• 2010-2025

  Alaina MooreVocals, keyboard2010-2025

  Patrick RileyGuitar2010-2025
• Tennis is a band comprised of husband and wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. The couple met while studying philosophy in college and sailed together for 7 months down the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard.
• Tennis got their name from Alaina Moore's tendency to tease her husband. Patrick Riley played the sport in college so Moore like to poke fun at him for taking part in an "elitist rich man's sport."
• Before forming Tennis with wife Alaina Moore, Patrick Riley played guitar for pop punk band The Ataris for a short time. Riley contributed to one of the band's albums and toured with them before deciding to quit to go back to school.
• Although Tennis receives a lot of attention on the national alternative scene, not many people in their hometown of Denver, CO know who they are. Guitarist Patrick Riley told The A.V.Club: "We have good friends who play in some of the local bands. It's kind of funny. Most of them don't know we play in a band to this day."
• While on sailing trip, the husband and wife duo Tennis decided that they wanted to make sunny pop music. They listened to a lot of Paul Simon and The Shirelles for 7 months which singer Alaina Moore says matched "the aesthetic of the trip."
• Tennis singer Alaina Moore doesn't necessarily like Twitter. She says the idea of it "makes her laugh out loud" and that the idea of blogging is "pretty funny too."
• Patrick Riley believes Barbra Streisand's Streisand Superman is the greatest CD cover of all time. Riley says the band is usually coerced into picking certain covers for their albums by their label and producers.

Comments

More Songfacts:

How Dry I AmIrving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote "How Dry I Am" in anticipation of Prohibition, envisioning a bleak future without alcohol.

Walkin' On The SunSmash Mouth

You wouldn't know it from the upbeat melody, but "Walkin' On The Sun" by Smash Mouth is about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

Year Of The CatAl Stewart

The title of Al Stewart's "Year Of The Cat" comes from Vietnamese astrology. The Year of the Cat comes every 12 Years: 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023...

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeElton John

Recording "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," Elton John was frustrated and sang the line "don't discard me" with an exaggerated American accent, which is why is sounds strange.

DiamondsRihanna

Rihanna's 2012 hit "Diamonds" was written by Sia Furler, who two years later had a huge hit on her own with "Chandelier." Sia also wrote the David Guetta hit "Titanium."

Brian WilsonBarenaked Ladies

Brian Wilson played Barenaked Ladies "Brian Wilson" at some of his concerts. He was "honored" by the song.

Editor's Picks

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?