Rock band hailing from New Zealand noted for their quirky sound and hit son… Read Full Bio ↴Rock band hailing from New Zealand noted for their quirky sound and hit song "Walkie Talkie Man" which was featured on Apple's iPod advertisement. The video for "Walkie Talkie Man" was directed by Michel Gondry (White Stripes, Bjork, Foo Fighters) and garnered 5 MTV award nominations and 1 Grammy nomination. It was also included in the Nintendo DS rhythm game Elite Beat Agents, as covered Jason Paige as well as being used in the animated film Robots and used heavily by the BBC.

They have done a cover of AC/DC's Back In Black.

Formed in 1999, Steriogram got their name from two bands that members had previously performed with - Rogergram and Steriosugar.

Steriogram's first single release, Soccerstar was mediocre but upon the release of their second single, White Trash saw the group success soar. Like many bands, Steriogram toured New Zealand in a friend's van without any support crew, doing gigs where they could. In 2002, still unsigned, they joined several other New Zealand bands in the annual Boost Mobile School's Tour, playing for free during high school lunch hours to get exposure, as well as at bars at night.

In 2002, while recording at a rented beach house they were spotted by an American Label Scout for Capitol Records who had come upon their music video for White Trash on the internet and were signed to Capitol Records later that year.

2004 also saw the release of their debut album, Schmack! which has seen six singles released from it.

There were two main factors contributing to Steriogram’s immediate success. Firstly, the national secondary school tour they went on helped to generate a wider fan base, as it allowed many who hadn’t heard of Steriogram before to enjoy their unique sound. The other factor was due to their internet site and the use of fans' loyalty. On the site fans were able to join up for the band’s newsletter and then eventually to what was known as a 'fan street pack'. This was sent to the fan via mail and contained promo CDs that had five of the tracks to be featured on their upcoming CD, and large amounts of stickers. This was where Steriogram relied on the support of fans, to hand out the promo CDs and stickers. These points proved to be very successful and rewarding for Steriogram as a new band.

In the City
Steriogram Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1 2 3 and we're all in the city
You and me yeah we're all in the city
Boys got free going out getting busy
Tonight, tonight
1 2 3 and we're all in the city
You and me yeah we're all in the city
Jay's underage he's at home what a pity
Tonight, tonight

We'll it's on and we're ready to go
Us skinny white boys will be checking the show
We won't be leaving we won't go
Until the whole town we know
1 2 3 and we're all in the city
You and me yeah we're all in the city
Girls aren't free but we're all in the city
Tonight, tonight
1 2 3 and we're all in the city
You and me yeah we're all in the city
1 2 3 and we're all in the city
Tonight, tonight
Going out tonight and we're thinking about the city
Miles away from home and we're checking out the city
Never been before it's a brand new city
Tonight, tonight

All of the dancers and all of the ghosts
All of them famous but nobody knows

Overall Meaning

The song "In The City" by Steriogram is an energetic and upbeat anthem that celebrates the excitement and thrill of going out and exploring the city. The opening lines "1 2 3 and we're all in the city, you and me yeah we're all in the city" immediately set the tone for a night of adventures and fun. The lyrics describe a group of friends, including the singer and the boys and girls they are with, getting ready to hit the town, with only one person, Jay, unable to join due to being underage. The singer emphasizes the anticipation and eagerness of the group, declaring "it's on and we're ready to go" and expressing their determination to fully immerse themselves in the city's culture and nightlife: "Us skinny white boys will be checking the show, we won't be leaving we won't go, until the whole town we know."

Throughout the song, the chorus repeats the "1 2 3" counting and emphasizes that everyone is together in the city, regardless of their individual circumstances or limitations. It's a celebration of the sense of community and togetherness that can be found in the urban environment, where people from all walks of life come together to share experiences and create memories. The final lines of the song, "all of the dancers and all of the ghosts, all of them famous but nobody knows," suggest that the city is a place where everyone can feel like a part of something bigger, regardless of their individual successes or failures.

Line by Line Meaning

1 2 3 and we're all in the city
We've all arrived in the city.

You and me yeah we're all in the city
Both of us are in the city.

Boys got free going out getting busy
The boys are partying hard.

Tonight, tonight
This is happening tonight.

Jay's underage he's at home what a pity
Jay is too young to join us, and he's stuck at home.

We'll it's on and we're ready to go
We're excited and geared up to have a good time.

Us skinny white boys will be checking the show
We, who are thin and white, will enjoy the show.

We won't be leaving we won't go
We'll stay for as long as we want, we won't leave anytime soon.

Until the whole town we know
We want to become acquainted with the entire city.

Girls aren't free but we're all in the city
Girls have to pay, but they're still in the city.

Going out tonight and we're thinking about the city
We're heading out now, and we're contemplating the city.