Will Dailey (born 1976 or '77) is an independent American recording artist,… Read Full Bio ↴Will Dailey (born 1976 or '77) is an independent American recording artist, performer and producer. He has released albums with Universal, CBS Records, Wheelkick Records and JS Music Group.

Breaking from an approach they employed on their last series of recordings, Will Dailey and his musical cohorts don't stick to one simple theme, emotion, genre, or style this time out. Rather, the Boston group incorporates elements of introspective folk and invigorating pop into one big rock 'n' roll ride.

When Will Dailey entered a Somerville, MA studio with The Rivals and producer Tom Polce in October 2010, he had one goal. "I wanted to shy away from the singer-songwriter side of things and make a real rock and roll record... the ‘roll' seems to have disappeared from a lot of rock, and we've made it part of our mission to bring it back," the singer, guitarist and lead songwriter declares. "The songs may unfold themselves in many different ways, but the music needed to be high-energy, adventurous, and get right to the heart of the matter."

The band accomplished their mission with flying colors. Hunkering down for four marathon weeks in the studio, Dailey, Dave Brophy [drums], Matt Pynn [guitar], and Matt Tahaney [bass] poured their hearts into making a record that reflects the band members' intense devotion to the songs and belief in rock'n'roll.

"The whole recording experience was us in a room struggling, arguing, and having beautiful moments together at the same time," Dailey recalls. "It's a real band record, and that's why it's called Will Dailey & The Rivals. This music is who we are. It's like Mission Impossible where I have these staple sidekicks. These guys have stuck it out with me for a long time and we're all immensely proud of what we've made."

Dailey certainly has come a long way to arrive at his major label debut. He released a series of critically acclaimed records through the relaunched, and now independent, CBS Records. In the process, he was honored with two Boston Music Awards for Best Male Singer-Songwriter and was lauded by Rolling Stone, People Magazine, The Boston Globe, and numerous other publications. Meanwhile, his music was featured on more than 50 different television shows such as MTV's The Hills, NCIS, 90210, CSI: Miami, Eli Stone, CSI: New York, and more. After the band finished recording their third effort, Universal Republic Records executives heard the music and instantly signed them in early 2011.

Will Dailey & The Rival's first single, "Counting on Karma," opens up a new chapter. A sunny acoustic guitar shimmers alongside Dailey's soaring refrain as the song paints a cinematic picture of waiting, optimistically, for "the one."

Hang tight pretty young girls
That ain't every guy in the whole wide world
Sometimes he's standing in the corner
Counting on karma to bring you over

It's a lush pop rock gem that's as infectious as it is inviting.

About the song, Dailey says, "A dear friend of mine had this diatribe about how girls never go for the nice guy. I didn't buy the concept at first though, and he responded, 'I'll just count on karma'. That conversation stuck with me, and the song is focused on that feeling for all of the guys and girls out there who've discovered that sometimes, the first or most aggressive person in line isn't always the best choice. Sometimes it is the one standing in the corner."

The rest of the record is filled with songs whose universal themes are sure to resonate with listeners. "Big Bright Sun" is a pensive anthem that takes flight on another massive chorus, while "Best Friend" and “No Fiction" respectively chronicle the positive and darker sides of social media and online encounters. Album opener "How Good It Feels" saw Dailey enlist the help of the first chairs of The Boston Symphony Orchestra to add an epic flare to the song's arrangement.

"It was special to compose this majestic thing and have real pros play it," smiles Dailey. "It opens the album on this very honest statement. It's about how the trip itself feels so good. You're not going anywhere in particular or wishing you'd changed things in the past. Don't punish yourself with hindsight or stress about tomorrow. Enjoy, it's about the journey. I like setting the pace for the album that way."

He also sets the pace similarly on stage. With uncontainable charisma and energy, he's won over audiences supporting Neil Young, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews Band at their historic Farm Aid benefit concerts. In addition, Dailey will soon be heard collaborating with Stephen King and Mellencamp on a highly anticipated project produced by T Bone Burnett.

Ultimately, this album is truly designed as an adventure for Will Dailey & The Rivals to share with fans. "I hope the album is a ride people want to take again and again," he concludes. "I'd love for people to reach the end and press 'play' one more time."

Grand Opening
Will Dailey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Won’t let it cool me out
Won’t let is back me off
Cannot tell you why
I have got to run
Stuck in the headlights
On the longest road
Don’t try to call me out
Or find where I have gone

But you wear the butterfly
I got the remote control
And when you walk on by
I will turn you on

Take all of your things
But do not take your thoughts
You think of my hands
I’ll think of your touch
This is no goodbye
just a distance to obey

We move just like water
Even when we go down in flames

Overall Meaning

In Will Dailey's song "Grand Opening," the lyrics describe a complicated relationship in which the singer is struggling with conflicting emotions. He expresses a desire to run away and escape the situation, yet is drawn to the other person like a moth to a flame. The opening lines, "Won’t let it cool me out, Won’t let it back me off," suggest a determination to stay the course, despite whatever obstacles may arise. He admits that he cannot explain why he feels the need to run, but the image of being "stuck in the headlights on the longest road" implies a feeling of being trapped and overwhelmed.

Despite his inner turmoil, the singer is still strongly attracted to the other person, as shown in the lines "But you wear the butterfly, I got the remote control, And when you walk on by, I will turn you on." The butterfly may be seen as a symbol of freedom and lightness, contrasting with the heavy burden of the singer's emotions. The image of the remote control suggests a sense of control and power, yet also a willingness to be manipulated by the other person. The singer is torn between wanting to be close to the other person and being afraid of the intensity of those feelings.

The final lines of the song, "We move just like water, Even when we go down in flames," convey a sense of fluidity and resilience in the face of adversity. The relationship may be tumultuous and fraught with difficulty, but the two people are still drawn to each other like water flowing in a river. The metaphor of going down in flames suggests a destructive force, yet even in the midst of that destruction, something enduring and elemental remains.

Line by Line Meaning

Won’t let it cool me out
I won't let this situation calm me down or weaken me.

Won’t let is back me off
I won't allow this to push me away or retreat from the problem.

Cannot tell you why
I'm not sure how to explain what I'm feeling.

I have got to run
I need to leave this situation behind and move on.

Stuck in the headlights
I am paralyzed and unsure how to proceed.

On the longest road
This journey feels like it will never end.

Don’t try to call me out
Don't attempt to challenge or expose me.

Or find where I have gone
Let me disappear and don't try to track me down.

But you wear the butterfly
You exude beauty and grace.

I got the remote control
I have the power to decide the outcome of this situation.

And when you walk on by
Your presence captivates me.