Q: I found a really old switchfoot new way to be human video. Do you know who that asian guy at the end is? A: Ah yes, I love that video. It's so... well... dorky. I mean what was with that walking thing at the beginning? HA! Jon looked like he was having a lot of fun with that. But I digress! The guy at the end is none other than Mr. Willis Chin, the guy who Switchfoot named their first album (The Legend of Chin) after. He's in all the music videos up to Stars.
You can view the video here.
Q: Do you guys think that switchfoot will put their Best Yet cd on their website so people can pre-order it? also, if you think they will, when will they? I am really excited for it and I want to buy it off of their website if their going to have it there. A: First, thanks for wanting to support the guys by buying their music directly from them! We think that's the best way to do it. I'm 99% positive the guys will put it up on their store. They always do! It will probably be up a week or two before it's release date. EDIT: The Best Yet (and its deluze edition) is up for sale now in the Official Store! + The Best Yet Deluze Edition
Q: Jon said that Oh! Gravity was about sex, drugs,and rock-n-roll. Is that a bad thing? A: In what respect? Are sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll a bad thing? Or is Oh! Gravity being about them a bad thing? I'm going to say "no" on both counts. (Excluding the drugs on the former of course.) Switchfoot has often been referred to as the voice of our generation, and Jon's doing just that... voicing the issues of our generation in a way we can relate to.
Q: On the 2008.04.18 7. Omaha Diddy/On Fire bootleg, Jon announces "Pete Rose" on drums. Is there a story about that? A: Ha ha, oh Jon. You can ALWAYS, ALWAYS count on Jon doing something random and different during a concert. For awhile, it was introducing the rest of the band with random names... i.e. Prince, David Beckman, etc. So when Jon said that, he was referring to Chad, just calling him by the name of Pete Rose. We looked up Pete Rose and found two different guys... 1) A baseball player. 2) A jazz musician.
Wonder which one Jon was thinking of?
Q: Do the guys in Switchfoot ever get their own songs stuck in their heads? A: Well we aren't Switchfoot, or their heads, so that's a little difficult to answer. However, I'd venture that they probably do... not their old songs, ones that they've been playing for years, but new ones, ones that they are working on for the new album probably get stuck in their minds alot.
Q: What CD's were Running From Me and Throwing Chairs on? A: They weren't! It's rumored that Running From Me MIGHT be on the new Switchfoot record, but we don't know for sure yet. Throwing Chairs was supposed to be on a project called "Neverending White Lights." It was a CD by a guy named Daniel Victor, the same guy who co-wrote On Fire with Jon. However, to make a long story short, Switchfoot's record label took issue with the song being released on that project and didn't allow it to be on the CD.
Q: Is Switchfoot a Christian band? A: Someone asked Jon this once. This was his response:
"To be honest, this question grieves me because I feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simply a couple SF tunes. In true Socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach's sonata's Christian? What is more Christ-like, feeding the poor, making furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between the sacred and the secular in all of our modern minds. The view that a pastor is more "Christian" than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and flawed. These different callings and purposes further demonstrate God’s sovereignty. Many songs are worthy of being. Switchfoot will write some, Keith Green, Bach, and perhaps yourself have written others. Some of these songs are about redemption, others about the sunrise, others about nothing in particular: written for the simple joy of music. None of these songs has been born again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ didn’t come and die for my songs, he came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of my life. But judging from scripture I can only conclude that our God is much more interested in how I treat the poor and the broken and the hungry than the personal pronouns I use when I sing.
I am a believer.
Many of these songs talk about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me. I do have an obligation, however, a debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that. We all have a different calling; Switchfoot is trying to be obedient to who we are called to be.
RWe're not trying to be Audio A or U2 or POD or Bach: we're trying to be Switchfoot.
You see, a song that has the words: "Jesus Christ" is no more or less "Christian" than an instrumental piece. (I've heard lots of people say Jesus Christ and they weren't talking about their redeemer.)
You see, Jesus didn't die for any of my tunes.
So there is no hierarchy of life or songs or occupation only obedience. We have a call to take up our cross and follow. We can be sure that these roads will be different for all of us. Just as you have one body and every part has a different function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each of us belongs to all the others. Please be slow to judge "brothers" who have a different calling."
Q: How do I buy Switchfootage and Switchfootage 2? The website says they are out of stock.....??? A: For Switchfootage 1 and 2, e-mail bandfarm and request that they re-stock the DVD. If they get enough demands, they'll increase the supply!
If you are still unable to get either DVD, please drop us an e-mail, and we'll help you out.
Q: In the making of nothing is sound, what's the deal with the roman candles, cherry bombs, and the trampoline? A: Ha ha that fooled me too it at first! I had to watch that several times before I realized that it was just a piece of classic switchfoot randomness/fooling.
Q: When fams meet the guys, are we allowed to get pictures with them? A: Of course! The guys are seriously the nicest people in the world. When you meet them just ask "Hey can I get a picture with you?" and they'll go "Oh yeah of course!" They never mind taking photos with their fams. They might even suggest it before you get the chance to.
Q: What does "yuppie" mean? A: Here is Jon's song story for the song, Happy Is a Yuppie Word:
A year ago, I had a late night talk with a friend who stated the quote: "Happy is a yuppie word." I stayed up after he left, turned off the TV war and wrote a song about our happy, yuppie world. Turns out, Bob Dylan was the one being quoted.
"In 1991, when Rolling Stone interviewed Dylan on the occasion of his 50th birthday, he gave a curious response when the interviewer asked him if he was happy. He fell silent for a few moments and stared at his hands. 'You know,' he said, 'these are yuppie words, happiness and unhappiness. It's not happiness or unhappiness, it's either blessed or unblessed.'"
For me this song is the heart of the record, pumping blood out to the limbs and fingers and mouth and such. And maybe every lyric on the record might be needed and true, still this song has kept everything alive for us. We had the privilege of opening for Wilco a few years past- I would like to dedicate this song to the incredible music that they have given all of us down through the years. Yuppie generally stands for "Young Urban Professional", who tend to be materialistic. Jon is talking about how so many people decide that they are "happy" based on their material wealth. Happy is a yuppie word.
Q: Who designed the Switchfoot sign? How was the it created and what does it signify? A: When we received your question, we actually didn't know the answer. However, I recently got a chance to ask Tim this question, who informed us that he and a friend designed the Switchfoot sign. So what does it mean?
"It's an S." Tim told us.
"Not a lightening bolt or a spur or anything?" I pressed.
"No, it's an S!" he replied adamently.
So there you go!
Q: Did Switchfoot really go to Antarctica? If so, when? A: We actually don't know! The only thing we know is that Tim said in a myspace blog that they had "seen the sun set on seven continents."
Q: Did Switchfoot make a music video for the song Lonely Nation? If they did, is there anywhere I can watch it? A: Ah Lonely Nation. They filmed parts of a video... mostly parts with Jon singing and running in the desert (dude. it was AWESOME), but they never made a full video for it. You can watch a few clips on Switchfootage 2.
Q: Wasn't there some sort of webcam that Switchfoot used to do? Is there somewhere where I can watch that too? I wasn't a fan of theirs at the time so I wasn't aware that this was happening and couldn't watch those kind of those things. A: The webcam was something Switchfoot set up for their fans during the making of Oh! Gravity. SF wanted their fans to feel a part of the album making process, so they set up a webcam that ran pretty much 24/7. After O!G wrapped, they shut down the webcam, but Andy occasionally brought it back for a concert date here and there. During the recording of Hello Hurricane, the guys brought back a better-than-ever streaming webcam in the summer of 2008. Soon, the guys shut it off, because they got so distracted with it on they couldn't work. The webcam is on hiatus right now and is no longer running.
However you can view screen caps from the first webcam days right HERE. (Click the webcam folders).
Q: Who sings the "rawr 1-2-3-4" at the beginning of Chem 6a? Thanks for making this site. A: It's Jon! If you listen closely you'll hear someone (Charlie Peacock maybe?) in the background yelling, "Go Jon! Hit me!" then you'll hear Jon go "Rawr! 1, 2, 3, 4"
Q: What is so funny about grilled cheese sandwhiches? A: The answer to that question can only be found by watching The Beautiful Letdown Dual Disc. You should be able to buy it online!
Q: I was listening to Company Car, and I was trying to figure out who Mike was? Do you know who is Mike? A: Here is Jon's song story for the song:
Some songs are rewritten 43 times (take "New Way To Be Human" for example); others seem to write themselves. This song wrote itself in about an hour. It is a caricature of the way I see L.A. Rich, fast talking executives drive around in sporty cars. You see them walk by smoking a Cuban cigar, and you wonder, "What is their world like? What is life all about for them?" This is a cartoon of what that world looks like to me. This is my grandparents favorite song on the album, so it must be all right! Since Jon mentioned a caricature, my personal take is that Mike is not a specific person, but more a symbol of a lot of different people's attitudes towards life and success.
Q: Is there a Blues music video? If there is where can I find it? A: Yes indeed there is! The video was made by the great Andy Barron who took a bunch of photos of Switchfoot then put them together to form one incredible music video. You can watch it on YouTube or by buying Switchfootage 2.
Q: Do you have any suggestions on how to find out if Jon is playing at a coffee shop or somewhere after a show? Who do you ask/when do you ask? Thanks so much; you guys have a great site. A: The only one who knows if Jon will be playing a coffee shop show is Jon! We suggest hanging out by the tour bus after the show and asking Jon when he comes out.
We're glad you like the site!
Q: I was just wondering how can I see a Switchfoot concert on the computer? A: YouTube! A lot of fans will record a whole concert and put it up. Just go to youtube.com and type in Switchfoot in the search bar. Enjoy!
Q: I was just wondering if maybe you knew what the sound in the backround of daylight to break was? It sounds like someone is talking. A: That's because it was someone talking!
Q: Are the guys of Switchfoot making a new cd? A: Yes the guys are currently working on the follow up to Oh! Gravity. Charlie Peacock is co-producing the album with Switchfoot.
Q: I know there are "special hidden features" on Switchfootage, but I have never been able to find them and it is driving me crazy!!! Could you please tell me where they are and how to get to them? Thanks! A: There is sort of an unwritten law amongst Switchfoot fans...a code if you will... where we aren't allowed to tell people where the hidden features are. Trust us, it's a lot more gratifying when you find them by yourself. But don't worry, we'll give you some hints! There are two hidden features. Just go to the different menues and explore. Use the up, down, left, and right arrows. You'll find it!
Q: What is the first movie Switchfoot was featured in? On the fan test it says it wasn't "Walk to Remember," so I definitely want to know what it is so I can watch it. Thanks! A: The movie is called Kiss Tommorow Goodbye. Switchfoot appears near the beginning of the movie playing Chem6a in a club. And that is pretty much the only good thing about the movie. Yeah, it sucks! (It's also rated R, so be sure to check with your parents before renting it!). If you want to see Switchfoot's part, but you don't want to have to sit through the whole movie, you can watch their appearence in the clips below:
Q: When is Switchfoot coming back to (insert city)? A: Switchfoot does not book their own shows. Contact your local radio station/concert venue and request Switchfoot!
Q: What song did Jon and Tim's mom sing on? A: Read the CD credits and you'll find out :D
If you're still lost, check out their Learning to Breathe album and read there.
Q: Who is yesterdays about? I know Tim and Jon wrote it obviously about someone they knew who passed away, but who was it that they wrote the song about? A: When Tim was asked that question by an interviewer, he said "I don't know if that's a story I want to tell."
Let's respect that.
Q: Where can we listen to ETC? thanks :] A: Currently...nowhere. Jon thought about releasing it awhile ago, but changed his mine after he reviewed the quality of the tracks (can't blame him). It's not avaliable to the public, but you might find a generous fan who is willing to share it with you!
Q: I can't seem to find Willis Chin in the 'Dare You to Move' video, would you happen to know where he can be spotted? A: Chad told us that Chin's face is on the kick drum.
Q: Who is that lady in the 'New Way To Be Human' music video? A: Just an actress.
Q: What is "The Cheat"? A: In 2003, Switchfoot had a show sceduled in a little place in Iowa. Unfortunately, they had no opening band. So Switchfoot decided to open their own show under the name of 'The Cheat'. They did a karoke set and sang songs like "Bye, Bye, Bye", "Respect" and "Footloose". They wore sunglasses and various furry animal hats and broke out the dance moves.
Here is the story as told by Jon, in his tour diary:
6/19/2003 - Cedar Rapids, IA USA [Let's Dance]
Cedar Rapids Iowa. Not Idaho. Not Ohio. Yeah, that was a big issue today. We played "Let's Dance" today. No, it's not a card game or a board game or a video game, it's a place. Kind of a cool, western, swing-dancin' type of place. We played rock there. And last night there was some concern as to whether or not we would have an opening band. So we decided to open for ourselves. I mean, er, wait. we didn't, um, it only, um, kinda looked a little like we did. Yeah this band, "the Cheat" opened up. They had the best walk on music ever, "everybody to the limit," maybe you've heard of it? Let's just say that the moose attacked the coon and then they all sang some karaoke. And no, you can't find those hats in very many places...
- jon
A short video was posted on switchfoot.com and a small clip is featured during the credits of the Switchfootage DVD.
You can watch a clip of 'Bye, Bye, Bye' below:
Q: On the 12 days of Switchfoot Jon said they had some funny audio of when Chad broke the kick pedal during Daisy. Is there a website or something where I can listen to it? A: No. The guys thought about leaving that in the actual Daisy recording, but they decided it was too "campy". So, no it's not available to the public!
Q: Did Jon and Tim's former band, Etc., release any Lp's or Ep's? A: Yes they did. They released one demo with 15 songs on it.
If you are lucky, you may still be able to find it in a used music store in California or connect with a generous Switchfoot fan who is willing to share it with you.
Q: Isn't it true that the reason they don't ever play Redemption live is because one of the members doesn't like it? A: According to Jerome, everyone likes the song, it just doesn't transition well live.
Q: I heard that Switchfoot is breaking up. Is this true? A: That's false. *cue huge sigh of relief* Alot of fans got worried once Jon started his solo career, but Jon has stressed repeatedly that the band is not breaking up. They love making music together.
Q: Which of the Footy songs can you hear Chad's kid's on? A: Rumor has it...More Than Fine.
Q: Is there really going to be a Happy Is A Yuppie Word video? A: The Happy Is A Yuppie Word video was filmed back in the spring of 2005. The video/song was originally going to be the first single off of NIS but the label thought the song was too "dark" and they wanted something more "poppy" as the first single.
Hence, "Stars" was chosen as the album's lead single and the "Stars" video was filmed (explaining the big similarities between the "Happy Is A Yuppie Word" video and the "Stars" video).
The video was not made public for a long time, but at last it has been placed on the Switchfootage 2 DVD. Grab a copy!
Q: Everywhere online Jars of Clay gets credited with Let That Be Enough. I was wondering if they actually had any involvement in the song since it's not in the liner notes in the CD booklet. A: To my knowledge they had nothing to do with the song. The song was written and recorded in one day, so unless they were right there in the studio, it's VERY unlikely that they had anything to do with it. If it's not listed in the liner notes, it's probably just a common misconception, such as Mandy Moore getting credited with "Only Hope".
Q: What is with that jingle thing at the end of New Way To Be Human? Was that for radio? What is that they say at the end? A: Ah the infamous "mystery jingle"! The guys are singing "Chin 105".
Apparently Willis Chin had a radio show for awhile and Switchfoot recorded that opening and/or closing for him.
Q: First, thank you so much for doing this site--it's the perfect place for us to access all the information in one spot! It saves me lots of time. So, my question is this: Switchfoot's version of "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" is a BEAUTIFUL song, and I am very interested to know where it was recorded and also, how did you get it, and is it on a CD somewhere? A: First...thank you!
"I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" was recorded by a fan, live, at a Switchfoot concert. I'm not sure where, but my guess would be it was recorded at a festival, as Switchfoot used to sing those types of "Christian" songs (like Spirit and I Could Sing of Your Love Forever) occasionally at concerts. The song is not available on CD but you can download it from the Media section.
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a copy of that song online, and I saved it!
Q: Who sings the harmony part on Daisy and Shadow Proves the Sunshine? A: Tim. He's talented like that.
Q: What's the story behind (insert song title here)? A: I can best answer that question by letting Jon himself answer it! Check out our Song Stories section HERE.
Q: What songs did Switchfoot play on their first demo? A: Does anyone really know? The first Switchfoot demo was lost with a bunch of other airplane luggage in route to Nashville. I don't even know if they guys remember what songs were on the demo!
Q: How many guitars are being played in Daisy? A: Besides the Switchfoot guys, two string guitars are also in the recording. They were played by Chris Westlake and Tommy Barbarella.
Q: How many guitars does Switchfoot own in all? A: Impossible to say, but I'd guess anywhere from 25 to 50.
Q: Were can I get the rare Switchfoot songs lyrics? (evergreen, spirit, old borego, etc...) A: You can get them right here on the site! Click here: Rare Song Lyrics
Q: What wondering exactly who or what is Lowercase People? Thanks! A. Good question! Chad Butler does a better job of explaining then we ever could so read on to see what he has to say about it!:
Some time ago, we were talking about all of the incredible people who have inspired us through the years: people we encountered in late-nite diners, people who let us crash on their couches and others on the other side of the world we have never had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face. How indebted we are to so many people. And so it was with a general statement of gratitude that we began to dream. What if there was a way to pass on what we have received? What if we started a conversation that allowed the unique people we meet to be heard by others and learn from each other? What if there was a place to reach outside our lives and change each others worlds? Lowercasepeople.com is our attempt to answer these questions. We are an interactive online magazine that meets beneath an overarching banner of beauty and truth to feature and discuss rising artists and social justice issues not mentioned in the mainstream media. We also showcase provocative conversations between unique and diverse thinkers and give you the opportunity to join in. As a growing alliance of artists, thinkers and advocates of justice, we, the lowercase people, strive to compel change where we find it is needed - in our state of being, in our culture and in our world. we are humanity: beautiful and broken.
we want to collide.
we're curious.
we're thinking out loud.
we are the lowercase people.
Join us as we dream
So there you have it...it's a community/magazine/organization that promotes social justice, beauty and truth.
Check it out here: http://www.lowercasepeople.com
I can guarantee it will open your mind and expand your world view.
Q: The band that Jon and Tim were in, ETC, do you say it like E-T-C, like say the letters, or is it like Etcetera, the thingy you put at the end of lists? A: It's pronounced Etcetera.
Q: Do you have an mp3 of 'The Sweater Song" song by Switchfoot? A: Unfortunately, if anyone recorded the song, they haven't posted it online, so no, we don't have one.
However you can hear a portion of it in Podcast 16.
(For those who may not know "The Sweater Song" is a song by Weezer that Jon covered)
Q: Do you know what the lyrics of Old Borego mean? They're kinda weird and I was wondering if there is an explanation anywhere online? A: To my knowledge, Jon has never explained what the song has meant.
Q: Does Switchfoot have a fan mail address? A: Find out how to get fan mail to Switchfoot by clicking HERE.
Q: I thought I heard that you can buy Old Borego somewhere, is that true? A: I don't think so!
Q: Where can I buy Switchfootage 1 and 2 at stores and/or online? A: Switchfootage 1 and 2 are only available in three places:
1. Bandfarm
2. At a Switchfoot show
3. E-bay
Q: Why does the voice on the song Ode To Chin sound so different from the real Switchfoot? A: To be honest I never noticed a HUGE difference...he does sound different, but Jon was younger and not as experienced back then.
Q: How many music videos has the band made? I think I've seen most of them, although I never knew about New Way To Be Human and Chem6a. (lol...sorry, but they were pretty dorky back in then) Thank y'all for a great site!
A: Here is a list of all of Switchfoot's videos:
+ Chem6a
+ New Way To Be Human
+ Company Car
+ You Already Take Me There
+ Meant To Live
+ Meant To Live Spiderman 2 Video
+ Dare You To Move vs. 1
+ Dare You To Move vs. 2
+ Happy Is A Yuppie Word
+ Stars
+ We Are One Tonight Fan Version
+ We Are One Tonight Official Version
+ The Blues
+ Oh! Gravity
+ Awakening
+ This Is Home Movie Version
+ This Is Home Live Version
You should be able to find all of these videos on YouTube.
I agree, they did look pretty dorky back then...*laughs* You got to love the early years.
Q: Jon talks about how on NIS you can hear airplane noises in between 2 of the tracks, is it the noises in between Happy is a Yuppie Word and The Shadow Proves the Sunshine? A: Nope, that is the ocean that you hear. The airplane noises can be heard at the beginning of Politicians.
Q. Did the guys really jumped off of a plane to make the video of You Already Take Me There? Or were the guys that jumped professionals that just looked like them? A. We asked Chad about this and he said a lot of it was done by using camera tricks (green screen, jumping, ropes etc). For example, the crash at the end was done with green screen... and some thick mats! However, Tim mentioned in an interview, that he had to overcome his fear of skydiving, so I'm pretty sure that some of the shots was actual footage of the guys skydiving.
Q. What happened to the "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" dvd? I wanted to buy it, but it's gone from the Switchfoot website and I can't find it on eBay! Did they discontinue it?! A. FDFMN was a limited release, and yes, it is discontinued. My guess is they printed off a certain amount of copies and then just sold them until they were gone. I doubt they are going to do a reprinting. I'm sorry you didn't get it!
If you want a hard copy, you may be able to find it at a show, but if not, keep checking ebay!
However if you just want to view it, you can watch it HERE.
