The Strokes

Songwriter: Julian Casablancas

[Spoken]
This is uh, our favorite song
Of all the songs we wrote ever
Ha, ha
Now surprise surprise, it's called "When It Started"

[Verse 1]
Won’t decide, but he won't debate
Said, "Thanks my friend, thought it was too late"
Oh, why, oh, why? I don't know
You think things move pretty fast down here?
Well, just wait, my dear, ’til you look up there
Oh, maybe some day you'll know
Had his second kid, was an early night
Got to be well-dressed, 'cause he hates to fly
Oh, loves his job, takes it home

[Chorus 1]
Anything they wanted
They could have it, have it
Didn't even notice
I don't mind it, mind it
Shutdown!

[Verse 2]
Won't decide, but he won't debate
Said, "Thanks my friend, thought that we was dead"
Oh why, oh, why? I don't know
Oh well, you think things move pretty fast down here?
But just wait, my dear, ’til we get up there
Oh, maybe someday, they’ll know

[Chorus 2]
Oh, come on, tell me does she warm the room
When he comes?
Or does he just know
How to leave when it gets cold?

[Outro]
I don't care, I don’t care
'Cause it's free

The Strokes burst onto the scene at a time when rock fans were desperate for an alternative to the rap-rock that was dominating the airwaves. That the band lived up to expectations after being hailed ‘saviors of guitar rock’ solely based on the strength of a three song EP is a testament to the quality of their flawless debut, July 2001’s Is This It.

Ultimately, they are a band that truly relies on the strength of the entire lead singer Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist Nick Valensi, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., and bassist Nikolai Fraiture. However, much of The Strokes' output has been influenced by the domineering vision of Casablancas' songwriting.

Before he took a small step back on their third album, January 2006’s First Impressions of Earth, and then isolated himself to record March 2011’s Angles, Casablancas was involved in almost every step of The Strokes' recording process. He wrote all of the lyrics and the music on their first two albums and was constantly involved in the mixing of the records.

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