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about
I still have this little garage band file on my laptop from when I first came up with the idea of City of a Million, when it was merely just a keyboard designed guitar track and a snare drum. I was particularly inspired by Jack Antonoff’s solo band Bleachers, and after a long car ride of obnoxiously binging his latest album, I discovered a newfound love of rock music. And so, of course, I ran inside, overcome by excitement and inspiration, and got to work.
I remember being fascinated and engrossed by this idea of a toxic, urban “love” story, and when later presented with some extra time in the studio, I decided I might as well take a shot at bringing this vision to life. Luckily, Johny, the amazing mixer and a producer I was working with, was just as big a Bleachers fan as I was, and when I told him that I wanted them to be the reference production-wise, he got to work. I absolutely bopped out in the studio as he added these brilliant guitar riffs and licks, and after getting a live drummer in the studio, the song truly exceeded my expectations.
When writing the lyrics of the piece, I really wanted to focus on capturing different aspects of urban-inspired imagery (red lights, park benches, crowded apartments), while still communicating a sort of fast-paced, impetuous young relationship (”tried to find the silver lining in the so called golden years”). This incorporation of imagery was especially integral in the development of the piece, as I wanted it to be laced with dark blues and greens and a sort of eerie, late night escapade and an overwhelming rush of both an utterly terrifying and consumingly exciting rush of adrenalin. The phrase “Teenage Runaway” was also inspired by a Bleachers song.
One of my favorite parts both writing and performing from the song though was probably in the second verse: “Oh my god who is she, that girl you mentioned once / and you don’t care about me until somebody else does,” as I think it perfectly captures that unhealthy, on again off again aspect of the two characters’ relationship. Another production addition that was so fun for me was the part where we put on bunch of tracks of me screaming the words during “remember that you ruined this city for me,” as it really encapsulated and highlighted that desperation I was trying to convey.
I still have vivid memories of my dad and I screaming along at full volume to the latest mixes of it while we were driving home from the studio, and it has grown to become, dare I say, one of my favorite songs on the entire album.
lyrics
City Of A Million
Red eyes, red lights
Cry about it later
Best day of your life
But you’ll regret it when its over
Promise on a park bench, crying in apartments
Dear
City lights, polaroids
They come back in waves
We’ll get our act together
But give us a couple days
Trying to find the silver lining in the so called golden years
Teenage runaway sneakers and a love letter
Bright lights, fast cars, babe do you remember
Just two criminals trying to steal a moment
But it’s better getting caught together aint it
Long walk, good talk you say sarcastically
Silence on the subway still say something you don’t mean
Stay another week but only if you dare me too
And oh my god who is she that girl you mentioned once
And you don’t care about me until somebody else does
City of a million but strangely I come back to you
Teenage runaway, fingers crossed you’ll stay
But fingers crossed behind your back always just in case
Two criminals trying to steal a moment
But its better getting caught together aint it
Oh my god go back your bags
Cant believe you’d have the nerve to mention that
City of a million but strangely every billboard looks like you
And every time you’re walking through the crowded streets
Remember that you ruined this city for me
Two teenage runaways who ran to each other way too soon
credits
released July 1, 2022
Ann Gray -- vocals and guitar
John Terrell -- guitar, bass guitar
JJ Bowers -- drums
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