With influences ranging from Rage Against the Machine, Muse, and Incubus to Led Zeppelin and The Doors, OPEN AIR STEREO has managed to take these influences and use them to create a hard-hitting, unique, and compelling sound followed by a captivating live show. Hitting venues multiple times such as The Galaxy Theatre, The Coach House, The Roxy Theatre, Chain Reaction, and KROQ's Weenie Roast 2005, ended up bringing them to the 2004 and 2005 Orange County Music Awards where they were honored to be placed in the top 12 high school bands in Orange County. OPEN AIR STEREO was nominated top five for Best Indie Rock Group in 2004, and in 2005, were nominated for Best Rock Group.
Their first self titled EP, released in April of 2005, began in August 2004 with producer matt Beckley of T.E.A. and engineer Greg Burns (American Idiot, Clapton). "It was something the band was all super excited about," says drummer Nick Gross. "It was our first CD and we're proud of it. It was an accomplishment for us from playing out of 12 inch high amps to having a fully produced album. We love all the songs to death and always will, but this year we're ready to move on. It's 2006 and we're starting fresh." And moving on is exactly what OPEN AIR STEREO is doing. Currently working on their 2nd debut CD with Beckley and other producers, which OAS now describes as..."Just plain kick ass", as well as finishing up filming for the third season of MTV's reality hit show "Laguna Beach: The Real OC", the boys are now busier than ever.
"I know we're all excited for the future and for this year. Its going to be a great year for us and we're ready to hit things full speed. We're not beating around the bush. We're getting ready to hit the world with a boom. It's OAS."
What You Want
Open Air Stereo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lie to myself when I lay in your bed
Try to forget all the things that you do to me now, and then
The smoke in the room is the cloud in my mind
The touch of your skin brings me back all the time, all the time
I close my eyes down for another ride..
You always get what you want
You always need what you get can't get from me
You wonder why real love don't come for free
You better keep looking
'Cause that ain't what your getting from me
La di da, la di da, ahhh oh
La di da, la di da, yeahhh
La di da, la di da, ah ohh
She lets me in and she knocks me out
You never really know what this girl's about
But I, I just don't care
When I wake up, I don't know where I am
Don't know how I got here, but I know here I been with you
Right on you
When I say all that I want to say is
You always get what you want
You always need what you can't get from me
You wonder why real love don't come for free
You better keep looking
'Cause that ain't what your getting from me
Yeahhhhhohhh
La di da la di da ooh
La di da, la di da, yeah
La di da la di da..
I close my eyes..
You always get what you want
You always need what you can't get from me
You wonder why real love don't come for free
You better keep looking
'Cause that ain't what your getting from me
Oh yeah
La di da la di da ooh
La di da la di da..
The lyrics of Open Air Stereo's song "What You Want" seem to be about a toxic relationship. The singer admits to lying to themselves, forgetting the hurt they have caused, and succumbing to the other person's touch despite knowing it's wrong. The chorus talks about how the other person always wants more and never seems to be satisfied, hence the line "You always get what you want, you always need what you can't get from me." The repetition of "la di da" seems to convey a sense of carelessness and the idea that the singer may be trying to ignore their problems instead of dealing with them.
The second verse talks about the unpredictable nature of the other person, but again the singer doesn't seem to care. They're willing to put up with being knocked out, waking up not knowing where they are, and not knowing how they got there - all for the sake of being with this person. The bridge reiterates the point that the other person will never find true love with the singer. It's clear that the relationship is empty and the singer is tired of pretending.
Overall, the song seems to be about a person trapped in a cycle of unhealthy behavior, chasing something that they know isn't real. The upbeat tempo and catchy hooks create a contrast with the lyrics that add a layer of irony to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Lie to myself when I lay in your bed
I deceive myself when I'm lying in your bed, pretending that your actions towards me do not bother me.
Try to forget all the things that you do to me now, and then
I try to put aside all the hurtful things you do to me, both presently and in the past, and move on.
The smoke in the room is the cloud in my mind
The smoke in the room symbolizes the confusion and haziness in my mind due to the mixed signals you give me.
The touch of your skin brings me back all the time, all the time
Every time I feel your skin against mine, it brings me back to the same cycle of attraction and disappointment.
You always get what you want
You always manage to get what you desire, regardless of how it may affect those around you.
You always need what you can't get from me
You crave what I am unable to provide for you, whether it be affection, loyalty or something else entirely.
You wonder why real love don't come for free
You question why genuine love cannot be attained without a cost, despite constantly pursuing shallow connections that lack true emotion.
You better keep looking
You should continue exploring and seeking out new relationships in pursuit of your fleeting desires.
Cause that ain't what you're getting from me
This confirms that I am not going to provide you with what you want.
She lets me in and she knocks me out
She allows me to enter her life, only to repeatedly hurt and confuse me in ways that leave me feeling wounded.
Don't know how I got here, but I know here I've been with you
I am unsure of how I ended up in this emotionally draining cycle with you, but I know that I have been here a while, and I am unsure how to escape.
Contributed by Thomas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.