The Badlees are from Selinsgrove, PA. They had a few hits on the radio over… Read Full Bio ↴The Badlees are from Selinsgrove, PA. They had a few hits on the radio over the years, a couple of which ended up in rotation on VH-1. Their style is roots rock with heavy Appalachian influences. Their sound could be described a mixture of Gin Blossoms, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springstien.

Next Big Thing
The Badlees Lyrics

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The kings of America were falling out of fashion
The system systematically
Was shooting out their lights
Driven to the level of paparazzi comers
They bid the public an ugly goodnight

Well, the shaved and depraved
The concealed and the well-healed

The maintained and the drained
The walking dead and the well-read

All have a stake in the model and the make
Of the latest star attractions

Can you tell us who's the next big thing
Can you tell us who's the next big thing
We know they ain't gonna last
But it's always a blast to devour every second

The girl in the pressure cooker's
Losing her mystique now
The brains at The Star
Say she's dying by degrees
With tales of self abuse
And a criminal citation
Her sun is setting in the Hollywood sea

Well, the ares and the ain'ts
The gratified and the fried
The diseased and the pleased
The endowed and the street crowd

All want a piece of the latest release
To stroke the head of their condition

Can you tell us who's the next big thing
Can you tell us who's the next big thing

We know they ain't gonna last
But it's always a blast to devour every second

Overall Meaning

The Badlees’ “Next Big Thing” is a satirical critique of the American entertainment industry and the phenomena of celebrity worship. The song condemns the objectification of people in the entertainment business, highlighting the fickle nature of the industry and the media's relentless pursuit of the "next big thing."

The song suggests that those who gain fame are quickly discarded and forgotten by the public, emphasizing the superficiality of stardom. The opening lines, “The kings of America were falling out of fashion / The system systematically / Was shooting out their lights,” demonstrate how quickly the public’s interest can shift from one celebrity or group to the next. The lyrics also mock the public’s fascination with the personal lives of celebrities, with lines like “With tales of self abuse / And a criminal citation / Her sun is setting in the Hollywood sea.”

The chorus of the song asks “Can you tell us who’s the next big thing?” which implies that the public is constantly looking for the next new and exciting celebrity to idolize but, ultimately, they won’t last. The song suggests that celebrity worship harms not only the celebrities themselves but also perpetuates an unhealthy fascination with superficial things. Overall, “Next Big Thing” is a critique of the empty promise of fame and reminds listeners to question the ideals of celebrity culture.

Line by Line Meaning

The kings of America were falling out of fashion
The people who used to be popular and powerful in America are no longer seen as trendy or fashionable.

The system systematically Was shooting out their lights
The system was deliberately causing the downfall of these former kings of America.

Driven to the level of paparazzi comers They bid the public an ugly goodnight
These kings of America are now reduced to being chased by paparazzi, and they say goodbye to the public in an unpleasant way.

Well, the shaved and depraved The concealed and the well-healed The maintained and the drained The walking dead and the well-read
Different types of people, including those who are smooth or wicked, those who hide or are well-off, those who are healthy or exhausted, those who are aimless or educated, all have an interest in the newest popular celebrities.

All have a stake in the model and the make Of the latest star attractions
All these different types of people have something to gain by being involved with the latest, most popular celebrities.

Can you tell us who's the next big thing Can you tell us who's the next big thing We know they ain't gonna last But it's always a blast to devour every second
Everyone wants to know who the next big celebrity will be, even though they won't stay popular for long. However, it's always exciting to watch them while they're hot and popular.

The girl in the pressure cooker's Losing her mystique now
A popular girl is losing her allure or charm, possibly due to being under a lot of pressure.

The brains at The Star Say she's dying by degrees
Experts at a publication called The Star believe that this girl is losing popularity gradually.

With tales of self abuse And a criminal citation Her sun is setting in the Hollywood sea
The girl is facing negative publicity due to rumors of self-harm and possibly even legal trouble. Her popularity is declining and she's losing her standing in Hollywood.

Well, the ares and the ain'ts The gratified and the fried The diseased and the pleased The endowed and the street crowd
Different groups of people, including those who are successful or not, those who are satisfied or exhausted, those who are sick or happy, those who are privileged or from the streets, all want to be a part of the latest popular celebrities.

All want a piece of the latest release To stroke the head of their condition
Everyone wants to be part of the latest, most popular celebrities, either to boost their own self-esteem or to fit in with their own group.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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