Throwback Thursday: Karl Alvarez discusses Descendents "I'm The One"

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes

Music History, Music Commentary, Music, Music Interviews

4.9 • 923 Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2025

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this Throwback Thursday episode from November 27th, 2023, Descendents bassist Karl Alvarez dives into the creation of the band’s 1996 single “I’m The One,” a punk anthem of unrequited love that has resonated with fans for decades. Karl reveals the real-life stories of romantic frustration—some his own, some from close friends—that helped shape the song’s painfully honest lyrics. As the final member of the legendary band to appear on the podcast, Karl offers rare insight into the group’s creative process, the emotional depth behind their music, and what makes the Descendents’ songwriting so timeless. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/demakes For bonus episode of The After Party podcast, an extensive back catalog of past After Party episodes, early ad-free releases of new episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, full video versions of episodes, and MUCH more, head to the Patreon at ⁠http://www.ChrisDeMakes.com Follow Chris DeMakes A Podcast on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chrisdemakesapodcast/⁠ Join the Chris DeMakes A Podcast community on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2643961642526928/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Distro Kid.
0:20.8	Hey Harry. Hello, mate. Got any tips for the football? Your best bet is to head over to bet Victor. They're giving new customers a terrific welcome offer. If you bet a minimum of £10, they'll give you £30 in three bets. Four, that's a steal of a deal. It's a good darn deal that'll make your squirrel for real. Neil? My name's not Neil. I know, but it rhymes.
0:22.7	Listen to Harry and make your best bet on the football at BetVictor.
0:26.1	18 plus opt in and bet on any football marketing at odds of evens or greater no, cash out seven-day expiry terms and conditions apply at gamblerware.org. Hey, everybody's here. Take a load of plenty.
0:39.6	Take a load for free.
0:43.6	Hey, everybody.
0:44.6	Krista makes a podcast producer Chris Fafalius here.
0:47.8	It's Thanksgiving, and I just want to take a quick second to thank all of you for listening to our show. We've been making this show for over
0:55.9	five years now and we couldn't do it without you. So yeah, thanks. It's throwback Thursday again
1:02.8	and this week we're throwing it back to exactly two years ago today when Carl Alvarez sat in to
1:09.9	discuss the writing and recording of the classic
1:12.5	1996 descendant single, I'm the One. Before we jump into this episode, I wanted to talk about
1:19.8	some Thanksgiving related stuff, so maybe you could share these little facts with your family
1:24.8	while you're eating your yams today. And if you don't like your yams,
1:28.8	just send them on over to me because the damn yams are the best part of Thanksgiving dinner.
1:33.7	End of story. Send me your yams. Okay, one thing I didn't know was that in 1939, FDR changed the
1:42.5	date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the third Thursday
1:47.6	because he wanted to boost the economy by extending the Christmas season. People called this
1:53.9	Franksgiving and it was controversial at the time and some states continued to observe Thanksgiving
2:00.7	on the traditional date.
2:02.8	So for a few years there, there were kind of two thanksgivings happening depending on where you
2:08.3	lived. In the end, Congress passed a law in 1941, establishing the fourth Thursday in November
	...

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