Vasoli has lately been focusing on his side project, known as Person L. Tom has been recording with his new band, Cheap Seats, with Matt as their manager. Mike also has a side project, called The Traded Series. The origins of the group that would become The Starting Line go back to 1999, via an AOL instant message from Churchville, Pennsylvania guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli. It asked if the then fourteen-year-old Vasoli, who was at that time in a band called Smash Adams, was interested in "Jamming and shit", as the message title read.
Only a few weeks later, Vasoli found himself rehearsing with his future bandmates Watts, guitarist Mike Golla and drummer Tom Gryskewicz. Soon, the band started touring under the name Sunday Drive, selling out home-made merchandise and a self-recorded demo cassette that the guys titled 'Four Songs'. Their first official release was a three-way split with The Jimmy Tuesday Band and The Commercials contributing three songs each, the work released on KickStart Audio in 2000.
Sunday Drive was soon approached by We the People Records and asked to produce a recording session (the infamous We the People Records Sessions). Set for a release in December 2000, the twelve songs were initially planned to become the band's debut full-length With Hopes of Starting Over on We the People Records, but they ended up serving only as demos for tracks on future releases, as the band signed with Drive-Thru Records in April 2001. On Drive-Thru, they soon released their debut EP With Hopes of Starting Over. Yet, as the name Sunday Drive was already taken by a Christian rock band, they went on as The Starting Line.
On July 16, 2002, almost exactly one year after the release of their EP, the full-length Say It Like You Mean It followed. The songs ranged from energetic and fast-paced to melancholy and calm, dealing with performing on stage ("Given the Chance"), feeling homesick ("Left Coast Envy") and getting even with Vasoli's ex-girlfriend Karina ("Up & Go", "Hello Houston", among others). The hit single "The Best of Me" and its two music videos, as well as the second single "Leaving", received heavy radio and TV airplay, securing The Starting Line a spot on the Warped Tour.
Due to their desire to put out new material, the band decided to release an all-unplugged EP, recorded in three sessions over the following year. The first three songs (recorded in The Prize Fight's Bob Jones' bedroom in August 2002), the second session (recorded in Vasoli's basement in March 2003) and the last track (recorded on the band's touring bus in April 2003) became The Make Yourself at Home EP, released on November 25, 2003. The CD and the DVD version issued simultaneously, featuring an acoustic set performed live at Skate & Surf 2003 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, would be their last releases put out solely on Drive-Thru Records, as The Starting Line was signed by Geffen Records soon afterwards.
Their major label debut, Based on a True Story, came out in May 2005. Lyrically, the band dissociated themselves from the post-relationship formula that was predominant on their previous records. On this album, a lot of the songs (e.g. "Inspired By the $", "Autography" and "The B-List") were explicitly inspired by the band's disdain for their record label Geffen and its executives. The album was far more successful than the band's 2002 effort and sold 42,000 copies within its first week, as opposed to its predecessor's 11,000. The release was followed by the semi-headlining Nintendo Fusion Tour with Fall Out Boy, kicking off in September 2005. A few dates into the tour, The Starting Line were — at their request — released from their record deal with Geffen, and became free agents. In early January 2006, their signing with Virgin Records was announced.
On March 5, 2008 the band announced in an e-mail and on Absolutepunk.net they would be going on a break in order for Ken and Brian to explore Person L, Matt and Tom to explore The Seventy Six, and Mike to spend time with his two daughters and explore The Traded Series. The band had been playing with the idea of coming back in 2011, but in a chat with absolutepunk.net, Kenny Vasoli said, ""it's looking good, may even be earlier. I hung with Matt and Tom the other day, we all are still in love with one another.
On November 10, 2009, The Starting Line released their first-ever live concert CD, film and documentary DVD titled "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us" via Image Entertainment on a 2-disc set. Through intimate and honest interviews with the band, friends and family fans will get a glimpse into the inner workings of the group and a career that spanned nearly a decade, five releases, and thousands of shows.
On December 29, 2009, The Starting Line had a reunion concert at the Theater of Living Arts. Starting Line guitarist Matt Watts stated on the website AbsolutePunk that "this doesn't mean that TSL are back together....It simply means that we're taking a break from our break, and wanted to play a fun show in Philadelphia and continue to focus on our lives outside of TSL"
The Starting Line added a second holiday show on December 30, 2009 in Philadelphia at the Trocadero Theater. This was added due to the fact that the first holiday show scheduled for December 29, 2009 sold out in a little over an hour and the band would like to give their local fans a better chance to see them. Towards the end of their set, Kenny Vasoli announced the band's reunion. However, the group has only toured intermittently since then.
Main Website: http://www.startinglinerock.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thestartingline
Cheek To Cheek
The Starting Line Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's cold, and I'm home
I feel like nothing again,
Pretending not to care, but I care,
And I care, don't say another word
Our time was worthless, but I tried
We started over and over again, as we let go
Held each other, held hands,
That's when I let you know,
I guess that goes to show
Just what I've been going through,
More nights of hugging my pillow, oh
Replaying memories
Sing this song for me;
Tell me how you'll never leave my side
And I'll meet you around 7,
And I miss you already, goodbye to you.
Time was worthless, but I tried
We started over and over again, as we let go
Held each other, held hands,
held standards and grudges
That's when I let you know,
I guess that goes to show
Sing this song for me;
tell me how you'll never leave my side
And I'll meet you around 7,
and I miss you already, goodbye to you.
And I tried so hard,
And I've done my part,
And not to mention most of all of yours
Try and feel,
Try and listen,
Try and think of what you're missing,
Try to look into my eyes.
Try
Goodbye
Sing this song for me;
Tell me how you'll never leave my side
And I'll meet you around 7,
And I miss you already, goodbye to you.
Last goodbye I'll ever say to you.
You'll never leave my side.
The Starting Line's song "Cheek to Cheek" is a melancholic ballad that is sung from the perspective of someone who feels rejected by the person they love. The opening lines, "Bound to say something, eyes closed, it's cold and I'm home, I feel like nothing again," reveal a feeling of detachment and resignation. The singer of the song has given up trying to hold onto the relationship and is now pretending not to care, but deep down, they care a lot.
The chorus of the song, "Sing this song for me; tell me how you'll never leave my side, and I'll meet you around 7, and I miss you already, goodbye to you," underscores the theme of the song - the singer is hanging onto a relationship that is ending, but they can't let go. They want to hear that the other person will never leave their side, even though they know that it's over. The bridge of the song, "And I tried so hard, and I've done my part, and not to mention most of all of yours," highlights the desperation of the singer, who has done everything they can to save the relationship.
In conclusion, The Starting Line's song "Cheek to Cheek" is a poignant defense of a losing relationship that reveals the pain of someone who feels rejected by the person they love. The song's melancholic tone and lyrics reveal the complicated emotions that arise when people try to hold on to a dwindling relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Bound to say something, eyes closed,
I'm reserved, helpless, and unable to speak my heart out, but I want to say something meaningful or significant.
It's cold, and I'm home
I'm in a cold or heartless place, and I feel lonely or miserable.
I feel like nothing again,
I have no value, purpose, or meaning in my life, and I feel irrelevant or insignificant.
Pretending not to care, but I care,
I'm pretending to be indifferent, strong, or emotionless, but deep inside, I care, and I'm vulnerable.
And I care, don't say another word
Despite my efforts to conceal my feelings, I care deeply, and I don't want to hear anything that might hurt me.
Our time was worthless, but I tried
Our relationship had no value or significance, but I tried my best to make it work or improve it.
We started over and over again, as we let go
We kept trying to rebuild our relationship, but we ended up drifting apart or breaking up.
Held each other, held hands,
We were physically close and intimate, and we tried to express our love or affection.
Held standards and grudges
We had certain expectations or demands from each other, and we also held some resentment or anger.
That's when I let you know,
In that moment, I expressed my true feelings, thoughts, or intentions to you.
I guess that goes to show
This proves or demonstrates something, perhaps the futility or complexity of our relationship.
More nights of hugging my pillow, oh
I spend many nights feeling lonely, sad, or hopeless, and I seek comfort in my pillow or imagination.
Replaying memories
I keep reliving or recalling past experiences, feelings, or moments, perhaps trying to find closure or meaning.
And not to mention most of all of yours
Besides my own efforts, I also acknowledge or appreciate your contributions, sacrifices, or mistakes.
Try and feel,
I urge you to empathize, connect, or understand my emotions and needs.
Try and listen,
I urge you to pay attention, hear, or respect my words, opinions, or concerns.
Try and think of what you're missing,
I want you to reflect, realize, or regret what you've lost or ignored in our relationship.
Try to look into my eyes.
I invite you to gaze, communicate, or express yourself non-verbally through eye contact.
Goodbye
I bid you farewell, perhaps ending our relationship or conversation permanently.
Last goodbye I'll ever say to you.
This is my final goodbye to you, implying that I won't come back or seek reconciliation.
You'll never leave my side.
Despite the heartbreak or separation, I still feel connected, loyal, or attached to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keef West
I feel like everyone who was fortunate enough to have this band while growing up will always have a special place in their hearts for this album. Forever they will rule.
Lexi Nakowitz
still love to hear them after 10 years : D they sure have a special place especially that song
DEREK HEDRICK
Nailed it brother❤️ so good.
Max Lovin
Man, you ain't lying. "Say it Like You Mean It" is a masterpiece.
ollie511
1:59 and 2:47 Love the way the tempo picks up speed and goes into the catchy chorus. Sounds really good to me
Ashley Blume
Listening still in 2019, love this damn song and TSL🖤❤️
Ashen Vendetta
stay what you are
Nate Corning
what a great song. the last time he sings youll never leave my side is so great, perfect way to end this song
Brendan Crilley
This band is amazing. Perfect for anytime
Thea lovefaithope
just had a lil moment😌. Miss this so much. They we're one of my favs growing up. Good times as a teen😊