Featuring Stefan Babcock on vocals and guitar, Steve Sladkowski on guitar and vocals, Nestor Chumak on bass and vocals, and Zack Mykula on drums and vocals, all longtime friends who met in elementary school, PUP formed in 2010 under the name Topanga. The original name was a reference to Topanga Lawrence, a character played by Danielle Fishel on the '90s sitcom Boy Meets World, but when the members learned Fishel would be reviving the character in 2014 in a spin-off titled Girl Meets World, they chose to change the name to PUP, standing for "Pathetic Use of Potential." Topanga released a digital EP titled Oceans, and positive press and attention from other bands helped create a buzz about the group. In 2013, they became PUP, releasing their self-titled debut album through the Royal Mountain label. The album was a hit with both critics and fans, with the group being named Best Live Show and Best New Artist by CBC Radio 3. The band toured extensively, playing throughout Canada and making their way to England and the United States. By the end of 2013, PUP had signed a record deal with the well-established punk label Side One Dummy, and spent much of 2014 and 2015 touring in support of Side One Dummy's reissue of their debut LP, launching their first headlining tours of the United States and Canada, as well as making their Australian debut.
In February 2016, PUP teased a new single called "DVP" in advance of their second full-length album, The Dream Is Over. Released in May of that year, the album's title is a reference to a prognosis Babcock received from his doctor: he'd severely damaged his vocal cords after enduring years of non-stop touring. In true punk fashion, PUP used the doctor's glib comment as the rallying cry for another set of hard-hitting, self-deprecating punk tunes. The band promoted the effort with an international tour over the next year before returning to the studio to write and record a follow-up. They spent most of 2018 working on the album, which saw release in April 2019. Titled Morbid Stuff, the record was produced with Dave Schiffman (the Mars Volta, Weezer) and lyrically focused on Babcock's struggles with depression. A year later, PUP offered up their commentary on the state of the world with This Place Sucks Ass, a six-song EP whose title referenced one of their long-standing touring inside jokes. With COVID-19 putting a halt to live performances, the group returned to the studio in 2021 to record their fourth album. Produced by Peter Katis (the National, Frightened Rabbit), 2022's wild The Unraveling of Puptheband saw the group augmenting their normally guitar-based sound with synthesizers, piano, and horns.
Biography by Mark Deming
There is another artist using the same name:
2) PUP is a Chinese-Korean rapper.
Sibling Rivalry
PUP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The smell of old decay is seeping into my sweater
And all the run-off shit from the nearby development
Is soaking through my shoes, I'm barely keeping it together
I'm not trying to stick it to you
But I've been trying hard getting through to you
And I'm not gonna - fine, let's face it
I'm never gonna take it
And you didn't even notice
Just running through the motions
Don't test my patience
And I just can't take no more
Holy shit! It's coming down
Three feet of snow, the frozen ground
Stuck in the tent for days
And you started laughing
You said that it's a sign
Let's get high out of our minds
And throw away the map
Just to see what would happen
I'm not trying to stick it to you
But who thought of this in the first place?
And I've been trying to get through to you
'Cause you're losing it in the worst way
You always got me on the hook
And you didn't even notice
Stuck in the old neighborhood
Just running through the motions
You know just how to piss me off
Don't test my patience
You're always up to no good
And I just can't take it
Even when I know I should
Don't know what to do
'Cause I'd still want to hang with you
Whenever I could
I'm not trying to stick it to you
But I've been trying to get through you
And you didn't even notice
Just running through the motions
Don't test my patience
'Cause I just can't take it
You've always got me on the hook
And I just can't take it
Back in the old neighborhood
And I just can't take it
You know just how to piss me off
Don't test my patience
You're always up to no good
And I just can't take it
Even when I know I should
In "Sibling Rivalry," PUP tells the story of a strained relationship between two siblings. The first verse sets the scene: the singer is on a raft in polluted water, barely able to keep it together. The metaphor of the raft being hard to steer represents the difficulty of navigating their relationship, while the polluted water is representative of the toxic environment they find themselves in. The second verse describes being stuck in a tent during a snowstorm with the sibling, who suggests getting high and throwing away the map. The sibling's impulsive behavior is a source of frustration for the singer, who feels like they are constantly being strung along.
The chorus reinforces the feeling of being pulled in two different directions. The singer wavers between wanting to cut ties with the sibling ("I'm never gonna take it"), and feeling a strong connection to them even though it causes pain ("I'd still want to hang with you whenever I could"). The bridge brings the tension to a head, with the singer admitting they have been trying to reach the sibling, but feeling like their efforts are going unnoticed.
Overall, "Sibling Rivalry" is an honest portrayal of the complexity of sibling relationships, with its highs and lows, moments of connection and moments of frustration.
Line by Line Meaning
This raft is hard to steer, the water is low this time of year
Navigating through life is tough when circumstances aren't in your favor.
The smell of old decay is seeping into my sweater
The negative aspects of life can stick to you and bring you down.
And all the run-off shit from the nearby development
Outside influences can negatively impact your life.
Is soaking through my shoes, I'm barely keeping it together
The weight of external problems can weigh heavily on your ability to cope.
And you didn't even notice
Sometimes those closest to you don't understand what you're going through.
Just running through the motions
Going through life on autopilot can make everything feel meaningless.
Don't test my patience
Pushing someone too far can lead to a breaking point.
And I just can't take no more
There's a limit to how much someone can handle.
Stuck in the tent for days
Feeling trapped and unable to escape your problems.
And you started laughing
Others may not understand the gravity of your situation and may not take it seriously.
You said that it's a sign
Rationalizing negative situations can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Let's get high out of our minds
Using drugs or other substances to escape can be a dangerous way of dealing with problems.
Just to see what would happen
Taking risks without thinking of the consequences can be detrimental.
You always got me on the hook
Being vulnerable to someone can lead to being taken advantage of.
Stuck in the old neighborhood
Feeling trapped in familiar patterns and unable to break free.
You know just how to piss me off
Those who know your triggers can use them to manipulate or hurt you.
Even when I know I should
Knowing what's best for you doesn't necessarily make it easier to make that choice.
But I've been trying to get through you
Trying to connect with someone who doesn't understand your struggles can be difficult.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stefan Babcock, Zack Mykula, Steve Sladkowski, Nestor Chumak
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TempoViolence
PUP has never made a bad music video, change my mind
@mikeandnike123
I don't think I will
@jokehouse9903
can't.
@crackity_j
It's just a fact
@toydivision1673
Agreed
@xBlueWolf
They've never made bad music.
@Bananajoe244
his sister sounds like an absolute baller tbh
@amir7854
Yep
@Krissypoo508
"HOLY SHIT IT'S COMING DOWN. 3 FEET OF SNOW, THE FROZEN GROUND"
Love this line so much
@JeffBaglot
Albertan ? Where do ye hail from?