For over a decade, Plain White T's have been playing to packed audiences craving for that perfect pop-punk punch. Their journey, which began in a small suburban basement playing covers, has taken the band to Warped Tour three times, and landed them opening slots for bands like Jimmy Eat World and AFI. Plain White T's are road warriors in the truest sense and with their first major label album, Every Second Counts, the band is ready to rock in a big way.
PWT's story started back in high school, when frontman Tom Higgenson first stepped into Chicago's famed rock club the Metro and saw his future on the stage. With the local music scene exploding nationally courtesy of bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt, he decided the time was ripe for his own dreams to be realized. Armed with paper, pen, and guitar, Tom went to task, experimenting with lyrics and melodies on a four-track in his parents' Villa Park, Illinois home. Once he'd reached a level of comfort with his songwriting, he worked up the courage to hand off a tape to Christian Lane, singer of 90's buzz band Loud Lucy, and to his surprise, Christian actually listened to it.
Once he'd recruited a group of school pals, including guitarist Dave Tirio, it was only a matter of a couple years before Plain White T's, who'd attracted a loyal following thanks to Tom's ridiculously melodic tales of teen angst and loveless nights, were playing the Metro themselves.
The music industry took notice of that success and after selling thousands of copies of their self-released 2002 debut, Stop, PWT's were picked up by Fearless Records who re-issued the album along with 2005's All That We Needed. But it was their heartfelt, acoustic-tinged "Hey There Delilah" that cemented their status as potential hitmakers.
Tom's songwriting evolved after the success of the romantically frank "Delilah," which really was a departure for a band known for their energetic powerpop. On Hollywood Records debut, Every Second Counts, Tom, along with bandmates Mike Retondo (bass and vocals), De'Mar Hamilton (drums), and Tim Lopez (guitar, vocals), continues to turn the personal into the universal. Throughout the album, he sings of hook-ups and break-ups and the emotional rollercoaster in between. A prime example is lead single "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)." In a similar vein, the lyrics for "Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk" also showcases Tom's offbeat take on love and life, while its melody sucks you in with every turn of phrase. Delving slightly deeper into emotional territory are upbeat tracks like "Our Time Now" and "Come Back to Me" as well as one of the album's quieter numbers, "Write You a Song."
In 2008, the group released the album 'Big Bad World'. The album had two hit singles: "1, 2, 3, 4" and "Natural Disaster". Both were on the American Top 40 at numbers 1 and 2 for three consecutive weeks. By late 2008, the band had joined the Rock Band Live tour with Panic! at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional and The Cab. Later that year, the band played at the Give It a Name festival in the UK. In 2007, the band performed the single "Our Time Now" on an episode of the Nickelodeon television series, iCarly. "Our Time Now" was also the theme song of the ABC Family dramedy series, Greek.
The band's "Rhythm of Love" single was the first to be released from the group's 2010 album, The Wonders of the Younger.' The song reached number five on the Hot AC chart, and was in the top ten in 2010 as well. In 2012, the band also covered The Ramones' "Pet Sematary" for the song soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Frankenweenie. Should've Gone to Bed, a four-song EP, was released on April 9, 2013.
The band left Hollywood Records after creative conflicts with the label during the production of the American Nights album. 'American Nights' was released by Megaforce Records on March 31, 2015.
In 2015, they also appeared on Blues Traveler's album Blow Up the Moon, co-writing the song "Nikkia's Prom." On November 22, 2015, the band released a music video for "American Nights" featuring Higgenson's son, Lennon.
In May 2017, Plain White T's released a music video for their song "Land of the Living." The band, which had left their label Fearless Records in 2005, returned to the label. As of April 2017, the band have said that they are currently writing new music.
Light Up The Room
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All her exes never mattered
She don't break hearts, they get shattered
They get shattered
People talking, chitter chatter
She calls shotgun, people scatter
She go bang bang, 'til it splatters
'Til it splatters
She got me losing touch
She got me losing faith
Making the same excuses
For the same mistakes
Before it all goes dark
Before I fade away
I wanna turn you on
Watch you illuminate
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
Light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
And I see nothing but you
All that glitz and all that glamour
Wearing rings like she was Saturn
That's that sci-fi shit I'm after
Shit I'm after
She got me losing touch
She got me losing faith
Making the same excuses
For the same mistakes
Before it all goes dark
Before I fade away
I wanna turn you on
Watch you illuminate
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
Light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
And I see nothing but you
You throw game like daggers I'm aware
Leave behind cadavers everywhere
Mind full of dark matter, best beware
Leave the morning after, don't you dare
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
Light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room
And I see nothing but you
The song "Light Up The Room" by Plain White T's tells the story of a woman who commands attention wherever she goes. Her charisma is so strong that she leaves everyone in awe every time she walks in a room. The singer of the song is clearly smitten by her, as he describes all her qualities with great admiration, intrigued by her mysteriousness and the way she carries herself in a way that leaves everyone in her wake.
Throughout the song, the singer speaks of his fascination with this woman, describing how she has broken the hearts of all her ex-lovers and how she dominates any conversation she's in. He speaks of her confidence and daring, saying that she "goes bang bang" until she has left her mark on everyone around her.
Nevertheless, he seems to be aware of the dangers of getting too caught up in her world, describing a sense of losing touch and faith alongside making the same mistakes over and over again. Despite this, he can't seem to resist her charm as he desperately wants to be the one to turn her on and bask in her totally captivating presence.
Overall, the lyrics explore the allure and power of a woman who has an unbreakable presence that leaves everyone spellbound, and the danger of losing oneself in that same presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Another late night, looking at her
It is late at night and the singer is observing a woman.
All her exes never mattered
The woman has not been affected by her previous relationships.
She don't break hearts, they get shattered
The woman is capable of hurting people significantly.
They get shattered
The result of the woman's previous relationships are devastating to those involved.
People talking, chitter chatter
There is talk and rumors spreading about the woman.
She calls shotgun, people scatter
The woman is able to assert herself among others.
She go bang bang, 'til it splatters
The woman is able to dismantle or destroy anything in her way.
She got me losing touch
The woman is causing the artist to feel disoriented.
She got me losing faith
The woman is causing the artist to lose confidence.
Making the same excuses
The artist is constantly making the same justifications for his actions.
For the same mistakes
The singer continues to repeat his errors.
Before it all goes dark
Before things take a turn for the worse or disappear altogether.
Before I fade away
The singer does not want to lose himself or his identity.
I wanna turn you on
The singer wants to captivate and impress the woman.
Watch you illuminate
The singer wants to see the woman shine and showcase her beauty.
When you walk in you light up the room
The woman's presence illuminates the surroundings and attracts attention.
And I see nothing but you
The artist is completely focused and captivated by the woman's beauty.
All that glitz and all that glamour
The woman has a lot of material wealth and showcases it.
Wearing rings like she was Saturn
The woman is visible and distinctive, standing out among others.
That's that sci-fi shit I'm after
The artist is drawn to the woman's otherworldly or futuristic qualities.
You throw game like daggers I'm aware
The woman is able to attract and allure the artist.
Leave behind cadavers everywhere
The artist is acknowledging the potential hurt that might result from getting involved with the woman.
Mind full of dark matter, best beware
The woman may have a complicated or dark history or background.
Leave the morning after, don't you dare
The artist is warning himself not to become too attached to the woman.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brandon Jay Day, Tom Higgenson, Timothy John Lopez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sahid Alcantara
Another late night looking at her
All her exes never mattered
She don't break hearts, they get shattered
They get shattered
People talking, chitter chatter
She got shotgun, people scatter
She gon' bang bang 'til it splatters
'Til it splatters
She got me losing touch, she got me losing faith
Making the same excuses for the same mistakes
Before it all goes dark, before I fade away
I wanna turn you on, watch you illuminate
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room, light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room and I see nothing but you
I see nothing but you
I see nothing but
All that glitz and all that glamor
Wearing rings like she was Saturn
That's that Sci-fi shit I'm after
Shit I'm after
She got me losing touch, she got me losing faith
Making the same excuses for the same mistakes
Before it all goes dark, before I fade away
I wanna turn you on, watch you illuminate
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room, light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room and I see nothing but you
I see nothing but you
I see nothing but
You throw game like daggers, I'm aware
Leave behind cadavers everywhere
I'm full of dark matter, best beware
Leave the morning after, don't you dare
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room, light up the room
When you walk in you light up the room
Light up the room and I see nothing but you
Light up the room, I see nothing but you
Light up the room, light up the room
I see nothing but you
Meep
I enjoyed the song, the lyrics and think the MV fits well. Nice!!
gaelle3000
I swear if certain artists stopped catering their newer music to a specific sound and had their own style and developed their own sound; it would be waaaaay better
Josh Sweet
truth
Tasty Flamingo
Right? PWTs is trying to defy their inevitable aging by trying to modernize their music. Gimme some more guitar, bass, and drums and I would be much happier.
TheJrockfreak
im still confused by all the hate they are getting. I havent heard a bad song off this album yet and this one sounds great. Im curious is it just the cool thing to hate on them or have some of their fans "outgrown" them?
Katie Turows
No...that style thankfully died. He looks weird. Their shows were fun. They started their show off with this song
TheJrockfreak
@Katie Turows lol yea that style wasn't his best idea but glad to hear their nice guys, I've only seen them once years ago
Katie Turows
TheJrockfreak saw them twice...met them both times. Very sweet guys. He doesn’t rock that hair style anymore...thank god.
Chelsea Lytle
Agreed. I like the album. And they were fantastic live this weekend. People just need something to complain about.
Chad Johnson
RaineTCG calm the fuck down