Some Kind of Disaster

Album: Wake Up, Sunshine (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • All Time Low began a new era with this introspective track. Coming after their moody Last Young Renegade album, with its emphasis on analog synths and drum loops, the band wanted to revert back to a live instrument sound. "It was an attempt to be much more true to the four of us, and everybody having their moments as if they were playing it live on stage," frontman Alex Gaskarth told Billboard.
  • Released as the lead single from Wake Up, Sunshine, the group declared in an Instagram post that the Young Renegades they introduced on their previous Last Young Renegade album "are no more."
  • This was one of the first songs All Time Low wrote after Last Young Renegade; it was penned before they knew they were making an album. Frontman Ales Gasgarth explained to American Songwriter the band saw the anthemic tune as a great way to start a show. Then they thought, "Why don't we apply that to an album?" It became the opening track for Wake Up, Sunshine, setting the stage for the record. "It's just a rock 'n' roll song," Gasgarth said, "and we wanted to show people the kind of energy we were going for on the album."
  • Gasgarth told Kerrang the song's key line is:

    So what are you after?
    Some kind of disaster


    He explained: "It's like I'm asking the fans if they're ready to do this all over again with another record."
  • During the song's music video, the All Time Low members attend group therapy where they tackle some of the traits Gasgarth sings of the chorus.

    I'm a liar, I'm a cynic
    I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
    I'm a loser, I'm a critic


    By the end of the clip, the band members have resolved their issues and can start again.
  • Asked by UK newspaper The Sun about the story behind this song, Alex Gasgarth replied: "It's about sitting down with your demons and acknowledging they're along for the ride - and at times define who you are, And it's about my life in this band, asking fans if they're ready for another go around."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.