Obviously, there's some sinister HE that the narrator fears, perhaps paranoically. Is this HE the one who may deal out "Divine retribution"? Why is HE living in the basement but choosing the attic?
"Listen to the Radio,
And you will hear the songs you know.
Make it effervescent here,
And you might have a job, my dear."
This chorus seems pretty clear to me, especially if remember the primary definition of effervescent is bubbly or fizzy--like pop.
My opinion: This song is Robbie's "scathing satire" song, the one where he takes a look at the pop music machine. The HE is the Radio: HE's in both the attic and the basement; HE profits from and takes credit for Robbie's every award and soundbite, and HE can strike the singer down as easily as HE has buit him up. The second verse, about "looking for meaning/where nothing is demanding", becomes a search for something the substantial stuff among what one might call the Usual Pop Dross.
Maybe the OUCH is biting the hand the feeds him (or shooting himself in the foot).
Obviously, there's some sinister HE that the narrator fears, perhaps paranoically. Is this HE the one who may deal out "Divine retribution"? Why is HE living in the basement but choosing the attic?
"Listen to the Radio, And you will hear the songs you know. Make it effervescent here, And you might have a job, my dear."
This chorus seems pretty clear to me, especially if remember the primary definition of effervescent is bubbly or fizzy--like pop.
My opinion: This song is Robbie's "scathing satire" song, the one where he takes a look at the pop music machine. The HE is the Radio: HE's in both the attic and the basement; HE profits from and takes credit for Robbie's every award and soundbite, and HE can strike the singer down as easily as HE has buit him up. The second verse, about "looking for meaning/where nothing is demanding", becomes a search for something the substantial stuff among what one might call the Usual Pop Dross.
Maybe the OUCH is biting the hand the feeds him (or shooting himself in the foot).