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
Im_Real
The Starting Line Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's my name
(blowing back on this marry jane I'm analyzin' the game)
And the game done chose me
(to bring the words I can't say, it's one in the same)
Ever since you told me
(there's only room for 2, I've been making less room for you)
(hug my, love me, judge me, the only man that help is above me, holla)
I met so many men it's like they're all the same
My apitie for loving is now my hunger pain
And when I'm feeing sexy who's gonna comfort me?
My only problem is their insecurity
(tired of being alone) yeah yeah
(arguing on the phone) yeah yeah
(telling all your friends) yeah yeah
(you'll never understand) my love
Cause I'm real (the way you walk the way you move the way you talk)
Cause I'm real (the way you stare the way you look your style your hair)
Cause I'm real (the way you smile the way you smell it drives me wild)
Cause I'm real and I can't go on without you
Girl, I've been thinkin' bout this relationship
And I wanna know is this as good as it gets
Cause we've been through the worst times and the best times
But it was our time, even if it was part-time
My baby lookin' at me, smilin' at me, laughin' like we wasn't happy
But not knowin', ever growin' and we're gettin' married
Hard lovin' and straight thuggin'
Bitch, I ain't doin' this for nuttin'
I'm here to get it poppin', hoppin, let's ride up in the Benz
Hair blowin' in the wind, sun glistenin' off my skin, hey
I'm nasty, heh, you know me
But you still don't mess with your baby
Cause I'm real (the way you walk the way you move the way you talk)
Cause I'm real (the way you stare the way you look your style your hair)
Cause I'm real (the way you smile the way you smell it drives me wild)
Cause I'm real and I can't go on without you
Now people loving me and hating me treating me ungreatfully
But not knowin' that they ain't making or breaking me
My life I live it to the limit and I love it
Now I can breath again baby now I can breath again
Now people screaming what's the deal with me and so and so
I tell the bitches mind ya biz but they don't hear me though
My life I live it to the limit and I love it
Now I can breath again baby now I can breath again
(tired of being alone) yeah yeah
(arguing on the phone) yeah yeah
(telling all your friends) yeah yeah
(you'll never understand) my love
Cause I'm real (the way you walk the way you move the way you talk)
Cause I'm real (the way you stare the way you look your style your hair)
Cause I'm real (the way you smile the way you smell it drives me wild)
Cause I'm real and I can't go on without you
And I can't go on without you
The Starting Line's song "Im_Real" is a cover of Jennifer Lopez's original song with the same title. The song's lyrics are about a complicated relationship in which the singer is feeling neglected by their partner. The beginning of the song sees the singer analyzing the situation and considering the possibility of leaving their partner. The lyrics express frustration at feeling like they are always the one making sacrifices in the relationship. The singer is also struggling with their own desires and needs, feeling hungry for love and unsure if their partner is truly able to give them what they need.
The chorus asserts the singer's sense of self and their need for another person in their life. They describe their partner in detail, admiring the way they move, talk, look, and smell. The singer believes that they cannot go on without this person. In the second half of the song, the lyrics shift to a more positive perspective. The singer expresses their determination to live life to the fullest and not allow other people's opinions to affect them. They also assert that they no longer feel suffocated and are able to "breath again" with or without their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
What's my name
I'm trying to figure out who I am and what defines me
(blowing back on this marry jane I'm analyzin' the game)
I'm taking a step back to look at my life and the choices I've made
And the game done chose me
I feel like I'm stuck in a certain path that I can't change
(to bring the words I can't say, it's one in the same)
My purpose is to speak out and express myself, even if it's difficult
Ever since you told me
After you said this to me
(there's only room for 2, I've been making less room for you)
I realize that you want all my attention, but I can't give it to you all the time
Not only god could hold me
No one can have full control over me except for a higher power
(hug my, love me, judge me, the only man that help is above me, holla)
I need someone to support me and love me, but ultimately only a higher power can guide me
I met so many men it's like they're all the same
I've dated many guys and they all seem to be similar in some way
My apitie for loving is now my hunger pain
My desire to love and be loved is now causing me pain and longing
And when I'm feeing sexy who's gonna comfort me?
When I'm feeling confident and attractive, who will be there to support me emotionally?
My only problem is their insecurity
The main issue in my relationships seems to be their own insecurities
(tired of being alone) yeah yeah
I'm exhausted from being single
(arguing on the phone) yeah yeah
I'm sick of fighting over the phone
(telling all your friends) yeah yeah
You're always sharing our business with your friends
(you'll never understand) my love
You can't truly comprehend my love for you
Girl, I've been thinkin' bout this relationship
I've been reflecting on our relationship
And I wanna know is this as good as it gets
I'm questioning if our relationship has reached its full potential
Cause we've been through the worst times and the best times
We've experienced ups and downs in our relationship
But it was our time, even if it was part-time
Even though our relationship may not have lasted long, it was still special and important
My baby lookin' at me, smilin' at me, laughin' like we wasn't happy
Even though we were going through issues, we still found moments of joy
But not knowin', ever growin' and we're gettin' married
We're learning and growing together, and planning to get married
Hard lovin' and straight thuggin'
Our love is passionate and unapologetic
Bitch, I ain't doin' this for nuttin'
I'm not doing all of this for nothing, I'm committed to this relationship
I'm here to get it poppin', hoppin, let's ride up in the Benz
I'm ready to have fun and enjoy life together, driving around in a nice car
Hair blowin' in the wind, sun glistenin' off my skin, hey
We're cruising around with the wind in our hair and sun shining on us
I'm nasty, heh, you know me
I have a wild side, and you know that about me
But you still don't mess with your baby
You know not to cross me or mess with me, even though I can be wild
Now people loving me and hating me treating me ungreatfully
People have mixed feelings about me, treating me poorly and ungratefully
But not knowin' that they ain't making or breaking me
They don't realize that their opinions and actions have no real impact on me
My life I live it to the limit and I love it
I'm living my life fully and embracing it
Now I can breath again baby now I can breath again
I feel free and able to breathe again now that I'm not weighed down by negativity
(telling all your friends) yeah yeah
You're still sharing our business with your friends
(you'll never understand) my love
You can't truly comprehend my love for you
Cause I'm real (the way you walk the way you move the way you talk)
I'm authentic, genuine, and true to myself
Cause I'm real (the way you stare the way you look your style your hair)
I have a unique and confident appearance
Cause I'm real (the way you smile the way you smell it drives me wild)
I have an irresistible charm and scent that drives others crazy
Cause I'm real and I can't go on without you
I'm authentic and genuine, and I can't imagine my life without you
And I can't go on without you
I can't continue living without you by my side
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JakeJonKing
Definitely the best cover on this album
Nelson3300
It’s pretty impressive how many lyrics they crammed into this. Always loved this track.
Brock Schowalter
Ah, The Starting Line. One of the catalysts of my Emo phase.
Larry Barker
So it’s 2020 and somehow this is the first time I’m hearing this. It’s actually awesome!
Adriana Miyuki Koza
2004 feelings, omg, time passes so fast! I used to love this music. Still great!
Luca 98
Amazing version 👏👏👏
loveitjak
Feel like a 16 year old again ❤
kerororox
Better than the original
Jackson The Epic
I really miss these guys
Dakota Kilgore
you guys gonna finally upload all the old punk goes albums