Valencia met by playing local shows together around the tri-state area in separate bands. George Ciukurescu and JD Perry grew up together; attending elementary school, high school, and their first year of college. They joined a band in 2001 called The Capgun Heroes with Brendan Walter and former member Sean Mundy. Shane Henderson sang in the band Attracted to Miss and Max played drums in The Emphasis. They formed the band that is known today as Valencia in 2004. The band is named after the wife of the protagonist, Valencia, in the book by Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughter House 5.
In 2005 Valencia signed to I Surrender Records after the label's owner, Midtown's drummer Rob Hitt, heard their demo tape. After playing the Warped Tour in 2005, they released their first album, This Could Be A Possibility, in October 2005, which was re-released in September 2006.
In 2006, the band was named SPIN Band of the Day and was a finalist for Band of the Year, but lost to Nightmare of You. In May 2006, the band stopped touring because of the death of Shane's girlfriend in a freak lawn mower accident. In July 2006, Valencia traveled to Japan to play the Fuji Rock Festival.
In 2007 the band toured with Boys Like Girls, The Audition and All Time Low in the U.S. Valencia also toured with We the Kings, The Cab, Charlotte Sometimes, and Sing it Loud in April 2008.
In 2009 Valencia performed at the Soundwave festival with New Found Glory, Say Anything and Billy Talent. The band opened for blink-182 in June 2009 on their summer reunion tour.
Valencia's second album, We All Need a Reason to Believe was released on August 26, 2008, featuring 11 new tracks. The album leaked in its entirety on August 16, 2008. On August 19, 2008 it was made available as a full stream on the band's Myspace page. "Safe To Say" is on the soundtrack for MLB 09 The Show. Valencia spent summer 2009 touring with Every Avenue.
Band member Brendan Walter was one of 32 sued by the RIAA in its first round file-sharing suits. During an interview on WCUR's Foundation Radio on December 9, 2010, host Adam Barnard asked about the circumstances surrounding this incident. Walter stated that he had been chosen at random due to the fact that he had illegally downloaded music by American rock band Smash Mouth.
Valencia's third album, "Dancing With A Ghost" was released October 12, 2010. After a long break from touring, the band went back on tour for their new album in October of 2010. The tour includes a few shows of headlining along with shows with bands like Say Anything, Saves the Day and Motion City Soundtrack. The band's tour will also make it all the way to Australia.
In October of 2011, Shane Henderson released a statement regarding the band's decision to go on an indefinite hiatus after 2011. Following a farewell tour in Japan, the band played a final show on December 28th at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA to a sold-out crowd.
Que Sera Sera
Valencia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it makes me sick to my stomach
To think of what you've become
These tall evergreens
And the lights of your city
Should have warned me long ago
That I fell way too fast
This one would share its secrets with me
Of what it has seen
Of you and the way you move
So now that I'm listening
I've got my ear to the wall and my feet are touching the ground
I'm trying not to give myself away
But my heart is beating way too loud
And that got my thinking
One may never be as happy as one seems
So I'll go ahead and give myself away
Cause this dream is taking all of me
You won't talk
And it remained
Just you and I overlooking these Portland lights
From the top of a mountain
In a park where you call home
From the top of a mountain
In a park where you call home
If mountains could talk
This one would share its secrets with me
Of what it has seen
Of you and the way you move
So now that I'm listening
I've got my ear to the wall and my feet are touching the ground
I'm trying not to give myself away
But my heart is beating way too loud
And that got my thinking
One may never be as happy as one seems
So I'll go ahead and give myself away
Cause this dream is taking all of me
Things got a little crazy for me for that week
Where I drank myself stupid to the point where I couldn't even speak
It's beautiful here, I don't ever want to leave
Then I thought about the unfortunate side effect
Of me being me
And I remembered
Back where this leads
Back to the park where you call home
And me realizing
What back then
I should have known
I'd hate what you'd become
Well I can still smell that Portland air
So now that I'm listening
I've got my ear to the wall and my feet are touching the ground
I'm trying not to give myself away
But my heart is beating way too loud
And that got my thinking
One may never be as happy as one seems
So I'll go ahead and give myself away
Cause this dream is taking all of me
The song "Que Sera Sera" by Valencia is a heartbreaking confession of a person who fell in love too fast and ended up disappointed. The singer reminisces about the time spent in Portland with the person he loves and how the scent of the city still makes him feel sick. He recognizes that he should have been cautious because the city, with its tall evergreens and bright lights, warned him about the person's true self. The singer is standing on a mountain, which is a silent witness to the secrets of the city and the person's actions. The singer's heart is beating too fast, and he is trying not to give himself away. He realizes that one may never be as happy as one seems, but he cannot help but give himself away because this dream is taking all of him. The singer finally admits that he hates what his lover has become and wishes he had known earlier.
The lyrics are poetic and deeply emotional. The use of sensory imagery, such as the smell of Portland air, creates a sense of place and emotionality. The mountain in the lyrics is symbolic of the singer's perspective, as it is a witness to the secrets of the city and the person's behavior. The singer's vulnerability and honesty make the song relatable, and the chorus's repetition creates a sense of urgency and emotionality.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I can still smell the Portland air
The memories of Portland bring up negative emotions for me.
And it makes me sick to my stomach
The thought of what you have become makes me physically ill.
To think of what you've become
The changes in you are deeply troubling to me.
These tall evergreens
The trees symbolize your environment and life.
And the lights of your city
The bright city lights symbolize the distractions and temptations of life.
Should have warned me long ago
The signs were there but I was too blinded by my emotions to see.
That I fell way too fast
I fell in love with you too quickly.
If mountains could talk
Nature holds wisdom and insight for those who are willing to listen.
This one would share its secrets with me
This mountain has witnessed your life and can reveal the things I don't know.
Of what it has seen
The mountain has witnessed your highs and lows.
Of you and the way you move
The mountain has seen you at your best and worst.
So now that I'm listening
I am finally paying attention to the messages the world is sending me about you.
I've got my ear to the wall and my feet are touching the ground
I am fully grounded in the present moment and aware of what is going on.
I'm trying not to give myself away
I don't want to reveal my true feelings.
But my heart is beating way too loud
I can't control my emotions anymore.
And that got my thinking
This situation has made me reflect on my life.
One may never be as happy as one seems
People may not be as content and fulfilled as they appear on the surface.
So I'll go ahead and give myself away
I will reveal my true feelings, despite the risks.
Cause this dream is taking all of me
My feelings for you and this desire to be with you has consumed my thoughts and emotions.
You won't talk
You are not communicative with me.
And it remained
A problem or issue persists between us.
Just you and I overlooking these Portland lights
We are alone in our thoughts and experiences as we contemplate the city.
From the top of a mountain
We have a heightened perspective and can see things more clearly.
In a park where you call home
This is your home and where you feel most comfortable.
Things got a little crazy for me for that week
I went through a period of recklessness.
Where I drank myself stupid to the point where I couldn't even speak
I drank excessively and was unable to communicate.
It's beautiful here, I don't ever want to leave
The environment was pleasant and made me feel content.
Then I thought about the unfortunate side effect
I considered the negative consequences of my actions.
Of me being me
I realized that my flaws and habits had consequences.
And I remembered
I had an epiphany.
Back where this leads
This situation always leads back to the same problems.
Back to the park where you call home
This issue is rooted in your lifestyle and habits.
And me realizing
I had a moment of clarity.
What back then
I am reflecting on the past.
I should have known
I wish I had been more intuitive and aware of the situation.
I'd hate what you'd become
You have changed in ways that I don't like.
So now that I'm listening
I am paying closer attention to my surroundings.
I've got my ear to the wall and my feet are touching the ground
I am fully present and aware.
I'm trying not to give myself away
I am attempting to hide my true feelings.
But my heart is beating way too loud
My emotions are too intense to control.
And that got my thinking
I am reflecting on my life and choices.
One may never be as happy as one seems
People may not be as fulfilled as they appear.
So I'll go ahead and give myself away
I will reveal my true feelings, regardless of the risks.
Cause this dream is taking all of me
My desires and emotions are overwhelming.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENDAN WALTER, GEORGE CIUKURESCU, JONATHAN PERRY, MAX SORIA, SHANE HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind