State Of The Art Lyrics
We threw out the television
Model D 575
Has custom flute presets
And Harmony-Plus in addition
We get three half-dozen beats to choose from
So now we can pretend
That there's an orchestra in the loungeroom
So my left hand can play the choir
With 16th Diapason
And Lowrey's patented Orchestral Symphonizer
The kids want to play but they'll have to be patient
The wife can't help tapping her feet
It's a genuine home entertainment revelation
(Hold the phone, it's so)
State of the art
[Listen to the difference!]
State of the art
[By use of a computer]
(Oh my god, it's so)
State of the art
When we could spent the night at home with the Cotillion
Invite the neighbours around
Start the nossanova and limbo from the living to the kitchen
The Magic Swing Piano really is astounding
Now we can't tell them apart
But there amazing simulations end up sounding even better than the real thing
(Hold the phone, it's so)
State of the art
[Computer controlled tone colour]
State of the art
[The marriage of music to computers is quite natural]
(Oh my god, it's so)
State of the art
[It's time to hear the results]
This song was definitely created with an extra helping of postmodern irony.
I get a feeling that, on one hand, he is lamenting advances in music technology ... all these original instruments (flute, organ, piano, etc.) have been replaced with "amazing simulations" that "end up sounding even better than the real thing". Consider the title, "State of the Art", a term generally used to describe the latest top-of-the-line technology. But it can also refer to the state of music as art, and how that state is affected by the replacement of physical instruments with digital simulations.
On the other hand, the ENTIRE song (with the exception of the bass track, I think) is created with vinyl samples and digital simulations. Despite the lamentation, he has grown to embrace -- even obsess over -- the use of technology. After all, "the marriage of music to computers is quite natural".
As a reflection of the "state of the art", this song is truly a great work of art in its own right.
THIS. :)
THIS. :)
I love this reply!
I love this reply!
@calculusdork Blue Jeans and Bloody Tears
@calculusdork Blue Jeans and Bloody Tears
Really small lyric correction:
So my left hand can play the choir With 16 FOOT Diapason
This refers to the 16' Diapason flute pipe sound available on some organs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flue_pipe
This song is so addicting.
Did you hear at the end it says "incidentally on the track you just heard there were no keyboard performances, just the occasional pressing of buttons"
I really think that sums up the meaning/point of the whole song.
I believe "Start the nossanova" should be "Start the bossa nova" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bossa_nova)
I think the subject matter/message of this song is really blatant. Simply put, it's talking about synthesizers becoming so advanced that it begins to become better and more variable than actual instruments.
The video is showing the consequences of embracing synthesizers, making real instruments and the talent/skill with playing them obsolete and/or unnecessary, losing an important part of culture.
Agreed. I also like the double meaning of the name "State of the art". Where the one meaning references the usual meaning of "Most up to date" and the other refers to the actual "state" of "the art", in this case music, nowadays.
Agreed. I also like the double meaning of the name "State of the art". Where the one meaning references the usual meaning of "Most up to date" and the other refers to the actual "state" of "the art", in this case music, nowadays.
Yeah, with the line "But there amazing simulations end up sounding even better than the real thing" it just showing like what you said, with the new revolution in symphonizers and machines taking place of real instruments, people are just getting so used to these machines that they can't even tell them apart from the real things and they can even sound and just well be better to some people.
Yeah, with the line "But there amazing simulations end up sounding even better than the real thing" it just showing like what you said, with the new revolution in symphonizers and machines taking place of real instruments, people are just getting so used to these machines that they can't even tell them apart from the real things and they can even sound and just well be better to some people.
As calculusdork has mentioned, we are missing a huge bit of irony here. The lyrics talk about how State of the Art has become music itself -- almost eclipsing the musician.
And then to showcase this, Gotye goes ahead to create a song that might have been entirely synthesized.
Closing line: Incidentally, on the track you just heard, there were no keyboard performances. Just the occasional pressing of buttons.
I think there's deeper meaning in this song--besides it just being about his Cotillion. I definitely have the feeling that this song is also poking fun at the obsession and reliance with technology in society today, and the greed to always have the latest and best things.
I think that this song is really talking about getting out of touch with reality, completely losing yourself in technology. I think that he is using irony to emphasize the point that everything can be good in moderation, so long as you don't go overboard. His use of entirely simulated sounds really bring this home, saying that simulations CAN sound good, so long as we don't lose touch of "the real thing", and use it in moderation.
It's about an electronic organ that this nice couple, Frank and Mimi DeBacker, bought as a gift for their son Walter