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.
So What!
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's things I need
It's more than a thought
You know you better believe
I feel it's not what you got
But what your giving back means
So much
Lifes beautiful
Hey if you like it or not
So what, that's all we got
Who cares!
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
So what! So what!
That's life
It's time to get real
It's not paradise, well
So what! So what!
What if you got
All of your dreams
But then what if it's not
Everything
To you that you always thought
That it was gonna be
So what
Life's beautiful
And that sucks
Hey if you like it or not
So what, that's all we got
Who cares!
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
So what! So what!
That's life
It's time to get real
It's not paradise, well
So what! So what!
Who cares!
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
So what! So what!
That's life
It's time to get real
It's not paradise, well
So what! So what!
Who cares!
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
So what! So what!
That's life
It's time to get real
It's not paradise, well
So what! So what!
In "So What!" by Tesla, the lyrics convey a message of living life to the fullest, regardless of circumstances or possessions. The singer acknowledges that while there are things one may want or need, ultimately it's not about what one has or lacks. Instead, it's about what one gives back to the world. Life is beautiful, but it can also be challenging, and that's just the way it is. The singer urges listeners to embrace this reality and stop complaining about it.
The chorus repeats the phrase "So what!" several times, suggesting that it doesn't matter what people say or think about one's situation. It's time to get real and accept life for what it is. The singer poses the question of what if one achieves all their dreams, only to realize it's not everything they thought it would be. The answer is still "So what!" Life goes on, and the important thing is to keep living it.
The message of the song is one of resilience and positivity. It encourages listeners to focus on what they can control, rather than what they cannot. The singer reminds us that life is unpredictable and sometimes unfair, but we must persevere and make the most of what we have.
Overall, "So What!" is a catchy and inspiring anthem that encourages listeners to live life to the fullest and embrace its challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
There's things that I've bought
I've accumulated material possessions
And there's things I need
But there are still things missing in my life
It's more than a thought
These feelings are deeper than just passing ideas
You know you better believe
Trust me, these emotions are authentic
I feel it's not what you got
I believe that true happiness does not come from material things
But what your giving back means
Instead, it comes from the positive impact you have on others
So much Lifes beautiful
Life is full of wonder and excitement
And that sucks
But it also has its downsides and difficulties
Hey if you like it or not
Whether you agree or not
So what, that's all we got
That's just the way life is, and we have to make the most of it
Who cares!
It doesn't matter
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
Stop complaining about life being unfair
So what! So what!
It's still just the way life is, and we have to accept it
That's life
Life is complicated and unpredictable
It's time to get real
It's time to face the reality of life
It's not paradise, well
It's not perfect, unfortunately
What if you got
Imagine if you achieved all your dreams
All of your dreams
Every single thing you've ever wanted
But then what if it's not
But what if that's not enough
Everything
Even though you have everything
To you that you always thought
You realize it's not what you truly wanted
That it was gonna be
It's not what you expected it to be
Who cares!
It doesn't matter
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
Stop complaining about life being unfair
So what! So what!
It's still just the way life is, and we have to accept it
That's life
Life is complicated and unpredictable
It's time to get real
It's time to face the reality of life
It's not paradise, well
It's not perfect, unfortunately
Who cares!
It doesn't matter
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
Stop complaining about life being unfair
So what! So what!
It's still just the way life is, and we have to accept it
That's life
Life is complicated and unpredictable
It's time to get real
It's time to face the reality of life
It's not paradise, well
It's not perfect, unfortunately
Who cares!
It doesn't matter
Your telling everybody that the worlds unfair, well
Stop complaining about life being unfair
So what! So what!
It's still just the way life is, and we have to accept it
That's life
Life is complicated and unpredictable
It's time to get real
It's time to face the reality of life
It's not paradise, well
It's not perfect, unfortunately
So what! So what!
Ultimately, it doesn't matter because this is all we have
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES D. THOMAS, KIRK A. WAN, WILLIAM BIBBS, MARCUS JONES, CHARLES STEPHENS
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!!!!!