Entertain

My feeling is that it's against the hipsterdom culture that was/is present in trendy areas of the NW. If not nationwide. I don't really think it was against the revival bands themselves (since I think everyone can agree that they indeed brought something new) though I wouldn't disagree with it completely since hipsters can be seen nonchalantly occupying these band's dance floors (until they go mainstream of course).

My best reason for this is their line "wheres the fuck you". Behind their irony and their pabst beer, today's hipsters have been defined as a lost generation with no real direction except to use "nostalgia....like a whore". They rummage through their white grandparents clothes and their gen-x parent's music stuff to create an illusion of separateness and rebellion without any of the substance that created their stolen artifacts in the first place. At least, that's what they're defined as.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

• a hipster.

Well, let's see... a few possibilities spring to mind. Disclaimer: Most of the following are fantastical ruminations based on articles someone else wrote, or regurgitations thereof.

(Maybe It's a challenge to other bands)

1. The second verse takes to task all those NYC bands (and their ilk) that have recently adopted the style of 80's New-Wave or 70's garage-rock/punk without originality or sincerity -- "You did nothing new with 1972, Where's the 'Fuck You?', Where's the black and blue?" AND/OR

(Maybe it's introspection)

2. This song responds to critics (including the album's producer and, maybe, the band itself?) who contend S-K has been stuck in a Riot-Grrl rut. "If you wanna take a shot at me," "We can drown in mediocrity," "It feels like someone pushed the rewind" AND/OR

3. The lyrics reveal ambivalence towards the prospect of moving to Sub-Pop, which brings the liability of being misunderstood, but also the chance to grow. "So you want to be entertained... Please go away (don't go away)," "If your art is done, Johnny get your gun, Join the rank and file, on your TV dial" AND/OR

(Maybe it's polemic)

4. It's a diatribe against both the 'dumbing-down of America' and the 'politics of fear'. Although admonishing fans that they're not here just to entertain, they admit some complicity in the corporate spoon-feeding of imagination to the American populace -- "Reality is the new fiction... truth is man-made," "Can't you see it's just a silly ruse? They are lying, and I am lying too." The final pronouncement of the song: "The grip of fear is already here, The lines are drawn, whose side are you on?"

(finally, my personal favorite explanation)

5. The ladies of S-K simply locked themselves in a cabin with a 1/2 gallon of bourbon and a Ouija board, emerging 2 days later with a newfound respect for the occult and, more importantly, the lyrics for a nifty new song.

Whew... Ya gotta love latte-induced logorrhea! Your thoughts?

I read an article recently about the creation of "The Woods". It talked about the conflicts that Sleater-Kinney had during the making the album (mostly the conflict that they had with their producer). It's quite possible that their new producer wanted Sleater-Kinney to "ease up" on the political influence in their songs. Anyone who's at all remotely familiar with S-K knows that politics play a major role in their music. This song could be a reaction to the idea of making music just for the entertainment value of it and the struggle of staying true to yourself and your beliefs.

I love the drum line Janet lays down toward the end of the song, during the "1, 2, 3" lines. It's a total marching cadence, and I love how it evokes the image of faceless, uniformed people marching in time without any need for the lyrics that speak of the same sort of images.

Who was taking a shot at Sleater-Kinney be it other bands/producers/critics? I wanna know.

the actual lyrics (from the CD insert): So you want to be entertained? Please look away We're not here 'cause we want to entertain Please go away (don't go away) Reality is the new fiction, they say Truth is truer in these days, truth is man-made If you're here cause you want to be entertained Please go away

If you're heart is done, Johnny get your gun Join the rank and file, on your TV dial

You come around looking 1984 You're such a bore, 1984 Nostalgia, you're using it like a whore It's better than before You come around sounding 1972 You did nothing new with 1972 Where is the fuck you? Where's the black and blue

Hey! Look around they are lying to you Can't you see it is just a silly ruse? They are lying, and I am lying too. All you want is entertainment, Rip me open it's free

1, 2, 3! If you wanna take a shot at me, Get in line 1, 2, 3! I've had all my shots and I'm fine

1, 2, 3! If you haven't had enough of me, Well get in line, line 1, 2, 3! You too deserve it now, it's all right

1, 2, 3! We can drown in mediocrity It feels sublime 1, 2, 3! It feels like someone pushed the rewind

1, 2, 3! Give it to me easily, my feeble mind needs time 1, 2, 3! Make it sweet and syrupy with rhyme

[Don't drag me down, I'm not falling down]

The grip of fear is already here The lines are drawn, Whose side are you on?

favourite lines are: "Reality is the new fiction, they say Truth is truer in these days, truth is man-made"

I think this song is a jab at a whole bunch of things in the media today. Reality tv would be one of them, as well as retro rock bands (like The Darkness, Jet, etc.). I also think it's a jab at VH1 nostalgia shows (I love the '80s, '70s, etc) and it's saying that we're spending too much time in the past, and not inventing anything new for the present.

this song is so good? my god.

p.s. it's if your "art" is done, not heart.