Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Pick A Part That
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't know where to go
Never met you before
I've never been to your home
That smells not unknown
Foot steps made of stone
Walking feels familiar
[Chorus]
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around underground pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around upside down pick a part that's new
People drinking on their own
Push buttons on the phone
Was I here once before?
Is that my voice on the phone
That last drink on my own
Did I ever leave at all
Confusion's familiar
[Chorus: x3]
So what's new to you?
What's new to you?
What's new to you?
The opening lyrics of Stereophonic's song Pick a Part That's New describe the feeling of being in an unfamiliar location with an unknown person. The singer expresses a sense of discomfort and unease at the unfamiliar surroundings, evident in the line "Didn't know where to go". However, the smell of the home is familiar, suggesting that although the person hasn't been here before, they have experienced something similar to it. The line "Footsteps made of stone, walking feels familiar" could be interpreted as the person feeling like they are on a path they have been on before, but they are not sure where it leads.
The chorus of the song suggests that the person is exploring the unknown and trying new things, encouraging themselves to "pick a part that's new". The repetition of "You can do all the things that you like to do" suggests that the singer is trying to motivate themselves to try new experiences, to push themselves out of their comfort zone, and to embrace the unfamiliar.
The second verse continues the theme of exploring the unknown and feeling disconnected. The repetition of the line "People drinking on their own" suggests a sense of isolations, and the use of the phrase "Push buttons on the phone" is ambiguous, insinuating either the singer is reaching out to someone or that they are disconnecting from a situation. The final lines of the verse, "Did I ever leave at all? Confusion's familiar" suggests that the person is struggling to understand their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never been here before
I am in a place I have never visited before.
Didn't know where to go
I am unsure of where to proceed from my current location.
Never met you before
I have not had the pleasure of making your acquaintance previously.
I've never been to your home
I have not previously had an opportunity to visit your place of residence.
That smells not unknown
The odors in your home are previously unfamiliar to me, but not entirely unpleasant.
Foot steps made of stone
The sound of footfalls echo against stone, and is a common occurrence.
Walking feels familiar
Despite being in an unfamiliar location, the sensation of walking is similar to previous experiences.
People drinking on their own
Strangers nearby are consuming alcohol without the presence of friends or companions.
Push buttons on the phone
I am using a telephone and pressing buttons to initiate a call or perform other functions.
Was I here once before?
I am experiencing confusion and questioning whether or not I have previously visited this location.
Is that my voice on the phone
I am unsure if the voice I hear over the telephone is my own or belonging to someone else.
That last drink on my own
Recently, I drank an alcoholic beverage by myself and do not recall leaving the location of consumption.
Did I ever leave at all
I am pondering if I ever departed from this location, or if I am experiencing a strange circumstance.
Confusion's familiar
This feeling of uncertainty or bewilderment is not new to me.
You can do all the things that you like to do, All around underground pick a part that's new. You can do all the things that you like to do, All around upside down pick a part that's new.
The chorus repeats the idea that one can explore new experiences and opportunities that they find appealing.
So what's new to you? What's new to you? What's new to you?
The singer is asking the listener what new experiences and adventures they have encountered.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KELLY JONES, RICHARD MARK JONES, STUART CABLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidgordon8099
I've never been here before
Didn't know where to go
Never met you before
I've never been to your home
That smell's not unknown
Foot steps made of stone
Walking feels familiar
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, underground, pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, upside down, pick a part that's new
People drinking on their own
Push buttons on the phone
Was I here once before?
Is that my voice on the phone?
That last drink on my own
Did I ever leave at all?
Confusion's familiar
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, underground, pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, upside down, pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, underground, pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, upside down, anything that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, underground, pick a part that's new
You can do all the things that you like to do
All around, upside down, pick a part that's new
So what's new to you?
What's new to you?
What's new to you?
@jakevogel9
Don't know why Stereophonics didn't ever get the press and air play that bands like Oasis, Coldplay and The Verve got here in the states. They certainly deserved more recognition for their depth and talent.
@badgasaurus4211
They were never as good as Oasis or the Verve but in the case of coldplay, coldplay sold out and always leaned towards pop whereas stereophonics are a rock band at heart.
@gazphillips9155
They were massive in the UK at the time, great band. I feel thats usually down to radio one trying to keep it fresh all time, usually creating some of this random mess we have these days lmao
@_banja
If this video is anything to go off, the mix is really bad, you can barely hear the vocals, I think this song would be 5x as good if it was well mixed and mastered
@Jayne_Maya
I agree … they have never been well known in Australia… I’m only a huge fan because in lived in the UK in 2000 and that’s where I heard of them. Nobody has really heard of them back here in Australia. I disagree that they were never as good as oasis or the verve.. I think they are more unique than oasis.. definitely as good as the verve, although both very different styles..
@robrob1723
Much better than all the above mentioned bands .
@rogermelly6389
a little town in wales hidden from the big wide world....produces these. Fukin AMAZING.!!!
@kielmiller3384
Roger melly deffo one of the best loved by the Irish anol 💚
@garinbramwell2598
Aberdare
@relaxbro7671
UK got great talent in music.