Lead vocalist Danny Wilde began his musical career as the lead singer of The Quick, an L.A.-based punk and power pop inspired combo briefly popular in the late 70s, breaking through with their song "Pretty Please Me". The musical duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem had roots in an early 80s new wave/power pop band, called Great Buildings, which released a single critically-lauded album on Columbia in 1981. Although spawning minor hits in "Hold On To Something" and "Maybe It's You", major success eluded the outfit.
After they disbanded, Wilde released a series of slick 80s solo albums before rejoining with his former partner to form the Rembrandts. Initially, the band was heavily indebted to simplistic guitar pop reminiscent of early work from The Beatles and The Everly Brothers. They also took serious inspiration from pop contemporaries such as Squeeze and Crowded House. Their first, self-titled album, released in 1990, featured the surprise #14 hit "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which managed to claw its way onto top 40 playlists despite sounding out of place for the time. Follow-up singles "Someone" and "Save Me" also garnered some airplay.
Their second record, released two years later (and titled, humorously, 'Untitled') also spawned minor hits in the brooding, violin-spiked "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and the breezy "Rolling Down the Hill". Both songs showed the band's partial influence from alternative rock groups. In 1995, however, the Rembrandts became a surprise, seemingly-overnight success when they recorded the theme song to the program 'Friends', a ditty reminiscent of British invasion groups called "I'll Be There For You",
The song became an instant smash based on its thirty-second TV version. Interestingly enough, they recorded the full-length version of "I'll Be There For You" only after the shorter version was recorded specifically for the TV show. The band was busy prepping their third release, 'L.P.', at the time that "I'll Be There For You" became so successful, and it was shoehorned last minute onto the end of the track order (initial pressings omit the song on the track list). Unfortunately, much of the new audience generated by the hit didn't take a shine to the rest of the low-key pop rock on the disc. The album went platinum and picked up supportive critical reviews, but it has become something of a lost 90s classic. A few follow-up singles, notably "This House Is Not a Home", generated a small amount of interest, but nothing compared to that of the 'Friends' theme.
The sudden shift in the band's fanbase-- where they had gone from being a low-flying critical success to a discarded 'one-hit-wonder' in the popular consciousness-- took its toll on the band, especially Solem. He outright quit several years later. Danny Wilde produced another Rembrandts album without him, but it was a commercial failure. In 2001, however, the duo reunited for 'Lost Together', their fourth album as a duo and fifth overall. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2006, displaying that the band did in fact have a singles history far deeper than the 'Friends' theme. As time has gone on, they've also had a cult following among power pop fans.
Lovin' Me Insane
The Rembrandts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody help me
I'm crashin' in the clouds-I'm falling from the moon
Somebody help me
[Chorus]
I'm going crazy-you're driving me mad
You're lovin' me insane
You're underneath my feet-you now where I will go
Before I get there
You track my every move-you're messin' with my groove
It's more than I can bear!
[Chorus]
... lovin' me insane
Oh yeah, I want to be in love with you-I'm gonna tell you what'cha gotta do
You've gotta leave it on the other side-how can I shake it loose?
How can I shake you loose?
[Chorus]
... lovin' me insane
Somebody wake me up-somebody talk me down
Somebody help me
I'm crashin' in the clouds-I'm fallin' from the moon
Somebody help me!
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of The Rembrandts' "Lovin' Me Insane" speak about a complicated, tumultuous relationship. The singer is pleading for someone to wake them up from this crazy cycle and help them make sense of their emotions. They feel like they're falling from the moon and going crazy, all because of the intense and all-consuming love they have for their partner.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You're lovin' me insane," which can be interpreted in two ways. Either the partner is loving the singer so intensely that it's driving them crazy, or the partner's actions and behavior are causing the singer to lose their grip on reality. Either way, the relationship seems to be causing more harm than good.
The second verse continues with the theme of the partner being overbearing and controlling. They're constantly tracking the singer's movement and messing with their groove, which is more than they can bear. The singer is clearly struggling to maintain their sense of self in this relationship and is looking for a way out.
Overall, "Lovin' Me Insane" is a song about a love that's too intense and too destructive. The singer is looking for a way to break free from the cycle and find some peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody wake me up-somebody talk me down
I need someone to help pull me out of my emotional spiral and bring me back to reality.
Somebody help me
I'm in distress and need assistance.
I'm crashin' in the clouds-I'm falling from the moon
I'm experiencing extreme highs and lows and struggling to stay grounded.
I'm going crazy-you're driving me mad
Your actions are causing me to lose my grip on reality and become increasingly unstable.
You're lovin' me insane
Your love is so intense and overwhelming that it's driving me to the brink of insanity.
You're underneath my feet-you now where I will go
You have such control over me that you know my every move and can predict my behavior.
Before I get there
You're always one step ahead of me.
You track my every move-you're messin' with my groove
Your micromanaging and constant monitoring of me is disrupting my life and causing me stress.
It's more than I can bear!
I'm at my breaking point and can't handle this situation anymore.
Oh yeah, I want to be in love with you-I'm gonna tell you what'cha gotta do
Despite the turmoil you're causing me, I still desire to be in a relationship with you and I'm willing to communicate my needs to achieve that.
You've gotta leave it on the other side-how can I shake it loose?
You need to let go of your controlling behavior and stop messing with my life, but I don't know how to escape your influence.
How can I shake you loose?
I'm searching for a way to break free from your hold on me and find some peace of mind.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY C. WILDE, PHIL SOLEM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind