The End

Album: Simple Plan (2008)
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Songfacts®:

  • This was one of the first songs the band came up with for their third album. Frontman Pierre Bouvier recalled on the band's MySpace site that after that first session, "we were like, 'Oh, s--t, we've got something really fresh here! We got stuff going on! This is what we've been looking for." The excitement and enthusiasm they felt was so strong it gave the band its second wind."
  • Drummer Chuck Comeau added: "We had this vision we should try to integrate some really cool, modern-sounding beats in the verses and then go into the big, soaring kick-ass choruses that we're known for. That was the kind of mix we had in mind and when we came up with 'The End,' we knew that it really worked. I think that turning point started to give us a lot more confidence to keep writing and take a lot more chances, even with the regular kind of songs."
  • This was produced by Nate "Danja" Hills (Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Duran Duran, Nelly Furtado), who coincidentally had also targeted Simple Plan as one of the groups he wanted to work with as he expanded into the rock realm. Guitarist Sebastien Lefebvre recalled on MySpace: "We were a little surprised at first, but it was OK. I think we felt like we were adding a lot of new elements to our sound, which makes it more than just the typical rock band. I think it really inspired us all, and we came up with some groundbreaking stuff on this album."
  • Bassist David Desrosiers added: "We all wanted to have a different record - we knew that. And, after being in a band for 7 years, you want to still be excited about the music you're making. When we heard those ideas Danja had it was like, full speed ahead."

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