Echo and Miller formed the band in the fall of 1998, citing a mutual love of old-school new wave, dance-punk energy and dark pop, with bassist Jeff Jaeger, drummer Scott Ellis (Mellowdrone, She Wants Revenge) and guitarist Mike Smith. The latter left during the recording of their debut album, Shakedown!, which was released on The Label, a sub-label of Geffen Records.
After returning from touring, the band found the label was closing its doors, and, after Scott Ellis' departure, released The 1234 EP independently. Following a 2002 summer tour supporting Scarling., the band gathered enough money to release theSTART EP on Smallstone Records. After a tour supporting AFI, the band was signed to Nitro Records. Stabilizing a new line-up with Erick Sanger and Billy Brimblecom, Jr., they recorded their next album, Initiation. In the meantime, theSTART EP was re-released on Nitro Records under the title Death Via Satellite. Unfortunately, on the day of Initiation's release, Brimblecom announced his departure. The band proceeded to tour with artists such as The Offspring, Auf Der Maur and Garbage with a number of fill-in drummers. Sanger was let go in 2006 for unclear reasons, paving the way for current rhythm section Lance Webber and Chelsea Davis. The band also parted ways with Nitro Records, and signed with Metropolis Records later that year, releasing Ciao, Baby in 2007.
Just A Fantasy
theSTART Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a while
Until your lips curled
up to a smile
And she screamed Sunday stories were untrue
Or the meek ones they're not you
Cause you won't inherit this
You're a fool
No you ain't got the best of me
It was all just a fantasy
Because I am the winner
You're still nobody
Glass in pieces over the tile
Smoke and mirror face in the pile
And she screamed it was always about you
And the bad things that you do
They cannot compare to this
What a tool
No, you ain't got the best of me
It was all just a fantasy
Because I am the winner
You're still nobody
Speaking secret story to me
Spit and fingers your fantasy
Girl thought you were wild for a while
Until your lips curled up to a smile
And it seems from the stories you told me
There is one thing we'll agree
Is that you will never be extraordinary
No, you ain't got the best of me
It was all just a fantasy
Because I am the winner
You're still nobody
No, you ain't got the best of me
It was all just a fantasy
Because I am the winner
You're still nobody
You're still nobody
You're still nobody
The song Just a Fantasy by theSTART is a powerful and emotionally charged piece about a girl who thought her lover was dead until he returned with a smile. The lyrics start by describing the girl's initial shock, confusion, and disbelief. The song indicates that the girl screamed to hear that the Sunday stories she was told about her lover's death were untrue. The lyrics suggest that the girl thought her lover had died, and this impacted her deeply. But, seeing him returning alive with a smile changes everything.
The song then takes an intense turn, suggesting that the girl was hurt and disappointed by the way her lover acted. The lyrics describe a scene with glass in pieces over the tile and a smoke and mirror face in the pile, possibly indicating that the girl feels like everything she had believed up to now was fake. The song implies that the girl also screams about how her lover's actions were always about him and the bad things that he did. She suggests that he cannot compare to what they've been through, and he's a fool for trying.
The chorus repeats, "No, you ain't got the best of me / It was all just a fantasy / Because I am the winner / You're still nobody," implying that the girl realizes that it was all a fantasy and that her lover had no power or significance over her.
Overall, the song Just a Fantasy by theSTART is a beautiful depiction of a complicated relationship that didn't work out. The lyrics and melody intertwine beautifully, and the emotions overflow to create a powerful impact on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl thought you were dead
The girl believed that the person was no longer alive
For a while
This belief was held for some time
Until your lips curled up to a smile
The person then smiled, indicating that they were still alive
And she screamed Sunday stories were untrue
The girl was upset because stories she had heard about the person were false
Or the meek ones they're not you
The calm and submissive people that she knows are not like the person
Cause you won't inherit this
The person will not receive the girl's approval or respect
You're a fool
The person is foolish for thinking that they could win her over
No you ain't got the best of me
The person did not succeed in their attempts to win the girl over
It was all just a fantasy
The person's hopes and dreams were nothing more than an imagined reality
Because I am the winner
The girl is the one who came out on top
You're still nobody
The person is still insignificant in her eyes
Glass in pieces over the tile
Broken glass is scattered across the floor
Smoke and mirror face in the pile
The person's deceptive persona is now crumbling
And she screamed it was always about you
The girl is angry because the person was always focused on themselves
And the bad things that you do
The person's negative behavior is part of the reason why she is angry
They cannot compare to this
The person's actions pale in comparison to the things that upset the girl
What a tool
The person is seen as foolish and incompetent
Speaking secret story to me
The person is telling the girl a private tale
Spit and fingers your fantasy
The person's desires are vulgar and unappealing to the girl
Girl thought you were wild for a while
The girl believed that the person was unpredictable and untamed
Until your lips curled up to a smile
Despite this belief, the person seemed relaxed and happy
And it seems from the stories you told me
The girl is reflecting on the stories that the person shared with her
There is one thing we'll agree
Both the girl and the person can acknowledge one truth
Is that you will never be extraordinary
The person will never be truly great or exceptional
No, you ain't got the best of me
The person was not successful in their attempt to impress or influence the girl
It was all just a fantasy
The person's perceptions and hopes were not grounded in reality
Because I am the winner
The girl is the one who has come out ahead in this situation
You're still nobody
The person is still unimportant and insignificant to the girl
You're still nobody
The person's lack of influence or significance is reaffirmed
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.