B.O.T.A.R. It's a Wonderful Life

[RicardoIsWatching98]

omg!!! awsume

[me629]

4 people have no souls...

[Geronimo1994]

I fucking love this song....

[Aamonath]

I've been meaning to check out this band for a while now, since I love Streetlight, and also enjoy Catch 22. REALLY glad I finally got around to it. :)

[crappymatt]

anyone else notice the really faint "Ole!" at 2:58? haha

[EastCoaster97]

@crappymatt So it wasn't just me that heard that while listening to the EP yesterday?

[mzcrazyface16]

@crappymatt I always wait for it when I listen to this song. I makes me giggle every time.

[MrSteve02284]

There first album was everything went numb.and this song is a botar song not streetlight although there are all the same

[TheSkafan69]

Dont get me wrong, i LOVE all of Tomas' work. But my life is hell and its only wonderful if you are FUCKING AMAZING AND KICK ASS. Like Tomas

[babykittyraper]

Why would they cover a song THEY WROTE? It was on the first Streetlight album dude...Everything Goes Numb?

[RevLime]

@babykittyraper This song was never played by Streetlight. Maybe you are thinking of Here's to Life?

[darkassassin111]

@babykittyraper defff not a cover

[Scarvus2]

@babykittyraper BOTAR's EP came out before Streetlight Manifesto even existed.

Get you facts straight.

[Valkodu]

@babykittyraper This song was never on any Streetlight album, and this EP was put out before the formation of Streetlight. You might be thinking of Here's To Life, which was actually on this EP before Everything Goes Numb. And Kalnoky has covered a LOT of the stuff he wrote (the entire Keasbey Nights album, They Provide The Paint on 99SoR, etc.)

[IFknHateUTube]

my life is shit.  fuck this song

[TheLastZiggen]

@IFknHateUTube lmao....

[Dankeification]

@IFknHateUTube As a doctor in every catagory of medicine and also a therapist I perscribe you with more B.O.T.A.R. and Streetlight Manifesto. If you listen to them in the right amounts, no matter how shitty your life is, it's impossible to feel bad and then you also can have the "Wonderful Life."

[TheLastZiggen]

@IFknHateUTube Your comment cracks me up every time i see it lol....

[ANBUblackops666]

The URL says Fuk



[SMfan199]

If this song isn't covered by Streetlight on 99 Songs Volume 2 I'll fucking flip a shit.

[DonWheelerP]

@SMfan199 It won't be. Because volume 2 will be covers done by botar.

[SMfan199]

@DonWheelerP Yeah I understand that. I meant Streetlight's second version of 99 Songs. Sorry, should of been clearer about that.

[HoleAss111]

@DonWheelerP There's still another volume planned for Streetlight Manifesto. As @SMfan199 said, this song would be amazing if covered by them, Tomas is a fucking genious!.

[amandanger9888]

I always dance to this song lol :D

[uiruu]

ONe of the best written songs ever. I usually listen to stuff like the Melvins, Mastodon, Gojira, Samael, Big Business... heavy, heavy bands. But nothing, and I repeat nothing, beats the great work of Sir Tomas Kalnoky.

[MOSTLYxTOAST]

ahhh. if this song was a pankake, itd be a great pankake....and if Thomas Kalnoky was the owner of a pankake restaurant, IHop would be out of buisness

[ANBUblackops666]

@MOSTLYxTOAST tomas

[Zenith292]

@MOSTLYxTOAST PANCAKE. SAY IT WITH ME. PANCAKE P A N C A K E

[IFknHateUTube]

my life blows ass and this song depresses me

[TheTSkers]

I mean the bass line and the drums just go together like a bum and a cup full of change.

[killswitch0102]

this song has helped me through soo much ! currently wearing my BOTAR shirt :3

[ANBUblackops666]

@killswitch0102 they have merch? oh duh i need some lol

[MrSister127]

seriously, everybody shut the fuck up and enjoy the music

[MyNameIsNotRon]

I really hope Streetlight covers this song for the next 99 Songs album, like they did with They Provide the Paint.

[stickfigure311]

@MyNameIsNotRon Agreed but I don't think that anything will be as good as this, the original. Just like I thought the original They Provide the Paint was better.

I wish they would play as BOTAR some time.. love this stuff

[Hotlantaa]

This song's story reminds me of the book "A Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway. Did Kalnoky use that story does anyone know? Truly a great song.

[ambivalencex]

@Hotlantaa Farewell to Arms was about a guy who found his wife /in/ the war, though...and /she/ died, not him. But I can definitely see the connections. Hemingway wrote about war a fair amount, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was definitely a source of inspiration for this and Provide the Paint. And A Call to Arms, as well.

[520jsautter]

@ambivalencex

"Hemigway never seemed to mind the finality of normal life and I find, it gets harder everytime.

So he aimed a shotgun into the blue, placed his face in between the two and sighed

Heres to Life!"

That would be a correct assumption.

[ambivalencex]

@520jsautter Uh...go back and read what I said. I was talking about inspiration pertaining to BOTAR's writing about war. Not in Here's to Life.

[520jsautter]

@ambivalencex

uh, I did read your statement, Hemingway is an influence to Kalnoky, That is the 2nd half of your statement. I was agreeing with you. Do you have a problem with that?

why does everyone on the internet have to be a dick?

[ambivalencex]

@520jsautter Well for one, I was writing to that guy talking about the /writing style/ in inspiration, not Kalnoky's reference to him in Here's to Life, as I just tried to explain. Secondly, I'm not. Sorry if I came across as that; I just have a tendency to be blunt on YouTube, I guess?

[Hotlantaa]

@Hotlantaa Ah ok that makes a lot of sense. Man Kalnoky is an intellectual man.

[dXAriseXb]

i could only imagine a Kalnoky Philharmonic Orchestra.... skacoustic/folk in orchestral form. That would be amazing.

[thunderectum]

Well I think people should stop arguing about this song...really get over it or go listen to something else. But really there's no reason to listen to something else because this is a good song.

[thbrinkofinsanity]

Definitely cried when I heard this song the first time, it still kinda makes me choke up. I'd agree that it's one of the best songs Tomas has ever written, ahaha...

[Ikbuh]

This is the best song Tom has ever written.

Thumbs up or thumbs down, it doesn't matter.

You can't deny the truth.

[usaholes182]

Anyone who thinks this is a happy song really needs to take a much closer look at the lyrics. This is one of the most depressing songs Tomas has ever written. If you were to play this on just an acoustic guitar at a slower tempo, it's easier to understand. Genius though.

[hatchet211]

God Liz., what u do 2 me....

[janakovacs]

gosh, i cannot love these guys any less!

[JordanFrerichs]

could you please put up the "A call to arms" into with Here's to life following it?

[SKAtarina420]

D'awwwwww. So sweet.

[iteachbass]

LOL to ownagepie24: Most TRAINED musicians can detect variety in rhythm. And most music has enough similarities for multiple uses. B.O.T.A.R. obviously have had solid training. BTW:  FREE SPEECH - I TYPE IN CAPS WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES. CIAO!

[tito720]

i agree with iteachbass it does have like a latin feel to it doesn't sound lke ska at all more like acoustic jazz

[ownagepie24]

Anyone have any idea where I can get the strings sheet music for this?

[iteachbass]

EXCELLENT MUSICIANS - LOVED THE FRENCH HORN WORK AT THE BEGINNING. THIS SHOULD BE ON DANCING WITH THE STARS FOR THEIR SALSA, SAMBA, OR MAMBO!

[ownagepie24]

@iteachbass 1. Don't type in all caps.

2. This is Indie/Ska. Don't know where you get your salsa, samba, mambo.

[fyiiamaspy1]

@iteachbass I don't know about salsa samba or mambo, But it makes for some good Skanking!

[sirstanlee]

gotta love some french horn in popular music...so mellow

[lindseybassguitar]

I used to love BOTAR back in the day :)

[sean99766]

you dont anymore =o

[uLookLikeABogmonster]

@lindseybassguitar why would u stop loving them????

[TheBassguitarking]

3.16.2010

[killbot138]

Great band! Needs more songs though.

[DrKlunkDoo]

When 99SOTR comes out theyll be doing some of the covers. If you go to the SM website youll see some samples listed, #3 is by BOTAR. Its probably my favourite of the samples

[Tacoman1013]

#3 is linoleum by NOFX

[DrKlunkDoo]

Yeah, pre-ordered the album a couple days ago. I meant the cover -I think- is by BOTAR ;)

[osiris781]

@DrKlunkDoo

Streetlight is doing Linoleum, not BOTAR.

[DrKlunkDoo]

BOTAR is just acoustic Streetlight with a couple more strings. That being said, it is BOTAR

[Kingaby]

@killbot138 streetlight manifesto, non acoustic, same band

[killbot138]

@Kingaby its not the same band, I love Streetlight Manifesto (fourth wave ska) but they have different band members other than Tomas

[killbot138]

@Kingaby its not the same band, i love Streetlight Manifesto (fourth wave ska) but they have different band members except Tomas

[im4smellyfeet]

@killbot138 streetlight manifesto and catch 22. those are his other 2 bands. both are amazing

[killbot138]

Respond to this video... 

[killbot138]

@im4smellyfeet I love Streetlight Manifesto and Gimp (his first band). catch22 isn't his band anymore. catch22 only had one good cd (Keasbey Nights) until Tomas left. Catch22 talked shit about Tomas for a long time and he got them back lol

[jerryzucchini]

@killbot138 actually, you're forgetting something. catch 22 is still a great band. just because they don't sound like they did in keasbey doesn't mean they aren't good. they have a LOT of awesome material and both bands deserve alot of appreciation.

[killbot138]

@jerryzucchini they resolved their differences so there's no point arguing

[alphabettsoup66]

@killbot138 yfw this is a streetlight manifesto side progect..... streetlight are the bandits with a plug in

[palkian90]

I'm a huge fan of Streetlight, although I had never listened to any BOTAR before. Now I don't think I will stop lsitening to it..... ever

[Garmichael1]

@palkian90 When I discovered BOTAR, I listened to these five songs hundreds of times.. I just cant get enough of it!

[ace6255]

first two lines of lyrics, brilliant!

[killbot138]

Does anyone know when 99 songs of the Revolution comes out?

[Pawnbroker12]

when Victory Records stops being a fuckin dick.

[MightyIronHead]

March 16...

[Tacoman1013]

march 16th

[MrGROOVYD]

pure genius!!!! this is what i call music

[SkankinNegro]

i cant fucking wait for 99 songs

[EnriceDreizehn]

@SkankinNegro When do think ia it coming?

[SkankinNegro]

i dont know but i hope soon

[justin412]

feb 9th from what i heard from victory

but more like march 9th with the way things are looking

[Robocrat]

More like March 9th 2011.

[StephHizzle]

I'm with you! It will definitely be worth the wait...I'm sure!

[Clickthisprofile]

Tom could pass off as a reggae singer, nice change in pace from his usual stuff.

[davidcowonahill]

just awesome.....

i cant believe this is the first time i am hearing these guys

[Pawnbroker12]

look at the views! last year this had under 2,000 now it's close to 18,000! go BOTAR!

[jizzneck]

its pretty don't u think beccy

[s41993]

SAW IT LIVE!! BITCHES!

[Fullmetal331]

oh to die for such a wonderful life

[TheSkaGamer]

The new BOTAR CD has yet to be released. It is, supposedly, to be released later this year, and from speculation of some people, the 18th.

Oh, and this song is one of the best. :D

[theonemeflipee]

streetlight's fan email sendout confirmed it was coming out on the 18th

[SkadetKevin1994]

18th of wat? Nov?

[DexterousGamer]

I hope! I never heard anything about it being released on the 18th though... hopefully it's true! :)

I <3 Streetlight, Catch 22, BOTAR, etc... Going to be an awesome collection of 99 songs!!!! :D

[gidget1337]

I think this is my favorite song.

[Srp2323]

Thank you

[shwabity]

this song is so beautiful

[nuttymcnutty123]

the cd came out in 2002

[dodgrlover]

DOes anyone know when the CD is gonna be released, o and is streetlight gonna make a new cd

[darkmortality]

The BOTAR CD was already released, only 8 tracks?

[Robocrat]

WHERE?!?! O_O

[greendayfan234]

plz plz plz tell me i've been wanting to here some new botar forever

[Srp2323]

Is that a french horn in the beginning of the song?

[OdinVale]

yes.

[Sukichi]

Yes, Srp.

[AlexYo234]

the missile looks like a cat from small pic

[ilse1989]

<3.<3.<3.<3.<3

[Kmanflyaway]

so there is actualy gonna be 99 songs? Thats a shit load to write cant wait

[Chubigans]

This is the best Tom K. Song I know of. Like, lyrically, the best.

[gidget1337]

I love this song!

[alwaysblinkin182]

i dont know why i love all kalnoky's work.......exsept B.O.T.A.R

i even love heres to life but only by streetlight. what makes people like this band soo much? i dont feel it.

[TheCapstanShanty]

Well thats just it. What you like is subjective.

[alwaysblinkin182]

what do you mean by that?

ps. hey theres this bad ass site ALL about tomas kalnokys bands and it has videos, pictures, and forums and shit... the only problem is theres only 3 people who joined... so can you please join it would mean everything, you dont have to pay or anything....the site address is in my comments on my channel, just click "alwaysblinkin182" and go to my comments you cant miss it thank you

[eddienw]

TOMAS KALNOKY RULES

[MonkeysEatSocks]

I can't find the album this song is from D=

[eddienw]

i think its from a call to arms

[Froz3n24]

A Call To Arms. It's an EP, five songs. Well, four and an intro. You can buy it from the RISC Group website for like 4 dollars.

[dodgrlover]

I don't understand this, i know about what happened with Catch and Streetlight but what is B.O.T.A.R

[fathead999]

B.O.T.A.R is a side project of tomas k's it is a big band ska thing that i dunno whhat to define them like.....

but anyway.... tomas started B.O.A.R before streetlight and after catch 22 but because of the size of the band it was to awkward to tour so he decided to leave it for a while now he is releasing 99songs of the revolution witch will feature botar, streetlight, the stichup and others bands on the label...

i think thats is it correct me if i am wrong

[RdSoxFan618]

Nope, you nailed it ;)...however, we are not 100% sure the Stitch Up/Dan Potthast is releasing 2 of the albums, however, they are the only other band on Pentimento Music (created by Tomas because he hates Victory Records). We don't know the last band...maybe it'll be a Tomas Kalnoky and Jim Conti gangsta rap album...that'd be awesome!

[fathead999]

reply above ^.^ i jus wanted u to get da E-mail

[ajracerfan]

BOTAR is essentially Streetlight, unplugged. plus a small sting section

[TheCapstanShanty]

Yeah, it's the same guy writing the music, so that makes since. Thats usually how things turn out in that case,

[Otherien]

"As for 99 Songs, sit tight a tiny bit longer. The record is out of our hands now, in terms of recording, so we're all waiting at this point. We'll be posting a track list on the site very soon."

Straight from the SLM site

I cant freakin wait!

[gidget1337]

Don't get me wrong, I love SM, but who thinks this album will be out by Warped Tour? No matter. Whenever it comes out, I'll be thrilled.

[lnsouciance]

geez 99 songs ....Tomas must be pulling songs out of his ass. His lyrically ,prestigious, genius of an ass.

[Robocrat]

Haha! XD

They're cover songs. =P

[bebobeb]

actually he told us at a concert that there is one CD of SM covering songs, once CD of BOTAR covering songs, Two NEW SM CDs, Two NEW BOTAR CDS, and Two CDs he wants to keep a secret. and they will not all be released at the same time.

[RdSoxFan618]

Thanks - didn't know that. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that the first two released would be by SLM/BOTAR. Hopefully one (or both) of them put out brand new originals, however I wouldn't count on it, because SLM has a cover album coming out first (Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard is the only one I know will be on there...also American Jesus is rumored).

[Progressionification]

@Robocrat XD Ikr... lmao

[lgchupa]

@Robocrat not really covers, BOTAR is made up of streetlight manifesto & other artists. it's more of an alternative recordings of streetlight music. some of the songs, i forget which ones have been recorded under streetlights name also.

[DrPepperKaye]

@lgchupa Dear Sergio is one, and there are many more. Catch 22 did Dear sergio too. His songs arekinda whores and pass through all of his bands. It's awesome!

[KillyBesel]

@lgchupa he's referring to 99 songs of revolution, if you look at the comment Robocrat was responding to.

[DrPepperKaye]

@Robocrat They're cover songs of his other bands. He is lyrically responsible for every song he sings.

[KillyBesel]

@DrPepperKaye wasn't aware he was in the postal service...

[devilpoet]

@Robocrat

Most on this album were covers of Streetlight songs, but "It's a Wonderful Life" and "They Provide the Paint...." were original songs by BOTAR. And if you have to count it, the intro song "This is a Call to Arms".

[thunderectum]

@lnsouciance Hmmmm...an interesting theory

[Alivefornow]

oh I guess that makes more sense...

still 99 songs DAMN

[mibuwolfX]

Yup. It's called "99 songs of the Revolution." Apparently, it's going to be a lot of covers.

[sasquatch446]

ya its suppose to be 2 cds from SM 2 cds from BOTAR and a couple cds from other bands. i cant wait for it to come out!

[Alivefornow]

wait are there actually going to be 99 songs on the album?1?!?!?!

[Robocrat]

No, AliveForNow, there are going to be 8 different albums, 99 songs altogether.

[Froz3n24]

boo, i want more original material.

[penquinftw]

still... 99? I'm effing psyched to say the least.

[polish900]

Yeah Streetlight Manifesto normally play some of Bandits songs to get them a little more popular.. According to rumors I've been hearing both Bandits and Streetlight are coming out with new albums soon.

[Vienershmaken]

That would be awsome!

[Robocrat]

Yes they are. Streetlight has an album coming out sometime this year, and BOTAR has determined like two albums... They haven't said when, though.

[sasquatch446]

2 from streetlight 2 from botar and some other bands to

[gotfrohwned]

Yup, afaik it's called "99 Songs Of Revolution", they wrote on their website it won't be long anymore. As for myself, I'm definitely looking forward to it!

(In other words: omgomgomgomgicantwait)

[cheesemuffin778]

i love this cd/album

[platypusarecool]

this is bamf.

[weiszydude]

tru dat

[akimthemean]

"This is a call to arms" is an instrumental introduction to the CD.

[SkadetKevin1994]

BOTAR has SM's lead singer as there lead singer?

[Robocrat]

Yeppers.

[SkadetKevin1994]

coo coo ty hey do u have a call to arms here? that is a song right or is that just the name of the album?

[Ikbuh]

I have A Call to arms. It's the name of the Album.

B.O.T.A.R. is Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution. It's a Wonderful Life is the name of this track.

I just saw SLM the other day (amazing btw) and they played a few BOTAR songs.

[SkadetKevin1994]

but is a call to arms the name of the CD or is it a song too?

[thewrath002]

i think its the CD. i havent seen it as a track on the album. i could be wrong

[nomoreyou1212]

I enjoy this :D but I do wish there was a video :/

[Chubigans]

I love the solo

[ILikeTrtlz]

look at you kids in your cute little hats!

[Robocrat]

That reminds me of G.I. Joe for some reason.<_<

[saxxytenor01]

lol that is gi joe

its one of the spoofs

[smfisch]

Whoa whoa, wait, what? "It's too bad they didn't last"? BOTAR is still alive and kicking and will have two new albums released with the new giant music compilation of covers Tomas is doing -- "99 Songs of the Revolution", along with two by Streetlight Manifesto and four more by "mystery bands."

BOTAR is not dead, Tomas simply prefers to release "his" work when it's finished. He's also a private person, and doesn't like to release updates too often about what's going on behind the scenes.

[akimthemean]

An amazing song by the best band to ever play. It's too bad they didn't last :(

[14ForsakenGlory14]

kalnoky has so much talent

[Tomosuburo]

awsome song, although it might be alittle better if there was an actual video

[sashadb1027]

so my friend told me that this is his favorite song...and now i know why =)

[spencerdanger52]

This is so joyous

[SangoGirlKate]

i love this song soooo much!! i must share it with all my friends!!! =3