Their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You was released March 27, 2007 through Roadrunner Records whom the band signed with shortly after releasing their EP entitled The Disappearance of Adalia.
Madina Lake themes its music in a town created in the mind of the bass player, Matthew Leone. It is set high in the American mountains, and, isolated from human contact, has remained in a 1950s themed era. The music provides an outlet for the band's views on politics, culture, and the media's obsession with celebrity status. The theme behind the band's music is in relation to the mystery of Adalia. The album artwork shows images of her and the mysteries behind her and the town of Madina Lake.
Madina Lake released their second offering and follow up to From Them, Through Us, To You, with Attics To Eden on the 5th May 2009. Filled with a progressed sound and fresh vibe, Attics To Eden certainly delivers on all levels; from the infectious lyrics in the chorus of "Not For This World" to the slower paced memorable "Through This Pain", the band look set to storm the world and add to their ever growing loyal fan base.
The band have since been recording their new EP, 'The Dresden Codex', and have released new songs 'They're Coming For Me' and 'Hey Superstar!'.
In April 2011, Madina Lake confirmed that they had left Roadrunner records and signed with Sony. The band's third studio album, World War III, was their first on their new label. It was the third and final installment of their concept trilogy, which concludes the Leone brothers' tales of a metaphorical universe and was released on September 13, 2011. (Hey Superstar Songfacts).
Heroine
Madina Lake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a little taste of fame
The spotlight fills you up
Like a black tar heroine
Under the burning lights
Crystal lenses to fades away
Back in your real life again
When they take it all, take it all away
(they better take me too)
Because I can't fall, I won't fall again
(I'd fight forever just to be remembered by you)
And I fight forever to be remembered by you
Once you've had it all, you can forget who you are
When your reality surpasses all your wildest dreams
You've got nothing else but to be just yourself
And you got nothing left what to be, just yourself on your own
When they take it all, take it all away
Because I won't fall, I won't fall again
And I fight forever to be remembered by you
Like a black tar heroine
The pain
When you forget what goes down will always raise again
When you find your heroine
She will take you in
And then you know it's never over if you never surrender
When they take it all, take it all away
Because I won't fall, I won't fall again
And I fight forever to be remembered by you
By you
The lyrics of Madina Lake's "Heroine" paint a picture of someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve fame and success in the entertainment industry. The first verse sets the tone, as it suggests that this person has made great sacrifices in order to realize their dreams. However, instead of feeling fulfilled, the singer portrays this person as being addicted to the attention and validation that comes with fame. The line "the spotlight fills you up like a black tar heroine" makes a direct comparison between the high of fame and the dangerous addiction of heroin.
Despite the temporary rush of success, the chorus reveals a deeper sense of desperation and fear. The lines "when they take it all away, take it all away (they better take me too)" suggests that the person would rather die than face the inevitable loss of fame and validation. The second half of the chorus is a touching declaration of love and devotion to someone who has stayed true to the singer despite their struggles. This person represents the one good thing that the singer has left to fight for.
The final verse is a reflection on the fleeting nature of fame. The line "once you've had it all, you can forget who you are" suggests that the pressure to maintain a certain image and level of success can lead to a loss of identity. The final stanza offers a message of hope - that even in the face of addiction or failure, surrender is not an option. The idea that "it's never over if you never surrender" encapsulates the idea that one can keep fighting for what they believe in, even when the odds are stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
You sacrificed it all
For a little taste of fame
You gave up everything just to become famous
The spotlight fills you up
Like a black tar heroine
Being in the spotlight is like an addiction that fills you up like a drug
Under the burning lights
Crystal lenses to fades away
Back in your real life again
When it's cold, you're alone
Under the bright lights and glitter, your true self fades away and when the fame fades, you're left alone
When they take it all, take it all away
(they better take me too)
Because I can't fall, I won't fall again
(I'd fight forever just to be remembered by you)
And I fight forever to be remembered by you
If everything is taken away, the singer doesn't want to be left behind because they can't afford to fall again and will fight to be remembered
Once you've had it all, you can forget who you are
When your reality surpasses all your wildest dreams
You've got nothing else but to be just yourself
And you got nothing left what to be, just yourself on your own
When you've achieved everything, it's easy to lose sight of who you are and when your dreams come true, you are left with nothing but yourself
Like a black tar heroine
The pain
When you forget what goes down will always raise again
When you find your heroine
She will take you in
And then you know it's never over if you never surrender
Being famous feels like a drug that numbs the pain but when you hit rock bottom, you'll realize that things always have a way of turning around. When you find someone who inspires you, you'll never give up because you know it's not over yet.
And I fight forever to be remembered by you
By you
The singer will always fight to be remembered by the person who inspires them
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Neelam M
I love heroine <3 :D