After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Dan Wilson and John Munson joined up with drummer Jacob "Jake" Slichter to form Semisonic in 1995. An E.P., Pleasure, was released that year, and their first studio full-length release, Great Divide, followed in 1996 on MCA. Although they drew a cult following among 90s powerpop fans, mainstream success eluded the group.
Semisonic's breakthrough came two years later in 1998 when their sophomore effort, Feeling Strangely Fine, reached the Top 50 chart on the strength of the hit single "Closing Time". Their international career also blossomed when another song from the album, "Secret Smile," quickly became a U.K. radio favourite in the summer of 1999, eventually peaking at #13 on the official U.K. Singles Chart.
In early 2001, the band released its third album, All About Chemistry. The single "Chemistry" was a mainstay overseas; however, the album didn't fare as well in the United States. Another song, "Over My Head," was used in the 2001 teen movie Summer Catch, and Semisonic rode the wave of various tours in and around the U.K. In the fall of 2001, Semisonic contributed their cover of the Wings classic, "Jet," for the Paul McCartney tribute CD, Listen to What the Man Said.
Semisonic has been mostly on hiatus since 2001. Band members have since pursued other projects, such as Slichter's writing career and Wilson's solo recordings They performed for the first time in years on July 14, 2006 for the Minneapolis Aquatennial. They have also been spotted performing for private parties in basements. Dan Wilson's talented songwriting has lead to massively popular collaborations with Adele and other artists.
* The song "F.N.T." was used in the 1996 movie The Long Kiss Goodnight.
* "F.N.T." was also used in the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate about You.
* "Never You Mind" appeared on the Never Been Kissed soundtrack in 1999.
* "Chemistry" appeared on the 40 Days and 40 Nights soundtrack in 2002.
Act Naturally
Semisonic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our little secret just might be the kind of thing that you can't hide
It's growing like a tangled vine & rising like a river in the tide
And everybody knew when you walked into the room
I was just a fool for you, nothing I could do
Everybody sees you taking control of me
Well I'm not begging for release
Act Naturally
Don't let our troubles show
Don't let anybody know
Till we get it figured out
Don't give them anything that they could doubt
Our little problem doesn't seem to be about to go away
As far as I can tell it's gonna keep on showing more with every day
And everybody look, yeah, that was all it took
I can't help believing they can read me like a book
So hide your feelings tight till we figure how to make it right
I don't know what I should but I
Would do it if I could
Act Naturally
Just be you beautiful
Just be you casual
I'll be me before the fall
You be you before this all came down
(Act Naturally)
Don't let our troubles show
Don't let anybody know
Till we get it figured out
Don't give them anything that they could doubt
Act Naturally (remove this line)
Just be you beautiful
Just be you casual
I'll be me before the fall
You be you before this all came down
The lyrics to Semisonic's song Act Naturally convey a sense of vulnerability and urgency as the singer pleads with their partner to keep their relationship and struggles hidden from the world. The metaphor of a tangled vine and rising river in the tide implies that their issues are not easily contained and that their feelings for each other are growing out of control. The singer feels powerless in their love for the other person, and they believe that others can easily see through them, making them feel exposed and vulnerable.
The chorus emphasizes the need for the couple to act naturally and hide their troubles from others until they can figure out how to make their relationship work. They plead with their partner not to give anyone reason to doubt their love or commitment to each other. It seems that the singer is aware that the relationship is in a delicate state and is worried that any hint of trouble could be the tipping point that leads to its downfall.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of desperation, but also a sense of hope, as the couple works together to keep their relationship alive, despite the challenges they face. It is a relatable theme for anyone who has been in a relationship where the stakes are high and the need for secrecy is paramount to its success.
Line by Line Meaning
Our little secret just might be the kind of thing that you can't hide
The situation we are in could be difficult to conceal
It's growing like a tangled vine & rising like a river in the tide
Our problem is becoming more complex and serious day by day
And everybody knew when you walked into the room
It was obvious to everyone when you came around
I was just a fool for you, nothing I could do
I was helpless and powerless in my love for you
Everybody sees you taking control of me
It's clear to everyone that you have a hold over me
Well I'm not begging for release
I'm not asking to be set free from this situation
I'm just begging darling please, please
I'm only pleading with you to find a way out of this
Don't let our troubles show
We should keep our problems hidden
Don't let anybody know
We shouldn't tell anyone about our issues
Till we get it figured out
Until we come up with a solution
Don't give them anything that they could doubt
We shouldn't give anyone a reason to question us or our actions
Our little problem doesn't seem to be about to go away
It doesn't look like our issue will easily disappear
As far as I can tell it's gonna keep on showing more with every day
From what I can see, it will only get worse as time goes on
And everybody look, yeah, that was all it took
All it took was a single glance from others to realize our situation
I can't help believing they can read me like a book
I can't help but think that others can easily understand my emotions
So hide your feelings tight till we figure how to make it right
We need to keep our emotions to ourselves until we can fix things
I don't know what I should but I
I'm not sure what to do, but
Would do it if I could
I would try to fix things if I could
Just be you beautiful
Be yourself, and it will be beautiful
Just be you casual
Act casual and don't worry
I'll be me before the fall
I'll be myself before everything falls apart
You be you before this all came down
Just be yourself before our problem arose
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yo mama
on F.N.T.
wow i cant stop listening to this