Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
11- Stir It Up
Tesla Lyrics
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Yeah, they all want it fo free.
These days, now nothin' cost ya somethin'.
No tellin' what it could be.
Never happen if ya never try.
All the nights awake and the tears we've cried
Could fill the seven seas.
We got to give ourselves, got to give ourselves a hand.
And if we feel it's all a mess, yeah, yeah,
Why don't we try a little, try a little lve 'n' tenderness.
If we got more than comes around, yeah, yeah,
Why don't we care a little, share a little.
Sure to come back around. Guitar!
Lately everybody's thinkin'
Me, my, only I thinkin' for me.
Here lately, everbody's talkin', baby.
But we all know that talk is cheap.
We can make it happen if we make a try.
All the nights awake and the tears we've cried
Could fill the seven seas.
So, c'mon, ev'rybody, c'mon, ev'rybody,
We gotta give ourselves, gotta give ourselves a hand, yeah.
And before it falls apart, yeah, yeah,
Why don't we live a little, give a little, straight from the heart.
And if this old world gets ya down, yeah, yeah,
You gotta pick it up and toss it in the air, kick it all around. Kick it!
I don't even know how I wanna say, but I know what I wanna say.
Do you know where I'm comin' from?
As the bass plays on, and still the guitars strum,
While the Colonel beats the drum, so the whole band plays along,
And the whole world sings a song, yeah,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And before it falls apart, yeah, yeah,
Live a little, give a little, straight from the heart.
If this whole world gets ya down, yeah, yeah,
You gotta pick it up and toss it in the air. Kick it all around.
And if you don't like the way the music plays, the way it sounds,
Hop back in the kitchen, change it all around.
Stir it up, baby. Stir it up, baby, stir it up,
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up,
Stir it up now, stir it up, baby.
Stir it up, baby, stir it up, baby, stir it up,
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up, stir it up,
Stir it up now, stir it up, baby. And you know:
Nobody gets somethin' for nothin'.
Nobody's gettin' it for free. [Spoken:] But you know
These days now nothin' costs ya somethin', baby.
And-a there ain't no tellin what it could be.
So stir it up, baby, stir it up, baby.
Stir it up, baby, stir it up, baby.
Stir, stir it up, baby, stir it up, baby.
Oh, you be you and I'll be me, and the world will be free.
Tesla's song "11- Stir It Up" is a call to action to awaken people to the need to give ourselves a hand by working together to create positive change in the world. The lyrics highlight the current social trend of "me, my, only I thinking for me," which has led to people wanting something for nothing and thinking only for themselves. The song encourages people to make an effort despite the difficulties one may face in trying times and to share more of what they have with others. One of the most important messages conveyed in the song is that everyone must take an active role in creating change, and that we can all make a difference when we give ourselves a hand.
The lyrics of the song effectively showcase the need for a sense of community and cooperation while highlighting the problems created by a sense of individualism that has taken over modern society. The song skillfully calls on listeners to think beyond themselves and look to make things better for both themselves and others. Tesla implores their audience to try a little bit of love and tenderness when things seem messy, instead of letting chaos take over. They suggest that a more empathetic and compassionate approach can be helpful when things start to fall apart, and that we can all be participants in making that happen.
In conclusion, "11- Stir It Up" is a powerful call to action that reminds us of our shared responsibilities and the importance of cooperation in bringing about positive change. The song demonstrates how simple human values like compassion, cooperation, and empathy are essential to a healthy, prosperous, and harmonious society. It encourages listeners to look beyond their own needs and consider how they can work together to create positive changes that benefit everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody wants somethin' for nothin'.
Everyone desires to receive something without making an effort in exchange.
Yeah, they all want it fo free.
Yes, they want it for free, without spending a penny on it.
These days, now nothin' cost ya somethin'.
In the present times, even if you get something for free, there is always a cost associated with it.
No tellin' what it could be.
It's impossible to predict what that cost could be.
Never happen if ya never try.
You can never achieve something if you do not try.
All the nights awake and the tears we've cried Could fill the seven seas.
We have put in a lot of hard work and sacrifice to reach where we are today.
So, c'mon, ev'rybody, c'mon, ev'rybody,We got to give ourselves, got to give ourselves a hand.
Now it's time to appreciate and encourage ourselves for all the hard work we have put in.
Why don't we try a little, try a little lve 'n' tenderness.
Instead of being tough on each other, let's try to show some love and tenderness.
If we got more than comes around, yeah, yeah,Why don't we care a little, share a little.
If we are blessed with abundance, it's time to share with those who are less fortunate.
Sure to come back around. Guitar!
When we share and care, it's bound to come back to us in some way or the other.
Lately everybody's thinkin',Me, my, only I thinkin' for me.
In the present world, people are mostly self-centered and think about themselves first.
Here lately, everbody's talkin', baby.But we all know that talk is cheap.
People talk a lot, but most of them do not act or follow through with their words.
And before it falls apart, yeah, yeah,Why don't we live a little, give a little, straight from the heart.
Before things break down, let's try to live a little, give a little, and be genuine and honest about it.
You gotta pick it up and toss it in the air, kick it all around.
When things get tough, it's time to pick up the pieces and try to fix them by shaking them up a little.
Stir it up, baby. Stir it up, baby, stir it up,Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up,Stir it up now, stir it up, baby.
It's time to bring about change, to shake things up and make it happen.
Nobody gets somethin' for nothin'.Nobody's gettin' it for free. [Spoken:] But you knowThese days now nothin' costs ya somethin', baby.And-a there ain't no tellin what it could be.
Nothing in this world is free. There's always a cost. It's up to us to decide what we are willing to pay.
Oh, you be you and I'll be me, and the world will be free.
Let's accept each other for who we are, and the world will be a happier place.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brisleygarrett8559
Easily one of the best songs on the record