Matt and Kim released their first album, Matt & Kim, on October 26, 2006. The album sold modestly, primarily at live shows. Many indie fans praised their music, and the two gained popularity through their many outgoing tours. Following the release of their first album, Matt and Kim began playing high profile music festivals, such as The Siren Music Festival and Lollapalooza. The duo signed with Fader Label and their second album, Grand, recorded in Matt's childhood bedroom at his parents' home in Vermont, was released on January 20, 2009. A video for one of the album's highlights, "Lessons Learned", in which the duo strips nude in Times Square, was shot during a very cold winter day in February 2009.
On November 2, 2010, the duo released their third album, Sidewalks. Co-produced by Ben Allen, Oliver Strauss and Matt, the album as a whole adopted a more refined, yet dense hip-hop influence in comparison to the previous two, while still maintaining the upbeat and party-esque style they are known for. Matt and Kim headlined two U.S. tours in support, in Fall 2010 and again during May/June 2011. They also played numerous festivals including Australia's Big Day Out, Japan's Fuji and V in the UK. In addition, they played at many American colleges, worked extensively through Europe and South America and, in Fall 2011, they supported Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance on select dates. Although not officially released as a single, the song "Good for Great" received significant airplay in some markets, and was ranked #65 on Boston station WFNX's Top 101 of 2011 list.
On June 22, 2012, Matt and Kim issued a brand new track, "Let's Go" as a digital single, meanwhile, the band put finishing touches on their fourth full length album, Lightning, released on October 2, 2012. The single, "Let's Go", peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. On June 25, 2012, the duo uploaded a video to their YouTube channel featuring ball handler Pat the Roc performing basketball tricks as "Let's Go" plays in full. Then on September 4, 2012, the duo released a lyric video for another new song on the album, "Now". On October 1, 2012, "Overexposed", "Not That Bad", "Much Too Late", "Ten Dollars I Found", "Tonight", "It's Alright", "I Said" and "I Wonder" were released on YouTube as official first listens. Matt and Kim premiered their official music video for "Let's Go" via the Funny or Die website in November.
The full-length album got a digital/CD/vinyl release on October 2, 2012 and the band began their official US Fall Lightning Tour the next day in Burlington, Vermont. On February 5, 2013, Matt and Kim kicked off their US tour with Passion Pit. While on tour, the official music video for "It's Alright" was released on February 25, 2013, featuring Matt and Kim in a choreographed dance routine in bed. In March 2013 Matt and Kim wrapped their US tour and performed at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida before heading to Australia for a three-week tour at the end of April.
In May, Matt and Kim announced their touring schedule for summer 2013, starting with a show at the Great GoogaMooga in Brooklyn, NY on May 18, 2013. In June, Matt and Kim performed at Free Press Summer Fest, Sandy Parts Festival, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest and Party in the Park. In July, they played at the Keloha Music & Arts Fest and the Forecastle Festival. In August, they played at Lollapalooza in Chicago. In October, they played at Corona Capital, in Mexico City.
On January 13, 2015, Matt and Kim released the single "Get It" in promotion of their fifth album. Along with this, they also released Spring tour dates, an album pre-order, and a lyric video to accompany the single. "Get It" received mixed reviews from fans as it ventures away from their past DIY sound. On February 10, 2015 Matt and Kim released the promotional video for the single "Hey Now" through their official VEVO Youtube account. On February 24, 2015, the band released "Hoodie On" through their official VEVO account. On April 7, 2015, Matt and Kim released the full album and held an in store performance at Amoeba Music's Hollywood store to celebrate.
Yea Yeah
Matt & Kim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
lock me away, the world waits
cuffs cut deep to the bones
we're trying to sleep, we're trying to sleep
i hope these hands, WOAHH-OHH-OHH
can turn back time
i want time to be a game and we're losing this one,
but still i'm sane
yea yeah
yea yeah
yea yeah
(6 TIMES!!!)
you stole tapes and a flashlight
on a summer night from my car
i felt something in a lightning storm
with heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
when everything seems to wash away
i want to put just two feet on the
ground, ground, ground, ground, ground!
yea yeah
yea yeah
yea yeah
(12 TIMES!!!)
lock me up, officer
what a mistake i made
yea yeah, take me away
i say this to myself
close the door on myself
yea yeah, take me away
i felt something in a lightning storm
with heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
when everything seems to wash away
i want to put just two feet on the
ground, no, no, no, no!
yea yeah
yea yeah
yea yeah
(12 TIMES!!!)
In Matt & Kim's song "Yea Yeah," the lyrics describe a sense of recklessness, danger, and the desire to forget one's troubles. The opening line "forget your court date" suggests that the singer is trying to escape responsibility by ignoring their court appearance. They then go on to express a willingness to be locked away, as if to say that the outside world is too much to handle. The line "cuffs cut deep to the bones" perhaps refers to the physical pain of being restrained or a feeling of being trapped.
The song's chorus of "yea yeah" is repeated an astonishing 30 times throughout the song, perhaps to emphasize the singer's struggle to escape reality. The second verse tells a story of someone stealing tapes and a flashlight out of the singer's car, leading to a feeling of vulnerability and exposure. The description of a lightning storm with heavy rain and thunder creates a sense of chaos and danger. The repeated desire to put two feet on the ground may be interpreted as wanting to find stability and safety in an otherwise chaotic world.
Overall, "Yea Yeah" seems to be a commentary on the desire to escape from reality and forget one's problems, while also acknowledging the pain and chaos of living in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
forget your court date
I don't care about the consequences of our actions
lock me away, the world waits
Let me face the punishment, the rest of the world can wait for us
cuffs cut deep to the bones
The punishment is severe and painful
we're trying to sleep, we're trying to sleep
We're ignoring our problems and trying to escape reality through sleep
i hope these hands, WOAHH-OHH-OHH
I wish I could change what we did
can turn back time
I wish we could go back in time and undo our actions
i want time to be a game and we're losing this one,
I wish we could control time like a game but we're losing it and facing the consequences
but still i'm sane
I'm still in control of my mind despite the situation
yea yeah
Expressing excitement or agreement
you stole tapes and a flashlight
Remembering the specific crime we committed
on a summer night from my car
When and where the crime took place
i felt something in a lightning storm
The memory of the crime brings intense emotions
with heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
The storm was intense and added to the emotion of the moment
when everything seems to wash away
When everything else fades into the background
i want to put just two feet on the
I want to ground myself and be present
ground, ground, ground, ground, ground!
Repeating to emphasize the feeling of being grounded
lock me up, officer
Giving in to the punishment
what a mistake i made
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation
yea yeah, take me away
Anticipating the consequences
i say this to myself
Talking to oneself
close the door on myself
Closing the door on the past and moving forward
i felt something in a lightning storm
The memory still haunts them
with heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
The storm was a metaphor for the emotional intensity of the situation
when everything seems to wash away
When everything feels like it's falling apart
i want to put just two feet on the
Wanting to be grounded and present
ground, no, no, no, no!
Repeating to emphasize the need to be grounded
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Easy Peppers
Forget your court date
Lock me away, the world waits
Cuffs cut deep to the bones
We're trying to sleep, we're trying to sleep
I hope these hands, WOAHH-OHH-OHH
Can turn back time
And time can be a game and we're losing this one,
But still i'm sane
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
You stole tapes and a flashlight
On a summer night from my car
I found something in a lightening storm
With heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
When everything seems to wash away
I walk here with just two feet on the ground
Ground, ground, ground, ground, ground!
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
Lock me up, officer
What a mistake I made
Yea yeah, take me away
I say this to myself
Close the door on myself
Yea yeah, take me away
I found something in a lightening storm
With heavy rain and thunder like melted storm, yeah
When everything seems to wash away
I walk here with just two feet on the ground
Ground, no, no, no, no!
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
Yea yeah
Emily B
one of the most underrated matt and kim songs
salamy123
Emily B This has to be my favorite song by them!
bunny fish
Emily B yeah it is,it's on of my favorites of theirs,i think it was the first one I heard by them,that may have something to do with it
Carsen
6 years and it still holds true
Shared Account
Really? it was always the most popular one when it first came out
DonJZA
@Shared Account the only one i know lmao
vDreeams
I feel so alive when I listen to old Matt and Kim. I feel like when I listened to them I wasn't on autopilot, like I have been like the past 7 years.
adma
how are you doing now
eSteban
Friend?
dylyn blue
@adma I’m wondering as well. The fact they like this good music is a massive bonus. I’m guessing they’re fine. I’m fine, while the world burns. Pew pew.