1.) 90s alternative rock band 2.)… Read Full Bio ↴At least 2 bands have the name “Cake”.
1.) 90s alternative rock band 2.) 60s Girl pop band 3.) Underground 70s pop/funk band. 1.) Best-known for their ubiquitous hit "The Distance," Cake epitomized the postmodern, irony-drenched aesthetic of '90s geek rock. Their sound freely mixed and matched pastiches of widely varying genres -- white-boy funk, hip-hop, country, new wave pop, jazz, college rock, and guitar rock -- with a particular delight in the clashes that resulted. Their songs were filled with lyrical non-sequiturs, pop-culture references, and smirky satire, all delivered with bone-dry detachment by speak/singing frontman John McCrea. Cake's music most frequently earned comparisons to Soul Coughing and King Missile, but lacked the downtown New York artiness of those two predecessors; instead, Cake cultivated an image of average guys with no illusions and pretensions about their role as entertainers. At the same time, critics lambasted what they saw as a smugly superior attitude behind the band's habitual sarcasm. Perhaps there was something in Cake's doggedly spare, low-key presentation that amplified their ironic detachment even when they didn't intend it, but most reviewers pegged them as one-hit wonders after the success of "The Distance." Nonetheless, Cake managed a few more alternative radio hits in the years that followed, while largely retaining the same approach.
Cake was formed in Sacramento, California in 1991 by vocalist/songwriter John McCrea, who'd recently returned home after spending a few years in Los Angeles, unsuccessfully trying to break into the music business. The original lineup of Cake also featured guitarist Greg Brown, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, bassist Sean McFessel, and drummer Frank French; McFessel soon left to attend college, and was replaced by Gabe Nelson. In 1993, the band released their debut single, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle," on a local basis, and followed it with a self-produced, self-released, self-distributed album, Motorcade of Generosity. Motorcade found its way to the revived Capricorn label, which released the album nationally after Cake signed a contract with them. With the prospect of extensive national touring, both Gabe Nelson and Frank French left the band, and were replaced by bassist Victor Damiani and drummer Todd Roper. Re-released by Capricorn, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle" caught on at college radio in 1995, and was followed by two more singles, "Ruby Sees All," and "Jolene" (not the Dolly Parton song).
Cake's second album, Fashion Nugget, was released in 1996 and spawned a breakout smash in the Greg Brown-penned "The Distance," which dominated alternative radio that fall, and even turned into an unlikely sporting-event anthem. Mostly on the strength of "The Distance," Fashion Nugget charted in the Top 40 and sold over a million copies. It also spun off a somewhat controversial follow-up single in a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive"; although the band professed its sincere admiration for the song, some critics and listeners took it as a smarmy putdown, in part because of McCrea's deadpan vocals. In 1997, Greg Brown and Victor Damiani both left Cake and formed a new group, the new wave-influenced Deathray, which eventually released its debut album on Capricorn in 2000. Meanwhile, McCrea briefly considered putting Cake to rest, but brought original bassist Gabe Nelson back to replace Damiani instead. For Cake's next album, McCrea used a tag-team procession of guitarists -- five in all -- on different tracks; the result, Prolonging the Magic, was released in 1998. True to its sardonic title, it defied critical opinion to produce another big, alternative radio hit in "Never There," plus decently successful follow-ups in "Sheep Go to Heaven" and "Let Go."
Prolonging the Magic sold nearly as well as Fashion Nugget, and was also certified platinum. For the supporting tour, one of the album's guitarists, Xan McCurdy, officially joined Cake full-time. In the spring of 2000, the band signed a new deal with Columbia, and debuted in 2001 with their fourth overall album, Comfort Eagle, which became their highest-charting yet (at number 13). The lead single, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," was a hit on alternative radio, and even earned some MTV airplay -- no longer an easy task for any artist -- with a video that featured reactions to the song by randomly selected people on the street. Following the completion of the album, drummer Todd Roper left the group to spend more time with his children, and was replaced on the supporting tour by Pete McNeal. Pressure Chief appeared in 2004. Redefining the meaning of independent -- the band was by then recording in a studio powered entirely by solar energy, and free of the corporate involvement of even so much as a utility bill -- released Showroom of Compassion some six years later in 2011.
Biography by Steve Huey
2. The Cake (which is currently being redirected to this page) was a psychedelic girl pop group from the 1960s with the album Slice of the Cake in 1968.
3. Cake, a 70s funk/pop band who’s most popular track was “Make Up Your Mind” in 1979.
"The Distance"
Cake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He's haunted by something he cannot define
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
'Cause he's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
He's going the distance
Ah no, so sad, alright
Oh no, oh no, no, no
The Cake / Fashion Nugget's song, The Distance, tells the story of an underdog who is facing great odds and obstacles in order to win a race. The song starts with the image of the racer crouched at the starting line, with engines pumping and thumping in time, and fuel burning fast on an empty tank. The racer is reckless and wild, pouring through the turns with a potent and secretly stern prowess, while the other racers muscle for rank. As they speed through the finish and the flags go down, the fans get up and leave, leaving the arena empty except for one man. He is still driving and striving as fast as he can, even though someone else has already won the cup.
Throughout the song, we see the racer's determination and persistence, as he fights, bites and rides on his horse. He's haunted by something he cannot define and is facing bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse. Despite all of this, he's still driving and making the grade, while thinking of someone for whom he still burns. The song portrays the racer as a symbol of the human spirit, determined to succeed no matter what obstacles he may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
With hesitation and unwillingness, he crouches down at the beginning of the race
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The engines are powerfully and rhythmically running
The green light flashes, the flags go up
The race begins as the green light flashes and the flags are raised
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They move with intensity and passion to win the championship cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
They skillfully manipulate and fight for their position
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
They are pushing themselves to the limit with little fuel left in their tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
They are driving the turns with recklessness and boldness
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
Their skill and power are strong and silently commanding
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
They cross the finish line at full speed as the flags are lowered
The fans get up and they get out of town
The audience leaves the arena after the race ends
The arena is empty except for one man
Only one man remains in the arena
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
He is still driving and pushing himself as hard as possible
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
The day has passed and the night has come
And long ago somebody left with the cup
Someone else won the championship long before
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
He is still driving with determination and taking the turns closely
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He is thinking of someone who still ignites his passion for racing
'Cause he's going the distance
He is consistently and determinedly pushing himself
He's going for speed
He is trying to achieve maximum velocity
She's all alone (all alone)
The woman he cares about is by herself
All alone in her time of need
She is going through a difficult time and is without support
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He is courageously and fiercely battling to win on his own
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He won't receive any rewards or acknowledgments for his victory
He's haunted by something he cannot define
He is troubled by something he can't quite identify
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
He feels intense, scary emotions of uncertainty and regret
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
These emotions attack him and penetrate him with tremendous strength
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
He is still mentally and emotionally racing and performing at his best
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
She is expecting to forget about him over time
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He is constantly and strategically working towards victory
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He is continuously and methodically planning his moves
Ah no, so sad, alright
An expression of sadness and resignation
Oh no, oh no, no, no
An expression of shock and disbelief
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gregory Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cristopherflores1288
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He's haunted by something he cannot define
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
'Cause he's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
He's going the distance
Ah no, so sad, alright
Oh no, oh no, no, no
@jays9869
The bass line on this song is so damn smooth.
@johnd4567
One the best bass lines ever
@marcelloribeiro2750
@@johnd4567 Totally agree ✌
@creepyco2844
Timestamp? I just wanna know what part you're talking about since idk anything about music lol
@gavix-sr2wt
CoolFool 504 Just the overall bass playing in the song is great there’s no specific part that’s only good
@trickhester7932
Like it dropped straight out of Beavis's mouth
@robertkorn
"Bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster truck force" - one of the greatest lyrics of all time.
@jaytotheell
that's true. it is.
@baconbliss4796
Every time I go to taco bell I think about that line
@TheBrettt8
we talkin Monster Jam here