The Bridgewater, NJ-based hardcore band Shades Apart formed in 1988, compri… Read Full Bio ↴The Bridgewater, NJ-based hardcore band Shades Apart formed in 1988, comprising singer/guitarist Mark V., bassist Kevin Lynch and drummer Ed Brown. After releasing their self-titled debut later that year on the Wishingwell label, the trio fell silent before resurfacing in 1992 with the Sunspot EP Dude Danger; another label change, this time to Skene, followed for the 1993 EP Neon. All members Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton produced Shades Apart's next LP, 1995's Save It, which scored a minor hit with its punked-up cover of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love." Following 1997's Seeing Things, the group signed to major label Universal to issue Eyewitness two years later. In addition to positive reviews, "Stranger by the Day" was featured on the American Pie soundtrack. Sonic Boom was released in spring 2001 to mediocre reviews. It featured "Got Shot Down," which received a considerable amount of radio play, and a re-recording of "Behind the Wheel."

Although Shades Apart has not released an album since Sonic Boom, they continue to play live shows on occasion.

Nothing's Real
Shades Apart Lyrics

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It was yesterday when you stopped by
And you looked as if you had no cares at all
But behind those eyes
And a fragile smile
You said good-bye
Nothing's real anyway
When people move so fast
You're standing back

You can't pretend
You're part of the scene
You're just caving in
And you don't know why
You never try
Someone tried to call
But you let it ring
It's an invasion
You don't know why
They care about you
The world keeps
Creeping in
You want to hold it back
It's following you
Nothing's real anymore
And you like it that way
It's not giving up
It's just a means of escape
You're just wasting away
And you don't know why
You didn't try
Now the day is done
Without a sound
And when tomorrow comes
You can't remember a thing

You just disappear
And you wonder why it happened to you

Overall Meaning

The song "Nothing's Real" by Shades Apart is about feeling disconnected and detached from the world around you. It tells the story of someone who is going through the motions of life but feels like they don't belong. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with feelings of apathy and a lack of purpose, and is searching for a way to escape the monotony of their existence.

The opening verse sets the tone of the song, with the singer describing an encounter with someone who appears carefree, but who is ultimately revealed to be struggling with similar feelings of emptiness. The chorus, "Nothing's real anyway when people move so fast," expresses the sentiment that life is passing the singer by, and that they feel left behind.

The second verse continues to explore the themes of isolation and disconnection, with the singer withdrawing from the world around them and rejecting attempts to connect with them. The bridge of the song, "You're just wasting away and you don't know why you didn't try," highlights the sense of regret that the singer feels about their lack of participation in life. The final verse concludes with a sense of resignation, with the singer disappearing into the void of their own existence.

Overall, "Nothing's Real" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that can often feel overwhelming and disconnected.

Line by Line Meaning

It was yesterday when you stopped by
You had a visitor yesterday

And you looked as if you had no cares at all
You seemed carefree

But behind those eyes
Despite appearances

And a fragile smile
And a weak smile

You said good-bye
You left

Nothing's real anyway
Life feels unreal

When people move so fast
In a fast-moving world

You're standing back
You're staying aloof

You can't pretend
You can't act like you belong

You're part of the scene
You're part of the situation

You're just caving in
You're giving in to pressure