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.
My Own Way
The Rembrandts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got to give me the kind of time it takes, to prove I'm right or wrong
'Cause nobody knows what I had to go through-Maybe no one even cares
But all the while as the clock was tickin', I've been holed up in my lair
Doin' things my own way....My own way
You say I don't have a leg to stand on, so it's a good thing I've got two
But if I had only one leg to stand on, that's exactly what I'd do
Now am I back to where I started, after all I've sacrificed?
By doin' things my own way....My own way
I gotta do things my own way
Yeah....my own way
I've got these feelins' I'm tryin' to deal with, I'm not so sure you understand
If I seem to be too preoccupied, to fit into your plans
It's just that its one thing on top another-Now it's one too many high
I wonder how many piles of things it takes, to bury me alive
I'm doin' things my own way...My own way
I gotta do things my own way.......My own way
Yeah I gotta do things my own way-My own way
Gotta do things my own way-Yeh my own way
My own way-My own way
Oh yeah....it's just the way it is, baby
The Rembrandts song "My Own Way" is a powerful expression of the need for individuality and independence in interpersonal relationships. The lyrics shed light on the challenges of balancing personal freedom with the pressures of conformity and expectations. The song begins with a plea for space, emphasizing the need for people to respect each other's boundaries and allow room for differing perspectives. The lines, "You've got to learn how to leave me be, for us to ever get along, you've got to give me the kind of time it takes, to prove I'm right or wrong," encapsulate this sentiment. The singer is asking for time and space to grow in their own way, without the influence of others.
The second verse continues with the same theme of individuality, with the singer responding to criticism that they don't have a leg to stand on. They acknowledge that everyone has different ways of doing things and that the right way is a matter of personal perspective. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the singer must do things "my own way," emphasizing the importance of self-expression and self-determination.
Overall, "My Own Way" is a song about carving out one's own path in life and refusing to conform to societal expectations. It highlights the struggles and challenges of balancing personal freedom with the need for acceptance and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to learn how to leave me be, for us to ever get along
You need to give me space and respect my independence if we want to have a good relationship.
You've got to give me the kind of time it takes, to prove I'm right or wrong
You must be patient and allow me the opportunity to show whether I'm correct or incorrect.
'Cause nobody knows what I had to go through-Maybe no one even cares
I have experienced struggles that others may not comprehend or appreciate.
But all the while as the clock was tickin', I've been holed up in my lair
While time passed, I isolated myself as I tried to sort through my difficulties.
You say I don't have a leg to stand on, so it's a good thing I've got two
You argue that I don't have a solid basis for my position, but I have multiple reasons to support it.
But if I had only one leg to stand on, that's exactly what I'd do
Even if I had limited support, I would still stand firm in my beliefs.
No one can say there's a right or wrong way-Everyone's got their own advice
There is no universally correct way to do things, and everyone has their own opinions on what is best.
Now am I back to where I started, after all I've sacrificed?
After all the effort and sacrifices I've made, am I still at square one?
I've got these feelings I'm trying to deal with, I'm not so sure you understand
I am grappling with emotions that I'm unsure if others truly comprehend.
If I seem to be too preoccupied, to fit into your plans
If it appears that I am too preoccupied with my own concerns to participate in your activities,
It's just that its one thing on top another-Now it's one too many high
It feels like one issue after another continues to arise, and it's now becoming too much to handle.
I wonder how many piles of things it takes, to bury me alive
I'm starting to feel overwhelmed and wondering how much stress it will take to break me.
Oh yeah....it's just the way it is, baby
This is simply the reality of the situation, and it won't change.
Lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY C. WILDE, PHIL SOLEM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jay buens
So glad to find there's someone that loved this album and looked past "I'll Be There..." I loved this group.
Lee McIlmoyle
In the early to mid-90s, pop and rock music had very little interest in perfect pop song writing. Bands like Jellyfish, Barenaked Ladies and even XTC (!) were busting their arses to get any radio play, and chopping and changing their style to better fit the radio formats of the day. The thing I loved about this album and this 'group' was that it is a treasure trove of pop styles and feels that really resonated with me at the time. Relistening to it now, I find it still hits a really good spot in the back of my head that has been itching for some time. I sincerely hope that their recent reunion will yield another album of this calibre.
And to those that think borrowing from the Beatles is wrong, I assure you, it's a time honoured tradition in rock and roll, starting with the Beatles themselves borrowing from the 50s rock stars like Chuck and Little Richard, amongst many others.
Bluesbabesrv
Lee McIlmoyle, I love these guys and their music. Saw them in the early 90's in a smallish club, thought they were going to be a huge success but they fizzled out after the first couple albums. I was wondering if they had gotten back together, saw some more recent videos. Happy for them, I would certainly go see them if they played anywhere near me.
Fadhil Mohd
i think they must be influenced by the beatles!
Matthew Nutter
What I cant decide is whether the whole thing is tongue in cheek or not. As much as he says he doing things "My Own Way" The lyrics are littered with cliches or references to them, and the guitar is stuck in a basic riff, hardly anything original or groundbreaking. My question is this an instance of a lack of creativity on the musician, or is it poking fun at the unoriginal canned sound of the 1990s music industry? What are your thoughts?
Matthew Nutter
@greyztone Lol, well i didnt think id be coming back to this thread after so long, but yeah, here I am. and yes you are correct the notes themselves are not basic, but the melody itself is based around a repetitive three note sequence which was my point at the time.....i think? I honestly dont remember. I do love the chase sequence at the end which to me is the highlight of the song.
greyztone
Not sure what you mean by the guitar being "stuck in a basic riff". The main harmonic hook isn't particularly standard for basic pop. C#m / A#dim / A7... I used to like the song as a kid because it was a bit more interesting than other songs in that regard. Sure, not "groundbreaking", but it reflects the lyrics in being slightly off-kilter compared to most pop. At the end of the day they're a mainstream band though, and aren't gonna be reinventing the wheel. I doubt it's tongue in cheek. The whole album and the way they sing comes across to me as throughly (sometimes gratingly) earnest.
El NiƱo
No opinion as to the original post, but I think you two are fucking awesome to be considering this music so deeply. I love it.
Key Of The Wolf
I think it's double-meaning, and I'm not sure it matters.
"The lyrics are littered with cliche's" excellently put together, maybe you don't hear it. Nor would I say it marks a "Lack of creativity" on the part of the band.
The song could cover quite a myriad of possibilities (A break up, depression, what have you), from start to end, and someone who realizes, in part, their own behavior is part of the problem (I'm doing things my own way), and it might be easier to merely "conform", but what is lost in that process?
EG:
You've got to learn how to leave me be
For us to ever get along,
You've got to give me the kind of time it takes
To prove I'm right or wrong,
Cuz nobody knows what I've had to go through
Maybe no one ever cares,
And all the while as the clock was ticking
I've been holed up in my lair.
Everything from here continues the double-meaning, talking to himself, and someone else, at the same time.
As to the "Unoriginal canned sound of the 90's music industry", no clue where you got that, either. I think you are just reading your personal prejudice against the music into the song and trying to make it fit (Perhaps if the song came out in the 2000's you'd have a different take?)