confusion and ambivalence that are inherent in human nature.

Line by Line Meaning

In my safe haven I'm protected
I feel safe inside my space away from the world

Free to take another breath
I'm able to breathe peacefully in my haven

Answers to all my questions running rampant
I have a lot of questions that I can't stop thinking about

Simple as it may seem
My situation may seem easy but it's not

I cannot run
I can't escape from myself

I cannot hide
I can't mask my true feelings

I'm an angel
I have some positive qualities

I'm the devil
I also have negative qualities

And both I deny
I don't accept the bad parts of myself

Beating heart, could it beat any faster?
My heart is racing and I'm feeling anxious

Sometimes I wish it would just stop
I want to escape from my emotions and thoughts