Semisonic: Did You Know?

Semisonic: Fun Facts & Lesser-Known Stories About the Band Behind "Closing Time"

Semisonic, the 90s alt-rock trio, shot to fame with their hit "Closing Time." While the song became an anthem for bar closures and party wind-downs, there's more to the band than just that iconic track. Here are some fun facts and lesser-known stories that reveal a different side of Semisonic.

1. The Meaning Behind “Closing Time”

"Closing Time" is often thought to be about the end of a night at the bar, but there’s a deeper layer to it. Lead singer Dan Wilson revealed that the song is also about the birth of his first child. The lyrics “Time for you to go out to the places you will be from” take on a whole new meaning when viewed through the lens of parenthood. It’s not just about leaving a bar; it’s about being born and entering the world for the first time.

2. The Band Almost Didn’t Happen

Before forming Semisonic, Dan Wilson was part of another Minneapolis band called Trip Shakespeare with his brother Matt Wilson. While that band had a cult following, it didn’t break through commercially. After Trip Shakespeare’s dissolution, Dan teamed up with bassist John Munson and drummer Jacob Slichter to form Semisonic. Their success with Semisonic was a second chance, and it worked out incredibly well.

3. The Sleeper Hit: “Secret Smile”

While "Closing Time" dominated the charts in the U.S., Semisonic’s song “Secret Smile” was a massive hit in the UK. It became the band’s most well-known track overseas, despite being largely overlooked in the American market. The song even reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in 1999, making Semisonic a one-hit wonder in different ways on both sides of the Atlantic.

4. Jacob Slichter: Drummer and Author

Drummer Jacob Slichter is not just a talented musician; he’s also an accomplished writer. His memoir, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star, gives an insightful and humorous look into the highs and lows of the music industry. The book delves into the band’s journey from obscurity to fame, offering a rare insider's perspective on what it’s really like to go on tour, deal with record labels, and chase radio play.

5. Grammy-Winning Songwriter

After Semisonic went on hiatus in the early 2000s, Dan Wilson found a new career as a Grammy-winning songwriter. He co-wrote some of the biggest hits of the 2000s and 2010s, including Adele’s “Someone Like You,” for which he won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance. He also worked with artists like Taylor Swift, John Legend, and the Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks), proving his songwriting prowess extended far beyond Semisonic.

6. The Long-Awaited Reunion

After years of silence, Semisonic reunited in 2020 and released their first new music in 19 years. The EP You’re Not Alonewas a nostalgic throwback for fans, reminding everyone why they loved Semisonic in the first place. Despite the long gap, the band’s chemistry was as strong as ever, showing that time apart didn’t dull their creative spark.

7. Unlikely Musical Influence

You wouldn’t expect a 90s alt-rock band like Semisonic to have a connection to classical music, but Jacob Slichter grew up in a very musical family. His father was a composer, and his mother was an opera singer. This exposure to classical music influenced his approach to drumming, giving Semisonic’s songs an extra layer of rhythmic complexity.

Semisonic may forever be linked to "Closing Time," but the band’s story is full of depth, creativity, and unexpected turns. From their heartfelt songwriting to their second careers and overseas success, there’s much more to the band than meets the eye. Their ability to evolve, both individually and collectively, continues to inspire fans old and new. One of Semisonic's most meaningful song lyrics comes from their iconic hit, "Closing Time," specifically the line:

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

This lyric resonates with people on multiple levels. While on the surface it seems to describe the end of a night out, it also speaks to the transitions and cycles in life. It's about how endings, no matter how difficult or final they may seem, often give way to new opportunities and fresh starts.

What makes this lyric even more poignant is that Dan Wilson, the band’s lead singer and primary songwriter, has shared that "Closing Time" was inspired by the birth of his daughter. So, the lyric also reflects the beginning of a new life, while marking the end of a significant chapter for him as a new parent.

This simple yet profound line captures the universal experience of moving through change—whether it's the end of a relationship, the close of a chapter, or the literal end of a day—and how each ending brings with it the promise of something new.