Jukebox the Ghost is a Washington, D.C.-born, Brooklyn-based three-piece rock band. The band consists of Ben Thornewill (vocals & piano), Tommy Siegel (vocals & guitar) and Jesse Kristin (drums). Since 2006, Jukebox the Ghost has toured extensively.
In 2003, Ben, Tommy, and Jesse met while attending George Washington University. Shortly after, they formed a band called The Sunday Mail. They took a semester's break to study abroad, and re-formed upon returning as Jukebox the Ghost. They came up with the name after combining lyrics from a Captain Beefheart song and a line from the book Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov.
In 2008, they released their first album "Let Live & Let Ghosts", and began playing new songs in concerts.
Jukebox the Ghost recorded a cover of Ace of Base's "Beautiful Life" for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2, which was released in November 2008.
Following their tour with Ben Folds in early April 2009, they began their headlining tour in the UK with Nightmare of You. They began their headlining tour with Jenny Owen Youngs back in the United States on April 30 in Chicago, IL. This tour lasted into June, at which point they temporarily stopped touring to concentrate on their next album, "Everything Under the Sun." The band began recording for the new album on September 29th, 2009 at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
In February 2010, Jukebox the Ghost toured across Europe with Adam Green of The Moldy Peaches. This was followed by a separate tour in the United States with bands Tally Hall and Skybox. They will begin touring once again in late May 2010 with the band Free Energy, and will be playing at Lollapalooza in Chicago this August.
"The Popular Thing," a song from their upcoming album, is featured in the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Static to the Heart
Jukebox the Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shot by an appendage from a television tube
And knowing what it meant to be showered with sound
He became a believer, he became a believer
And now he's slamming down chords
And leading a crowd ten-thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
And they're burning their draft cards
Burnt through the heart by
Static through the heart, static through the heart...
A man crouches on the street with static in his eyes
And takes it as a sign from the gods above
To shout from the rooftops and write letters to the government
He's writing revelations for the showdown
And now he's slamming down chords
And leading a crowd ten thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
"Mom and dad, wake from your slumbers,
We're gonna burn this motherfucker down because
Sometimes we burn and steal and rape and kill and sacrifice
Just to remind ourselves that we're still alive"
The lyrics of Jukebox the Ghost's song "Static to the Heart" follow two individuals who have been struck by static in different ways. The first person is struck by a literal static shock from a television, which seems to have had a profound impact on his life. He has become a believer in the power of sound and its ability to connect people, as evidenced by the "crowd ten-thousand strong" that he now leads. However, there is also a hint of rebellion in his message, as his followers burn draft cards and desecrate photographs.
The second person is struck by metaphorical static, represented by the static in his eyes. He takes this as a sign from a higher power, and like the first person, he becomes determined to share his message with others. Unlike the first person, his message is more explicitly revolutionary, as he calls on people to "burn this motherfucker down." There is a sense of desperation in his words, a feeling that violence and destruction are necessary in order to assert one's existence and power.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring the idea of static as a disruptive force that can either bring people together or tear them apart. There is a sense of urgency and raw emotion in the lyrics, and the music itself matches this intensity with its driving beat and soaring vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
He was struck by static in the heart
A man feels the intense effects of an experience in his heart
Shot by an appendage from a television tube
This man's experience is the result of the media's influence on his heart
And knowing what it meant to be showered with sound
The man understands the power of sound and its effect on human emotion
He became a believer, he became a believer
The man finds a new appreciation for the power of music and becomes passionate about it
And now he's slamming down chords
He is now writing and performing his own music with intensity and passion
And leading a crowd ten-thousand strong
His music has reached a large audience and his message resonates with many
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
The crowd is moved by his music and the lyrics inspire them to join together in solidarity
And they're burning their draft cards
The crowd is rejecting a societal norm through this rebellion and protesting the war
And desecrating photographs
They are defying symbolism and rejecting traditional values
Burnt through the heart by
The man feels deeply affected and passionate about this cause
Static through the heart, static through the heart...
The media has influenced this man's emotions and beliefs through the power of sound and he is now using his music to spread his message
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Tommy Siegel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheBlueSlipperss
lyrics:
He was struck by static to the heart
Shot by an appendage from a television tube and
Knowing what it meant to be showered with sound
He became a believer, he became a believer
And now he's slamming down chords
And leadin' the crowd, ten thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
And they're burning their draft cards
Desecrating photographs
Burnt through the heart by
Static through the heart, static through the heart, static through the
A man crouches on the street with static in his eyes
And takes it as a sign from the gods up above
To shout from the rooftops and write letters to the government
He's writing revelations for the showdown
And now he's slamming down chords
And leading a crowd ten thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
Mom and dad, wake wake, wake from your slumbers because
We're gonna burn this motherfucker down because
Sometimes we burn and steal and rape and kill and sacrifice
Just to remind ourselves that we're still alive
Static through the heart, static through the heart, static through the
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this not a test, this is the real thing
Mom and dad, wake wake, wake from your slumbers because
We're gonna burn this motherfucker down because
Sometimes we burn and steal and rape and kill and sacrifice
Just to remind ourselves that we're still alive
@PatrickCohenKC
This song has so much energy when they play it live.
@jennieh.5605
Gotta love that cowbell
@riley3668
I'm convinced that any song with a cowbell is a banger
@TheBlueSlipperss
lyrics:
He was struck by static to the heart
Shot by an appendage from a television tube and
Knowing what it meant to be showered with sound
He became a believer, he became a believer
And now he's slamming down chords
And leadin' the crowd, ten thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
And they're burning their draft cards
Desecrating photographs
Burnt through the heart by
Static through the heart, static through the heart, static through the
A man crouches on the street with static in his eyes
And takes it as a sign from the gods up above
To shout from the rooftops and write letters to the government
He's writing revelations for the showdown
And now he's slamming down chords
And leading a crowd ten thousand strong
They're shouting in unison, shouting in unison
Mom and dad, wake wake, wake from your slumbers because
We're gonna burn this motherfucker down because
Sometimes we burn and steal and rape and kill and sacrifice
Just to remind ourselves that we're still alive
Static through the heart, static through the heart, static through the
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this not a test, this is the real thing
This is not a test, this not a test, this is the real thing
Mom and dad, wake wake, wake from your slumbers because
We're gonna burn this motherfucker down because
Sometimes we burn and steal and rape and kill and sacrifice
Just to remind ourselves that we're still alive
@jacel987
3:25 always gives me chills
@gretamarie8722
i knoww same here
@Squeakwee
mood
@willardjs
@@Squeakwee ?
@jimmiestjams
@@willardjs ?
@hophopjohohophophoppopop9172
@@jimmiestjams ?