Dancing Choose Lyrics
I agree it seems like social commentary.
The guy he's talking about gets all his ideas from the newsmedia, reciting their positions but not realizing that he's not ultimately in control of anything. He also spends frivolously through hard economic times like there's no tomorrow until... "more bowls and more cups and the riot for the last hot meal erupts."
("Now I'm no mad man, but that's insanity," indeed.)
The refrain seems like a reflection on the letdowns of his life. "Drowning butterflies," beautiful things (hopes and dreams) destroyed. Palette turns to monochrome, bright future looking bleak.
The second verse seems to elaborate how this guy is just a shill for the powers that be. "And the half-hearted hologram, posed for the party..." He's got his eye on authority and he's not down for freedom. He's an "angry young mannequin" and a "foam-injected Axl Rose" a propped-up, empty figure of feigned outrage, but in reality just a shill.
(Sarcastically, he's also "American apparently" when his actions aren't the least bit American in principle)
this is such a killer song.
I think it sums up most of the worlds thinking nowadays and about 99% of Americas thinking. I love the line "bought a sweater for his weimariner too" Like he could not have found something better to do with money like help the world..... But at the end of the day after our stock market drops 777 points just keep your dancing shoes off mine. HA This song is rad. I am think I am going to go buy a new Range Rover and put some 26" on it tomorrow!!! WAKE UP!!!!!
I actually interpret the lyric "angry young mannequin American Apparently" to be a bit of a criticism of those who wear American Apparel, consumerism in general. I think Tunde has a very dark, sarcastic brand of humor and it shows in lyrics like this and from Dry Drunk Emperor. Good stuff.
Yeah, a lot of the lyrics here are pronounced in such a way that they seem to have two meanings. "Angry young Mannequin, American apparently" = "Angry young Manic in American Apparel" Ironically, TVotR's official T-shirts are printed on American Apparel.
Yeah, a lot of the lyrics here are pronounced in such a way that they seem to have two meanings. "Angry young Mannequin, American apparently" = "Angry young Manic in American Apparel" Ironically, TVotR's official T-shirts are printed on American Apparel.
Really? How do you know? I came on because I thought I had the revelation it is about Bush.
"from his boots to his pants to his comments and his rants" about him being from Texas and his scare tactics.
"and he can't understand that he's not in command; the decisions underwritten" well, no one would really let him be truly in command.
The whole next part about trying to make and keep America the richest country and not helping poor third world countries.
Etc. There are definitely problems I haven't worked out with this interp, and I don't feel like continuing on, but I think if you listen with this in mind you get a really interesting viewpoint on it.
Did anyone notice that Dancing Choose's acronym is D.C.? Wouldn't this somehow support the idea that TVOTR is pertaining to the current government regime and the American public in the littlest sense based on the title alone? I mean, dancing choose could also mean that whomever America elects to run the government is pointless, since results wouldn't matter if society is still oblivious to the problem at hand and would rather "dance" their nights away.
Tunde's style of singing starting with "Eye on authority" reminds me of Billy Joel in "We didn't start the fire"
Listening to TVOTR is like going to a playground that never runs out of fun rides
The part before the first chorus reminds me of "Rock Island" - the opening song from "The Music Man" musical.
What a great song - very dense with metaphors and allusions to pop culture, modern life, etc.
Some thoughts:
I don't necessarily agree that the speaker is Bush 43 or any other specific politician, I get much more of a materialistic I-banker vibe, though the first lines identify him as a newspaper man, so he could be a writer just as much - many double meanings here. I love the reference in the third verse about "Mad Men," the drama about Madison Ave. ad agencies, the men who sowed the seeds of the consumer culture in the 1960s by shilling everything from Frosted Flakes to Lucky Strikes to children. This ties right in to the consumer culture criticism of the first few verses. I believe the speaker lives in the material world of his magazine ads, and can "turn the scene" of his fantasy life as easily as flipping the page to the next full-page full-color ad.
The self-focus of the main subject hurts the singer/writer/narrator, who rails against his credit-fueled spending and ignorance of the larger world and indifference to his family and even his country. The speaker even predicts the dark road for our poor subject - missing life (losing the rhythm, can't stand the vision) turning to drugs (three "bumps" of coke), ending up lifeless and "foam-injected." A sad end, for sure.
I don't understand the verse ending in the "flash tattoo," though it may be a paparazzi reference.
Again, what a well-written tune!
A flash tattoo is a tattoo that someone chose from the wall of the tattoo shop, instead of doing research or creating a custom design. Generally it's something generic like a star, butterfly, "chinese proverb" or whatever. People who are serious about tattoos tend to look down on flash because it is seen as shallow and without individuality.
I heart TVotR, and I think this song is a really fun takedown of yuppies and conformists that is also kind of ironic and doesn't take itself seriously. I think the "keep your dancing shoes off mine" lyric shows that in the end they're on the same dance floor, participating in the same system, even if some of us are more aware of it than others.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
The primary subject character, newspaper man, is probably a music critic (like from Rolling Stone), or just one of those citizens who likes to agitate with letters to the editor on any subject. ["Full gloss bleed" is publishing terminology, "drop the news" in this context means write a review.] I hear these words...
The primary subject character, newspaper man, is probably a music critic (like from Rolling Stone), or just one of those citizens who likes to agitate with letters to the editor on any subject. ["Full gloss bleed" is publishing terminology, "drop the news" in this context means write a review.] I hear these words as a backlash at music reviewers. This may even be the same character as the angry American mannequin. He's still to the rhythm, not dancing. His choice.
The whole thing feels like a scene at an after concert press party for the band. And the Hologram character seems like a big name personality, maybe a record label executive. You just had to be there.
It's the title that pulls it altogether for me. The part "...used to be a nut, now you need three bumps before you cut" I also initially thought was a coke reference, but now I think it primarily means our character has to be pushed hard, (or maybe snort) to let loose and dance, because he's become a jaded, ivory tower inhabiting 'expert', and has lost touch with things not fueled by fashion.
And then there's the chorus: a smoother sounding, internal monologue about the artist accepting that dreams are often eclipsed by reality. Dreams will be shattered, but the process continues. This is the solace the artist can retreat to when confronted by jealous or angry reviews.
The song deliberately closes with the declaration "keep your dancing shoes off mine". This is telling our would-be critic if he doesn't want to dance or otherwise try to understand the depths of TVotR's creative works, don't be dissing us! Brilliant.