B.o.B.'s "Airplanes" was written by a kid from Rockville
If you've turned on the radio for as much as a minute this summer, you've probably heard B.o.B.'s hit "Airplanes." It's everywhere. Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams sang the chorus, and Eminem even threw down a verse.
Tim Sommers, a guy who grew up in Rockville, wrote the song with his friend when they were freshmen at Cornell a few years ago. True story. I did a piece about it in today's paper. Check it out.
Something that didn't make it into the story: I asked Sommers if he ever brags about writing the song, or even just tells people about it. I chuckled at his response ...
"Honestly, I feel weird telling people," he said. "Sometimes when I'm DJing, I like to put it on. There's always random people who are talking to me, I put it on and they're like, 'I love this song' and I'm like, 'I wrote it.' People are like, 'What? No you didn't.' They don't get it. I find it's a lot better when someone else says something. If it comes on the radio and they're like, 'Tim did this.' That makes it a little easier. It's weird."
Sommers is 22 now, and he's already written a song that's affected millions of people. Talk about a promising start.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
The best thing about that song is how B.O.B. raps about wishing he could rap like he did "back in the day" before "it was a job" and before he "got paid." Because when you consider the fact that that was, like, two years ago, that song becomes inadvertently hilarious and enjoyable in a completely unintended way.
That said, Hayley Williams is freaking adorable.
Posted by: Cribbster | August 10, 2010 1:03 PM
Something from Rockville with no soul? No surprise there.
Posted by: JoJo | August 14, 2010 8:25 PM
Great job! you really have a unique talent. I can tell your parents will surely proud of you.In the long run if you continue these you will surely get your dreams.
Posted by: Rockville | July 8, 2011 3:05 AM
Such a great talent! One that should be proud of. Encouragement and pursuance is important..Hope you can share your works in here.
Posted by: Rockville | July 21, 2011 10:49 PM