It was the minute that truly changed the lives of the guys in fun. — a band that refuses to capitalize, but enjoys extra punctuation. Last year, the then-unknown New York trio had its song “We Are Young” featured in a Chevy Sonic ad during the Super Bowl. Within a week, the exposure sent the single to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spurred massive sales of its second album, “Some Nights.”
“The bigger the band gets, the more work is required,” guitarist-drummer Jack Antonoff tells The Post as he reflects on the exciting, but tumultuous year that has passed. “I remember being in Germany this year and we were about to perform, but I just started crying because I was feeling so overwhelmed. I was tired, jet-lagged, I had all these mixed emotions about the band getting so big and never being able to see anyone I love.”
Not that Antonoff would have it any other way, because his supposedly overnight success with fun. has actually been years in the making. Even now, many fans don’t realize that the band formed in 2008 and released a mildly successful debut, “Aim and Ignite,” the following year.
Prior to that, Antonoff was best known for fronting the New Jersey band Steel Train, which set tongues wagging with the 2006 tune “Better Love,” which called out Antonoff’s former girlfriend, Scarlett Johansson, whom he dated while the two attended New York City’s Professional Children’s School.
These days, the gossip surrounding Antonoff is much more pronounced, not only because of fun.’s stellar rise to fame but also due to the fact he is currently dating Lena Dunham. Thanks to her hit HBO show, “Girls,” Dunham is having a rapid career rise of her own and is having to endure the negative attention that frequently comes along with it.
“The one thing I’ll say about my personal life is that whatever people say out there doesn’t really get through my walls,” he states cagily. “When we get home, the door closes, and my girlfriend and I just go back to regular life. If I sign on to Twitter, I know there’s always going to be someone saying ‘You suck, I hate you, you’re a piece of
s – – t.’ You develop mechanisms to not care about that. With everything that’s happening to both of us, there’s not much time to think about what someone in Florida is saying on their computer!”
Meanwhile, the bandmates have plenty of distractions. Having just finished up playing for President Obama at his second inaugural ball on Monday, Antonoff, along with vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost, now have the small matter of a headlining show at Radio City next Saturday night.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also the trifling event known as the Grammys on Feb. 10, during which they will perform and be in the running for no less than six awards, including the four most prestigious: Best Song, Best Recording, Best Album and Best New Artist.
Perhaps almost as crucial is getting this all-important writeup in The Post.
“My dad lives on the Upper East Side and The Post is his favorite newspaper,” says Antonoff with a laugh. “I think when it arrives on his doorstep, he’ll be thinking [in a casual tone] ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ ”
Be proud, Papa Antonoff — your boy did good.