Phantom Planet are: Alex Greenwald on vocals, Sam Farrar on bass, Darren Robinson and Jeff Conrad, who replaced original drummer Jason Schwartzman after he left to continue pursuing his acting career.
They played their first show ever in 1995 at The Dragonfly in Hollywood. Most of their friends couldn't attend because they were still in high school, while the Dragonfly only serves customers that are 21 and over. Two of the songs they played are featured on the bonus material of the Chicago, Chicagogoing, Chicagogone DVD. Among the songs performed were "My Friend Liz's Dad" (misprinted as "My Friend Liz Is Dead on the DVD), and a cover of the Beastie Boys' 1994 song "Sabotage".
Phantom Planet has appeared on the televison programs "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", Performing So I Fall Again, and "American Dreams", playing British rock band The Zombies. They have appeared in the remake of the feature film The Bad News Bears, playing a band called The Bloodfarts. In 2005 they covered the CSNY track, Our House for the movie The Chumscrubber.
The band is named after the theme song of a 1961 b-movie called The Phantom Planet. They decided on the name in 1994 in a Pizza Hut.
The band has opened for many well-known artists, including Sting, Elvis Costello, Incubus, Guided By Voices, The Hives, American Hi-Fi, Maroon 5, and even Ludacris.
Lead singer and song writer Alex Greenwald became a popular model and the familiar face of many commercials for clothing retailer Gap. Greenwald also played a sociopath in the 2001 film Donnie Darko. Bassist Sam Farrar is the son of John Farrar, the singer/songwriter known best for notable songs from the movie Grease ("You're the One That I Want" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You") and other hits sung by Olivia Newton-John.
Ex-drummer Jason Schwartzman is the son of actress Talia Shire, brother of Rooney singer Robert Schwartzman and nephew of famed director Francis Ford Coppola. Schwartzman is now an acclaimed actor. He starred in Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees, Shopgirl, Roman Coppola's CQ, Bewitched, and appeared in his cousin Sofia Coppola's film Marie-Antoinette.
The band released their fourth and most recent album in April 2008 called Raise the Dead.
They announced, on November 25th, 2008, that they are on an indefinite hiatus.
On November 4, 2011, an official Phantom Planet reunion Twitter account was created which stated they would be reuniting in 2012. Since then, they have held their first practice in 3 years. In late January 2012, Phantom Planet announced their first reunion show, June 13, at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. On January 31, they announced the addition of a second Troubadour show to be played June 14, 2012. Former member of the band, Jacques Brautbar, joined them for songs at the June 13th show.
Also on January 31, guitarist Darren Robinson hinted at a Phantom Planet tour with the following Facebook status update: "Preparing for June shows for 5 months, in a huge positive way." No tour was announced.
In Augusts of 2013, the band, under Alex Greenwald & Phriends, performed a new song titled Balisong, which ended up being on Greenwald's solo album. This performance did not have bassist Sam Farrar because he was touring with Maroon 5. He was replaced by Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender.
A Phantom Planet Instagram account was created on January 19, 2019, indicating that the band could be reforming. Additionally, band members posted the logo on their personal social media accounts. It was confirmed that the band played a small secret private show January 19, 2019, at No Name on Fairfax in Los Angeles.
On March 18, 2019, the band officially announced "Hiatus. Over." They announced their first "public" show in over 7 years at Hanson's "Hop Jam" Music and Beer Festival in Tulsa, OK on May 19, 2019. Before that event, they scheduled three shows across Southern California.
Know It All
Phantom Planet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Must have wished it on myself
When I got
Lost in thought
While we were out
Hours have passed and I have seen
The terror I am stuck between
Who I've been
I could be
I was listening to battle begin
Wondering which side would win
Did you say
Something I'm
Sorry I
Apologize
I can tell
After this there's nothing else
Nothing you can't solve
If you're such a know it all
Maybe I'm not good enough
Or you don't resemble what I've built up
After months
See it
Looming over us
Tell me I made some mistake
Entertaining a second date
I'm a mess
So nervous and it's
Getting late
What should I do
I'll tell you
Pretty soon
I'll shatter in two
Just because
You place something high enough
The harder it can fall
But you knew that.
You're a know it all.
The lyrics of Phantom Planet's song Know It All resonates with individuals who experience internal battles and self-doubt while facing the expectations of others. The beginning of the song suggests that the singer came home as someone else, indicating that he feels disconnected from himself and has lost touch with his identity. The line "Must have wished it on myself" suggests that the singer could be placing blame on himself for the way he feels, which could stem from the need to feel understood or accepted by others.
The feeling of being lost in thought is highlighted in the next line, which could suggest that the singer is overthinking or analyzing everything around him, leading to anxiety or panic. The chorus emphasizes the singer’s realization that there is no escaping who he is, regardless of who he thinks he could be. The line "After this, there's nothing else" suggests that he has reached a breaking point and that pretending or hiding behind a facade is no longer an option.
In the bridge, the singer reflects on his imperfections, and self-doubt and questions if he is "good enough." He contemplates whether he made a mistake by entertaining a second date, and the repetition of the line "What should I do" highlights his confusion and indecisiveness. The song ends with the realization that placing unrealistic expectations on oneself can lead to a significant letdown, but still accepting that it is part of life. The final line emphasizes the frustration that comes with dealing with someone who always appears to know more or have everything figured out.
Line by Line Meaning
I came home as someone else
I returned home feeling like a different person
Must have wished it on myself
Perhaps subconsciously, I wanted to feel this way
When I got Lost in thought
I became deeply absorbed in my thoughts
While we were out
During the time we were together outside
Hours have passed and I have seen
A significant amount of time has elapsed and I have come to realize
The terror I am stuck between
I am feeling trapped and overwhelmed with fear
Who I've been
My past self and actions
And who I'm thinking I could be
The person I wish to become or the potential I want to fulfill
I was listening to battle begin
I was observing a disagreement or conflict starting
Wondering which side would win
Curious as to who would come out on top
Did you say something
Asking if you spoke or if I misheard something
I'm sorry I apologize
Expressing regret for something I said or did
I can tell after this there's nothing else
I am aware that after this situation ends, there will be no other opportunities
Nothing you can't solve
I believe you have the ability to solve any problem
If you're such a know it all
Addressing you as a person who claims to know everything
Maybe I'm not good enough
Feeling inadequate or inferior
Or you don't resemble what I've built up
You do not meet or meet up to the expectations or image I have created for you in my mind.
After months see it looming over us
After waiting for a long time, I can see a potential problem or issue affecting us
Tell me I made some mistake
Asking you to point out an error or misstep I may have made
Entertaining a second date
Deciding whether or not to go on another date with you
I'm a mess, so nervous and it's getting late
Feeling extremely anxious and disorganized, aware that it is getting late
What should I do
Seeking advice or guidance on what actions to take
I'll tell you pretty soon
Promising to provide an answer soon
I'll shatter in two
I will completely fall apart
Just because
Simply due to the fact that
You place something high enough
If you hold something to an unreasonably high standard
The harder it can fall
It is more likely to fail or disappoint
But you knew that. You're a know it all.
I believe that you already knew this and enjoy being seen as all-knowing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexander Greenwald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind