Someone, Anyone

Album: Vital (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the Egyptian revolution of 2011. "Watching a country unit without mass destruction or an overwhelming amount of fatalities is awe inspiring," said vocalist Stephen Christian. "I understand that there will be war, but [their protest] gives me hope that, in the future, others will learn from this form of non-violence for massive worldwide reform."
  • Stephen Christian spoke to us in late 2012 shortly after viewing the attack on the American consulate in Libya that left four people dead, which he feels have left "an ironic twist" to this song. The violent reaction was blamed at the time on the clips posted on YouTube of the anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims, though it was later confirmed they were a planned terrorist attack and unrelated to the film.

    Christian explained that initially he "was really inspired by the Egyptian revolution," as it appeared to be "very, very peaceful in comparison to what it could have been." It was amazing to him to "see an entire country come together without picking up weapons. Instead they protested and they told the government, 'This has to change.'" However "several months later, and we just had four Americans die at an embassy because of a video that one person put together and put online."
    For Stephen the irony lies in his admiration for a culture whereby "through simple protests and non violent movements in the vein of Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., changed an entire government." However watching the deaths of four people at the American consulate in Libya made him decide "that the people can only go so far with that."
    Stephen concluded that the lesson he's "learned is that we have come far as a civilization. But we still have a lot to work on. And 'Someone, Anyone' talks about how once you step into the realm of violence, no one can walk away truly alive, i.e., the people that sadly passed away. But also the Egyptian people I feel have lost something. The movement that made them who they are is now seen as not having come far enough.
    And so it's just admonishment to the world as a whole that there are ways to solve problems other than violence."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.