The Kids Are Sick Again

Album: Quicken the Heart (2009)
Charted: 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the lead single from Maximo Park's third studio album Quicken the Heart.
  • Frontman Paul Smith explained to the NME that this song is about the effect of advertisements on the youth today. Said Smith: "I guess I thought society as a whole is bombarded by advertisements and to me that's why the kids are sick again. It's a funny sounding phrase but it's a serious song - so it's a nice blend of being amused, but [also] I hope people sit up and take notice of it."
    Drummer Tom English added: "They [the youth of today] can't express themselves anymore and this is for them."
  • Smith told Drowned In Sound: "The first line ('The comforting ache of the summer holiday') indicates that queasy feeling of adolescent isolation that I remember experiencing. The song's ultimate feeling is of escape and I think the music builds to that release after a pulsing, atmospheric beginning."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.