Uploaded February 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
“TOPS are a pop band from Montreal who release with independent label Arbutus Records. For a band that effectively came out of Montreal’s punk scene, their influences are distinctly populist. ‘Picture You Staring’ is their second album, and across its 12 tracks it calls to mind the genres and styles of smooth radio and VH1: soft rock, schmaltzy ballads; styles once considered anathema to ‘serious’ music fans and critics for their perceived inauthenticity, and emblematic of ‘80s pop music industry excess.
However, there is absolutely nothing excessive about ‘Picture You Staring’. The album was written, recorded, produced, and engineered entirely by the band at the offices-cum-studio of Arbutus Records, giving the whole thing a lo-fi sound and a DIY spirit, like a house party band playing arena band songs. TOPS also seem to have a genuine emotional investment in this era and its songwriting style (how many bands write decent ballads anymore?), making ‘Picture You Staring’ more than the stylistic pastiche or semi-ironic retro throwback that a less adventurous band might have been content to make. Besides the overtly Take My Breath Away-referencing Outside, their influences come through as vague allusions – maybe a bit of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, maybe a bit of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, maybe some ‘Tango In The Night’ elsewhere, some Hall & Oates, etc. – making the whole thing reminiscent of an album like Ford & Lopatin’s ‘Channel Pressure’, where the music of AM radio seemed to have been unconsciously absorbed rather than meticulously replicated.” - Dummy, September 2 2014
Buy “Way To Be Loved” from their album “Picture you Staring” here: tttopsss.bigcartel.com/product/picture-you-staring
Find more on their official website: tttopsss.com
Stream TOPS here:
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/topsss
bandcamp: tops.bandcamp.com
Follow TOPS here:
Twitter: twitter.com/tttopsss
Facebook: facebook.com/tttopsss
tttopsss.com
Instagram: instagram.com/tttopsss
The lyrics are official.
♪ lyrics ♪
walking down the sidewalk
is that the way that you wanna be seen?
face that won't forget you
photographic memory
impression that you're drawn to
make it good
make it last
waiting for this moment for so long
ready for the dance
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
ready with your story
funny guy
cartoon
always saying sorry
hold on, there's something you're gonna lose
the man who turns the lights on
the lover who never has to choose
the girl he's set his sights on
lacing up her shoes
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you are
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you are?
wear your hair down alone
tie it up when he's there
and tell me that nothing's wrong
______________________________________
Feel free to like, comment or subscribe to our channel for new uploads!
The Tiny Majority's main focus is the promotion of underground artists of many different genres like indie rock, bedroom pop, lofi, hip-hop and more. We publish lyric videos every week of new releases or songs that we like.
If you would like us to make a video of a song you like, or just wanna talk about music (because music is life!), drop us a message on Instagram! :)
Follow us on Instagram where we post updates and more: instagram.com/thetinymajority
If you're a new artist and you would like us to promote your work, feel free to send us requests! Contact: support@thetinymajority.com
We do not own the background picture. All credit goes to Manu Franco.
Nadazy.
“TOPS are a pop band from Montreal who release with independent label Arbutus Records. For a band that effectively came out of Montreal’s punk scene, their influences are distinctly populist. ‘Picture You Staring’ is their second album, and across its 12 tracks it calls to mind the genres and styles of smooth radio and VH1: soft rock, schmaltzy ballads; styles once considered anathema to ‘serious’ music fans and critics for their perceived inauthenticity, and emblematic of ‘80s pop music industry excess.
However, there is absolutely nothing excessive about ‘Picture You Staring’. The album was written, recorded, produced, and engineered entirely by the band at the offices-cum-studio of Arbutus Records, giving the whole thing a lo-fi sound and a DIY spirit, like a house party band playing arena band songs. TOPS also seem to have a genuine emotional investment in this era and its songwriting style (how many bands write decent ballads anymore?), making ‘Picture You Staring’ more than the stylistic pastiche or semi-ironic retro throwback that a less adventurous band might have been content to make. Besides the overtly Take My Breath Away-referencing Outside, their influences come through as vague allusions – maybe a bit of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, maybe a bit of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, maybe some ‘Tango In The Night’ elsewhere, some Hall & Oates, etc. – making the whole thing reminiscent of an album like Ford & Lopatin’s ‘Channel Pressure’, where the music of AM radio seemed to have been unconsciously absorbed rather than meticulously replicated.” - Dummy, September 2 2014
Buy “Way To Be Loved” from their album “Picture you Staring” here: tttopsss.bigcartel.com/product/picture-you-staring
Find more on their official website: tttopsss.com
Stream TOPS here:
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/topsss
bandcamp: tops.bandcamp.com
Follow TOPS here:
Twitter: twitter.com/tttopsss
Facebook: facebook.com/tttopsss
tttopsss.com
Instagram: instagram.com/tttopsss
The lyrics are official.
♪ lyrics ♪
walking down the sidewalk
is that the way that you wanna be seen?
face that won't forget you
photographic memory
impression that you're drawn to
make it good
make it last
waiting for this moment for so long
ready for the dance
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
ready with your story
funny guy
cartoon
always saying sorry
hold on, there's something you're gonna lose
the man who turns the lights on
the lover who never has to choose
the girl he's set his sights on
lacing up her shoes
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you are
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you want to be loved?
is that the way that you wanna be loved?
I can picture you staring
out the window
not caring
the nights go by
oh the nights go by
is that the way that you are?
wear your hair down alone
tie it up when he's there
and tell me that nothing's wrong
______________________________________
Feel free to like, comment or subscribe to our channel for new uploads!
The Tiny Majority's main focus is the promotion of underground artists of many different genres like indie rock, bedroom pop, lofi, hip-hop and more. We publish lyric videos every week of new releases or songs that we like.
If you would like us to make a video of a song you like, or just wanna talk about music (because music is life!), drop us a message on Instagram! :)
Follow us on Instagram where we post updates and more: instagram.com/thetinymajority
If you're a new artist and you would like us to promote your work, feel free to send us requests! Contact: support@thetinymajority.com
We do not own the background picture. All credit goes to Manu Franco.
Nadazy.
