Japanther is a punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York, United States formed… Read Full Bio ↴Japanther is a punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York, United States formed in 2001 by two students at Pratt Institute. The band consists of Ian Vanek—who plays drums, cassettes, and sings—and Matt Reilly—who plays bass, a Casio SK-1, and also sings. They have recorded with Plan-It-X Records, Tapes Records, Wäntage USA and the Menlo Park label. Japanther has been featured in Vice, The New York Times, Gothamist, Dallas Observer, Razorcake, and New York magazine among others. In the first two years of the band, they toured nine times.

In April 2006, Japanther teamed up with Aquadoom, a synchronized swimming group at New York University to play the Dangerous When Wet event at the school's Palladium Pool. On July 2, 2006, Japanther played under a plastic tarp in the rain at CitySol, an annual summer music and market series on Manhattan’s East River waterfront (Stuyvesant Cove Park) to raise awareness for environmental issues.

Visit their website for news and merchandise, http://www.japanther.com

Tender People
Japanther Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

New York City seems so pretty from the Tenderloin
And in the East Bay i feel Okay
But i wish i was back home, singin
Nana na, nana na, nana na, nahaha yeah.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Tender People" by Japanther, the lyrics "New York City seems so pretty from the Tenderloin" evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for home. The Tenderloin is a neighborhood in San Francisco known for its seedy reputation and homelessness, in contrast to the glamour of New York City. The idea of seeing beauty in darkness and roughness adds depth to the song, suggesting that there is beauty in even the most downtrodden places. The next line "And in the East Bay I feel okay" is a reference to a region in the Bay Area, which could signify a sense of comfort and familiarity.

However, the next line "But I wish I was back home, singing nana na, nana na, nana na, nahaha yeah" reinforces the idea of longing for home. The repetition of "nana na" creates a sense of whimsy and playfulness, while the addition of "nahaha yeah" adds a touch of humor. The overall tone of the song is wistful, with the lyrics expressing a sense of longing for familiarity and comfort.

Line by Line Meaning

New York City seems so pretty from the Tenderloin
The view of New York City from the Tenderloin seems beautiful and captivating.

And in the East Bay i feel Okay
The singer feels content and satisfied in the East Bay.

But i wish i was back home, singin
Despite the singer's enjoyment of their current location, they still long for the comfort and familiarity of their home while singing gleefully.

Nana na, nana na, nana na, nahaha yeah.
An expression of joy and contentment, with the repeated phrase serving as a form of release and celebration.

Contributed by Madelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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