Dance-A-Thon 2005

I'm with freezit4 on this one.

From the lines: "25 contestants start the show, but only one will survive." & "bring those crazy judges down to their knees ... a distinguished panel of celebrities"

I don't see how the blatant reality TV culture references can be denied.

The beginning second verse evokes imagery of a fast-talking TV exec who is really trying to sell the show to a contestant, especially:

"When this thing is over child, everybody here gonna remember your name."

The first verse seems to be coming from a different perspective, more like a warning to the subject, advising them not to go ahead with it:

"...this thing's about to start and it's about to escalate into a war"

I interpret the lines:

"...he ain't no innocent man" & "I seen him rip apart a young girl with his bare hands"

to regard the producer of this reality show (e.g. Simon Cowell). This (fictional) producer appears innocent and kind but in reality he ruins lives in his relentless pursuit of ratings. Dick/Tyler occasionally creates sinister authority figures in his lyrics and this feels like one of those moments to me.

With this in mind, the Improper Dancing (what a tune) reference can be seen as a desire of this sinister man. He wants to use her (assuming the subject of the song is female of course) to orchestrate his planned show perfectly:

"I want to reach into the fire of your heart... program all those beats right from the start"

The final line of the reference and the song is his temptation:

"Have you ever been to New York city?" ... he's offering to take her there, if she'll just sign on the dotted line. Ooooh creepy.

All of that said, this is the first time I've ever really sat down and had a good think about the meaning behind this, or any, E6 song. In my opinion E6's crowning achievement is their ability to write great songs that don't require deep consideration to be enjoyed, yet are revealed to be cleverly written when analysed.

My favourite song from Señor Smoke.

" It's not how you dance It's who you know "

I think it talks about the truth behind all the reality competition TV programmes, those having to do with the people's votes. You don't win because you're talented and such, but because you know people and people know you.

But the dramatisation throughout the song confuses me. Is it showing that it's just what they try to propagandise the idea of it being "reality", when in fact it's just another play?

And what's with the reference to Improper Dancing, lol. I love Electric Six because they rock and they're funny

It's about picking up a chick on a dancefloor. ES's song's are almost all love songs, and pretty simple. Don't ruin them by over-analyzing.