Chad Petree and Jeremy Dawson grew up in Oklahoma and were involved in previous music projects together, including the soundtrack for the videogame Grand Theft Auto III in 2000 and Cloud2Ground. After relocating to Los Angeles, California in 2004, the two recruited vocalist Carah Faye Charnow and drummer Mikey Martin.
Their debut album, We Are Pilots was originally released in January 2005, though versions of the album featuring different cover art and tracklisting would be released later the following year. Three singles were issued: "Le Disko", "You Are the One" and "Rainy Monday". We Are Pilots received a Grammy Award nomination on 6 December 2007 in the category of Best Electronic/Dance Album, but lost to The Chemical Brothers.
The band's second studio album, Season of Poison, was released on 4th November 2008, with Sisely Treasure as vocalist. They have released two singles from their second album: "Ghost Town" and "Ricochet!".
In 2009, Shiny Toy Guns released "Major Tom", a Peter Schilling cover.
In 2011, Carah Faye Charnow returned to Shiny Toy Guns. In addition, Daniel Johansson also joined the band on guitar, synth and bass. In March 2011, the band released a new single "The Sun", available to download for free.
In May 2012 the band announced that Daniel Johansson left the band.
Band Members:
Current members
Carah Faye Charnow – vocals, synth (2004–2008, 2011–present)
Gregori Chad Petree – vocals, guitar (2002–present)
Jeremy Dawson – synths, bass (2002–present)
Mikey Martin – drums (2004–present)
Former members
Daniel Johansson – guitar, synth, bass (2011–2012)
Sisely Treasure – vocals (2008–2010)
Ursula Vari – vocals (2004)
Official site: http://www.shinytoyguns.com
When Did This Storm Begin
Shiny Toy Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I can't really make out what they're saying,
But I think it's a car accident over the radio or something,
I'll fill this in later)
Call my name
Answer me where I stand
Here's a story of the way I wasn't meant to be raised,
Bright yellow sun that fades away to black and blue every place
There's a bottle in the shape of your love for me
(Now the clouds are racing higher, blinding arrows away.
There's in darkness off the streets that my electricity.)
Gold shatters the sky, this is the first day of the rest of our lives,
Cause no one really lives or dies.
[Chorus]
Call my name
(When did this storm begin?)
Answer me where I stand.
Call my name
(When will this story end?)
Answer me where I stand.
Every night you drink the money left to pay all the bills.
No room for us, but there's another f**king bottle of pills.
Here's your trophy on my face, it's just an eye anyway..
(Now the clouds are racing higher, blinding arrows away.
There's in darkness off the streets that my electricity.)
This will go no further, I swear it dies today
Your nights will stay forever if you dare once more touch me.
[Chorus]
Where I stand
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Shiny Toy Guns’s song When Did This Storm Begin depict a relationship that is confusing, abusive and doomed to fail. The song starts off with an indistinct radio announcement of a car accident, which could signify a metaphorical car crash between the two lovers. The singer then calls out to their partner to answer them where they stand. The verses describe a relationship that was not meant to be, like the fading of a bright yellow sun to black and blue, followed by an empty bottle that is shaped like the love their partner has for them. The relationship is shown to be dysfunctional with the partner drinking the money left to pay bills and leaving no room for them. The singer feels used and abused with their partner’s constant reliance on pills and bottles, which leads to trophies on their face, in the form of bruises.
The chorus, which is repeated thrice, contains the lines "Call my name, answer me where I stand". This signifies the singer's plea for their partner to acknowledge their existence and respond. They want the relationship to either end or, more significantly, undergo a change. The song's imagery is dark and passionate with the reference to gold shattering the sky and darkness off the streets that the singer's electricity thrives on. They want to break free of the stormy relationship and start afresh.
The lyrics of When Did This Storm Begin show a powerful portrayal of a broken, abusive relationship. The song tells a story of a relationship where the singer feels used, abused, and forgotten, and is almost pleading their lover to acknowledge their existence or leave. The lyrics of the song's chorus repeat this plea for acknowledgement, making it a powerful and emotional song.
Line by Line Meaning
Call my name
Request for attention and connection
Answer me where I stand
Desire for clarity and understanding of one's position or situation
Here's a story of the way I wasn't meant to be raised
Sharing the background and upbringing that has led to certain struggles or challenges
Bright yellow sun that fades away to black and blue every place
Description of the emotional pain and trauma that has overshadowed the happiness and joy of life
There's a bottle in the shape of your love for me
Expressing the destructive nature of a toxic relationship that is masked by empty, meaningless gestures
(Now the clouds are racing higher, blinding arrows away.
There's in darkness off the streets that my electricity.)
Sensory description of the intensifying storm brewing internally, causing chaos and confusion
Gold shatters the sky, this is the first day of the rest of our lives,
Cause no one really lives or dies.
Recognition of the fleeting and insignificant nature of human existence and the beginning of a new chapter
Every night you drink the money left to pay all the bills.
No room for us, but there's another f**king bottle of pills.
Here's your trophy on my face, it's just an eye anyway..
Depiction of the self-destructive addiction and abuse within the relationship, resulting in physical and emotional harm
This will go no further, I swear it dies today
Your nights will stay forever if you dare once more touch me.
Declaration of an end to the cycle of abuse and determination to break free from the toxic relationship
Where I stand
Emphasis on one's current position and the need for recognition and validation
Call my name
Answer me where I stand.
(When will this story end?)
Continued plea for connection and resolution, questioning when the painful story will come to an end
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: Jeremy Dawson, Chad Petree, Matthew Laws
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind