"Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" is a 1985 song by the alternative rock band Dramarama released as the first single from their debut album Cinéma Vérité. Written by John Easdale in the mid-1980s, "Anything, Anything" features a steady beat and lyrics about the breakdown of his marriage.
Although initially unsuccessful, the song saw commercial success after being played on KROQ and featuring on the A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master soundtrack. "Anything, Anything" remains one of the band's most famous songs and is a live favorite.
"Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" was written by Dramarama singer John Easdale in the period from 1984 to 1985, a time he recalled as "definitely not a high point in [his] life."[1] The song was written as a reflection on Easdale's deteriorating marriage.
It was written about my ex-wife and I. We lived in a one-room apartment downstairs from where the rest of the band lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Lodi, New Jersey. Couples often tell me it's "their" song, and I'm flattered that they feel the emotion and passion of it, but I am always a bit reluctant to mention that it is essentially an ode to a bitter break-up.
Lyrically, the song mentions drinking and pills to reference partying, with the latter being used to rhyme with "hundred dollar bills." The song features the same beat throughout, a feature Easdale explains was meant as "a way to keep the anguish constant."[1]
Releaseedit
Dramarama were largely unknown until Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer began regularly playing "Anything, Anything" on KROQ.[1] The song garnered phone requests and was added to the station's rotation shortly thereafter. The success prompted Dramarama to move to Los Angeles; the track remains one of the most requested songs in the history of Los Angeles radio station KROQ.[2] Easdale later described the song's success as a "miracle."[3]
Music videoedit
Two versions of the "Anything, Anything" music video were ultimately released. The first version, featuring clips of Edie Sedgwick from the underground 1972 film, Ciao! Manhattan interspersed with the clips of the band, was initially rejected by MTV due to the use word "pills" (which the band later rerecorded as "chills").[1] A second video was filmed in 1990 to accompany a re-released single by Chameleon Records.
Track listingedit
1989 single
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Anything, Anything"
3:44
2.
"I Wish I Was Your Mother"
3:58
1990 single
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" (Sonic Love Mix)
3:13
2.
"Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" (Live version from the China Club EP)
3:47
3.
"Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" (LP Version)
3:21
Reception and legacyedit
"Anything, Anything" remains one of the band's most popular songs. Easdale reflected on this, "I love that people I have never met know the song. I love hearing strangers perform cover versions. I love that it is still getting played on the radio, on the internet and elsewhere. I love that I still get to sing it and that people still come to hear us play it in concert. I love that 30 plus years later, outlets like NOISEY are asking me questions about it. I have written many, many songs, but it is the only one that has really had a life of its own."[1]
The song remains a live favorite for the band; according to Easdale, "It's a fun song to play, the crowd more often than not sings along, the best is when the audience is singing louder than me. 'Anything, Anything' is the only song that has consistently been performed at nearly all Dramarama live shows since 1985."[1]
American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has said it is her favorite song. For DeGeneres' 50th birthday, Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ Stryker surprised her by bringing Dramarama to the show to perform the song live.[5]
^ abcdefgScott, Tim. "How A Mid 80s 'Alt Rock' Radio Hit Defined Dramarama". Vice. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^. The World Famous KROQ. 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^Valcourt, Keith. "Dramarama's John Easdale: 'One-Hit Wonder? Better Than None'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^Lustig, Jay (29 September 2011). "Song of the Day: 'Anything, Anything (I'll Give You),' Dramarama". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^Singh, Amrit (25 January 2008). "Ellen Turns 50, Celebrates With Dramarama". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 87.
^Marotta, Michael (October 2015). "Please allow this Beach Slang cover of Dramarama's 'Anything, Anything' to rip your face off". Vanyaland. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
May 07, 2024
anything, anything, give, 1985, song, alternative, rock, band, dramarama, released, first, single, from, their, debut, album, cinéma, vérité, written, john, easdale, 1980s, anything, anything, features, steady, beat, lyrics, about, breakdown, marriage, 1989, s. Anything Anything I ll Give You is a 1985 song by the alternative rock band Dramarama released as the first single from their debut album Cinema Verite Written by John Easdale in the mid 1980s Anything Anything features a steady beat and lyrics about the breakdown of his marriage Anything Anything I ll Give You 1989 single artworkSingle by Dramaramafrom the album Cinema VeriteB side I Wish I Was Your Mother Released1985Recorded1985GenreAlternative rockLength3 25LabelChameleon RecordsSongwriter s John EasdaleProducer s DramaramaDramarama singles chronology You Drive Me 1983 Anything Anything I ll Give You 1985 It s Still Warm 1985 Although initially unsuccessful the song saw commercial success after being played on KROQ and featuring on the A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 The Dream Master soundtrack Anything Anything remains one of the band s most famous songs and is a live favorite Contents 1 Background 2 Release 2 1 Music video 3 Track listing 4 Reception and legacy 5 Charts 6 Cover versions 7 ReferencesBackground edit Anything Anything I ll Give You was written by Dramarama singer John Easdale in the period from 1984 to 1985 a time he recalled as definitely not a high point in his life 1 The song was written as a reflection on Easdale s deteriorating marriage It was written about my ex wife and I We lived in a one room apartment downstairs from where the rest of the band lived in a two bedroom apartment in Lodi New Jersey Couples often tell me it s their song and I m flattered that they feel the emotion and passion of it but I am always a bit reluctant to mention that it is essentially an ode to a bitter break up John Easdale 1 Lyrically the song mentions drinking and pills to reference partying with the latter being used to rhyme with hundred dollar bills The song features the same beat throughout a feature Easdale explains was meant as a way to keep the anguish constant 1 Release editDramarama were largely unknown until Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer began regularly playing Anything Anything on KROQ 1 The song garnered phone requests and was added to the station s rotation shortly thereafter The success prompted Dramarama to move to Los Angeles the track remains one of the most requested songs in the history of Los Angeles radio station KROQ 2 Easdale later described the song s success as a miracle 3 Music video edit Two versions of the Anything Anything music video were ultimately released The first version featuring clips of Edie Sedgwick from the underground 1972 film Ciao Manhattan interspersed with the clips of the band was initially rejected by MTV due to the use word pills which the band later rerecorded as chills 1 A second video was filmed in 1990 to accompany a re released single by Chameleon Records Track listing edit1989 singleNo TitleLength1 Anything Anything 3 442 I Wish I Was Your Mother 3 58 1990 singleNo TitleLength1 Anything Anything I ll Give You Sonic Love Mix 3 132 Anything Anything I ll Give You Live version from the China Club EP 3 473 Anything Anything I ll Give You LP Version 3 21Reception and legacy edit Anything Anything remains one of the band s most popular songs Easdale reflected on this I love that people I have never met know the song I love hearing strangers perform cover versions I love that it is still getting played on the radio on the internet and elsewhere I love that I still get to sing it and that people still come to hear us play it in concert I love that 30 plus years later outlets like NOISEY are asking me questions about it I have written many many songs but it is the only one that has really had a life of its own 1 The song remains a live favorite for the band according to Easdale It s a fun song to play the crowd more often than not sings along the best is when the audience is singing louder than me Anything Anything is the only song that has consistently been performed at nearly all Dramarama live shows since 1985 1 The single was featured on the A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 The Dream Master soundtrack A short clip of it was also featured in an episode of Entourage Since 2009 the song has been the name and title of Rich Russo s free form radio show Anything Anything with Rich Russo where the song opens the show each week 4 The song also features in the 2014 film Two Night Stand as well as the 2003 film 11 14 American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has said it is her favorite song For DeGeneres 50th birthday Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ Stryker surprised her by bringing Dramarama to the show to perform the song live 5 Charts editChart 1991 Peakposition Australia ARIA Charts 6 85Cover versions editIn 1992 punk band Y Fronts from Hannover Germany covered the song on their EP Y Fronts Nasty Vinyl In 1994 punk band Big Boy Tomato covered the song on their EP Hormones and Hangovers In 1994 rock band The Kaper covered the song on their album From Now On In 1997 grunge band Grey Daze covered the song on their album No Sun Today In 2000 rock band Buckcherry covered the song for the Road Trip movie soundtrack In 2005 punk band Heads Held High covered the song on their EP Building Up To The Breakdown In 2006 punk band Lucky Boys Confusion covered the song for the EP How to Get Out Alive In 2016 alt rock band Beach Slang covered the song for the EP Here I Made This For You Vol 1 7 In 2018 psychobilly band The Thirsty Crows covered the song for the album Hangman s Noose References edit a b c d e f g Scott Tim How A Mid 80s Alt Rock Radio Hit Defined Dramarama Vice Retrieved 21 April 2020 What s That Hundred Dollar Bill Song The World Famous KROQ 25 February 2010 Archived from the original on 20 December 2016 Retrieved 31 January 2024 Valcourt Keith Dramarama s John Easdale One Hit Wonder Better Than None The Washington Times Retrieved 21 April 2020 Lustig Jay 29 September 2011 Song of the Day Anything Anything I ll Give You Dramarama The Star Ledger Retrieved 21 April 2020 Singh Amrit 25 January 2008 Ellen Turns 50 Celebrates With Dramarama Stereogum Retrieved 21 April 2020 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 PDF ed Mt Martha Victoria Australia Moonlight Publishing p 87 Marotta Michael October 2015 Please allow this Beach Slang cover of Dramarama s Anything Anything to rip your face off Vanyaland Retrieved 21 April 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anything Anything I 27ll Give You amp oldid 1219935064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
