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?
www.dirtyheads.com
www.myspace.com/dirtyheads
Radio
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said I even sounded good in her car through her '87 stereo
Yeah she thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all
He said he heard me on the radio
He said I said every word that he was thinking and he felt like we're related though
Yeah he thought I was cool
You don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You thought you know me 'cause you listened to the songs I'm singing
But they don't talk about my bad days
And they don't know they price that I've paid
What I've lost
How I've tried
Yeah I close my eyes and just keep moving on
I don't care about what they say
I don't do it for the payday
No I don't
And I won't
Yeah I close my eyes and just keep moving on
She said she heard me on the radio
She said I even sounded good in her car through her '87 stereo
Yeah she thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all
He said he heard me on the radio
He said I said every word that he was thinking and he felt like we're related though
Yeah he thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You thought you know me 'cause you listen to the songs I'm singing
I'm still looking for the right line
I really think I'm losing my mind
Yes I do, it's true
But I close my eyes and just keep moving on
You don't hear me when I'm screaming
And just like you I got my demons
Yes I do, I do, we do
So close your eyes and just keep moving on
She said she heard me on the radio
She said I even sounded good in her car through her '87 stereo
Yeah she thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all
He said he heard me on the radio
He said I said every word that he was thinking and he felt like we're related though
Yeah he thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You don't know me at all (ahh-all)
But you don't know me at all
You do it all for us
We do it all for you
No matter what happens with this love we can all get through
You think its faire douchè
You think it's flashing lights yeah
You think it's all been given
You think it's easy living
She said she heard me on the radio
She said I even sounded good in her car through her '87 stereo
Yeah she thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all
He said he heard me on the radio
He said I said every word that he was thinking and he felt like we're related though
Yeah he thought I was cool
But you don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You don't know me at all (ahh-all)
You thought you know me 'cause you listen to the songs I'm singing
The Dirty Heads' song "Radio" addresses the common misconception that listeners know musicians personally just because they hear their music on the radio. The singer highlights the fact that listeners only hear what the musician chooses to share through their music, and that they don't know the personal struggles that the musician may have faced. Despite this, the singer chooses to keep moving forward, even when facing rejection or struggling to find the right lyrics.
The song is written as a conversation between the singer and a listener who reached out to them after hearing their music on the radio. The listener thinks they know the singer because of the strong connection they feel to their lyrics, but the singer clarifies that the music is just a part of their life and doesn't encompass their entire persona. The lyrics show that music can be a powerful outlet for artists to express themselves, but it doesn't necessarily equate to them being fully understood by their audience.
Overall, "Radio" provides a reminder that we shouldn't assume we know everything about someone just because we enjoy their music. It's a call for listeners to recognize that there's more to an artist's story than what they sing about, and that we should respect their privacy and personal struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
She said she heard me on the radio
Someone claimed they heard my music on the radio.
She said I even sounded good in her car through her '87 stereo
The person claimed to have enjoyed my music through an old car stereo.
Yeah she thought I was cool
The person had a positive reaction to my music.
But you don't know me at all
Despite hearing my music, the person still does not truly understand who I am as a person.
He said he heard me on the radio
Someone else claimed they heard my music on the radio.
He said I said every word that he was thinking and he felt like we're related though
The person felt a strong connection to my music and lyrics.
You don't know me at all (ahh-all)
Despite thinking they know me through my music, they still do not truly understand who I am as a person.
You thought you know me 'cause you listened to the songs I'm singing
The listener mistakenly believed that my music is an accurate representation of who I am as a person.
But they don't talk about my bad days
My music does not always discuss the difficult times in my life.
And they don't know they price that I've paid
Listeners are not aware of the struggles and sacrifices I have made to pursue my music career.
What I've lost
I have experienced losses in my personal life that my music does not always reflect.
How I've tried
My music does not always convey the effort I have made to achieve success.
Yeah I close my eyes and just keep moving on
Despite the challenges I have faced, I persevere and continue to pursue my passion for music.
I don't care about what they say
I am not concerned with others' negative opinions of my music or my career choices.
I don't do it for the payday
My motivation for creating music is not financial gain.
No I don't
This statement reinforces that my music is not dictated by money or popularity.
And I won't
My music will continue to reflect my personal values and beliefs regardless of outside pressures.
I'm still looking for the right line
As an artist, I am still searching for the perfect way to express myself through my lyrics.
I really think I'm losing my mind
The creative process can be mentally and emotionally taxing, leading to moments of self-doubt.
Yes I do, it's true
This statement confirms the previous line and the emotional toll of pursuing music.
You don't hear me when I'm screaming
Despite my music being listened to by others, they may not understand the true emotion behind the lyrics.
And just like you I got my demons
I, like others, have internal struggles that are not always evident through my music.
So close your eyes and just keep moving on
This line is a reminder to listeners to persevere through their own struggles and keep moving forward.
You do it all for us
As an artist, I create music for my audience to enjoy and connect with on a personal level.
We do it all for you
This line reinforces that my music is intended to connect with my listeners in a meaningful way.
No matter what happens with this love we can all get through
Despite any challenges or difficulties, the love and connection shared through music can help us all overcome hardships.
You think its faire douchè
This line is unclear and its meaning is uncertain without further context or information.
You think it's flashing lights yeah
This line may reference the perceived glamour of the music industry and the superficial elements that often accompany it.
You think it's all been given
The listener may mistakenly believe that my success as a musician has come easily and without struggle.
You think it's easy living
The listener may believe that the life of a musician is easy or free from difficulty.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DUSTIN BUSHNELL, DWAYNE CHIN-QUEE, JUSTIN WATSON, KUNLEY MCCARTHY, MITCHUM CHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Better Noise Music - ALT
Check out Dirty Heads' new music video - Life's Been Good https://bit.ly/DHLBG
BeachRumminbummin
heard these dudes out of the blue one day, didn't wanna like em, but I could tell pretty quick I was in denial. very good.
awesome artists
Jacob Beck
Screw what everybody else is saying, the Dirty Heads have been killing it since day one and this album is no exception.
Loaf
Jacob Beck ikr
Jen G
this song literally saved my life. "close my eyes and just keep moving on"
surfer987dog
but you don't even know him at all! ;)
Post 98
My favorite song on the entire album.
Andrew Brunelle
Another great song on another great DH album. 95% of the Dirty Heads songs are either really good or excellent. This album was great all the way through. I just wish it had been longer than 13 songs.
Khiljaz
Every song I've heard on this album makes me want to move. Keep up the awesome work DH!
Justin Wickham
Probably my favorite dirty heads song ever and there's plenty of great songs to choose from, but this one just resonates with me.