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.
Not Fragile
Tesla Lyrics
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Hopin' boogie's still allowed
You asked do we play heavy music?
Well, a thunder heads just another cloud and we do
Not fragile, straight at you
When we vanish through the night
Still in your ears but out of sight
Don't think we feel hurt or wounded
Oh, I'm either showin' through
It's our road that's been disrupted
And our streets reflects from you, well it's true
Not fragile over you
Triumphs in your gettin' down
Feelin' high or just hangin' 'round
Not fragile
Not fragile
The times we travel in our lives
Are hard and fast and give us drive
We may seem distant most of the time
But many thoughts are still on our minds
Not fragile, fragile, oh
The song "Not Fragile" by Tesla is a hard-rock anthem that speaks to the band's resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics convey the band's confidence and steadfastness in their music, regardless of any obstacles that may come their way. The song opens with the band proclaiming that they are coming to play their heavy music, and that they hope "boogie's still allowed." This is a nod to the band's roots in the 1970s hard-rock scene, where they honed their craft playing cover songs and original material at bars and clubs across the country.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the band's strong and unbreakable spirit, as they proclaim that they are "Not fragile, straight at you." This is a message that resonates with fans of hard rock, who often see the genre as a means of expressing their own resilience and strength. The verses of the song touch on the idea that the band has faced challenges and setbacks, but that they have persevered through it all. They acknowledge that their "road" has been disrupted, but that they are still standing strong.
The bridge of the song speaks to the idea that life is hard and fast, but that the band is still connected to their fans and their music. They may seem "distant" at times, but their thoughts are always on their minds. Overall, "Not Fragile" is a song that celebrates the spirit of hard-rock music and the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Comin' to you across country
We're on a journey, traveling from afar to come to you.
Hopin' boogie's still allowed
We hope that we can still bring you some intense and lively music.
You asked do we play heavy music?
You inquired about our style of music, wondering if it's intense and hard-hitting.
Well, a thunder heads just another cloud and we do
Our music may seem loud and intense, but to us it's just another form of expression.
Not fragile, straight at you
We're not weak or delicate, and we're coming at you with full force.
When we vanish through the night
When we leave, it may seem like we've disappeared into thin air.
Still in your ears but out of sight
But the memory of our music will still be lingering in your mind long after we're gone.
Don't think we feel hurt or wounded
Don't assume that we're easily affected by criticism or negativity.
Oh, I'm either showin' through
In fact, our resilience is shining through our actions and demeanor.
It's our road that's been disrupted
It's our path that's been altered or interrupted.
And our streets reflects from you, well it's true
And the way we navigate through life is influenced by the people and environments around us.
Not fragile over you
We're not emotionally fragile when it comes to dealing with you or your actions.
Triumphs in your gettin' down
We find victory in getting you to move and groove to our music.
Feelin' high or just hangin' 'round
Whether you're feeling euphoric or just chilling out, our music is meant to be enjoyed in any mood.
The times we travel in our lives
Throughout our personal journeys in life,
Are hard and fast and give us drive
We face many obstacles and challenges, but they only fuel our ambition and motivation.
We may seem distant most of the time
We may appear aloof or closed off to others for the majority of the time.
But many thoughts are still on our minds
But that doesn't mean we're not constantly thinking or reflecting on our experiences and emotions.
Not fragile, fragile, oh
We may seem unbreakable, but we're still human at the core and have moments of vulnerability.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kevin Daw
No f'ing way! How bad ass that Tesla covered one of my favs. Did a nice job on it too!
Gregory Harris
I remember my parents had bto on 8- track. awesome job Tesla.
Mark Garno
Kevin Daw saw Tesla back around their 2nd album. SDSU AMPHITHEATRE. It seemed like they played both albums in their entirety. And they REALLY PLAYED! UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE! Truly one of the greatest concerts in my lifetime. And they sounded awesome! Better live than their records
Ron Hays
Nice Cover - you know somebody in Tesla loves them some BTO!!!!!
NoneBuriedDeeper
They dug deep for this. You know its someone's personal favorite.
Todd Shroyer
Excellent guitar work on this, one of my all-time favorite songs
Patrick Fuller
how nice that it still lives lol love BTO
BlackmoreRules
Wow. That took only a split second to blow me away.
Cindi Rill
Not Fragile. Bad asss!!!!! Had to throw another s in there!!!
Gregory Harris
BTO I'm sure gives two thumbs up.