One thing that made the Supertones stand out in CCM was their embrace of secular music styles, even to the point of having the introductions of some songs by Metallica be put in their own songs. Examples included Metallica's cover of "Am I Evil?" in "Adonai", "Creeping Death" and "One" in their song "Supertones Strike Back", and "Damage, Inc" as the intro to "Fade Away".
Another aspect that made them stick out was their open attention to problems facing the church both culturally and doctrinally. Their songs encourage doctrinal (including Biblical) literacy and holding firmly to one's faith.
The band has gone through a number of lineup changes, and in 2004 it was announced that the Supertones would be breaking up. Their last show was at Biola University in La Mirada, California on October 7, 2005; fellow Christian rockers Bleach (in a reunion show) and John Davis also played.
In 2010 the Supertones reunited and are currently on tour, mostly playing festivals.
Official Supertones website: http://ocsupertones.com/
Official Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/ocsupertones
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheO.C.Supertones?v=info
Transmission
The O.C. Supertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think there was a problem with my reception (on my satellite, on my satellite)
It seemed like a section of my soul was having trouble with the signal
I was trying but it just wasn't pickin up
I guess the frequency was stuck
And my heart corroded shut
I couldn't tune in to the station that was telecasting my salvation...
But I wanna hear it now
And sing along again
I just don't know how
I lost that frequency but now it's coming in.
Yeah it's coming in!
In a room full of doubters You were the sure one. (You were like a light, You were like a light)
In a town of compromises, You are the pure one. (I think You got it right, I think You got it right)
It was water to my soul to hear You singing so honest and simple
I seek to be sophisticated,
But I make it complicated
I over elaborated but now that I have contemplated
I'll write about the love of Jesus and his mercy that never ceases
And I wanna hear it now
And sing along again
I just don't know how
I lost that frequency but now it's coming in.
Yeah it's coming in!
It was foolish to be jaded that the cross was intgraded
I remember Jesus said you either love it or you hate it
I didn't know the words in my heart I was singing with You
And I wanna hear it now
And sing along again
I just don't know how
I couldn't find it then
And I wanna hear it now
And sing along again
I just don't know how
I lost that frequency but now it's coming in.
The O.C. Supertones's song "Transmission" is a powerful and insightful exploration of the human struggle to find and maintain a connection with one's faith. The song starts with the singer listening in to a "transmission," which represents his connection with God. He senses that something is wrong with his reception, and he is having trouble "picking it up." It's as though his soul is out of tune with the signal, preventing him from fully experiencing the joy and comfort that comes from being close to God. In the second verse, the singer reflects on the importance of finding a spiritual anchor amidst the doubt and compromise that are so prevalent in the world. He describes how hearing someone sing "honest and simple" about God's love was like "water to [his] soul." This, coupled with the realization that he had been "foolish" to doubt the power of the cross and the love of Jesus, inspires the singer to seek out the frequency he once had, so he can sing along again.
The chorus is a plea to regain that connection, to find that frequency once again. The singer feels like he's lost his way, but he knows that the transmission is still out there waiting for him - and now, finally, it's coming into focus. The song ends with a powerful repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the importance of the connection with God and the joy that comes from singing along with him.
Line by Line Meaning
I was listenin in to your transmission
I hear the message of salvation every night
I think there was a problem with my reception
My soul was having trouble receiving the message
It seemed like a section of my soul was having trouble with the signal
I was struggling to connect with the message emotionally
I was trying but it just wasn't pickin up
I was making an effort to understand and accept the message
I guess the frequency was stuck
I couldn't resonate with the message for some reason
And my heart corroded shut
I became closed off to the message and resistant
I couldn't tune in to the station that was telecasting my salvation...
I couldn't connect with the message of salvation that was being transmitted
But I wanna hear it now
I want to understand the message now
And sing along again
I want to engage with the message and be part of it
I just don't know how
I don't know how to reconnect and understand the message
In a room full of doubters You were the sure one.
Amidst skepticism and doubt, the message of salvation was steadfast
In a town of compromises, You are the pure one.
In a world of mixed values, the message of salvation stands pure
I was seeking to be sophisticated,
I was trying to be intellectual and analytical about the message
But I made it complicated
I overthought and overanalyzed the message and missed its simplicity
I over elaborated but now that I have contemplated
Reflecting on the message allowed me to see its profound simplicity
I'll write about the love of Jesus and his mercy that never ceases
I will share the message of Jesus' love and mercy that endures forever
It was foolish to be jaded that the cross was integrated
Dismissing the message of the cross was a foolish and shortsighted stance
I remember Jesus said you either love it or you hate it
The message of the cross provokes strong reactions of love or hate
I didn't know the words in my heart I was singing with You
I didn't fully understand or connect with the message in my heart as I sang along
I just don't know how I couldn't find it then
I don't understand why I couldn't connect with the message before
But now it's coming in.
But now I am able to connect with the message and understand it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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