Although a well known band in Provo, the band didn't receive nationwide exposure until late 2008 when they were chosen as openers for several of The Killers' North American tour dates. Not long after, the band was signed by major record label Mercury Records in early 2009. Additionally, the group was voted Band of the Year in 2009 by City Weekly, a popular Salt Lake City publication. Although they had several prior independent releases, the band released its debut album at Mercury/Def Jam, Habits, on March 16, 2010, with "Animal" as its lead single. The band performed "Animal" during their March 23, 2010 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the band toured opening for 30 Seconds To Mars and Mutemath throughout the Spring of 2010.
"Everybody Talk" was the first single from their sophomore album Picture Show. The single was released to Alternative Radio on December 7, 2011 and made available to digital retailers via Mercury Records on December 20, 2011. (Everybody Talks Songfacts)
I Am the D.J.
Neon Trees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lives inside a night when you were mine
Round and round
The feeling is beating now
Still running down
Still running down
It's playing all the time
Your song remains the same
I am the DJ
And you are the record that I play
And when I scratch the surface
Does it still make you nervous
I am the DJ
And you're still my favorite mistake
So when you get that feeling
Keep dancing
Keep dancing
'Cause I am the DJ
I am the DJ
Every beautiful melody
Is tuned to say "I miss you when you're gone"
Sing to me, sing to me sweetly
Before the music dies and we're left with fragments of a song
Your song remains the same
Still spinning on the airwaves
I am the DJ
And you are the record that I play
And when I scratch the surface
Does it still make you nervous
I am the DJ
And you're still my favorite mistake
So when you get that feeling
Keep dancing
Keep dancing
Never mind I hear you all the time
Lovely and amazing and completely underwhelmed
Tell me why you switched to satellite
The record's in your hands
Please play my song again
Every part of my memory
Lives inside the night
I am the DJ (I am the DJ)
And you are the record that I play
And when I scratch the surface
Does it still make you nervous
I am the DJ (I am the DJ)
And you're still my favorite mistake
So when you get that feeling
Keep dancing
Keep dancing
'Cause I am the DJ (I am the DJ)
I am the DJ
I am the DJ
I am the DJ
Neon Trees's "I Am the D.J." is a song about nostalgia, memories and the power of music to connect people, even after they are no longer together. The singer of the song is a DJ who keeps playing a certain song because it reminds him of a relationship he used to have. Every part of his memory lives inside a night when his former lover was with him, and he cannot let go of the feeling. The song on the airwaves is like a time machine, taking him back to the past, where he can feel the love and the connection again. He is the DJ and she is the record that he plays, and by doing so, he keeps their love alive.
The lyrics also hint at the sorrow and longing that the singer feels, as he wonders if his former lover still feels the same way. He scratches the surface of the song, trying to reach her, and wonders if it still makes her nervous, or if she still remembers him at all. In a way, he is begging her to listen to the song again, to hear his message, and to understand that he still cares.
Overall, "I Am the D.J." is a poignant and emotional song that captures the essence of love and music. It is a reminder that music can be a powerful tool for healing and for connecting with our past.
Line by Line Meaning
Every part of my memory
Lives inside a night when you were mine
The memories of a special, significant night with a past lover exist within the artist's mind and they can never forget it.
Round and round
The feeling is beating now
Still running down
Still running down
It's playing all the time
Emotions and thoughts of that special night are consistently in the artist's mind, impacting their day-to-day life.
Your song remains the same
Spinning on the airwaves
The song that both the artist and their past flame share remains popular and relevant, displayed on the airwaves.
I am the DJ
And you are the record that I play
And when I scratch the surface
Does it still make you nervous
The artist feels as though they control their own life, playing out their memories like a DJ playing a record, and wonders if their past lover still has similar feelings towards them.
I am the DJ
And you're still my favorite mistake
So when you get that feeling
Keep dancing
Keep dancing
'Cause I am the DJ
The artist's past lover is the one that always consumes their thoughts and emotions, and although it may have been a mistake, they will always feel a connection to them as they control their own life.
Every beautiful melody
Is tuned to say "I miss you when you're gone"
Sing to me, sing to me sweetly
Before the music dies and we're left with fragments of a song
The artist sees the beauty in every song, but they can't help but think of their past flame and how much they miss them. They hope their past love will sing to them before the memory fades away.
Never mind I hear you all the time
Lovely and amazing and completely underwhelmed
Tell me why you switched to satellite
The record's in your hands
Please play my song again
The artist understands they can never escape their past, and even though their past flame may have moved on, they still listen for them on the radio. They hope their past love will play their song once more.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TYLER GLENN, DAVE KATZ, SAMUEL HOLLANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind