As a young musician wanting to make a name for himself, Sweet set off to Athens, Georgia in the mid '80s, to attend college and join the vibrant Athens music scene, most famous as the home base for R.E.M. and The B-52's. Sweet worked with R.E.M. leader Michael Stipe at this time, joining Stipe's sister in a band called Oh-OK and then forming another band, The Buzz of Delight. Before long he was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.
One album, Inside, was released by Columbia in 1986 to little success.
Sweet was then picked up by A&M Records where he released his second album, Earth (1989), again without commercial success. This period marked a personal and professional low point for Sweet, as A&M lost interest and his marriage failed.
Sweet quickly recovered, and put together a new band including Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, and Fred Maher. The new group spent 1990 putting together Sweet's next work, originally titled Nothing Lasts.
In 1990, A&M released Sweet from his contract, and he signed with rival Zoo Entertainment. The album, still under construction, was retitled Girlfriend and released in October 1991. This album featured a classic set of pop-rock songs, was considered by many to be an artistic breakthrough and quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales (spawning a top-10 single with the title track). The video for the title track was aired on MTV and MuchMusic and features Japanese animation (commonly known as "anime"), of which Sweet is a fan. The animated clips in the video for "Girlfriend" are taken from the movie Space Adventure Cobra, and the video for "I've Been Waiting" uses clips of the show Urusei Yatsura featuring the character Lum, of whom Sweet has a tattoo.
Sweet's follow-up album, 1993's Altered Beast, was borne out of an apparent determination not to become mainstream. A more diverse and less immediately accessible album than Girlfriend, the album divided fans and critics who had mixed reactions to emotionally intense and brooding tracks like "Someone to Pull the Trigger" and "Knowing People."
In 1995, Sweet released, 100% Fun, a darkly ironic title alluding to a quotation from Kurt Cobain's suicide note: "The worst crime I could think of would be to pull people off by faking it, pretending as if I'm having 100% fun." The album mixed bouncy pop style with darker lyrics, including a leadoff track, the self-deprecating "Sick of Myself". The track has frequently been covered live by fellow '90s power poppers The Posies.
Decidedly out of the musical mainstream, Sweet would issue a few more albums in the second half of the decade and maintain a devoted core of fans, but critical acclaim and chart success would be hard to come by.
Sweet's international success had been somewhat limited by his fear of flying; however he gained a significant following in Japan and his most recent album, Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu, was a Japan-only release in 2003.
In 2000, Sweet worked with the Canadian band Delerium, to release the song "Daylight" that appears in their album Poem.
In early 2002 he formed the supergroup The Thorns with Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge.
He released a new album of solo material, Living Things in late 2004, though the material on the album was recorded in 2002.
In April 2006 he partnered with Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs to release a collection of 1960's classics, titled Under The Covers. Featuring their take on such widely known '60s hits as "Monday, Monday," and "The Kids Are Alright", the album represented a return to the accessible and melodic approach associated with Sweet's early breakthroughs.
He is featured in the release in November of 2006 of the Activision and Red Octane Play Station 2 game, Guitar Hero 2. His hit song "Girlfriend" is featured on the hit game.
Vértigo
Matthew Sweet Lyrics
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I wasn't very smart
But I died an early death
But now I know I wasn't alive yet
There's a mountain in the side of me
My vision that you can't see
She never touched me like you do, mama
Take a little more
You know, got vertigo
What about the things we said
In strictest confidence
Does this mean I'll have to stop pretending that
I'm not scared of heights now
There's a mountain in the side of you
My vision, I swear it's true
You never touch you like I do (oh no)
Each time I take a little bit, take a little bit
Take a little more
You know, that's vertigo
Each time I take a little bit, take a little bit
Take a little more
You know, that's vertigo
Each time I take a little bit, take a little bit
Take a little more
You know, that's vertigo
There's a mountain in the side of me
My vision that you can't see
She never touched me like you do, mama
Each time I take a little bit, take a little bit
Take a little more
You know, that's vertigo
Got vertigo, that's vertigo, vertigo, got vertigo
The lyrics of the song 'Vertigo' by Matthew Sweet can be interpreted as a reflection on the journey of self-discovery and the challenges one faces in it. The first verse highlights the singer's past struggles with hopelessness and how they never truly felt alive until recently. The singer is coming to terms with their own mortality and realizing that they want to truly live before they die.
The second verse talks about the things people say to each other in strictest confidence, suggesting that the singer has been holding back how he feels for fear of being judged. The mountain in the side of him refers to a metaphorical block that has prevented him from being open and honest about his emotions. The chorus of the song brings out the theme of vertigo and how the singer feels his vertigo increasing as he takes more risks and becomes more emotionally invested. The vertigo can also refer to a feeling of dizziness or confusion that arises when one is overwhelmed by their emotions or thoughts.
Overall, 'Vertigo' describes the singer's attempts to overcome their fears and become more in tune with themselves. The mountain in the side of him and the reference to heights suggest that the singer is dealing with some sort of fear of vulnerability and being exposed. However, the repeated refrain of the chorus indicates that they are determined to push past these fears despite the dizzying effects it may have on them.
Line by Line Meaning
Living with my hopelessness
Despite feeling hopeless, I continued with my life
I wasn't very smart
I made mistakes and poor decisions
But I died an early death
I experienced something that made me feel dead inside
But now I know I wasn't alive yet
I realize that I was not truly living before
There's a mountain in the side of me
I have a huge obstacle or burden inside me
My vision that you can't see
I have a perspective that others cannot understand or appreciate
She never touched me like you do, mama
I have never felt this way before, but it reminds me of a mother's love
Each time I take a little bit, take a little bit
Every time I experience this feeling or situation
Take a little more
I want more of it
You know, got vertigo
This feeling is overwhelming and dizzying
What about the things we said
What happened to the promises or discussions we had before?
In strictest confidence
We shared those things in secret or with complete trust
Does this mean I'll have to stop pretending that
Should I stop pretending to be brave or hide my fear after this?
I'm not scared of heights now
I am afraid of the things that could harm me, but I am not afraid to face them now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED MAHER, MATTHEW SWEET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind