Only Acting

"Only Acting" is the third track on Time 'n' Place and the album's lead single.

Composition
"Only Acting" and a few other songs from this era were written using a new technique for the group: singing melodies over just basslines rather than over chords. This encouraged tonal ambiguity in the melodies that led the group to use chords they wouldn't normally. There are all kinds of sounds here: James' guitar feedback self-oscillating, a Novation Bass Station II patch messed with using the Roland SP-404's DJFX Looper and Sarah recording herself alone in Gus' living room for maximum terrifying effect. There are also lots of stray guitar notes, electrical noises and other audio detritus just left in unedited. This generates a chaotic, tangible texture that they couldn't have dreamt of using only software, and they were really excited to explore it.

Meaning
“Only Acting” follows a social-media-age identity crisis, the song itself coming unhinged as its narrator spins out of control.

Music Video
Homer and Farley directed the "Only Acting" video, which presented KKB-as-indie band to the world. Filmed at a local performing arts centre, Sarah listened to sad songs on repeat to achieve the correct countenance for the final shot. As with the other Time 'n' Place videos, shots were filmed on a range of cameras including film, VHS, DV, a drone and old webcams - again reflecting the arbitrariness of nostalgia for different media.

Lyrics
When I step onto the stage See the curtain raise I'm apparent I've got someone to play All the crowd are in the seats Looking straight at me For an answer They just get what they see They applaud and the usher's locking the door 'Til the matinee

So I get to know the cast Though it doesn't last I'm a pro but I won't take it too far Now I know I shouldn't get Comfy on the set Every time it All comes down in the end That's the truth that the stage school doesn't teach you But it's good to know

It takes much more than just learning a script You see you gotta take the part and believe it Oh- I sometimes make up all of my lines on the spot But I will always give what I got

I thought I was only acting But I felt exactly like it was all for real I sure didn't know it hurt so But then no rehearsal could Show you how to feel inside What you gotta hide Where to put your pride When to realise you've had your time Find another role Carry on the show

You should be able to feel a performance With your whole body and soul Now I'm gonna teach you everything I know And you and you and you and you

Oh- I sometimes make up all of my lines on the spot But I will always give what I got

I thought I was only acting But I felt exactly like it was all for real I sure didn't know it hurt so But then no rehearsal could Show you how to feel inside What you gotta hide Where to put your pride When to realise you've had your time Find another role Carry on the show

I thought I was only acting But I felt exac-exac-exac-exa-exa What you gotta hide

How to feel inside What you gotta hide

Trivia

 * The song's obnoxious ending was intentional, with the band describing it as an "anti-playlist song" that would make seamless transitions in between songs impossible. However, the group "chickened out" and made a radio edit of the song with the noise at the end removed. Fans have also done another edit of the song, dubbed the "no noise version", which eliminates the noise and Sarah's speaking in the middle of the song, and jumps right into the guitar solo.
 * Only Acting is the only song on Time 'n' Place that was also featured on TOTEP.
 * At 3:49, Only Acting is the longest song on Time 'n' Place, before Make Believe and Rest Stop. Only Acting is so long because of the large chunks of noise in the middle and end of the song. The fan-made "no noise version" of the song is a mere 3:09.
 * Only Acting was the first time a real electric guitar had been featured on a Kero Kero Bonito song. The guitar solo was written by Gus.
 * According to the band, they were very excited about the song. They said: "The day before we released "Only Acting" felt like Christmas - we'd never been so excited to release something before; we didn't know how people would react but we knew it'd be interesting. To our surprise, people were up for the ride." They also said: "We were worried that our fans would feel abandoned, but we were also scared of performing our roles from the previous five years for the rest of our lives. "Only Acting" isn't a repudiation of KKB's history, but it does ask: 'who is the real KKB?'"