The group formed in 1992, and released a vinyl single, "Proto Pretty", which was later compiled on Rhino Records' "Poptopia" series of power pop compilations. They followed this with the albums Wondermints (1995), Wonderful World of the Wondermints (an album of cover versions from 1996), Bali (1998) and Mind If We Make Love to You (2002). Most of these albums were released in Japan prior to release in the United States. The group also contributed to the soundtrack of the first Austin Powers movie at the request of Mike Myers.
In 1999, the group signed on to be part of Brian Wilson's touring band. Walusko and Gregory have played with him continuously ever since, with D'Amico only having toured with Wilson in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003. When D'Amico left to spend time with his family, he was replaced in 2001 and early 2002 by Andy Paley, and in 2004 by Nelson Bragg. However, D'Amico rejoined Wilson's band in the summer of 2008, replacing Jim Hines on drums after relieving fellow multi-instrumentalist Scott Bennett of his temporary drumming duties. Sahanaja also missed a few shows in 2003 and 2008, being replaced by Gary Griffin, and in 2016, when Billy Hinsche took his place.
All Wondermints can be heard on Wilson's CDs and DVDs Live at the Roxy Theatre, Brian Wilson on Tour, Pet Sounds Live, and Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, with Sahanaja, Walusko, and Gregory also appearing on the Pet Sounds Live in London album and the studio albums Gettin' in Over My Head and Brian Wilson Presents Smile.
The band is part of a power pop scene in Los Angeles, many of whose members play on each other's records. All of the members of Wondermints, especially Gregory, have made frequent guest appearances and have several side projects, some of the more notable of which are Love, The Eels, Baby Lemonade, The Negro Problem, Stew and Kim Fox.
Albums
Wondermints (1995)
Wonderful World of the Wondermints (1996)
Bali (1998)
Mind If We Make Love to You (2002)
Kaleidoscopin': Exploring Prisms of the Past (2009)
If I Were You
Wondermints Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A colorful rose is just too sublime
Once I
I thought it was you standing still this time
If I were you
Wait, na, na, na, I know what I can say
If I were you
Too far
Your innocence shows it's just who you are
Gone
A moment ago wasn't so
So far
If I were you
Wait, na, na, na now something I should say?
If I were you
Dark and colorless, lost you run
When everything has fallen, gone
Here are
And then it's too cold, and then it's too far
If I were you
Wait, na, na, now it's something I can say
If I were you
When, na, na, now is nothing left to send?
If I were you
When, na, na, na, now is nothing safe?
If I were you
When, na, na, na, na, na, no
The lyrics to Wondermints' song "If I Were You" are somewhat enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to be about a lost love or a relationship that has failed to flourish. The singer expresses nostalgia and longing for what once was, but also acknowledges the distance and the sense of finality that has set in.
The opening lines, "You find/A colorful rose is just too sublime/Once I/I thought it was you standing still this time," suggest that the singer is observing someone else who is able to appreciate the beauty of a rose, but is also reminded of a past love who they mistook for someone who would stay in their life ("I thought it was you standing still this time"). The chorus, "If I were you/Wait, na, na, na, I know what I can say/If I were you/Wait, na, na, na, now nothing I can say" seems to offer a reflection on the limits of communication and understanding between people, particularly in the aftermath of a relationship failure. The singer imagines what they might say if they were able to be in the other person's shoes, but then concludes that no words can capture the depth of their feelings.
The rest of the song operates in a dreamlike and somewhat surreal register, with the lines "Dark and colorless, lost you run/When everything has fallen, gone/Here are/And then it's too cold, and then it's too far" suggesting a disorienting landscape of loss and confusion. The final lines of the song, "When, na, na, na, now is nothing left to send?/If I were you/When, na, na, na, now is nothing safe?/If I were you/When, na, na, na, na, na, no" end on a note of unresolved tension, as if the singer is still grasping for meaning and struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship.
Overall, "If I Were You" is a haunting and poetic meditation on love, loss, and the unreliability of language in capturing the emotional complexities of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
You find
You have discovered something
A colorful rose is just too sublime
The experience of observing a colorful rose is too beautiful and perfect
Once I
At a previous time
I thought it was you standing still this time
I believed you were the one standing still during this particular moment
If I were you
In the hypothetical situation where I am you
Wait, na, na, na, I know what I can say
After some thought, I have come up with something to say
Wwait, na, na, na, now nothing I can say
Actually, never mind, I don't have anything to say anymore
Too far
The distance is too great
Your innocence shows it's just who you are
Your purity and naivety are inherent parts of your identity
Gone
Something has disappeared
A moment ago wasn't so
The previous moment was different or not as extreme
So far
The distance is even greater
Dark and colorless, lost you run
You feel lost and dispirited, running aimlessly without direction
When everything has fallen, gone
All has been lost or destroyed
Here are
Here is something to consider
And then it's too cold, and then it's too far
After trying to get closer, the result is failure and distance
Wait, na, na, na now something I should say?
Maybe there is something I should say now
Wait, na, na, now it's something I can say
Actually, I have found something to say
When, na, na, now is nothing left to send?
Is there really no message to send at this point?
When, na, na, na, now is nothing safe?
Is anything at all truly safe?
When, na, na, na, na, na, no
I can't think of anything else to add
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen Greeley
one of my favorite albums. Such a shame that it never got the recognition it deserves. Every song is a gem to me.
nick rivers
got in on cd.. love the Wondermints. Good they became bw's band but that would be nice to listen to something new from them after all these years! Probyn? will it ever happen or... other stories will happen but not this?
Kerry Kompost
Best song ever!
probyngregory
writing/most instruments by Mikey D'Amico