Philadelphia Grand Jury (The Philly Jays) are an Australian trio from Sydne… Read Full Bio ↴Philadelphia Grand Jury (The Philly Jays) are an Australian trio from Sydney, New South Wales. The band's line up consists of Joel "MC Bad Genius" Beeson on bass, keyboard and guitar, Simon "Berkfinger" Berckelman on vocals and guitar and Dan "Dan W. Sweat" Williams drums. They play a mix of indie, punk and soul.

Beeson originally formed a band called Johnson in 2001 with his friend Berckelman, before creating the indie band label Motherlovin' Records in 2004. Subsequent bands included Malcolm X & the Black Auditorium and Berkfinger and The Sweats, the latter combining to form Philadelphia Grand Jury in early 2008. Dan Williams (aka Dan W. Sweat) was the band's original drummer before departing from the group in September 2009 to focus on performing with Art vs. Science. He rejoined the band in 2013 as a part of the band's reunion.

In May 2009, the band signed a joint venture deal with Boomtown Records to release their records, on their own label, Normal People Making Hits, with distribution through Shock Records.

In June 2009, the band released "Going to the Casino (Tomorrow Night)" as a 7" vinyl EP. The EP was self-recorded, produced and released. "Going to the Casino" received significant airplay on Triple J and featured on the television mini-series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, also appearing on the soundtrack album. The band's debut album, Hope Is for Hopers, was released on 25 September 2009, reaching #34 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

At the fourth annual AIR Awards, held on 22 November 2009, Philadelphia Grand Jury won an award for 'Best Independent Single or EP'. The video for "The Good News" was filmed in North Sydney and at Parsley Bay, Rowe Street-Bondi Junction & Lighthouse Reserve-Vaucluse.

In October 2010, the band announced that they had Welch had left the band, as the 'rigours of the road have proved too arduous for the 55-year-old drummer'. Welch's replacement was Berlin-based, Brisbane-born Susanna "Susie Dreamboat" Patten (formerly of I Heart Hiroshima), who performed with the band on their tour of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Patten finished touring with the band in January 2011.

In March 2011, news surfaced that the band had abandoned work on the follow up to Hope is for Hopers. When FasterLouder sought a follow-up, they were met with the following statement in regards to the band's current status.

Philadelphia Grand Jury are on something of a hiatus. No need to make it a bigger deal than it is. Creative individuals tend to have more than one project and Philadelphia Grand Jury is just one of Berkfinger’s musical personas. Berkfinger is currently focusing on other projects, including moving his recording gear to Berlin to finish the recordings that he has been working on in the various incarnations of studios that he has built over the years.

On 2 November 2011 the band posted on their Facebook page that the band had broken up.

Beeson moved onto production and remix work under the moniker of Boyhood, while Berckelman relocated to Berlin and began working on a solo project entitled Feelings. In 2013, Berckelman assembled Beeson and Williams to join him on tour in Australia under the Feelings moniker. The three playing together for the first time in nearly four years immediately sparked rumours of a reunion, which were confirmed with a midnight performance by the band at the 2013 BIGSOUND Festival in Brisbane.

I Dont Want To Party Party
Philadelphia Grand Jury Lyrics

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I don't want to party party
I don't want to party party
I don't want to party
But I'm gonna 'cause she's fantastic

You know I spend all my money confusing all the girls
I pretend that I know them and that I know the world
I use the same three tricks every single time

But if I told you all my secrets then my secrets won't be mine

I don't want to party party
I don't want to party party
I don't want to party
But I'm gonna 'cause she's fantastic

Hey now, the truth if you want it - I'm a really lonely guy
Jesus in my kitchen and the devil on my mind
I use the same three tricks every single time
But if I told you all my secrets then my secrets won't be mine

I don't want to party party
I don't want to party party
I don't want to party
But I'm gonna 'cause she's fantastic

Tell me that you love me
Tell me that you'll hold my hand
Tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm a dangerous man

Tell me that you love me
Tell me that you'll hold my hand
Tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm a dangerous man

I don't want to party party
I don't want to party party
I don't want to party
But I'm gonna 'cause she's fantastic

I don't want to party
I don't want to party
I don't want to party

I don't want to party
I don't want to party

Overall Meaning

The song "I Don't Want to Party Party" by Philadelphia Grand Jury is a catchy, upbeat tune that juxtaposes the desire to avoid partying with the temptation to do just that for the sake of a woman who is described as "fantastic." The song's verses describe the singer's tendency to spend all his money on "confusing" girls and the ways in which he uses the same tricks to attract them, suggesting that he is ultimately unfulfilled by these superficial interactions. The chorus, which repeats the refrain "I don't want to party party," underscores the idea that he would rather be doing something else, but cannot resist the allure of this particular woman.

The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is grappling with feelings of loneliness and a sense of existential ennui. He describes himself as a "really lonely guy" and references both Jesus and the devil, implying that he is simultaneously searching for spiritual meaning and grappling with temptation. The repetition of the line "But if I told you all my secrets then my secrets won't be mine" suggests that he is guarding some deeper, personal truths that he is not yet ready to fully reveal.

Overall, "I Don't Want to Party Party" is a cleverly written and deceptively complex song that explores themes of longing, temptation, and the struggle to maintain authenticity in a world of superficiality.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to party party
I am not in the mood to go to parties and socialize

I don't want to party
I am not interested in going out and having fun

But I'm gonna 'cause she's fantastic
However, I will attend the party because the girl I like is going to be there

You know I spend all my money confusing all the girls
I waste a lot of money trying to pursue and impress girls

I pretend that I know them and that I know the world
I act like I have everything figured out, including my relationships and life in general

I use the same three tricks every single time
I rely on the same tactics to win over girls, without much creativity or originality

But if I told you all my secrets then my secrets won't be mine
I am hesitant to reveal my true intentions and tricks, as it might undermine my chances at succeeding

Hey now, the truth if you want it - I'm a really lonely guy
In reality, I am quite lonely and struggle to form genuine connections with others

Jesus in my kitchen and the devil on my mind
I struggle with inner turmoil and contradictory impulses

Tell me that you love me / 'Cause I'm a dangerous man
I crave affection and validation, even though I may not be the most trustworthy or stable person

I don't want to party
Once again, I want to reiterate that I am not interested in going out and socializing

Contributed by Isabella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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