Julian Casablancas is half American and half Danish and the son of John Casablancas and Jeanette Christiansen. His parents divorced when he was young. He attended kindergarten with future bandmate Nikolai Fraiture.
Early in his teens, Julian's father sent him to the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. This was where Julian first met Albert Hammond Jr. , one of few other American students on campus.
When Casablancas returned to New York, he continued his education at the Dwight School, where he met Fabrizio Moretti and Nick Valensi. Julian later dropped out because he felt like he "just wasn't learning anything" there.
During his hiatus from The Strokes, he released a solo album called "Phrazes for the Young" on the 9th of November in 2009.
To date, the Strokes have released Is This It, Room on Fire, First Impressions of Earth, Angles, Comedown Machine and The New Abnormal.
I'll Try Anything Once
Julian Casablancas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll be aware of five about
Seven ways to go through school
Either you're noticed or left out
Seven ways to get ahead
Seven reasons to drop out
When I said, "I can see me in your eyes"
You said, "I can see you in my bed"
You like music we can dance to
Sit me down, shut me up
I'll calm down and I'll get along with you
There is a time when we all fail
Some people take it pretty well
Some take it all out on themselves
Others, they just take it out on friends
Oh, everybody plays the game
And if you don't, you're called insane
Don't, don't, don't, don't, it's not safe no more
I've got to see you one more time
That's when you were born in 1984
Sit me down, shut me up
I'll calm down and I'll get along with you
Everybody was well dressed
And everybody was a mess
Six things without fail you must do
So that your woman loves just you
Oh, and all the girls played mental games
And all the guys were dressed the same
So why not try it all
If you only remember it once?
Ooh, ooh
Sit me down, shut me up
I'll calm down and I'll get along with you
(Yep)
The song "I'll Try Anything Once" by Julian Casablancas is a reflection on life-choices and relationships with others. The first verse introduces the idea that there are ten major decisions that define a person's life, but only five are consciously chosen. It suggests that there are multiple paths to take in life, but ultimately, one will either be noticed or left out. The lines "When I said, 'I can see me in your eyes' / You said, 'I can see you in my bed'" could be interpreted as a romantic confession, stating that the singer sees a potential future with the other person. However, this could also be interpreted as an opportunity - the other person sees the potential for collaboration, to create something that they can share together. The line "that's not just friendship, that's romance, too" implies that the partnership has more depth than just a simple friendship.
The second verse examines how people handle failure, with some taking it out on themselves and others taking it out on friends. It discusses the societal pressure to conform to certain norms, with people who opt-out being seen as insane. The chorus acknowledges that relationships come with their own set of rules - there are certain things one must do to maintain a healthy romantic partnership. The lines "And all the girls played mental games / And all the guys were dressed the same" highlights the gender expectations that people face, with girls expected to play "mental games" and guys expected to adhere to a certain dress code.
Overall, "I'll Try Anything Once" promotes the idea of taking chances, embracing opportunities, and finding joy in the present moment. It encourages the listener to experience life to the fullest and to not take anything for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten decisions shape your life
There are ten significant choices in life that determine one's fate
You'll be aware of five about
On average, people are only conscious of five of those choices
Seven ways to go through school
There are seven approaches to getting through school
Either you're noticed or left out
You either stand out in school or you're just another face in the crowd
Seven ways to get ahead
There are seven ways to achieve success
Seven reasons to drop out
There are seven justifiable reasons to leave school
When I said, 'I can see me in your eyes'
When I told you that I saw myself in you
You said, 'I can see you in my bed'
You responded by suggesting that there is mutual attraction
That's not just friendship, that's romance, too
Our connection goes beyond friendship
You like music we can dance to
We share a love for music that makes us want to dance
Sit me down, shut me up
Please let me vent and then listen to what I have to say
I'll calm down and I'll get along with you
I'll be reasonable and we can work things out together
There is a time when we all fail
Everybody has a time in life when they experience failure
Some people take it pretty well
Some people handle failure decently enough
Some take it all out on themselves
Others internalize failure and blame themselves
Others, they just take it out on friends
Some people lash out at their friends when they fail
Oh, everybody plays the game
Everyone participates in the game of life
And if you don't, you're called insane
If you choose not to play the game of life, people may view you as crazy
Don't, don't, don't, don't, it's not safe no more
Warning that taking risks is no longer safe
I've got to see you one more time
I need to see you again at least once
That's when you were born in 1984
A reference to the year you were born
Everybody was well dressed
Everyone was fashionable
And everybody was a mess
But everyone had their flaws
Six things without fail you must do
There are six things necessary to keep your partner's love
So that your woman loves just you
To ensure that your partner is only in love with you
Oh, and all the girls played mental games
Girls are known to play mind games with men
And all the guys were dressed the same
All the guys dressed in a similar style
So why not try it all
Why not take a chance on everything?
If you only remember it once?
If there's only one thing you remember from all your experiences, why not go for it?
Ooh, ooh
Vocalization of the musical interlude
Yep
Confirmation of a prior statement
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Julian Casablancas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind