The Knocks were formed in 2008 by James "JPatt" Patterson and Ben "DJ B-Roc" Ruttner. Patterson and Ruttner met at New York City's New School and shared an apartment, where they set up small recording studios in their bedrooms. The loud noise coming from their apartment led to neighbors constantly knocking on their door in order to get them to pipe down, hence the duo's name. Early success as remixers, however, enabled them to build their own studio in Manhattan. During 2008 and 2009, Knocks remixes surfaced for Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"), Britney Spears ("3"), and PRGz ("Soul Glo"). B-Roc and Andrew W.K. also released DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2009, featuring several Knocks productions.
In 2010, the Knocks released their first singles, the sunny "Dancing with the DJ" (which later appeared on their 2011 EP Magic) and the whistling "Make It Better." Over the course of the next few years, the duo's profile was magnified by additional remixes for Tegan and Sara ("Closer"), the 1975 ("Girls"), and Dragonette ("Let It Go"), among others, in addition to tours with Ellie Goulding, Dragonette, and Sleigh Bells. They also collaborated with Fred Falke for the KitsunΓ© Music release "Geronimo" in 2012, as well as Treasure Fingers for "DYWT," released on Fool's Gold Clubhouse in 2014. Also in 2014, the group released an EP, titled Comfortable and released on the Neon Gold label, that included collaborations with X Ambassadors and Ra Ra Riot.
Signed to Big Beat, the Knocks slowed it down a bit for the 2014 single "Classic," one of their funkier and more disco-indebted singles, featuring Powers. An EP titled So Classic appeared in April 2015, followed by a new version of "Classic" featuring a verse by Fetty Wap. The Knocks spent much of the year working on their long-delayed debut album, which was previewed by the singles "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)" (with Matthew Koma) and "New York City" (featuring Cam'ron). Finally, in March 2016, the duo released their first full-length, 55, which included additional guest appearances from Wyclef Jean, Walk the Moon, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alex Newell, and Semi-Precious Weapons' Justin Trantor. That July, the pair remixed selected tracks from the album on the 55.5 EP.
In early 2017, the Knocks released Testify, an EP of new songs featuring collaborations with MNEK, Delacey, and Tayla Parx. Later that year, the duo teamed up with Skylar Spence and released a future funk mixtape as Amelia Airhorn. They also formed the Mary Nixons, a group with Mat Zo, and issued the single "Adrian." They followed with the Captain Cuts collaboration "House Party." July 2018 saw the release of the single "Shades" which appeared later that year on the Knocks' second full-length, New York Narcotic. The album also featured contributions from Method Man, Sofi Tukker, and Foster the People.
2019 brought several singles, including the Kah-Lo collaboration "Awa Ni" and "Lucky Me" (with Great Good Fine Ok). Most of these were collected on the EP Summer Series: 2019. Several more singles arrived in 2020, including "One Fine Day" (with Idris Elba), "Bodies" (with MUNA), and "All About You" (featuring Foster the People). The following year, they released Melody & Silence, an EP with Foster the People that included a remix of the single, as well as covers of hits by Beck, Moby, and the Verve. Also in 2021, the Knocks released "R U High" (featuring Mallrat) and "Sound the Alarm" (featuring Rivers Cuomo and Royal & the Serpent), and were featured on Purple Disco Machine's "Fireworks." The following year saw the release of the full-length effort, HISTORY, which featured collaborations with Foster the People, MUNA, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Cold War Kids, Parson James, and Yoke Lore, among others.
Biography by Andy Kellman
Shades
The Knocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They think I stay up all night
All night, all night
Well, just because I'm such a rockstar
Doesn't mean I always get high
Get high, get high (horns)
Well, I look good
Got money in the bank
Damn, that's a lot of money
Said, I look good
He look good
I don't care what you think
I don't give a (fuck) what you think
Sometimes I gotta wear my shades
'Cause there's sunshine dripping down my face
Don't let these people lie to ya
Don't let 'em see ya smile too much
They only tryna take it away
Sometimes you gotta hide from 'em
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, don't talk to me
Well, people say I take it too far
I don't see nothing wrong
Damn right, damn right
I'm a rockstar
And I can do what I want
Get high, get high (horns)
Well, I look good
He look good
Got money in the bank
Damn, that's a lot of money
Said, I look good
He look good
I don't care what you think
I don't give a (fuck) what you think
Sometimes I gotta wear my shades
'Cause there's sunshine dripping down my face
Don't let these people lie to ya
Don't let 'em see ya smile too much
They only tryna take it away
Sometimes you gotta hide from 'em
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Sometimes
You know, things always look a little different
I gotta wear my shades
When you got some tint on your lenses
'Cause there's sunshine
Can't let 'em see what's under the shades
Dripping down my face
You feel me?
Sometimes I gotta wear my shades
You know what I mean?
'Cause there's sunshine dripping down my face
Don't let these people lie to ya
Don't let 'em see ya smile too much
They only tryna take it away
Sometimes you gotta hide from 'em
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Well, I look good
You look good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Got money in the bank
Said, I look good
You look good
I don't give a (fuck) what you think
The Knocks's song "Shades" is about the pressure put on individuals who are deemed successful or famous. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that people consider him a rockstar and associate him with the common behaviors that come along with being a rockstar. However, he makes it clear that he does not always conform to those standards and that just because he is successful, it does not mean he always "gets high." The lyrics "Well, just because I'm such a rockstar, doesn't mean I always get high" show that he is aware of the assumptions made about him based on his looks and job title.
The chorus of the song deals with how others perceive the singer and how he must wear "shades" to hide his true emotions and feelings. The lyrics "Sometimes I gotta wear my shades, 'cause there's sunshine dripping down my face" show that the singer wears sunglasses as a metaphorical barrier to protect himself from people who might judge or criticize him. He does not want to show too much emotion because people may try to take advantage of it. The song's chorus encourages listeners to hide underneath their "shades" to not let others see their vulnerabilities.
Overall, The Knocks's song "Shades" invites listeners to accept their vulnerabilities and emotions without fearing judgment or criticism. The song talks about the pressures that come with success and encourages people to stay true to themselves and not let others create their narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
People say that I'm a rockstar
People think I party all the time and never sleep
They think I stay up all night
They believe I never get any sleep
Well, just because I'm such a rockstar
Being a rockstar doesn't mean I do drugs all the time
Doesn't mean I always get high
I don't always do drugs just because I'm a rockstar
Well, I look good
I am confident in my appearance
He look good
My friend also looks good
Got money in the bank
I have a lot of money saved up
Damn, that's a lot of money
I am impressed by the amount of money I have
Said, I look good
I reaffirm that I am confident in my appearance
He look good
My friend still looks good
I don't care what you think
I am not concerned with other people's opinions
I don't give a (fuck) what you think
I really don't care about other people's opinions
Sometimes I gotta wear my shades
Sometimes I need to hide my emotions behind sunglasses
'Cause there's sunshine dripping down my face
Because I am happy and smiling a lot
Don't let these people lie to ya
Don't believe everything that people say
Don't let 'em see ya smile too much
Keep your emotions in check, don't show too much happiness
They only tryna take it away
People will try to bring you down if you show too much happiness
Sometimes you gotta hide from 'em
Sometimes you need to keep your feelings to yourself
Don't let 'em see what's under the shades
Don't let people see your true emotions
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Repetitive phrase used for emphasis
Don't talk to me
I don't want to talk to anyone right now
Well, people say I take it too far
People think I am excessive or extreme
I don't see nothing wrong
I don't see any problems with my behavior
Damn right, damn right
I am confident in my actions
And I can do what I want
I have the freedom to do what I please
Sometimes
On occasion
You know, things always look a little different
Perception of things can change depending on the situation
When you got some tint on your lenses
When you wear sunglasses
Can't let 'em see what's under the shades
Don't let anyone see your true emotions
You feel me?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin Michael Ruttner, Ivan Jackson Rosenberg, James Patterson, Jaramye Daniels, Morten Pilegaard, Nick Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theknocks
LYRICS
People say that Iβm a rock star
They think I stay up all night (all night x2)
Well just because Iβm such a rock star
Doesnβt mean I only get high (get high x2, huh)
I look good, (He look good)
Got money in the bank (God damn thatβs a lot of money)
I look good, (he look good)
Donβt give a fuck whatchu think (x2)
Sometimes, I gotta wear my shades
Cause thereβs sunshine, dripping down my face
Donβt let these people lie to ya
Donβt let βem see ya smile too much
They only tryna take it away
Sometimes you gotta hide from βem
Donβt let βem see whatβs under the shades
Donβt let βem see whatβs under the shades (oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Donβt let βem see whatβs under the shades
yeah, yeah, donβt talk to me
people say I take it too far
I donβt see nothing wrong (Damn right damn right)
Cuz Iβm a mother fucking rock star
I can do what I want (Get high get high)
Come on!
I look good, (he look good)
Got money in the bank (God damn thatβs a lot of money)
I look good, (he look good)
Donβt give a fuck whatchu think
Sometimes, I gotta wear my shades
Cause thereβs sunshine, dripping down my face
Donβt let these people lie to ya
Donβt let βem see ya smile too much
They only tryna take it away
Sometimes you gotta hide from βem
Donβt let βem see whatβs under the shades
@markerenberg3439
The Knocks consistently make the best music β₯οΈ
@smilejenkins
You guys have definitely proven that you can stand on your own, without a band like ftp doing your vocals. Great job you two!
@darklauma5062
Actually didnβt expect anything much from a Instagram advertisement but when I checked this out I absolutely fell I love with this fresh summer feel! Good job
@ginarose9463
I looked up the lyrics to this song from a commercial about shades ππ
@tracyjewels8883
Haha same
@Alex-wu8iw
sameeee
@electriclies7565
Same here, i think it was the bose sunglassses commercial.
@nopenotthatguy8678
Gina rose same ππ
@Josh-rg6vn
Same π
@dianarangel1927
This group is the best, everybody should be listening to their music