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.
Wild
Matthew Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish they weren't there
I do what I am told
Come in from the cold
The laws will get me down
I want to ditch this town
But when I see you near
It all becomes so clear
At times I feel so mild
Child, you make me want to be wild
Wild, wild, wild
Child, you make me want to be wild
There was a wish I made
To burn before I fade
And go out with a bang
Be a bell that rang
So it is I feel
It's not so bad to steal
The limelight once in awhile
Just to make you smile
At times I feel so mild
Child, you make me want to be wild
Wild, wild, wild
Child, you make me want to be wild
Bear the brunt of ravages and lacaratings
Welcome all the savages and clean their feelings
This will be the final chance to start the singing
Join me in a loving dance and stop the faking
The fire, the fire in the furnace warms
And I'm a rocket soaring let me take your hand
The light, the light you are the hand that feeds me
You're the rope that leads me to the promised land
Don't let your sun set down on me
I need your golden rays
There was a wish I made
To burn before I fade
I found it in your face a very sacred space
You make me light my fuse
I think I found my muse
At times I feel so mild
Child, you make me want to be wild
Wild, wild, wild
Child, you make me want to be wild
The song "Wild" by Matthew Sweet is a romantic song about a person who is trying to break free from their mundane life and become wild. The singer wishes to be free from rules and regulations and leave their town. However, when they see their lover, they feel as if they have found an escape in their arms. The chorus repeats the line, “Child, you make me want to be wild,” representing the feeling of newfound freedom they have in their partner's presence. The song also emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and following one's dreams.
The song's lyrics imply that Matthew Sweet is in a relationship with a person who inspires him to live life authentically and with passion. The second verse emphasizes the importance of living life to the fullest and making an impact before fading into obscurity. The bridge describes the rush that the singer feels when they are with their lover and the passion that they feel when they are together. The final verse reaffirms the singer's belief that their lover is their muse, and their inspiration to make the most of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Because I often wear
I am hesitant to act on my impulses.
I wish they weren't there
I regret the things that hold me back.
I do what I am told
I am often compliant to authority.
Come in from the cold
I want to find comfort and warmth.
The laws will get me down
The rules and regulations of society can be oppressive.
I want to ditch this town
I desire to leave my current environment for something more freeing.
But when I see you near
In your presence, I feel clarity.
It all becomes so clear
I understand what I truly want out of life.
At times I feel so mild
I can be very passive in my demeanor.
Child, you make me want to be wild
You inspire me to be liberated from my restrictions.
Wild, wild, wild
I desire to live an unrestrained life.
There was a wish I made
I had a desire to live life to the fullest.
To burn before I fade
I want to make the most of my time on earth.
And go out with a bang
I want to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Be a bell that rang
I want to make noise and be noticed.
So it is I feel
I am content with my current situation.
It's not so bad to steal
Breaking the rules can be liberating.
The limelight once in awhile
Being the center of attention can be invigorating.
Just to make you smile
I want to bring joy to those around me.
Bear the brunt of ravages and lacaratings
I am willing to endure pain and suffering.
Welcome all the savages and clean their feelings
I am accepting of all people and their emotions.
This will be the final chance to start the singing
This is the last opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Join me in a loving dance and stop the faking
Let's come together and be authentic with each other.
The fire, the fire in the furnace warms
The passion inside of us fuels us.
And I'm a rocket soaring let me take your hand
I am empowered and want to share that feeling with you.
The light, the light you are the hand that feeds me
You bring positivity and nourishment into my life.
You're the rope that leads me to the promised land
You help guide me to my destiny.
Don't let your sun set down on me
I need your guidance and support to succeed.
I need your golden rays
I need your positive energy to flourish.
I found it in your face a very sacred space
Your presence is comforting and valuable to me.
You make me light my fuse
You inspire me to live life to the fullest.
Contributed by Jayce I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.