Niki FM
{{More citations needed|date=April 2011}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Niki FM
| cover = Niki FM promo single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Hawthorne Heights
| album = The Silence in Black and White
| released = September 27, 2005
| format =
| recorded = 2004
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|
| Emo{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/nonsensical-emo-lyrics-you-still-tried-to-relate-to#.hsdKKo7ZP |title=28 WTF Emo Lyrics You Still Tried To Relate To |date=22 October 2014 |publisher=BuzzFeed}}
| post-hardcorehttps://www.altpress.com/best-post-hardcore-songs-2000s/
| pop-punk}}
| length = 4:01
| label = Victory
| writer = JT Woodruff
| producer =
| prev_title = Ohio Is for Lovers
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Silver Bullet
| next_year = 2005
}}
"Niki FM" is a song by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. "Niki FM" was released to radio on September 27, 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock|publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated|accessdate=October 30, 2016}} as the second single from their debut studio album, The Silence in Black and White. It peaked at #40 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=hawthorne heights|chart=all}}
A demo version of the track was included in the re-issued version of The Silence in Black and White.{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-silence-in-black-white/id191602029 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108073027/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-silence-in-black-white/id191602029 | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 8, 2012 | title=The Silence in Black and White (Re-Issue) by Hawthorne Heights | website=iTunes | date=8 June 2004 }} According to JT Woodruff, he wrote the song after reading critical reviews about the bands he liked, and fearing that Hawthorne Heights would suffer from the same fate, hence the line, "They're waiting for us to fall".{{cite web | url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6242 | title=Niki FM by Hawthorne Heights - Songfacts }} It is also his most personal song, and his favorite track to play live.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Composition and music
The song's bridge features a screaming section performed by late guitarist Casey Calvert. A staff writer at Worcester Magazine described the screams as "the gentle sound of the backup singer strangling, at length, twice. [...] Presumably he’s choking on a bitter lump of unrequited love."{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Hawthorne Heights: A 10-Year Retrospective |url=https://www.worcestermag.com/story/news/2014/09/04/hawthorne-heights-10-year-retrospective/10923851007/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Worcester Magazine |language=en-US}}
Music video
The song and music video contain several references to the 1989 movie Say Anything.... The music video begins with Woodruff singing the first verse during his graduation speech at "Hawthorne Heights University", whilst noticing his female interest rubbing the leg of a boy in the audience. After the graduates traditionally toss their hats into the air, the chorus plays and the scene changes to a graduation party, where the same female approaches Woodruff and kisses him. The band is also shown performing in front of a mansion.
The scene changes to Woodruff having dinner at the female's house with her and her father. The father becomes angry and throws tea in Woodruff's face before an argument occurs. The scene changes to the female's bedroom, where she's lying in bed and smoking. The video then shows Woodruff in his bedroom, tearing a picture of her in two. He falls asleep and dreams about her. The scene changes back to the female's bedroom, where she notices Woodruff standing outside of her window, holding a radio (hence the line, "I'm outside of your window, with my radio."). The female walks away, seemingly turning Woodruff down.
Kris Waldbillig, guitarist of Cincinnati punk rock band Mint 6 Ten, makes a cameo appearance in the video. Female played by Nikol Soluski.
Personnel
- JT Woodruff - lead vocals
- Matt Ridenour - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Eron Bucciarelli - drums
- Casey Calvert - guitars, unclean vocals
- Micah Carli - guitars
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Hawthorne Heights}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niki Fm}}