Wallows is the name of the three-piece LA-based band comprised of frontman Dylan Minnette, guitarist and vocalist Braeden Lemasters, and drummer Cole Preston. The trio has become a cornerstone of the indie-rock genre as we know it. With hits like “Are You Bored Yet?” (feat. Clairo), “Remember When,” and “Calling After Me.” Yet, when discussing the Wallows’ Bad Remake meaning, why the fan-favorite song was overlooked is often questioned by many fans.
The Bad Remake of it all
One song, however, seems to have slipped through the cracks- and that is Bad Remake off of the band’s 5th anniversary deluxe of their debut album, Nothing Happens. This song was once revered as a fan-favorite unreleased track. However, it is now their least-streamed song in their lengthy discography. Understanding Wallows’ Bad Remake and why the fan-favorite song was overlooked requires examining its unique place in the band’s history. This song is so important to the band’s lore, yet it is their lowest-streamed track. It sits just below 1.5 million streams, compared to their other tracks, which have garnered hundreds of millions and billions of streams to date.
The song first became a topical conversation amongst fans when it was leaked after the release of Nothing Happens in 2019. Fans constantly asked for the release of the track even throughout several other EP and album rollouts. The band finally gave in to fans’ pleas. There was the surprise release of their five-year debut album for an exclusive Record Store Day vinyl release. There was a lot of buzz behind the track’s release. However, it seems as though the fan excitement has died down surrounding the long-awaited single. The song had an earlier release that was very limited as part of a campaign to have fans register to vote in the 2020 presidential election. There still wasn’t an official studio release until early 2024. Such factors contribute to the Wallows’ Bad Remake meaning, why the fan-favorite song was overlooked by many.
Behind the track
The track itself seems to chronicle a story of ex-lovers getting back together. It becomes a bad remake because, as lyrical spearhead Braeden Lemasters says, “some films just should not be remade.” Fans speculate that the song is a sequel to the track Worlds Apart. The song shares a lot of this metaphor surrounding the entertainment industry. This relationship drifted apart in “Worlds Apart” and is revisited in Bad Remake. This language could be because of more literal aspects. Maybe one artist is in a relationship with someone in the industry. Or it might be the band’s storied connections in the acting world, with every member of the band having appeared on screens for years before their musical debut.
How it fell between the cracks
There are a lot of reasons why this single didn’t gain as much traction as the band’s more popular tracks like Calling After Me. That’s because of the song’s rollout. The song was dropped with a week’s notice, with no music video. After its release, the song was never really talked about again. This rollout, compared to Calling After Me, had the benefit of being the first release in two years. There was a lot of fan anticipation paired with a music video, album announcement, and tour dates being released. It’s no wonder a fan-favorite track like Bad Remake would fall through the cracks. That’s because the song wasn’t released to become famous. Instead, it was released for the fans who had been begging for the track for half a decade. Exploring Wallows’ Bad Remake meaning, why the fan-favorite song was overlooked, highlights these differences in promotional strategies.
Nothing Happens nostalgia
Bad Remake is curious because it takes fans back to this nostalgic time in 2019/2020. Wallows was first on the up & up with many fans holding the band’s debut album Nothing Happens as this sacred touchstone of late 2010s, early 2020s indie music for many. Bad Remake doesn’t fit in the sonic soundscape of the band’s releases like Remote, Tell Me That It’s Over, or Model. This track took fans back a half-decade straight into the Wallows they fell in love with. It was such a unique thing to watch happen, and it is what makes this single stand out even if it is their least-streamed song.
Releasing a track like this so late after the initial album’s release is so interesting. It’s like a fun trip down memory lane. Bad Remake is like a time capsule taking fans back to this time of oversaturated VSCO photos, thrifted flannels, and painted CDs. It is a fun invitation to reflect on how far the band has come since their first album rollout. This is in comparison to their showstopping past year touring in iconic venues like the Forum and Madison Square Garden. It’s a gleaming reminder of the small indie band fans once loved.
Power to the fandom
This lack of rollout is honestly the best way this song could have been released. In a way, it preserves the power and emotional backing behind the track. This song was always supposed to exist, almost as an inside joke between fans and the band. It is a song that the fans begged for and finally got. It was one that only Wallows’ biggest fans could appreciate, and that’s what it is. The lack of rollout has also inspired fans to do things like create thoughtful fan videos of the track. This gives it its own new meaning as this quiet underdog of a fan favorite. It is a special, unique experience for fans to have.
Although this song seems to be an under-appreciated track in the band’s discography, it speaks to the larger conversation of the Wallows fandom and the power they hold. Understanding Wallows’ Bad Remake’s meaning, why the fan-favorite song was overlooked, is essential. It highlights how Wallows has always had a strong group of fans banded behind the band since their musical debut. Since 2021, they’ve had a fierce amount of fans behind every release, tour, and more. This song works not only as the “Worlds Apart” sequel. It works more as a beacon to how the fandom is important to the band, both for their growth and as a community of music-lovers.
Bad Remake’s place in Wallows’ discography
Every band has that one song that seems to have slipped through the cracks, even for the bands at the top of their genres. Wallows was no exception. For a song released for fans as opposed to mainstream radio listeners, it goes to show the untamable commitment between the Wallows and the music communities. Because without fans, there would be no music to be heard in general, reminding us of Wallows’ Bad Remake meaning, why the fan-favorite song was overlooked.
