Hello and welcome back to Music Monday, where I discuss songs/albums/artists and explain them! Today I'll be going over another song by a band that has broken up and the remaining members formed the band now known as Hey Violet. This is Too Many Faces by Cherri Bomb off of their album titled "This Is The End of Control".

Lyrics

This song seems to be based around taking down someone who is fake and can't keep their stories straight - an all too true story to relate to, in an age where these types of people seem more prevalent than ever. While Cherri Bomb didn't always have Julia Pierce sing, it's no argument that she was indeed the strongest for the genre of rock, and she pulls it off beautifully with this song. In modern day, Julia is no longer part of the band. She was pushed out by Nia and Rena Lovelis because the rest of the band wanted to go in a different direction which I personally disagree with. As much love as I have for Hey Violet, the new lead singer, Rena, uses an improper technique over the years which has led to her vocal chords suffering significant damage, which is very obvious should you listen to any shows or live performances. Now, I'm going to explain the lyrics bit-by-bit and discuss why I believe the song to be so good and what the lyrics specifically mean.

Do you care about me?
Do you think I don't bleed?
Are you trying to hide behind a stupid lie
When the truth is in your eyes?

In the beginning 4 lines, Julia is asking this person if they really care and if they really think that she doesn't bleed- basically saying that the person says and does things as if no one is hurt by them. The truth of it all is in the actions and words of this person, but they're lying even when the truth is easy to see.

Do you think I don't see
What you're pushing on me?
In your mind you think it's only you against the world
Is it you against the world?

I absolutely love how bitter and sarcastic this bit sounds. Julia asks this person a rhetorical question- do you really think I can't see what you're trying to do? I've had experiences like that in the past and it's funny to think that those types of people underestimate you and act like you don't see the shit they're pulling. Then, she calls out the target of the song by saying they believe it's them against the world, knowing that its not, so she follows up with a question to make them think: Is it really you against the world? In reality, it's not.

You say you'll never go that far
But you're not who you say you are
You've got too many, too many faces
Your time is up in too many places

You say you'll never push that hard
But you're not who you say you are
You've got your heart in too many places
You've got too many, too many faces

The chorus is more or less a summary of everything the song is trying to say. This person is not who they claim to be, they're fake and have too many faces, and time is running out for them before it'd all come crashing down.

Have you lost yourself?
Always trying to sell
The person that you think you are
You stay alone
Cause real's just too hard

The next section is a straight attack on the character of the person the song is about. This person is just trying to make everyone believe they're a version of themselves that does not exist. When you do that, you lose yourself, because you're creating a false reality and false personality. This person would rather be alone, because having to actually be honest and real with anyone is just too god damn hard for them. Not being alone means letting real parts of yourself show and they wouldn't dare let their guard down after all the lies built up.

Always laying the blame
You're never one and the same
Could it be that you're afraid to look inside and find
You'll never get it right

The first line instantly draws me back to Paramore's song "Playing God" as a parallel to this. "Next time you point a finger, I'll point you to the mirror." This person never lets the blame fall on themselves even when it belongs there, so they make everyone else at blame for things that happen. They're never the same, never genuine. That leads Julia to wonder if they're afraid to realize that they can't become the right version of themselves, linking to the previous line that they're never one and the same.

[Chorus repeats here]

So many sides to you
Nobody knows the truth
How you ever gonna keep it straight?
I know what you're all about
I've got you figured out
Do you wanna be a memory?
 

This final part of the song has Julia tearing this fake person down for all the lies and faces they have constructed. You can't keep up the lies forever, you won't always be able to keep every story straight- so why not just be honest? She knows what they're up to and she's not oblivious to they're actions. They're doomed to be nothing more than a memory for their constantly changing stories and not being an individual who would make a lasting mark.

[Chorus repeats here]

Do you care about me?

This line just links back to the starting line of the song as a final question and impact to the target of the song.

--

I think we've all known a fake person in life, and this song is the perfect anthem for the ones who are sick of people putting up facades and refusing to let their true selves show. I know this situation all to well, and while thankfully I'm around true people now, I used to hang around the wrong people and a lot have been fake and disingenuous. Reasons like that are why I love this song so much, not to mention Julia Pierce's strong voice and powerful rock instrumental making this song a memorable one- even though it's not too catchy, but it's good to remember that a good song doesn't always mean catchy. Lots of catchy songs can be pretty bad!

-Dusk