I Like Pretending

I personally think that this song is exploring our society’s dependence on faith and religion. I think that the chorus (‘Are we pretending? I like pretending.) is a comment on how humans are reluctant to accept their probable solitude. I think that the idea of being alone in life scares many people, and Chris Corner is drawing attention to these shared irrational insecurities. I think this song is commenting on how people are willing to deceive themselves in order to avoid confronting their deep insecurities (in the context of religion).

I think that Chris Corner’s lyrics are amazing, poetic and memorable. I think that the phrase ‘Symbiotic self indulgence’ is a comment on how people can be motivated to indulge others if they believe that they can benefit. Linking this to the religious them of the song, it could be interpreted that people feel that they benefit from devoting time and money to religion, as they are then assured of the presence of a deity.

Another notable phrase is: ‘If we dig deep/the circuitry burnt out, bends/into neurotic repetition.’ I think that this could refer to the fact that if people are truly exposed, their deepest insecurities (isolation and solitude) are revealed.

Thanks for reading my interpretation…please bear in mind that I think that IAMX’s music is bordering on perfection, and that nothing in this comment is intended to be offensive.

I have to agree slightly with you Entwined. This is my interpretation anyway…

It seems to me (one of Chis' many more melancholy scribblings) to be a comment on inevitability and perpetual nature of solitude and life's one promise of (or Chris' "wish"/craving for) death, shown through his constant reference to his 'death wish'.

Unlike the average ‘machine’, he sees himself as one of a few ‘misfits’ whose truthful ‘pure expression’ leaves them susceptible to the ‘death wish’ as they see past the shallow and pointless disposition of life. ‘All our accessorise’ and ‘The whole world's insanities/The bleeding hearts and tragedies’ fail to distract him from the reality of the inevitable.

The key focus, the question ‘Are we pretending?’ relates to the second to last verse where he acknowledges his escape from this feeling through the subject of 'silver skin' who 'reminds me/That you're worth it.' Implying that the key message to his lover is that he ‘like(s) pretending’ with her momentarily and she gives him a fleeting satisfaction with life.

I think its about how when you think too much about life, society and general human nature, it depresses you a bit.

"And all my epiphonies, That branded me and broke my knees, Confirms me into the deathwish"..

But even though there really is no point to our existence, we can stilll find things to love and hold onto and "pretend" that we have direction..

"But your silver skin soothes my aching curses and reminds me, That you're worth it."

I love this song. Chris is a glorious lyricist.

what do you think 'the death-wish' is?

Personally, I think the 'death-wish' is a relationship that's just so utterly consuming that a "self" outside of it ceases to exist.

He says "silver skin" over and over, refering to a robot. This could mean: 1) He's referring to people as machines, obselete, pointless and unaware of things around them, self concentrated. 2) Is he talking about his "Robots-in-Disguise" girlfriend, Sue Denim.... 'Are we pretending, I like pretending' maybe referring the "disguise"

I think he is talking about the masks ppl wear in relationships and in every day life. Here he is taking comfort from wearing these masks and seeking refuge in them. Almost claiming that nothing could bring him out of because being with this special person is euphoria and "worth it".

The Alternative has a point. "Neurotic repetition" - Freud said that religion is just the common neurosis of the human race ('pologies, philosophy nerd =/) And the word "obsolete" suggests he thinks religion is an old idea. And the deathwish could be the fascination religious people have with heaven and hell, like their whole lives are lived purely so they don't go to the latter.

i think this song is about how people do what they're told to do by people who are higher up in the food chain than them. the "are we pretending?" bit is basically him asking if they're pretending to believe in what they're told, and he'd rather do that then cause hassel.

probably not, but that's my attempt. i love it anyway. :P

actually, i've changed my mind. he's talking about someone he's in a relationship with, but he thinks they're pretending to love eachother, and he's happy pretending just so he's with her.