The band released their second studio album on February 24, 2009 entitled Masterpiece Theatre.
It takes some real cojones to include the word 'Masterpiece' in your album title, but Josh Ramsay isn't too worried. "I suppose I could be digging myself into a hole calling the record Masterpiece Theatre," he chuckles, "but it's tongue-in-cheek. And I'm not the kind of person that people would assume as being an egomaniac. I hope not, anyway."
Given his feverish imagination and comprehensive musical gifts, Ramsay could probably get away with a little egomania. And with the release of Masterpiece Theatre, the frontman of Vancouver's Marianas Trench makes a iron-clad case for a prodigious set of talents - both his own and those of his bandmates, guitarist Matt Webb, bassist Mike Ayley, and drummer Ian Casselman.
Marianas Trench had already elevated itself above the rest of the pack with a 2006 debut, Fix Me, that showcased a knack for colouring outside the lines of factory-issue millenial punk, shrewdly-built pop, and super-adrenalized modern rock. The single and in particular the video "Shake Tramp" was enough to demonstrate these qualities, coupled with Ramsay's uninhibited urge to be the complete song-and-dance man.
But with both the industry and the fans beating down the door for a quick second album, the Trench decided to put on the brakes. "All of a sudden you have six months to do your next record," Ramsay sighs. "So I really had to just put my foot down and say, 'No, I need the time to do this.' I was not interested in putting something out for the sake of putting something out."
Two years later, Marianas Trench has re-emerged with Masterpiece Theatre. And not surprisingly, it's a work of soaring ambition and decisive technical prowess – that easily might not have happened. "It's one thing when you're Chad Kroeger and you just finished writing 'How You Remind Me'," Ramsay states. "I didn't have some mega-platinum song to back up my argument with, so I was lucky that the band and the label trusted me enough to do it."
By "it", Ramsay means he was allowed to indulge a high-concept fantasy for the band's sophomore album, which is built, for starters, around a song called "Masterpiece Theatre". Adopting Brian Wilson's notion of the 'pocket symphony' and then running with it, the three distinct versions of “Masterpiece Theatre” dotted across the record feature an almost perfect balance between the vocal theatrics of Queen and the more hymnal qualities of the Beach Boys.
By the time “Masterpiece Theatre” is reprised for a final, climactic time, every other song on the album is quoted and incorporated into an intricately constructed dramatic revue that swings from pristine pop, to propulsive riff rock, to quasi-doo wop, to robotic new wave, and finally into a wholly satisfying thematic payoff.
"You know in the climax of a musical, there's always that medley at the end, and I thought that would be cool on a rock record," explains Ramsay, "but it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I wrote it in the studio as we recorded it, and it took about three weeks."
After a beat, he adds, "But really it took me two years because it draws from all the songs on the whole album."
Bassist Mike Ayley readily admits, "I don't think any of the three ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ songs could have gone on Fix Me had they been written at the time. ‘Masterpiece’ 2 and 3 in particular are amazing songs that really explore the potential of Josh's writing. You really have to hear them to get it. It's like trying to explain ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to somebody who has only heard Kanye West and Katy Perry."
Ramsay agrees. "I really wanted to have a 'Good Vibrations'/'Bohemian Rhapsody’ style song on the first record,” he says, “but I don't think I was a mature enough writer to have written it yet, and I still feel like I was in over-my-head when we did this one, and I just barely made it."
Ramsay is unnecessarily modest; the whole of Masterpiece Theatre demonstrates a startling compositional maturity compared to the Marianas Trench of two years ago.
"Beside You" is a panoramic exercise in big emotions, with a dash of the Dream Academy's "Life In a Northern Town”. "Acadia" begins with a clipped, bright acoustic guitar, and blossoms into something like the Who reconsidered by U2, reimagined for the net generation. In the crunchy "All to Myself", the power ballad "Lover Dearest", and the strident "Good to You" (in which he duets with Kate Voegele), Ramsay pulls out the kind of honeyed vocals more attuned to modern RnB than white, adolescent rock.
"I always had that aspect in my voice but the first record just didn't have songs that were conducive to me singing that way," he states. "I think it's from growing up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson. With these songs, it made sense to stretch out a little more."
On "Cross My Heart" and "Celebrity Status", the band conjures up a kind of perfect pop crossover. Producer Dave 'Rave' Ogilvie was responsible for the latter track, which cops a move he used on Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" with three drummers (Casselman, Ramsay and Shane Wilson) playing at once - much to Ramsay's delight. "He's just worked with so many great artists which makes his well of tricks and ideas so vast," he says.
True to Ramsay's quest for "more diversity on this album" - not to mention the indulgence of his record label - Rave was just one of four prominent guest producers eventually roped into Masterpiece Theatre. Their collective resume includes Nine Inch Nails, Sum 41, Iggy Pop, Avril Lavigne, and Hedley among others.
"I feel really fortunate to have worked with all those guys," Ramsay says, "coz they all bring really unique things. Dave Genn and I have a really good working relationship with each other, and he has such a unique style with arrangement and stuff. Greig Nori was a really pleasant surprise. As far as I can tell, he wanted to work with us because he liked our video. The whole time he was just trying to get me to dance around like an idiot. And Raine Maida, man? Raine's a trip!"
Bassist Ayley also credits Maida for encouraging the band to “find a personality-identity that wasn't as evident when we started the production process," while also praising Ramsay for his production efforts. Ramsay took charge of four songs on the finished record. “Josh is really about capturing the emotion and power which isn't surprising considering all the feeling in the writing,” he says.
Oddly enough, Ramsay also wanted Disney's in-house genius Alan (Little Mermaid) Mencken to twiddle the knobs for the climactic version of "Masterpiece Theatre", but admits, "it's a pretty tall order to get an Academy Award winner to come and work on your record."
Still, the album is certainly not diminished by the few things Ramsay didn't get. And once the world gets a load of this Masterpiece, Mencken, Pharrell Williams, Phil Spector... you name it. They'll probably be lining up.
Truth Or Dare
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just follow me down to do it
Nobody will know how you come, and you go for it
Not gonna get dangerous, you don't got to worry about us
Somebody to give what you get
And you get what you need now
And these lights, get bright so let me show you
It's as easy as,
One, two, three, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
You know you don't need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it
One, two, three, and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
Give in to the slow descent
Give in to the trust to feel it
Give in to the pull and the push and the forth and back
Oooooh
We're not going to slow you down, we're not gonna hold you to it
I guess it depends, in the end
After all we're all friends here
Here
And these lights get bright,
So let me show ya
So, so, so nice to know ya
It's as easy as,
One, two, three, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
(You know you don't need to be so worried,
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it)
One, two, three and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
And this will be our little
One, two, three
Do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath, and just spin the bottle now
(You know you don't need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking about it)
One, two, three and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
The lyrics to Marianas Trench's "Truth Or Dare" describe a scene of two people engaging in a game of truth or dare. The singer invites the other person to follow him down to partake in the game, promising that it won't get dangerous and assuring them that they don't have to worry about the group of friends they're with. Despite the seemingly harmless nature of the game, there is an underlying tension of desire and temptation. As the lights get brighter and the singer tries to get closer to the other person, the game becomes more intense. The chorus encourages the other person to take part in the game, with the singer double daring them to choose truth or dare. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the secrecy and intimacy of the game.
Throughout the lyrics, there are hints of deeper meaning and symbolism. The idea of following someone down can be interpreted as a metaphor for giving into temptation and taking risks. The use of the phrase "dirty little secret" reinforces the idea of something being kept secret and hidden from others. The chorus, with its repetition of "one, two, three," implies a sense of urgency and pressure to make a choice.
Overall, the lyrics to "Truth Or Dare" paint a picture of a game filled with tension, desire, and the potential for secrets to be revealed.
Line by Line Meaning
Now follow me down to it
Come with me to this place/activity
Just follow me down to do it
Do this activity with me
Nobody will know how you come, and you go for it
This will be a secret between you and me
Not gonna get dangerous, you don't got to worry about us
It will be safe and you don't have to be worried or scared
Somebody to give what you get
You will receive something in return for your participation
And you get what you need now
This activity will fulfill your needs
And these lights, get bright so let me show you
I will guide you through this exciting experience
It would be so so so nice to know you
I want to get to know you better and spend time with you
It's as easy as, One, two, three, do you see what I do
This is a simple and easy game/activity
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
This game involves revealing truths or performing dares, and I challenge you to participate
You, you, me, now I think you got it
You and I are playing this game and I believe you understand how it works
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
Take a deep breath and spin the bottle, it's time to start the game
You know you don't need to be so worried
Don't worry, everything will be alright
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it
Although I'm still considering the consequences of this activity
One, two, three and I double dare me as well, Truth, dare
I'm also participating in this game/challenge
(Dirty little secret, dirty little secret) This will be our little
This activity will be kept between us, it's our secret
Give in to the slow descent
Relax and give in to the gradual change that's happening
Give in to the trust to feel it
Trust the process and allow yourself to feel the experience
Give in to the pull and the push and the forth and back
Surrender to the different sensations and movements of this activity
We're not going to slow you down, we're not gonna hold you to it
We won't hinder or restrain you from participating
I guess it depends, in the end, After all we're all friends here
The outcome of this activity depends on your participation, but don't worry, we're all friends and there's no judgement
Here
We're present in this moment and engaged in this activity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@curiouspanda3849
Now follow me down to it
Just follow me down to do it
Nobody will know how you come, and you go for it
Not gonna get dangerous, you don’t got to worry about us
Somebody to give what you get
And you get what you need now
And these lights, get bright so let me show you
It would be so so so nice to know you
It's as easy as,
1, 2, 3, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
You know you don’t need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it
1, 2, 3, and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
Give in to the slow descent
Give in to the trust to feel it
Give in to the pull and the push and the forth and back
Oooooh
We’re not going to slow you down, we’re not gonna hold you to it
I guess it depends, in the end
After all we're all friends here
Here
And these lights get bright,
So let me show ya
So, so, so nice to know ya
It's as easy as,
1, 2, 3, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
(you know you don't need to be so worried,
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it)
1, 2, 3, and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
And this will be our little
[Final Chorus]
One, two, three
Do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath, and just spin the bottle now
(You know you don't need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking about it)
One, two, three and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
@bellabloodstar9050
"Truth Or Dare"
[Verse 1]
Now follow me down to it
Just follow me down to do it
Nobody will know how you come, and you go for it
Not gonna get dangerous, you don’t got to worry about us
Somebody to give what you get
And you get what you need now
And these lights, get bright so let me show you
It would be so so so nice to know you
It's as easy as,
1, 2, 3, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
You know you don’t need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it
1, 2, 3, and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
Give in to the slow descent
Give in to the trust to feel it
Give in to the pull and the push and the forth and back
Oooooh
We’re not going to slow you down, we’re not gonna hold you to it
I guess it depends, in the end
After all we're all friends here
Here
And these lights get bright,
So let me show ya
So, so, so nice to know ya
It's as easy as,
1, 2, 3, do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath and just spin the bottle now
(you know you don't need to be so worried,
Even though below I'm still thinking bout' it)
1, 2, 3, and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
This will be our little
(dirty little secret, dirty little secret)
And this will be our little
[Final Chorus]
One, two, three
Do you see what I do
Truth or dare, yes I double dare you
You, you, me, now I think you got it
One last breath, and just spin the bottle now
(You know you don't need to be so worried
Even though below I'm still thinking about it)
One, two, three and I double dare me as well
Truth, dare
@lindacharlebois1693
There so underrated it makes me mad, but I made sure all my friends know about them😍😍😍💓
@Kelldeze
I'm a 57 year old male from the USA and I gotta say I have never seen such talent the lyrics the music incredible.
@100VideoProject
So glad you discovered Marianas Trench!!
@TrashMutt
You should listen to the whole album someone from your generation could probably appreciate it more than us but they’re all written to line up and flow into each other
@williamfranklin5152
wouldnt say the lyrics are anything to write about but it is a tune
@TrashMutt
@@williamfranklin5152 write something better then
@karengieseking1437
Agreed - I'm a 56 yr old mom, and my daughter introduced me to them before the pandemic. Their harmonies are just killer, and I haven't found any song that I don't at least like.
@seanandrews8614
I love every album, each one has a whole new theme, I think masterpiece theatre is the best but this is a close second
@patrickstar6247
Agreed. Nothing can top MASTERPIECE THEATER. This is a close 2nd for me with Fix Me just because i really like that album.
@wyattenge8099
Still listening on 2020