Stay

Album: Permanence (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This beat-driven track is the debut single from No Devotion, a band formed by the remaining members of Lostprophets after singer Ian Watkins was jailed for 35 years in December 2013 for a string of child sex offenses. Bassist Stuart Richardson said: "We didn't know if we would ever make music again or if people would look us in the face. Everything felt like it was over."
  • Watkins is replaced by Geoff Rickly, formerly of Metal band Thursday and current United Nations member. The original plan was for Rickly to make a documentary about Lostprophets' former members' efforts to start a new band. "Then," Rickly recalled to Billboard magazine, "I went to dinner with their manager and she was like 'No, you should sing for the new band.'"

    Unsure at first, some instrumental demos lured Rickly with a sound he'd never tackled before. "In Thursday we were never known for hooks," he told Billboard. "But the lyrics are totally one hundred percent autobiographical. I guess that's the one thing I've carried over from Thursday… United Nations is dark humor about politics; this is very sincere and heartfelt."
  • The song was mixed by Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

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.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

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.