Throughout the band's existence, the duo toured and recorded with a revolving door of musicians, and as of 2007, the band consisted of guitarists Mike Schey and Mark Buzard, bassist Don Raymond, drummer Adam Boyd, and its principal members, singer Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. The band chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. Despite this critique of the music industry, the band's aptly-titled first single--"The First Single" (from their five-song debut EP on Western Tread)--became popular in the Southwest music scene. This success led to The Format's signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first major label release and full-length album Interventions and Lullabies was released in October 2003. However, Elektra began to fold into a merger just as the album was rolling out its promotion, leaving the band as merely an afterthought as label restructuring began. The band toured North America for about two years while making plans for a new album and waiting out industry red tape.
The Format released a second EP on Atlantic (which had absorbed much of Elektra's roster after the label folded) titled Snails in April 2005. Although the EP was not a conventional mass release, it could be purchased at any of the band's performances, from their online merch store, and on iTunes. Not long after the release of the Snails EP, The Format was dropped from Atlantic. Due to their frustrating experiences with major labels, the band chose to record and release their second full-length album Dog Problems independently on The Vanity Label. The July 11, 2006 release of Dog Problems came two months after the band released the album for download on their website, in a move to combat an early leak.
On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus because of creative differences. Nate Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later this year.
Nate Ruess, the band's singer and lyricist, left the following message on the band's website:
"We have just put out word that we will not be making a new Format album. Please understand this was a tough decision and we're both upset about it. While we accept there will be false speculation as to why, understand that Sam and I remain extremely close and in fact are still passing the twin peaks box set back and forth in an attempt to figure out who REALLY killed Laura Palmer. We also want to thank everyone with and within the Format, particularly Mike, Don, and Marko, whom without, none of this would have ever even been fully realized. We both suggest you support their musical talents and whatever they decide to do. And lastly we want to thank the fans who made this the best 5 years of our lives."
Ruess announced August 11, 2008 that he is starting a new project called fun. with Andrew Dost formerly of Anathallo and Jack Antonof of Steel Train.
The Vanity Label, an imprint of major label Nettwerk, is managed by the band.
Since the end of The Format, Sam has continued designing merchandise. He converted theformatmerch.com into hellomerch.com where he features his newest work.
On February 4, 2020, the band announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows.
The First
The Format Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Chorus) You know me, oh you think you do, you just don't seem to see. I've been waiting all this time to be something that I can't define. So let's cause a scene. Clap our hands and stomp our feet. Or something, yeah something. I've just gotta get myself over me.
I could stand to do without all the people I have left behind. What's the point in going around when its straight line baby. A straight line down. So let's make a list of who we need and it's not much if any thing. Lets make a list of who we need and well throw it away cause we don't need anyone, no we don't need anyone.
And I hate what I've become. You know the night life is just not for me, cause all you really need are a few good friends. I don't want to go out and be on my own, you know they started something I can't stand. You leave for the city, well count me out. Cause all this time is wasted on everything I've done.
The Format's song "The First Single" is a poignant commentary on social anxieties and expectations of conformity. The opening lines - "I can't stand to think about a heart so big it hurts like hell. Oh my God I gave my best but for three more years to end like this" - captures the apprehension one feels while searching for a place in the world. The fear of failing often results in self-doubt and intense scrutiny of one's flaws. The following lines - "Do you want to fall apart? I could if you can try to fix what I've undone. Cause I hate what I've become" - emphasizes the need for someone to help when we are at our lowest, and for us to help them in return.
The chorus - "You know me, oh you think you do, you just don't seem to see. I've been waiting all this time to be something that I can't define. So let's cause a scene. Clap our hands and stomp our feet. Or something, yeah something. I've just gotta get myself over me" - highlights the need for individuality and non-conformity. It speaks of the struggle to find oneself by breaking away from societal expectations and causing a stir, even if it means breaking the rules.
The lines "The night life is just not for me, cause all you really need are a few good friends. I don't want to go out and be on my own" speaks of the desire for close friendships and companionship over partying and the superficiality of a busy nightlife. The song ends with the assertion of one's worthlessness and a lack of need for anyone, even oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't stand to think about a heart so big it hurts like hell.
The idea of a heart that is so full of love that it causes immense pain is unbearable for me to contemplate.
Oh my God I gave my best but for three more years to end like this.
Despite doing everything I could, the last three years of my life have ended in disappointment and failure.
Well do you want to fall apart? I can't stop if you can't start.
If you're not willing to make an effort to fix the problems between us, we're both going to end up broken.
Do you want to fall apart? I could if you can try to fix what I've undone.
If you make an effort to undo the mistakes I've made, I'll do my part to prevent our relationship from falling apart.
Cause I hate what I've become.
I feel deep shame and self-disgust over the person I have turned into.
You know me, oh you think you do, you just don't seem to see.
You believe you understand who I am, but in reality, you're blind to the parts of me that make me complex and different.
I've been waiting all this time to be something that I can't define.
I have spent my entire life searching for a sense of identity and purpose that I still cannot fully comprehend.
So let's cause a scene. Clap our hands and stomp our feet. Or something, yeah something. I've just gotta get myself over me.
Let's do something outrageous and attention-grabbing to distract myself from my own internal turmoil and self-doubt.
I could stand to do without all the people I have left behind.
I often feel as though I would be better off without the people from my past who have hurt or disappointed me.
What's the point in going around when its straight line baby. A straight line down.
Life feels like it's leading to a predictable and inevitable downfall, not a fulfilling journey full of twists and turns.
So let's make a list of who we need and it's not much if any thing. Lets make a list of who we need and well throw it away cause we don't need anyone, no we don't need anyone.
We could make a list of the people who truly matter to us, but the truth is that we don't need anyone else to feel complete.
And I hate what I've become.
I feel immense disgust and disappointment with the person I have turned into.
You know the night life is just not for me, cause all you really need are a few good friends.
I'm not interested in the typical party scene because I know that all I really need in life is a small circle of close, loyal friends.
I don't want to go out and be on my own, you know they started something I can't stand.
I don't enjoy being alone because it reminds me of the people who have hurt me in the past and have caused me to feel deeply unfulfilled.
You leave for the city, well count me out. Cause all this time is wasted on everything I've done.
If you're going to abandon me and pursue your own dreams, then I'm no longer interested in being part of your journey because I feel that all of my past efforts have amounted to nothing.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tfrisch83
This might be the most underrated song of all time.
@cynthia-lah
Agree!
@badgerfann3618
especially considering Nate wrote it when he was like 17 or 18.
@tfrisch83
Zen Tranquilizer I hear you, what bands do you speak of by the way? I'd like to hear them.
@virgil9303
HCO
@mattkimmich91
You’re not wrong.
@mathewpeters7685
Woke up with this song stuck in my head, haven't heard it since hs/early college. This song meant so much to me for so long. Crazy. All I can say to anyone out there listening is that time heals all wounds!
@ahshhr3jeoapjfb3jejeee74
Is it still stuck in your head after all these years?
@jennamoe4183
Rocked out to these guys in the mid 2000s, now I'm playing these bangers to my kids
@trump-totalwar6509
wouldn't mind bangin you