Influenced by 60s British Invasion music (such as the songs of The Kinks, The Who, The Beatles, The Hollies, and The Rolling Stones), 70s Detroit garage rock and hard rock (as represented by such performers as Iggy Pop, The Stooges, and the MC5), and the classic punk of Ramones, the Romantics play a hook-based form of rock known as power pop. The band is also commonly classified into the category of "new wave" (probably due more to the band's image and era than the sound of its music) by pop music historians.
The Romantics' original lineup consisted of rhythm guitarist/harmonica player/singer Wally Palmar, lead guitarist Mike Skill, bassist Rich Cole, and drummer/singer Jimmy Marinos. All four band members made songwriting contributions to the group, but Palmar and Skill were considered the band's primary tunesmiths. After a few years of playing local and regional gigs in Detroit and the Midwest, this lineup of the Romantics recorded the band's self-titled debut album for Nemperor Records in 1980. The album yielded the hit "What I Like About You," which reached #48 in the US, and #12 in the Netherlands, where the band was especially popular. "What I Like About You" would become much better known later in the 1980s, when its placement in television commercials and other high profile media made it an evergreen power pop anthem. The band became as well known (if not better known) for its flashy and audacious fashion sense as it did for its exciting music. The Romantics' signature look featured bouffant hairdos and skin-tight red leather suits, as worn by the band members on the cover photo of their debut album.
Mike Skill left the band after the release of its second album, National Breakout, in 1981. He was replaced by lead guitarist Coz Canler. This lineup of the band recorded the album Strictly Personal in 1982 before Rich Cole left the band that year and was replaced by a returning Mike Skill, who then became the band's bassist.
The Romantics achieved their greatest commercial success in 1983/84 with the release of the album In Heat. The first single taken from In Heat, "Talking In Your Sleep", rose to Number Three on the Billboard charts, and was also a substantial international hit. A second single, "One In A Million", charted as high as Number Thirty-Seven during the following year. The Romantics' music videos were frequently shown on the cable television network MTV during this period, solidifying the band's popularity. Also during 1983, the Romantics played well received U.S. and international concert tours in support of In Heat, and appeared on such pop music-themed television shows as Solid Gold, American Bandstand, and Soul Train.
In 1984, drummer Jimmy Marinos, dissatisfied with the artistic direction of the band (which was quickly abandoning its power pop roots in favor of more generic mainstream pop rock) and convinced that he could find success as a solo act, left the Romantics. He was replaced by David Petratos, who would serve as the band's drummer until 1990. This lineup recorded one album, Rhythm Romance, in 1985. On Rhythm Romance, the Romantics eschewed much of the energetic electric guitar- and drums-based modern rock 'n roll sound that had come to define the band's music in favor of the synthesizer pop that had won commercial success for such contemporary bands as Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, and other similar New Wave bands during the early 1980s. By 1985, however, synthesizer pop was beginning to fall out of popular favor. Moreover, the style was not the Romantics' strength. As a result, Rhythm Romance was not a commercial success and was also regarded as an artistic nadir by the band's fans.
In the late 1980s, the Romantics discovered that their managers had been misappropriating the profits earned by the band from its hit records and live performances. Additionally, the Romantics' best known song (the aforementioned "What I Like About You") had been licensed for use in television commercials without the band's knowledge or approval. Consequently, the Romantics filed a lawsuit against their management in 1987, and the legalities involved prevented the band from recording new music until the mid-1990s.
Former Blondie drummer Clement (Clem) Burke replaced David Petratos as the Romantics' drummer in 1990. For much of the 1990s, the Romantics played obscure performances in small venues, largely forgotten and out of the public spotlight.
The Romantics' fortunes began to rise again in the middle of the 1990s, as the band's success in its lawsuit against its former management freed the band to record again (and ensured that future earnings from the licensing of Romantics songs would go to the band). The first fruit of the band's new recording activity was the 1993 EP Made In Detroit. Several Romantics greatest hits packages were issued during the 1990s, as was the live album The King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: The Romantics Live In Concert, a 1996 release of an October, 1983 recording of a Romantics concert in San Antonio, Texas at the height of the band's popularity.
Jimmy Marinos, the Romantics' original drummer, temporarily returned to the band for a series of performances in 1996-1997 (with Clem Burke returning to the Romantics' drumstool after Marinos departed again), and late 1990s nostalgia for 1980s pop culture caused a minor resurgence of interest in the band. In 2003, twenty years after the release of their most commercially successful album, In Heat, the Romantics released 61/49 - a more roots rock and blues-oriented record than the band's previous efforts. The album was not a great commercial success, but won the Romantics a newfound critical respect that they had not enjoyed during their popular and commercial heyday in the early 1980s. 61/49 also offered proof that despite the band's years out of the public spotlight, the Romantics remain a potent musical unit.
A fourth drummer, Brad Elvis, replaced Clem Burke as the Romantics' regular drummer in 2004 after Burke returned full time to a reactivated Blondie. The Romantics continue to play live concerts today (with occasional guest performances by previous members Jimmy Marinos, Rich Cole, and David Petratos). The band is said to currently be working on a follow up to 61/49.
Test Of Time
The Romantics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In time, I'm gonna show you
Day by day, I pick myself up
All alone and waiting for you
Take the key, set your heart free
I've got the luck and soul, too
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test of time
When you're around, can't deny it
I'll always want you by me
It might be long, forget the time
Come to me girl, when you've waited
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it is just a test of time
Side by side, is how we could be
And I'm here, anticipatin'
What can I do, you're just my kind
With me, no chance you takin'
I do the time till we do love
Shakin' hard and I'll be waitin'
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, a test of time
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, just a test, just a test of time
I don't mind, ooh
Yes, it's true this heart'll keep on waitin'
Now I know it, say it over and over
Just a test of time
The Romantics' song Test Of Time is an ode to a love that has passed through the test of time, and will still endure. The singer knows that his beloved is the one, and that day by day, he will show her his love. He picks himself up, and waits for her, hoping that she will take the key and set her heart free. He believes that he has got the luck and soul to prove that they can stand the test of time. When she is around, he can't deny that he wants her by his side, and even though it might be a long wait, he believes that they can overcome everything.
Side by side, they could be, and that's how he anticipates their future. He believes that she is just his kind, and that even though it might take time, he will wait until they can do love. He is willing to wait until she is ready, and he knows that his heart will keep on waiting. This song's message is that true love can withstand the test of time, and that when two people are meant to be together, nothing can come between them.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the one, now, I know it
I am certain that you are the one for me.
In time, I'm gonna show you
I will prove to you with actions that I love you.
Day by day, I pick myself up
Every day, I actively work on bettering myself.
All alone and waiting for you
I am alone, patiently waiting for you to be with me.
Take the key, set your heart free
Let me in and allow yourself to love freely.
I've got the luck and soul, too
I have good fortune and a kind soul to offer you.
Test of time, it's just a test of time
Our love will be challenged, but it will withstand the test of time.
I can stand the test of time
I am confident in our love and its ability to endure.
I'll make believe that you're mine
I will imagine you as mine until we are together.
When you're around, can't deny it
I can't deny my feelings for you when you're present.
I'll always want you by me
I will always desire your companionship.
It might be long, forget the time
Our journey to be together may take a while, but time will become irrelevant.
Come to me girl, when you've waited
When you're ready, come to me and we will finally be together.
Side by side, is how we could be
We can be together, standing by each other's side.
And I'm here, anticipatin'
I am eagerly anticipating the moment we can be together.
What can I do, you're just my kind
I can't help but be drawn to you, you are exactly what I've been looking for.
With me, no chance you takin'
You won't take a chance on anyone else because you belong with me.
I do the time till we do love
I am willing to wait as long as it takes for us to be together.
Shakin' hard and I'll be waitin'
I am trembling with anticipation, but I will patiently wait for you.
I don't mind, ooh
I am willing to endure anything for our love.
Yes, it's true this heart'll keep on waitin'
My heart will continue to wait for you because my love is true.
Now I know it, say it over and over
I am certain of my love for you and will tell you repeatedly.
Just a test of time
Our love will be tested but it will prevail in the end.
Contributed by Molly S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Lucena
You're the one, now, I know it
In time, I'm gonna show you
Day by day, I pick myself up
All alone and waiting for you
Take the key, set your heart free
I've got the luck and soul, too
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test of time
When you're around, can't deny it
I'll always want you by me
It might be long, forget the time
Come to me girl, when you've waited
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it is just a test of time
Side by side, is how we could be
And I'm here, anticipatin'
What can I do, you're just my kind
With me, no chance you takin'
I do the time till we do love
Shakin' hard and I'll be waitin'
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, a test of time
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, just a test, just a test of time
I don't mind, ooh
Yes, it's true this heart'll keep on waitin'
Now I know it, say it over and over
Just a test of time
Brook Hoover
These guys were a lot of fun to listen to in the 80's. I still like them. Hooks, grooves, cool vocals. I have never heard this song before today.
jose hernandez
Una de mis bandas favoritas!!!!
Fabian Rivera
Una buena banda de rock The Romantics
VideoSpecialtiesLa
This Romantics tune brings me back to my high school days in the mid-1980s. One of my favorite bands.
Fretslayer2003
Underrated band, love this song. "Rhythm Romance" is all killer, no filler.
Mc Lff
Agreed. Yet it's their least acclaimed albums. Critics, schmiticks.
rahkin rah
9/14/17 - these guys were/are still really cool! Thank you ROMANTICS!
amr faiter
so underrated classics
XxXClasilocOXxX
La estoy fresqueando con esta canción. Lo que yo siento por ti y lo que me dirás, solo sera cuestión de tiempo, mientras tanto me haré a la idea que puedes ser para mi.
Daniel Lucena
You're the one, now, I know it
In time, I'm gonna show you
Day by day, I pick myself up
All alone and waiting for you
Take the key, set your heart free
I've got the luck and soul, too
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test of time
When you're around, can't deny it
I'll always want you by me
It might be long, forget the time
Come to me girl, when you've waited
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it is just a test of time
Side by side, is how we could be
And I'm here, anticipatin'
What can I do, you're just my kind
With me, no chance you takin'
I do the time till we do love
Shakin' hard and I'll be waitin'
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, a test of time
Test of time, it's just a test of time
I can stand the test of time
Test of time, I'll make believe that you're mine
And it's just a test, just a test, just a test of time
I don't mind, ooh
Yes, it's true this heart'll keep on waitin'
Now I know it, say it over and over
Just a test of time