| Portishead – Magic Doors Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Ok I'm going to do a bit of an essay here. Probably for absolutely no point but I don't have anywhere else to post my reflections on Portishead so I may as well do it here.. looking at this song, and having listened to pretty much all the Portishead songs there are, I've noticed a lot of instances of words such as "denial", and "disguise." As well as songs with a more obvious homosexual context if you wanted to call it that, such as Glory Box and The Rip, Magic doors and Elysium seem to indicate that...well..there's a certain preoccupation here. i'll quote THIS interview http://kotinetti.suomi.net/heikki.hietala/Articles/New%20Faces%20-%20Portishead.htm which was written recently after Portishead released their first album. Beth doesn't usually get interviewed so it's interesting that this article manages to get some anecdotes directly from her. The article says "While her lyrics and plaintive cigarettes-and-black-coffee vocals reflect the series of failed relationships and dead-end career moves that led her to Bristol, her pessimism is so unrelenting that some have speculated she must have suffered some horrendous trauma. "I wasn't sexually abused," Gibbons says, dispensing with the usual explanation. "I have divorced parents, which didn't help, but I don't like it when I blame things on my parents." Barrow has never asked Gibbons why her lyrics are so melancholy and thinks it's a subject "best left alone." " Ok..and also add on this, from several years later, where the interviewer says "I was watching the new Jon Savage Joy Division documentary the other day and there's this moment where they interview the band and say, "With all the lyrics he was writing and singing, did you ever worry about Ian? "And of course they hadn't paid any attention! Third is sometimes incredibly bleak, lyrically. Did you ever feel the need to check if Beth was all right? " So..of course there's an issue preoccupying Beth. And I have reason to believe that the issue is denial of sexuality. In Elysium the lyrics mention "how I despise myself." Not so much denial, but as if Beth KNOWS that she's gay but hates herself for it. There aren't enough interviews with her, or information on her for us to be able to confirm it properly, but if you ask me Beth being gay seems far more likely than her being straight. I am gay myself and I can identify with a lot of these feelings. With Elysium; "No one has said what the truth should be And no one decided that I'd feel this way If you felt as I Would you betray yourself" So..she's sort of saying..well..it's not MY fault that I've got these feelings, but if you were like me, would you hide it too? It doesn't make it any easier for me to deal with. Magic doors, in a way seems like a bit of a sequel to Elysium. And this, with The Rip, with Beth's most obvious reference to possible lesbianism (the song's about a woman, "I realise that love flows", "will I follow?") etc..it seems as if Beth is a little more resolved, more at peace with her sexual orientation than she had been in the past. In this, instead of "you can't deny" it's "I can't deny" as if she's finally prepared to admit it. "Try to resist my thoughts But I can't lie" She's realised that pretending for so long wasn't going to do anything and she may as well accept it. "I can't divide or hide from me I don't know who I'm meant to be I guess it's just the person that I am" I know from experience that even if you are brought up in a very accepting environment etc, homosexuality isn't exactly easy. It makes life just that much harder, and coming to terms with how you feel and the fact that you feel so different from everyone else and the feeling that no one understands you..well..I appreciate that that can take some time. But this song it indicates that she's getting closer. yes, this is just my theories, you can dismiss them as crackpot if you want, and absolutely no disrespect to Beth meant at all. I don't see why being considered gay should be an insult anyway? I do think she's dropped us a LOT of clues though. And in a way, I think that the sort of feeling of denial and alienation and feeling separate from everyone else, instead of the possibility of her being molested, is far more likely to have fuelled the bleakness of her lyrics, for like the rolling stone interview says, they're a bit TOO bleak to just be normal depression. In short: I think it's highly probable Beth is LGBT. That's what fuels the conflict in her lyrics. This song just illustrates it. Thankyou for reading :) |
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| Portishead – Mourning Air Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Ok..well this along with other songs gives me hints that Beth might be gay which would explain why a lot of her songs express a certain alienation or distance. In a way this sounds like someone who wanted to come out..but wasn't sure how the person would react...and how she wants "total honesty", otherwise she'll "feel this fear alone" (and it is scary) Yup maybe I'm clutching at straws here, but it does just seem like another piece of the puzzle. |
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| Portishead – Glory Box Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Wow..in my opinion manuel.jose.ribeiro, you totally didn't get it when you said "ok Temptress as an alluring, bewitching woman, she also fools around then � I can only guess that the photographer in the video clip gives HIM pictures of her with the other guy" if you watch the clip..well..beth is in drag and I understand the photographs to be compromising photographs revealing that Male role Beth (who is presumably passing as male) is a woman, possibly intimately involved with another woman in the picture. I sincerely doubt there are pictures of Male Role beth with a man, since Male Role Beth is behaving like a typically heterosexual man in the video...only when he goes back to his room...Male Role Beth (for want of a better word) is sort of..well..tired of passing, but doesn't know what to do about his/her sexuality... As stated by the video director (I think) the lyrics could be interpreted about being transgender. I do think it's very LGBT and as someone who is gay herself..I understand about the struggle of sexuality..all this "I just want to be a woman" and "don't you stop being a man" stuff...well..when you're a gay woman (and it is possible Beth is, just putting it out there...) even in these times when it's more accepted, it can be very confusing..sometimes you actually think it would be easier to be male...as you'd be more accepted as male, and you don't actually feel like a "proper" woman...and to me this song does seem to be about confusion related to sexuality. "Give me a reason to love you, give me a reason to be a woman..." is sort of like..well..someone who is confused about their sexuality and doesn't know whether they're ready to settle down with a woman, as opposed to being flirtateous but scared of long term commitment because they're scared of vilification. "So don't you stop, being a man Just take a little look from our side when you can" seems to be about..well..men who wouldn't understand whether this someone, with their liking for women..is a threat to their masculinity. She's basically saying "you don't have to dumb down or anything but just please try to understand why I'm not interested in you/men." She/the someone wants to be accepted, and wants to settle down and stop being so flighty as she's tired of being scared of her sexuality and of commitment. And you can want very much to be involved with the same gender..but just be scared, of where to start, of what to do and you just sort of want..people to make the decision for you, to pursue you for a change instead of you wanting to go after women and being frightened of it. Well that's how I understand it. |
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| Portishead – It's A Fire Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I too..well..I can sort of understand this from a gay context too..I've heard rumours that Beth is gay and to be honest I wouldn't be surprised..most of her stuff seems non gender specific, and the video for Glory Box and the lyrics for Small, The Rip etc seem to back this up... But yeah..I sort of as a whole interpret this song about..well...I always sort of thought it was..gah I don't know...something about someone who was a victim of justice (I thought it was "from this warm cell, testify or tell) or perhaps had a mental illness, so felt separate from the rest of society...and is sort of advising the "little sister" something to do with "life sucks but I suppose if you can get on with it it'll be OK." Psh..my explaination doesn't make much sense either. |
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| The Killers – All the Pretty Faces Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| IF you ask me this sounds kinda like kidnapping or domestic violence in a way - "you shake and you plead and you sing your song" and "you're not going anywhere without me." and all that. | |
| Massive Attack – Mezzanine Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I agree with the "all these other floors", thinking that it would refer to a mezzanine. very creepy song. PS, rigbymatt - I wouldn't say this was like Brave New World, it's too dark and sinister. You need light, fluffy, pleasure and sinister. For a Brave New World album, try Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp - particularly Utopia. | |
| Massive Attack – Group Four Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I wouldn't call this song spiritual or inspiring, I'd call it creepy, dark and sinister. To think that I lay next to you Wasting time when I could do A simple job in strip lights A flask I drink a sober tea 'Till daylight sends me home Flickering I roam That bit, makes me think that the singer is either a prostitute or an assassin and I lean towards the latter. |
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| Feeder – Forgiven Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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This is such a beautiful song - so unlike the "typical" feeder that comes to mind (eg Buck Rogers). Shows that they really are a very diverse band. I guess it's about someone who loves you so much that they'll forgive any pain you ever bring them. |
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| Feeder – Power Of Love Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I agree. This is a tremendous song - very emotional and beautiful. It's...well..about the power of love :P Picture of Perfect Youth was so much better than I expected it to be. I've never heard the original Frankie version but this version is so perfect I doubt it could be topped. |
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| Feeder – Here In The Bubble Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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No comments? I know this is a b - side but this is one of the best Feeder songs I've heard. In fact it's one of my favourite songs ever... I guess it's about withdrawing into your own little world and never wanting to come out. Mental illness? Haven't really thought about it - just been overawed by the music. |
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| Blur – Girls and Boys Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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It either means you already are, or you are very beautiful. It depends on the placing of the umlaut, an accent mark. Either one makes sense anyway. Blur are really cool! I missed out on them when they were popular so I got onto them through Gorillaz. Awesome! |
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| Elbow – Newborn Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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What? Only the first bit is the lyrics. What's the other stuff from? If you look at the lyrics, the imagery is quite disturbing, but Elbow are a confronting band. You just have to get past it and appreciate how beautiful the song is. |
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| Feeder – Sweet 16 Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I don't see the incest. I just see serious abuse. And looking at the lyrics, it's a lot less "oh no domestic violence how obvious" than Never Again by Nickelback. Feeder rock so much harder. Nickelback suck. | |
| Doves – Satellites Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This is such a beautiful song. I don't really favour religious content but this has to be the best song with religious content ever. It's good for putting you in the mood for RE assignments. |
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| Eels – Susan's House Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Susan lives in a baaaad neighbourhood. | |
| Feeder – Piece By Piece Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I love this song. I thought Echo Park was going to be heavy songs a la Buck Rogers, but it doesn't seem so. I've got to buy it! | |
| Feeder – Victoria Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Well, this song is good, but it's nothing special, and Shatter's very heavy, so as they said on the Pushing the Boundaries documentary, including the songs would have weighed the albums down. | |
| Feeder – Swim Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Funny. There's distortion on the vocals...Normally Matt doesn't put distortion on even though Grant hates his vocals and wants him to put it on. | |
| Feeder – Satellite News Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| This is a lovely song. It's a shame that it isn't on Australia's version of Echo Park | |
| Feeder – Just A Day Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This song got me onto Feeder. You see, I like stuff like Stereophonics and Doves- I'm not big on heavy. I decided to download a Feeder song...and got this one. The first time I listened I was deterred by the loudness and heaviness, but decided to give Feeder a bit more of a chance. (I got more songs later - and then bought Pushing The Senses..) Oddly enough, the more I listened to the song the more I recognised it as the work of genius it was ! Yay Feeder! Rock on! (If you ask me their later stuff IS better..) |
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| Blur – Song 2 Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Where's his accent from? It's really apparent in this song. | |
| Feeder – Insomnia Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I don't like the song THAT much, no, what I love about Insomnia is in teh video he's singing a really "wahhh poor me" song but he has this HUGE freaking grin plastered all over his face! | |
| Feeder – Frequency Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Hey! Yet another band who I love who was on the OC! HEY THIS IS TOO WIERD TO BE TRUE! | |
| Feeder – Tumble & Fall Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| There is more to songs than just volume and noise. Insomnia wasn't that good. It's a comfort to know that a band who can do such loud and thrilling songs can also do less heavy, more melodic ones, and don't just rely on noise. | |
| Jane Siberry – Temple Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| paedophilia.. | |
| Feeder – Dove Grey Sands Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| To be terribly unprofound, this song is so pretty. It's really convinced me that I have to buy Pushing the Senses | |
| Stereophonics – Devil Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I love the way he says "make my day," The video for this is VERY interesting. Kind of like roll reversal because she's all violent and manipulitive and he just submits himself to her. |
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| Stereophonics – Superman Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I just think it's about Superman. But can I say that when he sings high it REALLY sounds like the Scissor Sisters! God this is an awesome song! | |
| Stereophonics – Rewind Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Wow it's great. One of the Best songs off Language Sex Violence Other. Makes up for the horribleness of Doorman, Brother and Girl. | |
| Stereophonics – Lolita Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| And lo-lolita, reminds me of Lo Lee Ta. However, it IS the name of Kelly's daughter, and that's that's what Wikipedia said the song was named after. | |
| Stereophonics – Brother Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Probably my least favourite song on Language Sex Violence Other. It's too heavy for me. | |
| Prince – Nothing Compares 2 U Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I just love the Stereophonics cover of this. They sing 15 days too, so they probably covered the Sinead O'Connor version | |
| Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Pumpkinhead did better than those bastards who come online just to bag out a band into the ground. I hate those people. I disagree with ha nn ah though. Because I hate Good Charlotte. So this is probably my least favourite FF track. I much prefer more beatles-esque ones. Although I do like "I just wasn't smiling at you yeah" |
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| Franz Ferdinand – Eleanor, Put Your Boots On Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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It's a really sweet song; very ballardy. Shows their diversity. In that way they're like the beatles - they can have really loud rocky sorts of songs like This Boy or YCHISMB, and then they have really sweet ballardy songs like this one and Fade together. It doesn't really remind me of Eleanor Rigby, which is actually a slightly depressing song. I didn't get much or a suicide meaning either. That's the thing so many people interpret a song as being either about drugs, sex or suicide. Yes, some songs are about those things, but by far not ALL songs! Actually, the references about Brooklyn and Coney island give me nostalgia for these books I used to read when I was little by this woman called Ruth Chew. They were set in Brooklyn, and the girls were called things like Meredith and Eleanor. |
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| Elbow – The Crow Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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They like crows don't they? Where's this song from? When you've listened to a lot of Elbow you pick up the repeated themes such as crows (lucky with disease, this song), passing guns from fathers to sons (Fugitive Motel, Leaders of the Free World), being really old (Powder Blue, The Everthere), Friends who stick around in bad times (Snooks (progress report) and Puncture repair), the iraq war (Snowball and Leaders of the Free World), phone sex (Lucky with Disease, Suffer) and that's not to mention the Doves/Elbow similarities. Even both of their third albums. The first track (Some Cities and Station Approach) both have the theme of returning home to your home. Both their third tracks (Forget Myself, Almost Forget Myself) have the theme of being drunk or stoned off your face, not to mention similar titles, and then you have the theme of moving on from a lover but wishing them all the best and not bearing any grudges (My Very Best, Sky Starts Falling) Did I miss anything? |
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| Elbow – George Lassoes The Moon Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Where's it from? | |
| Elbow – Lucky With Disease Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| It isn't on Asleep on the back. I'm guessing it's a b side | |
| Elbow – McGreggor Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| The video for this is really funny. Sort of like a cross between Time Bandits and the Labyrinth. With Guy Garvey in it dodging around tables and stuff | |
| Elbow – Suffer Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I think there are a lot of mystery songs floating around. Haven't heard it either. It's not on Asleep on the Back and I have the other two albums. Are Elbow going to put out a b sides album? Because it's just annoying to go out and buy a whole load of singles just so you get the b side as well. |
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| Elbow – Not A Job Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Haha the video for this. At the end Elbow are at a cemetary pretending to be all sad. They're doing a very good job, but I heard in an interview that Guy was having a lot of trouble stopping himself sniggering. (You don't want to try and get the video off limewire. Think of the dirty stuff that comes up when you type in "not a job.) |
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| Elbow – One Thing That Was Bothering Me Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| What album is this from? | |
| Elbow – Little Beast Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This is a brilliant song. One of the first Elbow songs we got. But my brother had it wrongly labelled as Asleep in the Back. When I looked up the lyrics, I realised it wasn't. It took me ages to work out which song it was. I went to the itunes music store in the end and played the song samples until I worked out that it was Little Beast. I thought Guy Garvey sung something about Sebastian for a while, but I think that's actually since baptism. I was worried about the album Asleep in the Back. I thought it sounded dodgy, but I think I'll buy it now. |
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| Mint Royale – Dancehall Places Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Wahh how come no one commented? Mint Royale's great. | |
| Stereophonics – Traffic Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| The whole album revolves around scandal, and rumours. I think with Traffic, there's all these rumours floating around this woman, about how she's a bit dodgy, maybe steals men and then kills them or something. | |
| Stereophonics – Maybe Tomorrow Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| It was fabulous at the end of Crash but then they had to spoil it by playing that bullshit rap song after it. It made my head explode and ruined the moment. | |
| Stereophonics – Looks Like Chaplin Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Yeah, it does sound like this man's memory was going a bit, and he was all alone etc. At first I thought he'd killed his wife and the police were taking him in, but he'd done it when he was in a psychotic state and didn't remember that he'd done it. | |
| Stereophonics – Local Boy In The Photograph Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Well, it sounds to me like someone was hit on the train tracks (accident OR suicide), so naturally the train runs late, the just being painted red refers to blood. The laying down the flowers is obviously mourning him etc. And he's in the photograph because his death made him famous. It's obviously a retrospective song, looking back on the event, and how everyone commemorates it. | |
| Stereophonics – Last of the Big Time Drinkers Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I wish I knew who put that stupid apostrophe in the name. The drinkers don't own anything, and the 'phonics sure didn't stick it there. | |
| Stereophonics – Have A Nice Day Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Yeah, the have a nice day bit is obviously a dig at how fake the consumerist society is. I thought that before I knew the lyrics. And I kept hearing "I kill processed fish" and thinking "WHAT THE HELL?" I wish I knew what that bit in the song means. The rest of it makes sense though. | |
| Stereophonics – Chris Chambers Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Thought so. Cool! I was just thinking that the line "suck my banana" in Doorman reminded me of Stand By Me when the kid says "you can suck my fat one." Obviously they have some kind of stand by me thing going down. |
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