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.
Call It What You Want
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know the lady's in love with me
And she knows how to always be there
That's why she's willin' and ready
But now and then, every once in a while
Something inside of me, maybe inside of her
Have you ever had one of those days
And it just can't seem to get along?
But through it all you know you're gonna make it.
Call it true love
Call it not meant to be
You can call it anything at all, you see.
Call it what you want
It's all the same to me.
Music means a lot to me
Like love, I make it when I can.
All I am is all I'll ever be
And that's just a boy from Texarkana.
But now and then oh, but once in a while,
They start treating me like some kind of superstar.
Need I mention, at the end of the day
What matters most of all
It's not where you're at
Or where you're comin' from
When all is said and done
You can call it
Heavy metal, hard-core, pop, punk, or thrash
You can call it anything, it don't matter to me
Call it what you want
It's all music to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing
Baby's lyin' in the cradle
Universe is all within his reach
Wearin' rags or mink and sable
Needs a guidin' hand or it's out on the streets
Now momma's out
She's never at home
Daddy's taking care of business
He's out on the road
It's rainin' cats and dogs
But the child within us all must face the storm
Call it individuality
Some call it fate, others reality
Call it what you want
It doesn't matter to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing!
The lyrics of Tesla's "Call It What You Want" explore the theme of love and personal identity. The song describes the singer's love for a woman who is always there for him through thick and thin, and he is there for her as well. The chorus of the song suggests that no matter what you call love – true love or not meant to be – it remains the same to him.
The verse "But now and then, every once in a while, something inside of me, maybe inside of her. Have you ever had one of those days, where it all is going wrong" indicates that the singer and his lady love also face struggles in their relationship. Despite their occasional arguments, they are determined to make it through the tough times.
As the song progresses, Tesla changes the focus of the lyrics to music and personal identity. They state that music is as significant to them as love, and both are essential parts of their lives. They describe themselves as just a boy from Texarkana, emphasizing the importance of their roots.
The song carries a message of acceptance and non-judgement. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that no matter what people call things, it doesn't change the way he sees them. He accepts individuality, fate, and reality as they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in love with a lady
I have strong feelings of admiration and romance towards a woman
And I know the lady's in love with me
I am confident that this woman loves me in return
And she knows how to always be there
She is dependable and always available when I need her
That's why she's willin' and ready
She is eager and happy to be there for me
But now and then, every once in a while
Occasionally, there are times when something goes awry
Something inside of me, maybe inside of her
There is a gut feeling within one or both of us
Have you ever had one of those days
Have you experienced a day where everything goes wrong?
Where it all is going wrong
A feeling of things falling apart
And it just can't seem to get along?
When everything doesn't seem to work together
But through it all you know you're gonna make it.
Despite the struggles, we have faith that we will overcome them
Call it true love
This intense emotion qualifies as genuine love
Call it not meant to be
Perhaps the love wasn't destine to last
You can call it anything at all, you see.
It is open to interpretation and categorization
Call it what you want
Refer to it as whatever you like
It's all the same to me.
The naming of it has no effect on how I feel
Music means a lot to me
The art of music holds significant value to me
Like love, I make it when I can.
I prioritize making and enjoying music, much like how I prioritize love
All I am is all I'll ever be
I won't be anyone but myself, and I am content with that
And that's just a boy from Texarkana.
This is simply the identity of who I am, someone from Texarkana
But now and then oh, but once in a while,
From time to time, occasionally
They start treating me like some kind of superstar.
Sometimes people treat me like a famous celebrity
Need I mention, at the end of the day
Do I need to point out that in the grand scheme of things
What matters most of all
The most important aspect
It's not where you're at
Your physical place of residence or position holds little importance
Or where you're comin' from
Nor does your background or upbringing
When all is said and done
When everything has been considered
You can call it
Refer to it as
Heavy metal, hard-core, pop, punk, or thrash
The genre of music isn't what matters
You can call it anything, it don't matter to me
Naming the category of music has no impact on me
Baby's lyin' in the cradle
A child is in a crib
Universe is all within his reach
The young lad has limitless potential
Wearin' rags or mink and sable
Regardless of whether the child wears expensive or worn-out clothes
Needs a guidin' hand or it's out on the streets
Without proper guidance, the child may turn to homelessness
Now momma's out
The mother is no longer present
She's never at home
She is always away
Daddy's taking care of business
The father is looking after things
He's out on the road
He is frequently travelling
It's rainin' cats and dogs
It is pouring down with heavy rain
But the child within us all must face the storm
Everyone must confront challenging experiences at some point in their life
Call it individuality
The unique characteristics of a person
Some call it fate, others reality
Different people attribute personalities to either destiny or innate qualities
That doesn't change a thing for me
My thoughts and ideas won't be affected by how you frame it
Call it communism, call it free
Different economic systems have varying titles
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Different people may refer to bodies of water differently
Not a thing!
None of that matters to me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN WHEAT, JEFF KEITH, MICHAEL BARBIERO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonf3128
This band is criminally underrated!
@27jettt
Yes , they are!!
@tomsawyer5736
Death Row criminally.
@peterz22thomas5
They kick ass. Bridge from hair to grunge. Forgotten by many.
@russmode
Those were the days, this song...one of the best of the hair band era!
@mariagen2442
Agreed!!!
@musicmore8315
America’s truest Rock n Roll band since Skynard. Tesla didn’t need Gimmicks or satanic imagery to make it. They wrote great songs with meaning and honesty, great guitar playing and a solid foundation. Their music will continue to transcend time. Tesla is American Rock n Roll!
@kristymerritt1421
Skynyrd and Tesla....✌
@timwilde57
@@kristymerritt1421 knew someone would notice the spelling of "Skynyrd"......lol
@kristymerritt1421
@@timwilde57 Drives me Crazy. 😏 My favorite Band. Freebirdflyer29@gmail.com