The Magnets music is founded on the sounds they can make from their mouths alone. Genius vocal percussionist Andy provides the groove. From bass drum to high hat, he produces entire drum tracks with his mouth. Fraser adds the bass, while James, Michael, Nic and Steve provide the layers of harmony and lead vocals on top.
Born in London out of an amalgamation of friendships, college shows and luck, the band released their debut album Giving It All That' on EMI in 2001, an independent second album Another Place followed, and the group are currently negotiating a major German distribution deal for their forthcoming third album. Both albums were recognised at the a cappella 'Grammies', the CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards), winning the awards for best song in 2001 and 2003, alongside several other nominations.
In their element live, a Magnets concert presents a unique combination of musical sophistication, showmanship and soul. Performing for up to two hours, the show is a synthesis of the bands award winning original material, and their a cappella take on classic songs by artists such as Elvis, The Turtles, and the Jackson 5. However, The Magnets are not too cool to party, and the songs are spiced with humour, dancing, audience participation, and of course Andy Lips Frosts house destroying vocal drum solo.
Performing 160 shows a year in 2003 and 2004, the group have enjoyed support tours with Tom Jones, West End star Michael Ball, Lisa Stansfield and Geri Halliwell. They receive frequent invitations to play prestigious events in the UK and Europe, including the Queen's Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace and the BBC Proms in Hyde Park.
Other career highlights include a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2004, and official functions for Prime Minister Tony Blair, and German Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder. The group have also become a favourite party band for the rich and famous, such as super model Elle Macpherson, Liz Hurley, Billionaire Phillip Green, media mogul Richard Desmond, and Hugh Grant.
The Magnets make regular TV and radio appearances in the UK, including peak time shows such as Parkinson, GMTV, Blue Peter, the Generation Game, Songs of Praise, MTV, Star For A Night, The Kelly Show, and Open House, as well as Loose Ends on Radio 4, and sessions on Radio 2. The band also play several charity and schools concerts every year, supporting causes such as the Teenage Cancer Trust and Children In Need, and promoting live music in education.
In Europe, and particularly Germany, The Magnets are well known as accomplished headliners at arts festivals and theatres, and made a breakthrough into the mainstream with several national TV appearances in the second half of 2003. In recent months the group have also broadened their horizons to Moscow, Israel, Singapore and China.
There was also a short lived Japanese punk rock band called the Magnets who only released one CD in 1989, entitled "Searching for Truth"
All The Wrong Reasons
The Magnets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking advantage of the situation would be wrong
(All the wrong reasons!)
I give myself away everytime you walk into the room
Cannot help the way I feel for you
Trip over my words end up feeling like a fool
You don't hear him talk
You don't know his game
His intentions and desires aren't the same
CHORUS:
Pride, Ego, Selfishness
Trying to fill some emptiness
Girl he's making love to you for all the wrong reasons
I'd give him up so easily
Move in with my sympathy
I don't want you hear with me for all the wrong reasons
(All the wrong reasons!)
You trust me like a friend tell me all the little things he does
Makes you feel like you're the lucky one
But secrets...I can't tell the way he's playing you around
It's killing me to watch it all go down
If you could read his mind
See behind his eyes
You'd know for yourself his love is just a lie
CHORUS
Got this information I don't want to act upon
Taking advantage of the situation would be wrong
And I wish I never knew what he's doing to you
CHORUS
(repeat and fade)
The Magnets' song "All The Wrong Reasons" is a tale of unrequited love told through poignant lyrics and emotive vocals. The song begins with a confession that the singer has received information about their love interest's partner but is struggling with whether they should act on it or not. They know that taking advantage of the situation would be wrong, but they also cannot help how they feel about this person.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is madly in love with their friend, who is oblivious to their feelings. The singer cannot help themselves from giving away their feelings "every time you walk into the room," but they always end up feeling like a fool when the friend talks about their partner. The singer tries to explain that the partner's intentions and desires are not the same as their friend's and that they are only with them for "all the wrong reasons."
In the chorus, the singer struggles with their own pride, ego, and selfishness as they try to fill a void with their feelings for their friend. They acknowledge that their friend's partner is making love to them for all the wrong reasons and reveal that they would happily give up the chance to be with their friend if it meant they could be happy.
Overall, "All The Wrong Reasons" delivers a powerful message about unrequited love and the struggles we face when we develop feelings for someone who is unavailable. The song's lyrics and harmonies perfectly capture the singer's heartbreak and the conflicted emotions they experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Got this information I don't want to act upon
I have some knowledge about your partner but I am unsure if I should act on it.
Taking advantage of the situation would be wrong
I am aware that using this information to my advantage would be unethical.
(All the wrong reasons!)
This situation is completely inappropriate and misguided.
I give myself away everytime you walk into the room
I can't control my feelings for you and they show every time I see you.
Cannot help the way I feel for you
My emotions for you are beyond my control.
Trip over my words end up feeling like a fool
I become nervous and often end up embarrassing myself whenever we talk.
When you tell me he's the one for you
It hurts to know that you are with someone who isn't treating you the way you deserve.
You don't hear him talk
You only see the good in him and are blind to his true intentions.
You don't know his game
You aren't aware of the way he is manipulating you.
His intentions and desires aren't the same
He doesn't have your best interests at heart and only wants to satisfy his own needs.
Pride, Ego, Selfishness
He is motivated by his own pride, ego, and selfish desires.
Trying to fill some emptiness
His actions are fueled by a sense of emptiness and are not genuine.
Girl he's making love to you for all the wrong reasons
He isn't truly in love with you and is using you for his own gain.
I'd give him up so easily
I would gladly step aside and let you go if it meant you could be with someone who truly loves and respects you.
Move in with my sympathy
I offer my support and care to you in hopes that you will see the truth about him.
I don't want you hear with me for all the wrong reasons
I don't want you to be with me simply because you are trying to escape from him.
You trust me like a friend tell me all the little things he does
You confide in me and share details about your relationship with him as if I were a friend.
Makes you feel like you're the lucky one
He tries to make you feel lucky to be with him, but really it's the other way around.
But secrets...I can't tell the way he's playing you around
I know secrets about his behavior that I can't share with you, but they make me worried about your relationship.
It's killing me to watch it all go down
I am emotionally invested in you and it hurts me to see you being mistreated.
If you could read his mind
If you could see what he was really thinking and feeling, it would terrify you.
See behind his eyes
Looking into his eyes would reveal the truth about his intentions.
You'd know for yourself his love is just a lie
His professed love for you is not authentic, but a tool for his own gain.
And I wish I never knew what he's doing to you
I regret knowing the truth about your partner because it hurts me to see you being hurt.
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Foh9UK
Saw them live yesterday. Awesome guys. Very talented.
Alex Southgate
The Magnets were a trail-blazing band before accapella pop acts with beatboxers became really popular, and also could perform live amazingly.
Foh9UK
Yep! Andy, the beatboxer, is one of the best. It even great saw him perform live at the festival.
ClareCG
I love this song! I've not seen this video since the song first came out. I think I only got to see it twice and decided to download the song (in the early days of music downloads when there seemed to be only one site to legally download outside of ITunes) and then the video never aired again.
DevilDave59
Brilliant song, love it.
Rhubba
When I saw them perform this live, they did it as a parody of boy band dance routines; it brought the house down, it was funny. Shame this video doesn't show that parody but all the same, they're an amazing band.
Edd25164605
This is ace, Took me ages to get hold of the cd !
Alexandra Komlós
Me and my friend heard this song some days ago. First we just listened it but we listened again and again we like to sing this song and we like the lyrics :)))
amara j
Omg the song is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!!!!!!! id give it a gazillion thumbs up if i could
dumbgames
Love this!