Guitarist Mike Connell formed the band in 1984, along with his brother David Connell on bass, Doug MacMillan on vocals, and future filmmaker John Schultz on drums. This initial four-person line-up was quickly supplemented by the addition of George Huntley on second guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Around the same time, former Johnny Quest drummer Peele Wimberley replaced Schultz, finalizing the "classic" line-up of the band.
From the beginning of the group, Mike Connell wrote both the music and the lyrics of the majority of the band’s songs, although he was not the band's primary lead singer. Connell’s influences included the 1960's guitar pop of his childhood, including The Byrds and The Beatles; in an early interview, he stated that the first song he wrote as a teenager was titled “Psychedelic Butterfly."
Like Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Connell and Huntley played Rickenbacker guitars for the first several years of the band’s career, creating a jangly, folk-rock sound reminiscent of The Byrds and other Southern U.S. and North Carolina bands of the era, such as the dB's and Let's Active.
A re-recorded version of “Darker Days” provided the title track to the band’s debut album, which was produced by fellow North Carolinian Don Dixon and released in 1985 on Elvis Costello's Demon Records in the UK and the band’s own Black Park Records label in the U.S.
After touring heavily behind Darker Days, the Connells re-entered the studio in 1986 with Dixon and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter to record their second album, Boylan Heights. The decision to work with Easter continued to perpetuate the comparisons to R.E.M.
Although the band shopped Boylan Heights to various labels, the major record companies, including Columbia Records, which expressed some mild interest, passed on it; the record was ultimately released in 1987 on mid-major TVT Records, which had made its name releasing a series of "Tee Vee Toons" television theme song compilation CDs. TVT would prove to be no commercial match for R.E.M.'s own mid-major label, I.R.S. Records, and over the next decade, The Connells would engage in a series of disputes with the label, on at least one occasion suing, unsuccessfully, to break their recording contract.
Despite the problems with TVT, Boylan Heights was a substantial college radio hit, and The Connells continued to tour relentlessly. During this period, both Connell and Huntley began to move away from their twelve-string Rickenbackers towards six-string Fender and Gibson guitars, leading to a heavier, less folky sound on Fun and Games, the 1989 follow-up album.
Fun and Games was quickly followed in 1990 by One Simple Word, which was recorded in Wales with U.K. producer Hugh Jones.
After a three-year recording hiatus, which included more legal jousting with TVT Records, a rejuvenated Connells released Ring in 1993. While European music fans made Ring a platinum record outside the United States, such high level success in America remained elusive. 1996's Weird Food and Devastation failed to build on the momentum established by its predecessor.
In 1998, the band released Still Life, which marked their final album for TVT. The band released Old School Dropouts on the revived Black Park Records label in 2000. The band recorded the record themselves and promoted it sparingly in the American South.
Peele Wimberley and George Huntley have since left the band. Wimberley briefly played with another band called Parklife, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue interests in Hollywood and in electronic music. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles band, The Lamps.
Huntley is now selling real estate and working part time at the University of North Carolina music department.
Peele Wimberley was replaced on drums by Steve Ritter; after several years Ritter was soon replaced by Chris Stevenson on drums, and Mike Ayers took George's place on lead guitar. The new lineup recorded the album Old School Dropouts.
In 1993, they released "''74-'75" which remains their most popular song. It is based on experiences of the Class of 1975 in a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. The video juxtaposed original yearbook pictures with the class members as they appeared at the time. And then in 2015, the producers tracked down the original members once again, and produced a remixed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l3Lh2cb_g
The last official release of the band was in 2001. They still occasionally perform together, including a reunion concert in 2020.
Upside Down
The Connells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I only think of that.
Try talking?
First I'll try to hum
It's just that my sum isn't adding up.
Oh, let me state my case
I do as I am told
As I brush away the flies. It's so hard.
Don't ask me, I don't seem to know.
I'm a bit slow, yeah
Try walking?
I'll just take the bus
It's not worth the fuss--well, is anything?
Oh let me stat my case
I teach what I am taught
Filter in a fact, confuse it for a thought
Oh, I'd rather use my time to steep.
Well I keep my feet in the air
And my head on the ground
Oh, I'm walking around upside down.
When I stop I can't see you stare
I can't hear a sound
Oh I'm walking around upside down.
The Connells's song Upside Down is a song that speaks to a sense of confusion and feeling lost. The singer's thoughts never seem to match up or add up, and they struggle to communicate with others. They feel like they're walking around upside down, not able to see or hear what's going on around them.
The use of metaphor is strong throughout the lyrics. The idea of being upside down is not literal, but it is a vivid image that captures the disorientation the singer feels. They keep their feet in the air and their head on the ground, which is a physically impossible position. It speaks to the idea of feeling detached and disconnected from the world.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of conformity and following the rules. The singer does what they're told and keeps within the limits set for them. They filter in facts, but struggle to form their own thoughts. This can be interpreted as a criticism of society and education systems that prioritize conformity over critical thinking.
Overall, Upside Down is a song about feeling out of place and disconnected. It uses vivid metaphorical language to convey the sense of disorientation and confusion that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't ask me what I think of this
I don't have enough information or knowledge to form an opinion about this.
I only think of that.
But I do have my own thoughts and concerns that occupy my mind.
Try talking?
Are you suggesting we discuss this issue together?
First I'll try to hum
Before we talk, let me gather my thoughts and try to express them in a simpler way.
It's just that my sum isn't adding up.
I'm having trouble understanding or accepting the situation, because the details or elements don't add up or make sense to me.
Oh, let me state my case
Allow me to explain my perspective or situation in an organized and clear way.
I do as I am told
I follow instructions or rules without questioning them or searching for alternatives.
Keep within the keep, feed within the fold
I try to maintain the status quo and fit in with the existing systems or structures, even if they don't benefit me or challenge me to improve.
As I brush away the flies. It's so hard.
Despite my efforts to conform and ignore distractions or annoyances, it's difficult for me to ignore them completely or feel content.
Don't ask me, I don't seem to know.
I'm not confident or certain about my expertise or knowledge about this topic, so I can't provide reliable information or advice.
I'm a bit slow, yeah
I admit that I might not be the most agile, quick-witted or experienced person in this situation.
Try walking?
Are you suggesting I try a new approach or take different actions to address this issue?
I'll just take the bus
Instead of making any drastic changes, I'll just stick to my usual routine and take the easiest, most convenient method to get where I need to be.
It's not worth the fuss--well, is anything?
I'm resigned to the fact that most things in life are frustrating, disappointing or unfulfilling, so it's not worth getting too worked up about anything.
I teach what I am taught
I don't question the accuracy or relevance of the information or skills that I have learned or been instructed to share with others.
Filter in a fact, confuse it for a thought
Even though I try to share objective facts or data with others, I can't help but interpret or present them in a subjective, emotional or biased way, which might confuse or mislead others.
Oh, I'd rather use my time to steep.
I prefer to spend my time in a meditative, reflective or introspective way, exploring my own ideas, feelings or values, rather than engaging in debates or discussions with others.
Well I keep my feet in the air
I feel like I'm treading water or trying to maintain some balance or momentum while feeling uncertain or vulnerable.
And my head on the ground
At the same time, I'm trying to stay grounded, connected to reality or common sense, and avoid being swept away by fantasies or illusions.
Oh, I'm walking around upside down.
I feel disoriented, confused or conflicted about my role or purpose, and I'm not sure how to find stability or happiness.
When I stop I can't see you stare
When I try to take a break, slow down or pause to reflect or connect with others, I still feel disconnected or lonely, and I don't see or appreciate the people or opportunities around me.
I can't hear a sound
Even though I might be physically present or surrounded by noise or chatter, I feel emotionally or mentally isolated, numb or indifferent.
Oh I'm walking around upside down.
Overall, I feel like the world or my life is turned upside down, and I'm struggling to find a way to make sense of it or improve it.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL CONNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B Bloem
on In my Head
I always thought this was being sung to an aborted baby.