Tesla is an American hard rock band originating from Sacramento, California… Read Full Bio ↴Tesla is an American hard rock band originating from Sacramento, California. The band formed in 1984 as City Kidd and was renamed to Tesla during the recording of their first album on the advice of their manager. According to the Love Song Songfacts, their name (and the inspiration for some songs) comes from Nikola Tesla, the legendary scientist and inventor who quite possibly is single-handedly responsible for the "mad scientist" trope. Originally, the group included Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitar), Tommy Skeoch (guitar), Brian Wheat (bass) and Troy Luccketta (drums). In 2006, Skeoch was replaced by Dave Rude, who is now an official member of the band.

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.

MP3
Tesla Lyrics

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Everything that's known to man
Got it right here in the palm of my hand
It's all a part of the master plan
One push of a button and you'll understand
All you get is the information
Censoring the situation
Oh my God it's taking me
From the phonograph record to the MP3

All the world is overrun with Technology
Oh my God it seems to me
We've gotta get back to Simplicity
All the world's out of touch with reality
I can't believe
Honest values of family
Come straight from the heart
Like the blood we bleed
And Reachin' out to a friend in need
Means more than a text from a cell phone screen
All these sounds of complication..
In the cloud communication..
Oh my God it's taking me
From the phonograph record to the MP3
All the world is overrun with Technology
Oh my God it seems to me
We gotta get back to Simplicity
All the world is outta touch with reality
It's plain to see
Rewind Now!
Oh my God it's taking me
From the phonograph record to the MP3
All the world is overrun with Technology
Oh my God it seems to me
We gotta get back to Simplicity

All the world is outta touch with reality
I Can't believe, MP3

Overall Meaning

The song "MP3" by Tesla discusses the impact of technology on our society, specifically the shift from traditional forms of media like phonograph records to the digital age of MP3s. The lyrics address the idea that everything is available at the push of a button, and while it may be convenient, it also removes us from reality and true human connection. The chorus emphasizes the importance of simplicity and returning to honest values, such as family and reaching out to friends in need.

The song highlights the concerns many people have about the effect technology has on our lives. It critiques the over-reliance on devices and how it can lead to a lack of genuine human interaction. Tesla is recognizing that while technology is a great addition to our world, it can be overwhelming and we need to focus on keeping ourselves grounded in reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Everything that's known to man
The entirety of human knowledge is accessible to me.

Got it right here in the palm of my hand
I can access all knowledge using technology in my hand.

It's all a part of the master plan
Technology being integrated into society is a part of a bigger plan.

One push of a button and you'll understand
Technology has made accessing knowledge simple and easy for everyone.

All you get is the information
With technology, all you receive is information, there is no personal touch.

Censoring the situation
Technology has the ability to filter or selectively present information to the user.

Oh my God it's taking me
I'm being carried away by technology and its advancements.

From the phonograph record to the MP3
Technology has taken us from the earliest form of recorded music to the digital age.

All the world is overrun with Technology
The prevalence and integration of technology in society is overwhelming.

Oh my God it seems to me
Technology is diverging from the simplicity of real-world experiences.

We've gotta get back to Simplicity
To balance the overwhelming presence of technology, we need to prioritize simplicity.

All the world's out of touch with Reality
The constant use of technology is distancing us from tangible, real-world experiences.

I can't believe
It's difficult for me to come to terms with the extent of technology's influence.

Honest values of family
The fundamental values of family are deeply rooted in honesty and sincerity.

Come straight from the heart
These values are genuine and heartfelt.

Like the blood we bleed
Family values are important and run deep like the blood in our veins.

And Reachin' out to a friend in need
True friendship involves being there for each other in times of need.

Means more than a text from a cell phone screen
Meaningful, personal interaction is more impactful than a simple text message on a screen.

All these sounds of complication..
The complexity of technology can oftentimes create confusion and noise.

In the cloud communication..
The prevalence of cloud-based communication technologies creates further distance between individuals and real-world experiences.

It's plain to see
It's clear and evident that technology has become a dominant part of modern society.

Rewind Now!
We need to refocus our attention towards simplicity and genuine human interactions.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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