The Indie Queens Are Waiting

It is indeed about the indie scene in Vancouver.

For such a diverse city, it's actually shocking how everyone seems to be a clone of one another. You don't even need to be anywhere near downtown to see that everyone shops exclusively at Urban Outfitters and American Apparel with vintage wayfarers, oxfords and a cup of coffee from a local haunt completing the ensemble.

It's a very exclusive scene, with everyone striving for originality, pre-sale tickets to Hot Hot Heat/the Arcade Fire, and the biggest, most diverse record collection, which is what Dan Mangan is referencing in this song. I think it every day, but it's nice for someone to finally actually address it directly as the pathetic and hollow pretence it is.

wow, I'm really shocked that not many people have listend to Dan. He's a great singer/songwriter and truly deserves recognition...

that being said, I'm confused as to the meaning of this song. but I guess I'll take a shot in the dark.

To me this song is about two people who were once in a relationship where things turned for the worse and they are now separated. judging by the lyrics, my guess is that both persons never really intended for things to turn out that way; almost as if the relationship spiralled out of their control and they both refuse to come to terms with it potentially being the "end." At the beginning when he is singing about the diner, he's remembering places he used to go to with this woman. I especially love the interplay in the dialogue between Dan and Veda Hille, who lends her voice to the song. Dan is singing to her, doing things that will grab her attention, like buying her favourite music, and induce some sort of REACTION, in an attempt to win her back. It's almost he's pleading with her, especially when he sings "are you waiting to see that your days are numbered? because ym days are numbered too." To me, this is the ultimate realization that some of the fights that we have with out loved ones are absolute pointless and petty in the grand scheme of things. If you truly love a person, don't let these things get in the way, and certainly do not allow for them to steer your life.

When they both sing "are we cool now?" to me it symbolizes a truce, with white flags waving in the air.

That's just what i think this song to e about... anyone else have a different interpretation? i'd love to hear what everyone thinks of this fantastic song!

Not sure if I heard this in an interview or what, but I'm pretty sure this is a commentary on the 'indie scene' in Vancouver. The lines "are we cool now?" I believe are more like, "I've bought the right records, I'm wearing the right clothes, I'm doing all the right things - am I cool now?"

The lines about watching, and waiting for a reaction really resonate with me. It seems to be such a big part of being a hipster (or whatever you want to call it) - trying to have the right image, and judging everyone else on how they look, and getting a reaction. At least that's how I see it, at it's worst.

I think I read/heard Dan say that he sees himself as part of this scene, so he's coming from a pretty honest place.