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.
Into The Now
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old and rusted with your busted bones
Break the crystal ball, you're on your own
Wipe away the fear of the unknown
[Chorus]
Now here we go, on with the show
Makin' our way, just to live for today
For takin' a bow into the now
Guilty of communication crimes
Was it just a binge, or was I blind
Overcoming opened up my mind
Don't let the things from the past eat you up inside
[Chorus]
Is it love that you break
Or is it love that you make
Is it love we're breaking
Or love we're making
Or love just wasting time
Now here we go, and it's on with the show
Makin' our way, just to live for today
It's in my sight and the time is right,
For takin' a bow into the now
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Tesla's song "Into The Now" convey a message of living in the present moment and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The opening lines, "The future's on its way, the past is gone, old and rusted with your busted bones," emphasizes the transitory nature of time and the fact that we cannot change what has already happened. The line "Break the crystal ball, you're on your own," encourages listeners to live life on their own terms and not rely on the predictions of the future.
The chorus repeats the phrase "on with the show" which implies that life is a performance, and we should appreciate each moment as it passes. The line "It's in my sight and the time is right, for takin' a bow into the now," suggests that the present moment is worth celebrating and that we should be proud of where we are in life.
The middle section of the song explores the idea of communication and the impact it can have on our lives. The line "Guilty of communication crimes, was it just a binge, or was I blind," highlights the importance of effective communication and the negative consequences of not communicating properly. The final chorus reinforces the idea of living in the moment and emphasizes the importance of love in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The future's on it's way, the past is gone
Time moves on - the future will arrive, and the past is history.
Old and rusted with your busted bones
The past is past and should not hold you back, even if it is old and broken.
Break the crystal ball, you're on your own
You're in charge of your own future, so you should not rely on predictions or fortune-telling.
Wipe away the fear of the unknown
Do not be afraid of what you do not know, and embrace the uncertainties of life with open arms.
Now here we go, on with the show
Let's get started and move forward with our journey.
Makin' our way, just to live for today
Our goal is to live every moment and enjoy life as it happens.
It's in my sight and the time is right,
We can see our goal ahead of us, and the timing is perfect for us to achieve it.
For takin' a bow into the now
We should take a bow for embracing the present moment, and living in the now.
Guilty of communication crimes
We are often guilty of poor communication or not communicating at all.
Was it just a binge, or was I blind
Did we really communicate effectively, or did we just waste time talking without a clear purpose?
Overcoming opened up my mind
Overcoming our communication issues led to personal growth and an open mind.
Don't let the things from the past eat you up inside
We should not dwell on past failures or mistakes, or let them define who we are.
Is it love that you break
Are we intentionally breaking someone's heart?
Or is it love that you make
Are we building a future with someone we love?
Is it love we're breaking
Are we causing someone unnecessary pain?
Or love we're making
Are we strengthening a bond and building a future with someone?
Or love just wasting time
Are we just going through the motions, without any real substance to our relationship?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK HANNON, JEFFREY KEITH, TROY LUCCKETTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher N. Savage
on Getting' Better
A shame that you can't see the original video, but this tune has the passion and power to lift you up and brighten your day!!!!!