Rooted in the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, California, founding band members Jared Watson and guitarist / vocalist Dustin Bushnell met in 1996 while in high school, embarking on a friendship based on music, as well as their shared passion for surfing, skating and the endless party of the laid-back SoCal lifestyle.
Early on, they spent many late nights jamming in Bushnell’s soundproof garage with a four-track recorder, writing unique acoustic hip-hop songs that featured reggae inflections. Inspired by the rock and reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, 311 and The Beastie Boys, the band’s music evolved into their distinct Dirty Heads style.
To complete the Dirty Heads’ sound, the duo added percussionist Jon Olazabal and drummer Matt Ochoa, both talented, experienced musicians. With a set of solid material, the Dirty Heads were further motivated to take their craft to the next level, and they began building a loyal fan base throughout the west coast, while performing acoustically at local bars and small music venues. As they started playing in neighboring Los Angeles, the band found it necessary to charter party buses so their fans could make the 30-mile trek to their shows.
Connecting with sought-after producers Steve Fox and Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray / Ashlee Simpson) the band worked long hours to polish their material and further develop their style. The Dirty Heads also recruited mixing engineer Mario Caldato Jr., best known for his work with the Beastie Boys, to add the finishing touches and create just the right blend.
The band’s highly-anticipated first full-length album is entitled, Any Port in the Storm (Released on EMG through Fontana, a division of Universal Music Group Distribution - September 2008). This debut features 14 tracks that are reminiscent of the upbeat, sun-soaked Southern California party energy. The first single is the optimistic, “Stand Tall.”
Any Port in the Storm also features one of the final recordings of the late music industry icon Billy Preston. Frequently referred to as “The Fifth Beatle,” Preston played on three tracks, including “Stand Tall,” “Chelsea,” and “Driftin.’ ” Other special guests on the album are drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Sting, The Vandals), and veteran session percussionist Alex Acuna, whose A-list musician resume includes Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, and Jackson Browne, to name only a few.
Recently, the band’s music has been attracting attention throughout the world of entertainment. Their songs have been featured in the movie and soundtrack for Surf’s Up (Sony 2007); and the television drama, Shark staring James Woods (CBS 2007. Actor Matthew McConaughey selected the band’s music to be in his upcoming film, Surfer Dude. In addition, the Dirty Heads can be heard in Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam video game (Activision 2007), and several other music compilations and surf/skate videos. On the marketing side, the Dirty Heads have also been included in campaigns for Etnies Jeans and Vestal Watches.
Dirty Heads vocalist Jared Watson sums up their fun, uncomplicated style, “We want to be positive and entertain,” he says. “We just want to make you feel good.”
And who can’t dig that?
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Chelsea
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could've been, I could've been there with you
Wonder why I even try girl
Cause there's just nothing, nothing I can do
Nowhere that I can go, no
Nothing that I can say girl, that's gonna take the pain away
This time I feel like dying, feels like I'm dead within
[Chorus]
Build your castle in the sky, now no one can tell you lies,
Heaven's not so far if I can see you in my dreams
When I feel my time is near, I won't be sad cause you'll be there
I know you're right there waiting for me, yeah, yeah, yeah
It's hard to make it on my own
I need your love girl, so much more than I'd ever known
Sometimes it's hard to breathe
Sometimes it hurts so bad, girl, that I just fall to my knees.
This time I feel like dying, feels like I'm dead within
Sometimes I wish I was, girl, so I could hold you, again
[Chorus]
Yeah, waiting for me (I never thought that you would wait for me)
No, waiting for you (I didn't think that we could never be)
Yeah, waiting for me (I never thought that you would)
Yeah waiting for me
[Chorus: x2]
The Dirty Heads' song "Chelsea" talks about heartbreak, regrets and the longing for a lost love. The singer is full of remorse as he reflects on the time he wasted while he could have been with Chelsea. He expresses his helplessness and the fact that nothing he says or does can take away the pain. The chorus encourages Chelsea to build her castle in the sky where no one can tell her lies. It talks about the hope of being with Chelsea again in the afterlife and the reassurance that she'll be waiting for him. The song's final lines express the singer's disbelief that Chelsea is still waiting for him.
The lyrics of "Chelsea" are quite poignant and epitomize the pain of heartbreak. The singer's emotions are raw and genuine as he tries to come to terms with the end of his relationship. The song's title itself is a nod to the Chelsea Hotel in New York, known for its association with artists and musicians, and is rumored to have witnessed many great love stories start and end.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder why I wasted all of my time
I regret spending time without you
I could've been, I could've been there with you
I could have been with you instead of wasting time
Wonder why I even try girl
I am discouraged because my efforts seem futile
Cause there's just nothing, nothing I can do
I feel powerless to change the situation
Nowhere that I can go, no
I cannot escape from the pain
Nothing that I can say girl, that's gonna take the pain away
I cannot fix the pain with words
This time I feel like dying, feels like I'm dead within
I am overwhelmed with sadness and despair
Sometimes I wish I was, girl, so I could hold you again
I wish I could be with you again
Build your castle in the sky, now no one can tell you lies,
Create your own reality where you are safe from deception
Heaven's not so far if I can see you in my dreams
I find comfort in seeing you in my dreams
When I feel my time is near, I won't be sad cause you'll be there
I will not fear death because I know you will be waiting for me
It's hard to make it on my own
It is difficult to live without you
I need your love girl, so much more than I'd ever known
I realize I need your love more than I thought
Sometimes it's hard to breathe
The pain is overwhelming
Sometimes it hurts so bad, girl, that I just fall to my knees.
The pain is so intense that it physically affects me
Yeah, waiting for me (I never thought that you would wait for me)
I am surprised and grateful that you are waiting for me
No, waiting for you (I didn't think that we could never be)
I did not expect to be separated from you like this
Yeah, waiting for me (I never thought that you would)
I did not expect your commitment to waiting for me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DUSTIN BUSHNELL, JARED WATSON, STEVEN LAWRENCE FOX, CHARLES STANTON FRAZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind