Fun (officially stylized as fun.)[2] is an American indie pop band based in New York City that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. After the breakup of The Format, Ruess formed Fun with Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff of Anathallo and Steel Train respectively.[3] Fun has released two albums: its debut Aim and Ignite in 2009 and Some Nights in February 2012.
The band is best known for its hit singles "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe, and "Some Nights". "We Are Young" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Digital Songs charts. It peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, as well. "Some Nights" was released as the album's second single in May 2012, peaking at number three on the Hot 100 chart and becoming Fun's second Top 10 single, as well as the band's second song to reach platinum status in the United States.
| Fun. | |
|---|---|
 Ruess in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, United States |
| Genres | Indie pop, alternative rock, power pop[1] |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Fueled by Ramen, Nettwerk |
| Website | www.ournameisfun.com |
| Members | |
| Nate Ruess Andrew Dost Jack Antonoff | |
[edit]History
[edit]2007–2008: Career beginning and formation
The Format split in February 2008. Immediately afterward Nate Ruess asked Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff to join his new project. Dost had toured with The Format and provided various instrumentation. Ruess met Antonoff after The Format toured with Steel Train.[4] The three began working together in New Jersey within a week. Ruess sang melodies while the other two provided music for them.[5] The first demo song the band recorded was "Benson Hedges," which was made available for free in Spin's September 20, 2008 article on the band.[6] Fun approached Steven McDonald, who produced The Format's album Dog Problems with Ruess, to produce their debut album. McDonald was enthusiastic about the project and stated, "I can’t believe what we’re working on here. This crushes anything I’ve ever done."[5]
[edit]2009–2010: Aim and Ignite
Recording took place in the fall of 2008. The band's first single, "At Least I'm Not as Sad As I Used to Be" was made available as a free download on the band's Myspace page on April 6, 2009.[7] Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009 and had positive reviews. AbsolutePunk.net's Drew Beringer praised the album, stating it was "what a pop album 'should' sound like" and "the most essential pop album of 2009."[8] Allmusic called the album "progressive, but in the best possible way" and admired Ruess's lyrics for "investigating the larger truths of life...with a witty approach that keeps the songs bubbling merrily along on a positive note".[9] Dave de Sylvia of Sputnikmusic wrote, "Aim and Igniteisn’t the most consistent pop album around," but he ultimately commended the album as "a superbly mixed and arranged album made by musicians who clearly understand the limits and potential of pop music".[10] Estella Hung ofPopMatters was less impressed with the album. She praised songs "Be Calm" and "The Gambler", but criticized the lyrics and production of the album's early tracks. Hung concluded that while Aim and Ignite is "pretty original to say the least", it "fails to live up to the Format’s last outing."[11] Popdose's Ken Shane called the album "an interesting and unusual listen." Shane applauded the album's songwriting and said "many of the songs are really good," but he objected to the "cute" production, desiring to hear the band "in a more stripped-down form." He ended his review with: "I have a similar problem with Dr. Dog, a band that was recommended to me by a number of people. I think much of their recorded work is too fussed over, but when I saw them live and their sound was more stripped down out of necessity, emphasizing their powerful songwriting, I thought they were wonderful. Perhaps the same fate awaits me with Fun."[12] The album reached number 26 on Sputnikmusic's top 50 albums of 2009. The album peaked at 71 on the US album charts.
Fun began its first North American tour on November 8, 2008 with Jack's Mannequin.[13] The debut album Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009.[14] In reviewing the album, The Washington Post called some of the arrangements "theatrical, much like those on Panic! at the Disco's 2005 debut".[15] In February 2010, Fun supported Jack's Mannequin on their headline tour, along with Vedera which was followed by their first UK appearances in March. Their current touring band also includes Will Noon, Rob Kroehler, Emily Moore, Nate Harold, and Jon "Jonny Thunder" Goldstein.[16] In April 2010, Fun supported Paramore's headline tour. Other support for the tour includes Relient Kand Harriet Ellis of Summer Beats.[17] The band then embarked on a full UK tour in May. On August 4, 2010, Fun announced that they had signed with label Fueled by Ramen.[18]
On August 14, 2010, it was announced via the Official Paramore Fan Club that Fun would be opening for Paramore on their November UK tour.[19] In 2010 Fun's single, "Walking the Dog," was used in a commercial for the travel siteExpedia.com.[20] Will Noon (formerly of Straylight Run) played drums with Fun on tour, according to Noon's Twitter page.[21] To celebrate the Paramore UK tour and the band’s new single ‘Walking The Dog’, Hassle Records gave away a free download of an acoustic version of the track.[22] On April 27, 2011, a video of the band performing a new song entitled "Carry On" was uploaded to YouTube.[23]
[edit]2011–present: Some Nights
On May 17, 2011, the band released "C'mon" as a joint single with Panic! at the Disco, who they opened for on their 2011 Vices & Virtues Tour. On November 7, 2011, the band announced that their next album would be titled Some Nights. Its first single, called "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe, has since been used in several other media including television series Gossip Girl,[24] 90210,[25] Glee, and Chuck,[26] commercials for Chevrolet[27] and Apple,[28]and in the trailer for Judd Apatow's film This Is 40.[29]
On December 12, 2011, the band's song "One Foot" was available for instant streaming and free download on Nylon's website.[30] On February 13, 2012, the band released an album stream of Some Nights on their website along with a note from Ruess thanking fans for their ongoing support. Ruess states he is "over the moon about what you're about to hear and falling asleep knowing that as soon as I wake up, this will no longer be a dream."[31] It was released on February 21, 2012 through Fueled by Ramen.[32] On February 29, 2012 the band kicked off the start of their North American tour in support of Some Nights.[33]
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On March 7, 2012, Fun's single "We Are Young" reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This makes Fun the first multi-member rock band to have a No. 1 Billboard debut on the Hot 100 since Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" in December 2001/January 2002.[34] On April 11, 2012, Billboard.com announced that Fun's "We Are Young" also made Digital Sales history. As the song was at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a sixth consecutive week, it has become the first, and at this time only, song that has ever gained 300,000+ downloads for seven weeks straight.[35] Some Nights was also one of the first albums in the world to receive a donation after music piracy via HumanFankind". The group performed "We Are Young" on the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards on November 11, 2012.
On Oct. 24, 2012, the music video for the album's third single, "Carry On", was released.[36]
On November 3, 2012 Fun performed the songs "Some Nights" and "Carry on" on the episode of Saturday Night Live with guest host Louis C.K.[37]
For The Record
[edit]Members
[edit]Current members
| Band member | Duration | Related note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Antonoff | 2008–present | Vocals, guitar |
| 2012–present | Drums | |
| Andrew Dost | 2008–present | bass guitar, guitar, trumpet, French horn, piano, keyboards, flugelhorn, drums, vocals |
| Nate Ruess | 2008–present | Lead vocalist |
| Touring member | Duration | Related note(s) |
| Nate Harold | 2009–present | Bass guitar, vocals, sampler |
| Emily Moore | 2009–present | Guitar, vocals, keyboard, saxophone,maracas |
| Will Noon | 2010–present | Drums |
[edit]Former members
| Touring member | Duration | Related note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Goldstein | 2008–2010 | Drums |
| David Lizmi | 2009 | Bass [38] |
| Jessica Martins | 2009 | Guitar[38] |
| Rob Kroehler | 2008–2010 | Guitar |
| Maggie Malyn | 2007 | Violin |
| Will Yates | 2008 | Bass guitar |
| Ryan Lallier | 2010–2011 | Guitar |
| Michael Newsted | 2010 | Bass guitar |
| Mike Schey | 2010 | Guitar |
| Evan Winiker | 2011 | Bass guitar |
[edit]Discography
Main article: Fun discography
- Studio albums
- Aim and Ignite (2009)
- Some Nights (2012)
- EP albums
- Live at Fingerprints (2010)
[edit]Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fun | Old Navy New Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "We Are Young" | Best New Artist | Nominated |
| Best Pop Video | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fun | Best New Act | Nominated |
| Best Push Act | Nominated | ||
| "We Are Young" | Best Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "We Are Young" | Breaking Woodie | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fun | Brink of Fame Music Artist | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "We Are Young" | Favorite Song of the Year | Pending |
| "Some Nights" | Favorite Album of the Year | Pending | |
| Fun | Favorite Breakout Artist | Pending |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "We Are Young" | Best Track | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fun | Choice Rock Group | Won |
| Choice Breakout Group | Nominated | ||
| "We Are Young" | Choice Rock Song | Nominated | |
| Choice Single by a Group | Won |
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