The Apples in Stereo currently consist of Robert Schneider (vocals, guitar), Eric Allen (bass), John Hill (rhythm guitar), John Ferguson (keyboards) and John Dufilho. Schneider writes the most of the band's music and lyrics. Their debut release was 1995's Fun Trick Noisemaker (with Jim McIntyre on bass).
Longtime drummer Hilarie Sydney left the band in 2006, performing her last show at the Athens Popfestival.
Robert Schneider has side projects: Marbles, Ulysses, Thee American Revolution and a new kids music project under the name Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine. He does a lot of commercial composition and film score work.
John Hill also plays guitar in Dressy Bessy.
Bill Doss, who had been the band's keyboardist since 2007, died on July 30, 2012. Doss was also the singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Olivia Tremor Control, the sole member of The Sunshine Fix, and an original member of the Elephant 6 collective.
One of their most popular songs, "Signal In The Sky," was created for and featured in episode 46 of The Powerpuff Girls.
They are best known for their bright, catchy lyrics and 60s pop/rock sound that often provokes comparisons to The Beatles, ELO and The Beach Boys.
Their major influences include The Velvet Underground and The Beach Boys.
Same Old Drag
The Apples in Stereo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Use your imagination
You don't want to wind up
State of agitation
Joni take some time out
Break communication
You just gotta sign out
Take some medication
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
Old drag
Joni got your message
Psychic constellations
You go on a voyage
Got no destination
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
Old drag
Joni got your letter
Skipped the information
Said your feeling better
Took some medication
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
Old drag
It's the same old drag
Oh you know you don't need none of that
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
It's the same it's the same
Old drag
The lyrics in The Apples in Stereo's song "Same Old Drag" speak to a person named Joni who needs to make up her mind and use her imagination in order to break free from the monotony of her life. The first lines urge Joni to take some time out and break communication with whatever is causing her agitation. The next verse references psychic constellations and voyages with no destination, perhaps alluding to the idea that Joni is searching for something new and exciting, but doesn't know how to find it. The final verse references Joni feeling better and taking medication, suggesting that she may have found a temporary solution, but the same old drag will come back if she doesn't seek out meaningful change.
The repeated refrain, "It's the same old drag, oh you know you don't need none of that" reinforces the idea that Joni is stuck in a rut and needs to break free from her current situation. The song ends with a final plea to break the cycle and avoid falling back into the same old drag.
Overall, the lyrics to "Same Old Drag" are an encouragement to seek out change and find a new path in life. It points out the danger of falling into the trap of monotony and the importance of using one's imagination to make life more fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
Joni make your mind up
Decide what you really want, Joni
Use your imagination
Think outside the box, Joni
You don't want to wind up
You don't want to end up
State of agitation
Feeling stressed and anxious
Joni take some time out
Joni, take a break
Break communication
Disconnect from everyone and everything
You just gotta sign out
You just have to log off and take a break
Take some medication
Use medicine to calm yourself down, Joni
It's the same old drag
It's the same old routine
Oh you know you don't need none of that
You know you don't need this feeling, Joni
Joni got your message
You got the message, Joni
Psychic constellations
Cosmic connections
You go on a voyage
You embark on a journey
Got no destination
Without a clear end goal
Joni got your letter
You got the letter, Joni
Skipped the information
Didn't pay attention to the details
Said your feeling better
Claimed that you feel better
It's the same it's the same
It's repetitive, Joni
Old drag
Unnecessary stress
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
katharsis
Wow, there hasn’t been comments for years, this song doesn’t get enough attention. It’s really good!
TheAlistairDick
New Magnetic Wonder is a fantastic album
CoverMyMouth
the Apples are sooo good... the opening chord progression in this song is genius
Shaun McDonald
Has this song ever been covered, used in a movie, TV show, commercial, or anything like that? I just picked up this album and as soon as this song started I just got the strongest sense of de ja vu. Like I'd heard it, more than once, in the distant past.
Kyle Wengel
The intro is reminiscent of "Evil Woman" by ELO--maybe that's it?
lazybones
cant stop listening!
ThirdEyeOpen123
i went through a confusing stage where i was adement that i did not like the apples in stereo.. but f**ck me, i can't stop listening to them, they're AMAZING!!
blueelectricsmoke
there are 96 tracks layered in this song. that is fucking insane. people keep mentioning the ELO references but I swear ELO's happiness rarely sounded this honest.
BURNOUTRS
why is it that, i've heard like every single song by this group before but I just discovered them? As I continue to click on other videos I start listening and think WTF I've heard this before!
busterabcat
TUNES TUNES TUNES TUNES TUNES!!! SHITLOADS OF THEM!! How great is this poptastic song? Sounds like Beatles/ELO/Todd Rundgren all rolled into one. I also love how goddamned DENSE a lot of the Apples songs are in terms of compressed production - just so many melodic bits simply crammed into the mix. They have such a unique sound that could ONLY be them the moment you hear one of their songs! They also make vocodered vocals sound sexy! Only Super Furry Animals can pull that off too!