If You Wanna

Album: What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (2011)
Charted: 35
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Having first been released as British indie rock group The Vaccines' original demo on YouTube, this song was re-recorded and issued as the third single from their debut album, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
  • The Vaccines' singer and chief songwriter Justin Young explained the song to NME: "As with a lot of the lyrics on the record, I've tried to be as direct as possible. Sometimes when you want to say something it's best to not be too clever about it. The lyrics are pretty defeatist, maybe even slightly pathetic. But we've all been there. I wanted us to have a song with really downbeat lyrics juxtaposed with a poppy and upbeat melody."
  • Kate Moss jams along to this song with The Vaccines in an advertisement for a new Rimmel lipstick designed by the supermodel. Young later recalled to NME regarding the filming of the commercial: "It was quite surreal. It was in a very bright white room so it felt a bit like we were dreaming."
  • This song had a different chorus until Justin Young came up with a new one as a joke. He told NME: "I thought it was like super cheesy, and I kind of got shivers down my spine like, 'Eww, I feel dirty,' and everyone in the room was like, 'No, that was really cool. That's a much better chorus.' I think that was a real turning point for the band because I think it was like me accepting that I write really cheesy pop songs, and so I should embrace that as a writer."
  • When Young asked bass player Arni Arnason to join the band, he also sent him a demo of this song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.