"I met Henri when I was in grade 8," Matt Murphy reminisces. "He came over to my neighbor's house wearing a Jam shirt. I was like, Hey, right on! I like the Jam." Thus began a rock 'n' roll friendship that would eventually lead singer/guitarist Murphy and bassist Henri Sangalang to move from Halifax to Toronto and become the exceptionally fine Flashing Lights, along with drummer Steve Pitkin and keyboardist, tambourine tapper and harmonica hooter Gaven Dianda.
Sangalang and Murphy formed their first band together in grade 12, and Sangalang insists that the music they made at the time was influential on what they're playing now, except with some proficiency in their playing.
Murphy was playing in various other bands around Halifax (including good-time country outfit Little Orton Hoggett) when he decided to jumpstart The Flashing Lights as a 60ss cover band, playing songs by The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and [artistTthe Who.
Alongside The Super Friendz, Murphy made The Flashing Lights a time vehicle for his own 60's inspired yet undeniably '90s creations.
While it might be thought that Murphy's instantly recognizable voice would make The Flashing Lights indistinguishable from The Super Friendz, the band's distinct flavour is apparent.
While gems like "Elevature" and the first single, "Where Do the Days Go", could have been Slide Show - era Super Friendz numbers, the punchy power-pop arrangements are uniquely Flashing Lights.
Landslide
The Flashing Lights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that the way that it's gonna be?
Shouldn't we be out amongst the heart attacks on subway tracks?
Oh, that's the way that it ought to be
Oh, I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
Every kiss could run like horses in a dream
Is that the way it's supposed to be?
When lovers don't know where love's at, they save their kisses for their cat
Oh, that's the way that it's gotta be
Oh, I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
A landslide
The Flashing Lights's song Landslide is a thoughtful commentary on contemporary society and the way we live our lives. The opening lines, "Every night lit up by flashing TV lights, is that the way that it's gonna be?" bring to mind the image of people sitting at home, glued to their screens, disconnected from the world around them. The singer questions if this is really how we want to live, isolated and distant from our fellow humans, and suggests that perhaps we should be out in the world, experiencing life in all its messy, dangerous, thrilling glory. The line "shouldn't we be out amongst the heart attacks on subway tracks?" is particularly striking, as it points out the potential for disaster and tragedy that exists in everyday life, and highlights the bravery required to fully engage with the world.
The song also explores the idea of waiting for something big to happen, for a "landslide" to come and shake things up. The imagery of being "awake so long awaiting a landslide" is evocative and suggests a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with the status quo. The repeated refrain adds to this feeling of anticipation, building towards a climax that never quite arrives. This idea is reinforced by the second verse, which describes the way love can feel like it's just out of reach, like horses running in a dream. The line "when lovers don't know where love's at, they save their kisses for their cat" is a wry commentary on the uncertainty and confusion that often accompanies romantic relationships, and the way that people cope with that.
Overall, The Flashing Lights's Landslide is a compelling and thoughtful song that encourages the listener to think about the way they're living their life, and whether they're really content with the status quo. It's a reminder to be brave, to take risks, and to engage fully with the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night lit up by flashing TV lights
The constant glow of television screens illuminating the darkness of every evening
Is that the way that it's gonna be?
Is this the future we can expect, forever consumed by technology?
Shouldn't we be out amongst the heart attacks on subway tracks?
Shouldn't we be experiencing life, with its joys and its dangers?
Oh, that's the way that it ought to be
Living life to the fullest is the way it should be
Oh, I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
The author has been experiencing a very long wait for something significant to happen
Every kiss could run like horses in a dream
The potential energy that exists within a single kiss, analogous to the graceful motion of galloping horses
Is that the way it's supposed to be?
Is this how love, with all its complex underpinnings, should truly be?
When lovers don't know where love's at, they save their kisses for their cat
When love is uncertain and undefined, people may resort to seeking emotional fulfillment from their pets
Oh, I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
Once again, the author expresses his prolonged anticipation for some grand and defining event in his life
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
Further reinforcement of the lengthy duration of the author's wait
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
Continued repetition of the concept of waiting for something big to happen
I've been awake so long awaiting a landslide
The author can't emphasize enough just how long he's been waiting for something momentous to occur.
A landslide
The huge and transformative event that the author has been waiting for so patiently
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.