That's Hunter Valentine.
Blasting out their inimitable rock since the summer of 2004, Hunter Valentine has blossomed, establishing a devoted fan base via their self-financed eponymous 2005 EP and building on that foundation with their 2007 full-length The Impatient Romantic (True North Records). Razing crowds from coast to coast in their decrepit van, nailing select European and U.S. Cities over the course of 200-plus shows, the trio has garnered an international fan base as they build out of their native Canada. Hunter Valentine are now poised to break through with their gripping follow up Lessons From the Late Night (Tommy Boy/Fontana/Universal).
Raucous and direct, the outfit comprised of vocalist/guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey, bassist Adrienne Lloyd and drummer Laura Petracca exemplifies girls with a united goal, intense friendship, respect and ability that solidifies their edgy albeit refined music. There's no hyperbole when it comes to Hunter Valentine. Everything has a direct message, delivered with a devout refusal for glitz or glamour. The hard line says it all, conveyed by confident, unbridled rock 'n' roll.
For McCloskey, Lloyd and Petracca, Hunter Valentine isn't a job or an ambition. It's their essence, and it comes through loud and clear on Lessons From the Late Night. The album (a harder and more dominant affair than their previous releases) finds the trio rediscovering their own unrivalled live sound as well as embracing their own reality: tough girls with a passion for the rock 'n' roll life; souls who know nothing other than the importance of perfecting their craft, chasing their hunger to tour in vans and sleeping on fan floors for the thrill of playing live.
Such sentiments are the epitome of Lessons From the Late Night. Recorded at Toronto's Chemical Sound Studios by producer Ian Blurton (Weakerthans, Cursed, Skydiggers), adherence to capturing their live spirit on tape has resulted in another rugged blast of the band's congenital Do It Yourself ethics. The end results display a rawer, more confident Hunter Valentine.
“This record is a lot more aggressive and a bit more honest; an accurate portrayal of what we sound like live,” McCloskey announces. “We wanted to capture what we do on stage; something a lot more stripped down and away from any polished version of us. If there was a mistake, we left it in so the record has character. It shows our personalities through the music. Clearly I am nowhere near perfect, so why would I want an album that sounds perfect?”
As primary lyricist, McCloskey draws on her real-life experiences for Lessons From the Late Night's thematic thrust. “I'm inspired by a situation, picture or emotion that I just can't shake from my head,” she apprises. “It could be the sad look of a girl I see on the bus weekly that has been imprinted on my mind, someone crossing me in a friendship, the passing of a relative, watching someone struggle with addiction or whatever needs to be processed within a song in order for me to move forward in life. If I didn't have songwriting I would probably be locked up by now.”
Most importantly though, Lessons From the Late Night finds Hunter Valentine returning to their core, unleashing their live prowess onto record. Performing is their passion; where they make lifelong fans due to an unbreakable calling to have fun no matter what. At that, Hunter Valentine delivers with engaging, upbeat shows that blindside and never relent.
“It's a kick ass, high energy, entertaining, heartbreaking, heart racing, rush of emotions. You leave satisfied but wanting more,” Petracca asserts. “This band is my family; my life. This is our primary goal and we have the opportunity to excel at music so we're into it full-throttle. This is the only thing we want to do until we master it. The day we step away is the day we've done it all and there's nothing more we can do.”
That's DIY.
That's Hunter Valentine.
Staten Island Dream Tour
Hunter Valentine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said 'nobody can touch me, nobody can hit my world'
So I just stood aside and watched her fall to her knees
Until the day she stopped saying 'fuck you' and started saying 'please'
I just want to live in this world free
And I just want to be praised for being me
I'm so tired of following your standards of what to do
So lay back and take a toke
And laugh hard at my joke
It's okay if you choke
Better luck next time
Now she's flipping through this world like it's an endless fashion magazine
And she'd die for her passion, but she can't find an in between
He always says he loves her, but she doesn't really care
'Cause the one she really loves would never dare
She takes a stroll through this park and thinks of impossibilities
She thinks how easy life would be, if she could live with the rocks
and the trees
She kills herself over the things she doesn't know
Like all the paths she could be taking and destroying her ego
I just want to live in this world free
And I just want to be praised for being me
I'm so tired of following your standards of what to do
Who cares if I just met you, I know that I'm in love with you
So lay back and take a toke
And laugh hard at my joke
It's okay if you choke
Better luck next time
The Hunter Valentine song "Staten Island Dream Tour" is a powerful commentary on the struggle to define oneself on one's own terms in the face of societal pressures to conform. The song's protagonist is a self-proclaimed badass girl who claims that nobody can touch her, and that nobody can hit her world. However, this façade begins to crumble as she falls to her knees, eventually giving up her angry defiance in favor of a plea for help.
The lyrics speak to the idea that people often feel trapped by the expectations of others, seeking to break free and find their own path. The singer expresses her desire to live freely and be praised for who she is, rather than trying to live up to the standards of others. She is tired of being told what to do and who to be, instead longing to follow her own heart and desires, even if it goes against what others expect of her.
The chorus of the song is a call to let go of these pressures and simply enjoy the moment, highlighting the contrast between the singer's desire for freedom and her struggles to achieve it. She invites listeners to take a toke, laugh, and let go of their worries, even if it means choking or failing along the way.
Overall, "Staten Island Dream Tour" is a powerful song that speaks to the universal human experience of seeking to be free and find one's own path in life, even in the face of obstacles and societal pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
She always claimed to be a bad-ass girl
She presented herself as strong and tough
She said 'nobody can touch me, nobody can hit my world'
She boasted about being untouchable and invincible
So I just stood aside and watched her fall to her knees
The singer witnessed her downfall
Until the day she stopped saying 'fuck you' and started saying 'please'
She changed from being aggressive to being submissive
I just want to live in this world free
The artist desires to live freely and authentically
And I just want to be praised for being me
The singer seeks validation and acceptance for who they are
I'm so tired of following your standards of what to do
The singer is fatigued by trying to meet the expectations of others
Who cares if I just met you, I know that I'm in love with you
The artist is confident in their feelings, regardless of how long they've known the person
So lay back and take a toke
The artist invites the listener to relax and smoke
And laugh hard at my joke
The artist hopes to make the listener laugh
It's okay if you choke
The singer reassures the listener that it's fine if they cough while smoking
Better luck next time
The artist offers a lighthearted comment if the listener coughs
Now she's flipping through this world like it's an endless fashion magazine
She navigates the world superficially, like flipping through a magazine
And she'd die for her passion, but she can't find an in between
She cares deeply about her interests, but struggles to find balance
He always says he loves her, but she doesn't really care
She is indifferent to the affections of one person, while wanting another
'Cause the one she really loves would never dare
The person she loves is hesitant to act on their feelings
She takes a stroll through this park and thinks of impossibilities
She daydreams about things that seem impossible
She thinks how easy life would be, if she could live with the rocks and the trees
She imagines a simple life, close to nature
She kills herself over the things she doesn't know
She obsesses over the unknown and it harms her
Like all the paths she could be taking and destroying her ego
All the possibilities stress her out and she worries about failing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OnxDirecting
I love this song. The lyrics are so great. They just really resonate with me...
PlainsDemon
I love this song and can't get enough of the band
sadie400
I love this song and i love the main singers voice it sounds so different from anyone elses.
Suokeiju
It took me a while pondering where have I heard the name Hunter Valentine before - and the it hit me: Girl on Girl Scene! Listened just because of the familiar name, but I'm definitely going to listen more. Sounds pretty good :)
marial broceanborn
i love huntr valentine the first time i heard this song was a few years ago and i loved it from the beginning
Airon Amie
I love this song so So much, still listen Sept 11th 2022 coz lots of happy memories..always Hunter Valentine & Kiyomi fan coz the vibes put happiness in me❤❤❤💯💯👏👏👏👍👍👍
Ellie Sims
Oh my God, I used to love this song a few years back, I forgot about the band and heard the name on The Real L Word, it took the second episode for me to realise it was these girls :') wohfipomw fangirling <3
shakerra joseph
I love this song so much, its so so so so good like really.
YouTubeProfileName
Saw 'em last night. They were excellent and extremely friendly after the show. If you get a chance, go see them play.
WeRo
This song makes me feel sooo freeee... I mean the melody is just so good.