Forming in 1999 as Sw1tch, the band played shows around Ohio and released a demo entitled Fuckin' Demo. The songs "Anymore", "Wrongside", "Inside", "Darkening Days", "Last Chance", and "Skins", which appear in their demo versions on this CD, went on to appear on the Subject to Change album. This demo was later re-released on disc two of the "Ghosts in the Machine" album in 2006. Since a funk band already had rights to the name Switch, the band had to change their name to Sw1tched, and was later signed to Immortal/Virgin Records. After recording all of the bass for the Subject to Change album, bassist Shawn May left the band for unknown reasons, and was replaced by Chimaira drum tech Jason French. French did play bass on one song on the album, though, since the band re-recorded the song "Walk Away" before the album was released.
Switched rose to prominence playing at popular festivals such as Ozzfest in 2002 and on the Vans Warped Tour in 2001 and 2002. Their debut album titled, Subject to Change was released via Immortal/Virgin Records in 2002, and went on to sell over 100,000 records worldwide.
Sometime before the band began work on their second album, they fired bassist Jason French for unknown reasons. They then replaced him with former Stereomud/Stuck Mojo bassist Corey Lowery, who would eventually leave the band to join Dark New Day. They also parted ways with drummer Chad Szeliga sometime in this time period, and as a result, most of the drums on the "Ghosts in the Machine" album are programmed. During the recording phase for their second album, the band decided to go on an indefinite hiatus, mainly due to the band's poor relationship with Immortal Records. The hiatus more-or-less signaled that they had broken up, and members of the band went on to other projects.
Former bassist Shawn May, who had left the band in 2001 prior to the release of "Subject to Change", started a custom bass shop in Michigan. Drummer Chad Szeliga joined popular post-grunge group Breaking Benjamin in 2004, bassist Corey Lowery helped form alternative metal group Dark New Day, lead guitarist B.C. Kochmit joined then left hard rock group "Rikets" to form his own projects, called "Tinjen", "Shambella", and "My Alter-Ego Experiment", and is currently the lead guitar player in Dark New Day. Vocalist Ben Schigel found success as a producer working with bands such as Drowning Pool, Chimaira, Breaking Benjamin, Rikets, Bleed the Sky and Allele.
With help from their first manager, Thom Hazaert, now co-president of Californian indie label, Corporate Punishment Records, the group reformed (with a modified lineup) and released their second album titled, Ghosts in the Machine on January 10, 2006. The two-disc album contains rarities, b-sides and demos. The first disc includes eleven tracks that were intended for the band's second Immortal release, while the second disc includes four live songs plus several demos and the unreleased track "She Blinded Me with Science". The quality of the first disc can be described as "rough" as the tracks weren't yet mastered and still in the demo phase.
A repackaged version of Subject to Change was also released which features the b-side track "Spread", the Howard Benson produced alternate versions of "Walkaway" and "Inside" and the Rick Will mix of "Inside". Two videos for "Inside" are also included.
The name SW1TCH also currently belongs to a Cortland, NY artist (Peter Natale) who creates music for clubs.
Switched declared a second hiatus after Ghosts in the Machine but as of January 2010, according to Ben Schigel, there are no plans to continue with Sw1tched. Ben Schigel currently works as a producer at Spider Studios in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He has produced bands such as Ringworm, Chimaira, Bleed The Sky and Solus Deus; just to name a few.
Bassist Corey Lowery and guitarist B.C. Kochmit have since formed hard rock supergroup Eye Empire with solo artist Dixie Duncan and former members of Submersed singer Donald Carpenter and drummer Garrett Whitlock.
Ben Schigel produces bands at his Spider Studio. He also plays drums for pop rock band SomeKindaWonderful.
Memories Of You
Switched Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dragged me through the mud like you do, like you do
I'm so sick of the way you think and controlling everything and everyone
And I know it's going to kill me... just kill me
I'm don't, I don't see that everything is all right
And I know that I know that you slowly know
There's nowhere to go, nowhere to go
Take my life and sell everything
I don't need these memories of you, of you, of you, of YOU
I remember one time, the late september and I was feeling fine
You were on my mind and I saw your face, it made me sick
Cause everything is not hard
Makes me want to kill me
I'm don't, I don't see that everything is all right
And I know that I know that you slowly know
I can't see the writings on the wall
There's nowhere to go, nowhere to go
Take my life and sell everything
I don't need these memories of you, of you, of you, of you
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
I can't see the writings on the wall
There's nowhere to go, nowhere to go
Take my life and sell everything
I don't need these memories of you, of you, of you, of YOU
Memories of you
Memories of you
Memories of you
Memories of you
Memories of you
The lyrics to Switched's song "Memories of You" convey a sense of despair in its subject matter. The singer seems to have grown disillusioned with their current situation and feels like they don't belong there anymore. They express frustration with someone who is controlling and manipulating everything and everyone around them. The repeated refrain of "I don't need these memories of you" suggests that the singer may be trying to distance themselves from this person and the memories associated with them. The imagery of being dragged through the mud and the desire to "take my life and sell everything" adds another layer of intensity to the lyrics. It's a song about wanting to escape from a toxic situation and the pain that comes with it.
The repetition of certain phrases and the use of simple language - "I'm so sick of the way you think" or "memories of you" - give the lyrics a kind of hypnotic quality. This, combined with the heavy guitars and pounding drums, creates a powerful emotional effect. The use of the first person point of view adds to the sense of intimacy and immediacy in the song, making it feel like a personal statement rather than a generic expression of frustration.
Line by Line Meaning
I got this fucked up feeling that I don't belong here anymore
I feel out of place and unwelcome in this environment.
Dragged me through the mud like you do, like you do
You have humiliated and disrespected me before, and continue to do so now.
I'm so sick of the way you think and controlling everything and everyone
Your manipulative behavior and desire for control is exhausting and frustrating.
And I know it's going to kill me... just kill me
This situation is slowly destroying my mental and emotional health.
I'm don't, I don't see that everything is all right
I am aware that things are not okay, despite your attempts to convince me otherwise.
And I know that I know that you slowly know
I can tell that you are aware of the negative impact you have on me, but refuse to acknowledge it.
I can't see the writings on the wall
I am unable to see the signs and signals indicating what's going on in this situation.
There's nowhere to go, nowhere to go
I feel trapped and stuck in this toxic environment.
Take my life and sell everything
I would rather give up everything, even my own life, than continue living with these memories of you.
I don't need these memories of you, of you, of you, of YOU
I am ready to move on and forget about the pain and hurt you have caused me.
I remember one time, the late september and I was feeling fine
I have a specific memory of feeling happy and content, before you appeared in my life.
You were on my mind and I saw your face, it made me sick
Your presence and memory now makes me physically ill and distressed.
Cause everything is not hard
Despite your claims, everything is not easy and straightforward in life.
Makes me want to kill me
Your words and actions have led me to feel hopeless and lost, to the point of suicidal thoughts.
Memories of you
The painful, negative memories associated with you that continue to haunt me.
Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.