Cough Syrup

Album: Young the Giant (2011)
Charted: 95
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the only track on Young The Giant that dates back to when the band was known as The Jakes. It was composed when the band was unsigned and originally appeared on their 2008 Shake My Hand EP.
  • The song was written as a cry for help when the band was broke and didn't know what to do with themselves. Frontman Sameer Gadhia explained the group, "felt somewhat oppressed by the universal expectation of what to do in Orange County... in suburbia in general. I think we really yearned to break out of that and do something a little bit different." Gadhia added that the song was their attempt to "break free, not necessarily from oppression, but the common symptoms of suburbia like boredom, normality and homogeneity."
  • The song was sung by Blaine Anderson on the third mid-season finale of Glee. Blaine's performance is intercut with scenes of the gay character David Karofsky struggling with hate threats on his social media pages leading up to an attempted suicide. The members of Young the Giant did have to think a bit about whether to grant permission for the series to use their song, but were eventually pleased with its placement in such a poignant scene. "I don't think we ever had the intent of the song... in such a serious scene," Gadhia told Billboard magazine: "It's very, very intense, very, very impactful, and we most definitely empathized with that. All of us have been victims of bullying - and been bullies at some point in time. It's something that hits everyone."
  • The music video, directed by Petro, was filmed at the Silverado indoor pool in Southern California. The band wanted to get in the water with their instruments, but Petro brought in synchronized swimmers to do routines instead. For their out-of-water scenes, the women eventually agreed to be sprayed with glitter, even though they were worried about inhaling it.

Comments: 1

  • Reya from Reynoldsburg, OhI knew this song before I heard it on Glee, and loved it already. When Blaine started singing it, I flipped out. I love this song sooooo much!!! I'm thinking of songing it for the school talent show this year!!!!!!!!!!!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.