Like many other Iranian rock bands, the group was formed in the wake of president Khatami's relaxed stance on cultural policies in Iran in the late 1990s and the early decade of the 21st century. Arguably, Hypernova is at the forefront of the Iranian "rock" movement, recently garnering the most attention and press coverage. This is not just due to the novelty of them being a rock band from Iran, but because they are being recognized as a solid rock band, with accomplished musicians that produce well-written songs.
What is this all about? Four musicians, chiming guitars and driving rhythm, appealing baritone vocals, one great album, a couple of videos, tons of press, packing clubs in the Los Angeles area, and the usual love of playing rock n’ roll.
Sick of politics? When thinking of Iran, you probably don’t consider that region of the world as being an alternative-rock hotbed. After all, the simple act of performing rock music there can lead to a public flogging, time in prison or harsh fines. That’s where Hypernova is from. After playing numerous secret gigs in underground parking lots in the late hours of night, the band decided to leave their homeland and let their music take them on its journey to Los Angeles, where they ended up recording their debut album, Though The Chaos, produced by Herwig Maurer and mixed by Sean Beaven (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, No Doubt).
Where are they now? Recently relocated to NYC from Los Angeles, Hypernova have been rapidly winning over fervent new converts while also receiving an impressive amount of press from the likes of MTV, the New York Times, NPR, ABC and the UK’s Telegraph newspaper. The band is preparing an East Coast tour, which will launch with their performance at BMI’s CMJ showcase on Oct 22 in NYC
Where are they going? Best said in their song “American Dream”: I know that I'll never go back home / To the life I had, the life that I had known / They put me on the cover of their Magazines / Scarlet skies and broken dreams / They promised me that we would change the world / For better or for worse / All I wanted was to rock n roll / All I wanted was to see the world / The happenings on the streets / And mingle with the kooks and beats
American Dream
Hypernova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To The Life I Had The Life That I Had Known
Verse1:
They Put Me On The Cover Of The magazines
Skyline Clays And The Broken Dreams
They Convince Me That We Would Change The World
All I Wanted Was The Rock 'n Roll
All I Wanted Was The See The World
But Happenings On The streets Are Mingo With The Cooch And Pit
Chorus 1:
Is This Now... The Life That You Wanted? You Wanted To Have?
Is This Now... How You Imagine it Would Be When you Was Start To Livin
Hollywood!
Verse 2:
They Tell Me To Dress So They Scared
Look So Tough Like You Just don't Care
We Package You And Put You On This Play
And Every One Get Their Car
And We Cruise Down The Hole And Drive
And We All Feel So Alive And Well... This Is Well... This Is What I'm
Waiting For...
Chorus 2:
Is This Now... The Life That You Wanted? You Wanted To Have?
Is This Now... How You Imagine it Would Be When you Was Start To Livin
Hollywood!
Bridge:
What Have We Done?
What Have We Become?
Verse 3:
Nobody Go (
Gooo)
Then Hollywood
With You Plastic Smile And Your VIPs Your Credit Card And Your Fansy hills
Your Although Mine And Hey Robin Hood With A Twins!
You takes Run Pool And Get To The Rest
You takes Run Pool And Get To The Rest
Outro:
And They're Also Dead Inside x4
And They're Also Dead Inside x 8
(Take Back What Did You Gave) x 8
The lyrics to Hypernova's American Dream are about the disillusionment and disappointment that comes with pursuing fame and success in Hollywood. The singer is someone who thought that achieving rock 'n roll success and seeing the world would be the ultimate dream, only to find that the reality is far from what they imagined. They are put on the cover of magazines and convinced that they would change the world, but instead they are confronted with the ugliness of life on the streets and the shallowness of the industry. The chorus asks whether this is the life that the singer wanted and imagined, and whether it's worth the sacrifices they've made to get there.
In the second verse, the industry tells the singer to dress a certain way and adopt a tough persona, packaging them as a product to be consumed by the public. The chorus repeats the questions about whether this is the life they wanted, but with added emphasis on the disconnect between their expectations and reality. The bridge questions what they've become and what they've done, implying that the pursuit of Hollywood success has caused them to lose sight of themselves and their values. The final verse describes the superficiality of Hollywood, with plastic smiles, VIPs, credit cards, and fancy hills being its defining features. The outro emphasizes the hollowness of it all, with the industry insiders being "also dead inside" and the singer being urged to "take back what did you gave."
Line by Line Meaning
I Know That I Never Go Back Home
To The Life I Had The Life That I Had Known
I have accepted that I can no longer go back to the life I once had, the life I was familiar with.
They Put Me On The Cover Of The magazines
Skyline Clays And The Broken Dreams
They Convince Me That We Would Change The World
For Better Of Our Worst
They made me famous by putting me on magazines and gave me the belief that my actions could change the world, for better or worse.
All I Wanted Was The Rock 'n Roll
All I Wanted Was The See The World
But Happenings On The streets Are Mingo With The Cooch And Pit
I just wanted to enjoy the rock 'n roll and travel the world, but the street life with its darkness and chaos interfered with my dreams.
Is This Now... The Life That You Wanted? You Wanted To Have?
Is This Now... How You Imagine it Would Be When you Was Start To Livin
Hollywood!
This is the life that I have now, but is it really what I wanted or imagined it to be when I started living the Hollywood dream? The line questions the reality of an individual in this realm.
They Tell Me To Dress So They Scared
Look So Tough Like You Just don't Care
We Package You And Put You On This Play
And Every One Get Their Car
And We Cruise Down The Hole And Drive
And We All Feel So Alive And Well... This Is Well... This Is What I'm
Waiting For...
I was instructed to look intimidating and act careless in public so they could package me and market me to the masses. We would drive around the city while feeling alive and well, this is what I was waiting for- the feeling of belonging among the famed and recognized celebrities.
What Have We Done?
What Have We Become?
The two lines question the extent to which they have lost themselves in the process of achieving fame and excellence. They pose a philosophical question about the price that one has to pay to get lost in the world of luxury and wealth
Nobody Go (
Gooo)
Then Hollywood
With You Plastic Smile And Your VIPs Your Credit Card And Your Fansy hills
Your Although Mine And Hey Robin Hood With A Twins!
You takes Run Pool And Get To The Rest
You takes Run Pool And Get To The Rest
The lyrics talk about the emptiness which comes along with all the glitz of Hollywood. Everybody goes to Hollywood with their plastic smile and their credit cards to stay in fancy hotels. All these people with their reputation and power remind him of Robin Hood but are much less giving. The outro displays that despite giving in to this glitz and glamour, there is an underlying sense of hollowness and loss of identity- the 'dead inside'- everyone seems to be dealing with.
And They're Also Dead Inside x4
And They're Also Dead Inside x 8
(Take Back What Did You Gave) x 8
This line reflects the individual's acceptance of the true nature of the elite group. Although they had taken everything the individual received with open arms on their entry into Hollywood; the price they have paid for it has made them realize that deep within, they are all just like him.
Contributed by Brooklyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pierrealbertpierre2838
Great song.
@hanisfar6392
Great song