rogerparco113: Fun. Call 'We Are Young' Success 'Weird Icing' On Cake

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Fun. Call 'We Are Young' Success 'Weird Icing' On Cake

Band talks to MTV News backstage at SXSW about their breakout single, which sits at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
By James Montgomery

Fun. performs at the 8th Annual MtvU Woodie Festival
Photo: C Flanigan/ FilmMagic

AUSTIN, Texas — Last week, Fun. became the first rock act in nearly four years to ascend to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, as their breakout hit "We Are Young" overtook Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" as the #1 song in the country.

And while that was certainly shocking, this week Fun. proved that their success was no fluke, as "Young" remains atop the charts for a second consecutive week. And when MTV News caught up with the guys backstage at the mtvU Woodie Awards (where they'd subsequently play the song to rapturous applause), they let us in on a little secret: They can't believe any of this is happening either.

"It's weird. It's amazing. Actually, the last year, ever since we started making the album Some Nights, has been a daydream that has come true," frontman Nate Ruess said. "I mean, in 10 years of us doing this, collectively, we never thought we'd have a #1 song. Probably since we were 14 years old, we realized those type of things were impossible."

"We thought we were too old, like, a decade ago," guitarist Jack Antonoff laughed.

And yet, here they are, with the #1 song in the country and an album that only continues to pick up speed. And though it's certainly a dream come true, Fun. are trying very hard to keep their heads to the ground, and push on to bigger and better things. While still remaining humble, of course.

"We're used to being the bridesmaids, and we always wanted to be the bridesmaids, and I hope we can still continue to be the bridesmaids, it's who we are," Ruess said. "Any of this stuff is just some sort of weird icing on a very weird-ass cake."

Then again, there are some definite perks to being #1 ... like no longer having to engage in awkward conversations with family members. Because after a decade spent slogging it out in different bands, Fun. have finally earned the approval of the most important of critics: their parents.

"The weirdest part is our extended family now feels like we're doing OK," Antonoff said. "Forever our entire extended family has been like 'Are you OK? Maybe there's a career in management.'"

The best of the 2012 Woodie Awards will air Sunday, March 18 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV and mtvU.

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