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Lisztomania Lyrics
So sentimental
Not sentimental no
Romantic not discussing it
Darling I'm down and lonely
When were the fortunate only?
I've been looking for something else
Too late too late too late she'll be late too late too late
So go slowly discourage
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend
Ending this love for gentlemen only
That's where the fortunate only
No I gotta be someone else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
Follow, misguide, stand still.
Discuss, discourage
On this precious weekend
Ending this love for gentlemen only
Wealthier gentlemen only
Now that you're lonely
Too late too late too late she'll be late too late too late
So go slowly discourage
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not where the fortunate only
But I better be something else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
Oh,
This is show time, this is show time, this is show time
Time, time is your love, time is your love, yes time is your
From the mess to the masses
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Discuss, discuss, discuss, discuss, discuss discourage!
Not sentimental no
Romantic not discussing it
Darling I'm down and lonely
When were the fortunate only?
I've been looking for something else
Too late too late too late she'll be late too late too late
So go slowly discourage
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend
Ending this love for gentlemen only
That's where the fortunate only
No I gotta be someone else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
Discuss, discourage
On this precious weekend
Ending this love for gentlemen only
Wealthier gentlemen only
Now that you're lonely
Too late too late too late she'll be late too late too late
So go slowly discourage
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not where the fortunate only
But I better be something else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From the mess to the masses
This is show time, this is show time, this is show time
Time, time is your love, time is your love, yes time is your
A Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot like a riot oh!
Discuss, discuss, discuss, discuss, discuss discourage!
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Writer
Christian Mazzalai, Frederic Moulin, Laurent Mazzalai, Thomas Croquet
Duration
4:01
Producer
Philippe Zdar, Phoenix
Release date
Oct 05, 2009
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
chris123 On Apr 01, 2009
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
"The term "Lisztomania" was coined by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the massive public response to Liszt's virtuosic piano performances. At these performances, there were allegedly screaming women, and the audience was sometimes limited to standing room only."
I love this song. I'm thinking its about dealing with fame and handling the constant changing public interest. Lisztomania means how popular Franz Liszt was, and how there would be women screaming at his shows, which is pretty impressive, considering he was a classical composer. Thats an interesting scene to imagine. Him on stage in some classical opera house, with women in classical dresses screaming like a 13 year old girl at a Beatles concert.
They are basically using that as there example of the ultimate fame and fan adoration. The chorus is talking about how fame can grow very quickly, and fade very quickly, and you have to know how to deal with both. The verses seem to be about someone gaining fame, then looking back when he loses it and wondering if it could have been different and feeling very sorry for himself.
You have to understand that so-called Classical composers were the "rock stars" of their day so it wasn't surprising that Franz Liszt had a large following.
You have to understand that so-called Classical composers were the "rock stars" of their day so it wasn't surprising that Franz Liszt had a large following.
The "women screaming" bit is a myth. In the higher society ranks where Liszt performed it was considered bad form, bad manners and downright bad etiquette to scream/carry on at a performance (especially for a woman). Rules of etiquette factored into social status so I seriously doubt there were Beatlesesque adoration going on for fear of serious embarrassment and ostracization. Fainting on the other hand was something that allegedly happened...
The "women screaming" bit is a myth. In the higher society ranks where Liszt performed it was considered bad form, bad manners and downright bad etiquette to scream/carry on at a performance (especially for a woman). Rules of etiquette factored into social status so I seriously doubt there were Beatlesesque adoration going on for fear of serious embarrassment and ostracization. Fainting on the other hand was something that allegedly happened at his performances and I can believe it.
You couldn't be more wrong.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Artists like Hector Berlioz, Clara Wieck, and Frédéric Chopin ostracized and distanced themselves from Liszt in the 1840s as a result of the public's reaction to him. Franz Liszt changed the way the public perceived musicians, especially pianists, by really putting himself out there. The piano recital is what it is today because he was the first to create programs comprised solely of piano music to be performed by a single artist in a large concert hall as opposed to simply in a salon.
Artists like Hector Berlioz, Clara Wieck, and Frédéric Chopin ostracized and distanced themselves from Liszt in the 1840s as a result of the public's reaction to him. Franz Liszt changed the way the public perceived musicians, especially pianists, by really putting himself out there. The piano recital is what it is today because he was the first to create programs comprised solely of piano music to be performed by a single artist in a large concert hall as opposed to simply in a salon.
Liszt didn't only play in higher society ranks, he...
Liszt didn't only play in higher society ranks, he toured all over Europe and played in all sorts of arenas. He exposed himself to the population on all levels or society, even going as far as spending time with gypsies in both Russia and Hungary because he was interested in their musical culture. It was that kind of eccentric behavior that made him so unique, along with his virtuoso piano playing and composition, and made the public love him so much.
If you're truly under the impression that all classical composers were "Rock Stars" then just look at Mozart and Beethoven. They were practically considered to be servants to the public, court musicians who had to work within limits. Liszt broke down every single stigma surrounding that kind of musicianship and made himself a star. He was the first.
Hey,
I find it hard to believe nobody here has considered Franz Liszt love with Princess Carolyne.
I think this is simply a song of loving someone and not being able to be together because of the "WORLD" ways, in this situation because of society nobles not allowing a marriage of love. I think it is an uplifting song too, while we can't be together, we live, we move on, we grow, we burn the pictures, we know what happened- happened, WE DO IT! Let’s go slowly, discouraged but its not a song about one person leaving the other because the love was gone. Its a song about hope to those that can and can't live with the love of their life. For those that are in love, its a song of joy knowing that it could be done. And to those who can't marry its a song to grow. I don't think it s a song about breaking up.
I did some research and Franz was suppose to get married:
It was planned that the couple would marry in Rome, on October 22, 1861, Liszt's 50th birthday. Liszt having arrived in Rome on October 21, 1861, the Princess nevertheless declined, by the late evening, to marry him. It appears that both her previous husband and the Tsar of Russia had managed to quash permission for the marriage at the Vatican. The Russian government also impounded her several estates in the Polish Ukraine, which made her later marriage to anybody unfeasible.
Also- Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (February 8, 1819 — March 9, 1887[1]) was a Polish noblewoman who pursued a 40-year liaison/relationship with Franz Liszt.
This makes sense of the words...
*** "This love’s for gentlemen only, That’s with the fortunate only" So who can get divorced in those times "Gentlemen Only" he was blocked to marry his true love. I think that's what the lyrics mean.
***"Now I gotta be someone else" - Franz after not being able to marry went to the church. Liszt afterwards announced that he would retreat to a solitary living. He found it at the monastery He became increasingly plagued by feelings of desolation, despair and preoccupation with death–feelings which he expressed in his works from this period. As he told Lina Ramann, "I carry a deep sadness of the heart which must now and then break out in sound."
This must've been the most knowledgeable thing I've ever read in this website.
This must've been the most knowledgeable thing I've ever read in this website.
I always think they say "like a rhi- like a rhinooooo, not easily offended!" Hahaha...
bahh! me too! i kinda like that though... haha
bahh! me too! i kinda like that though... haha
Same here! Haha.
Same here! Haha.
its like a riott
its like a riott
Same here rofl
Same here rofl
Me too! haha
Me too! haha
@SuperRora Um I thought it was Rhino until about 5 seconds ago :O
@SuperRora Um I thought it was Rhino until about 5 seconds ago :O
Franz Liszt?
Right where is a simple definition for lisztomania
Right where is a simple definition for lisztomania
i think it's about how you sometimes have to find yourself when you come out of a relationship...you can't discuss it, you can burn the pictures, the memories might still be fresh, but in the end it's something that has to be born out of the ashes and you don't quite know what it is until you take a look at yourself and you realise you are somehow different. anyway, i can relate. the thing i really like about this song is that phoenix manage to capture something indefinable about time and relationships changing, maybe stopping to think that it's not as easy as it seems to be. "from the mess to the masses" maybe it's about indifference, like "yeah i don't care. do whatever." please, more people write about this, i'd like to know what you think.
I think you capture the overall feel of the song. mrdjmanon also wrote a nice little theory about this song
I think you capture the overall feel of the song. mrdjmanon also wrote a nice little theory about this song
just to let you know, phoenix themselves posted these lyrics on facebook :)
I've always consider that this song is about being with someone, like just going out, but being really trying to make things happen, and the fight, making a list of pros and cons, and just going with it, and when things go wong, next day it's another day and you try because you don't wanna go to the outside world (masses) and feel better with the mess
This song is about the dichotomy between wanting to appear indifferent and laidback so that the other person will find you interesting but in reality the singer is eager for affection and romanticism but he doesn't want to appear needy.
The opening verses we see him neurotically fighting himself to exteriorize his feelings as little as possible. He's trying to be someone else. This love's for gentleman's only. He must remain as calm and contained as he can. Think the cold parade of nightclub narcissism.
In the chorus he finally explodes and demands himself and the people in the room to let go and show their real feelings.
It happens this way a lot. Thanks for insightful comment. This song is so compelling and powerful.
It happens this way a lot. Thanks for insightful comment. This song is so compelling and powerful.
The term "Lisztomania" was Franz Liszt's super-stardom as a touring performer in Europe. He would do things like throw his silk gloves into the audience and women would fight over them. He made a lot of money from these performances and he donated much of it to charity. Sometimes he would give all profits from a concert to charity.