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.
Ricochet
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go town to town playin’ one night stands
Tearin’ it up night after night
It’s a life I lead
With no end in sight
So call up your friends, come down to the show
The crew got it ready for rock and roll
Bouncing off the walls
Ricochet
Rockin’ all the halls
Ricochet
I’m a fireball
Ricochet
Like Uncle Ted said, a Free-for-all
Rollin down the tracks like a runaway train
Moving so fast enough to drive you insane
Take it or leave it, it’s the name of the game
You better believe you’ll never be the same
So there goes he’s holding up a sign
While Static G is making sure we’re on time
Playing music every night
Havin’ the time of my life
Everything will be all right, all right, all right, all right tonight
So here we are we’re back again
With a brand new record ready to spin
We love our fans wanna make ‘em proud
Slap it in and turn it up loud
The lyrics of Tesla's song Ricochet paint a vivid picture of a life led by a rock and roll band. The first verse describes the band's routine of traveling from town to town, playing one-night stands and leaving a trail of destruction behind them, night after night. The second verse continues this theme but also touches on the adrenaline rush of this lifestyle, likening it to a runaway train that moves so fast it could drive someone insane. The chorus, which features the repeated refrain of "Ricochet," underscores the frenzy and excitement of playing live shows, bouncing off the walls and rocking all the halls.
At its core, the song is a celebration of the rock and roll lifestyle, with the band reveling in its ability to travel, play music every night, and have the time of their lives. The lyrics specifically invite listeners to come down to the show and enjoy the experience with them.
Interestingly, the chorus of "Ricochet" features a nod to the legendary rocker Ted Nugent, with the line "Like Uncle Ted said, a Free-for-all." It's a reference to Nugent's classic song "Free-for-All," which shares some similarities with "Ricochet" in its celebration of all-out rock and roll.
Overall, "Ricochet" is a high-energy anthem that captures the thrill and excitement of life on the road as a hard-rocking band.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and the boys got a rock and roll band
I have a band composed of me and my friends that plays rock and roll music
Go town to town playin’ one night stands
We travel to different towns and perform at venues for only one night before moving on to the next place
Tearin’ it up night after night
We play with high energy each night and give our all to every performance
It’s a life I lead
This is the lifestyle that I have and it suits me well
With no end in sight
This lifestyle has no clear finish line or endpoint
So call up your friends, come down to the show
We encourage people to invite their friends to come see our live performance
The crew got it ready for rock and roll
Our crew has prepared everything we need for a successful rock and roll show
Ricochet
Our music has a lively and energetic quality that resonates with our fans
Bouncing off the walls
Our music causes a physical and emotional reaction in our fans that makes them feel energized and excited
Rockin’ all the halls
Our music fills the entire venue, resonating through every room and space
I’m a fireball
I play with incredible energy, intensity, and passion
Like Uncle Ted said, a Free-for-all
Our concerts have a wild and unrestricted vibe, where people can let loose and have fun without any inhibitions, as expressed previously by the musician Ted Nugent
Rollin down the tracks like a runaway train
We are moving quickly and with great momentum, just like a runaway train
Moving so fast enough to drive you insane
Our music, performance, and lifestyle are so intense that it might overwhelm some people
Take it or leave it, it’s the name of the game
We take risks, embrace our lifestyle, and don't apologize for it, no matter what others might think
You better believe you’ll never be the same
Attending one of our live performances will leave a lasting impact on you that you'll never forget
So there goes he’s holding up a sign
One of our fans is so excited that they are holding up a sign, expressing their love for the band and music
While Static G is making sure we’re on time
One of our crew members is responsible for ensuring that the show runs on schedule
Playing music every night
We perform live music at night, every night
Havin’ the time of my life
Performing live music is a deeply gratifying and enjoyable experience for me
Everything will be all right, all right, all right, all right tonight
Our fans can expect to have a great time, and we'll all enjoy the night together
So here we are we’re back again
We have returned to another venue to perform once more
With a brand new record ready to spin
We have released new music that we are eager to share with our fans
We love our fans wanna make ‘em proud
Our fans are important to us, and we aim to please them with our music and performances
Slap it in and turn it up loud
We encourage our fans to turn up the volume and enjoy our music to the fullest
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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!!!!!