Carl Newman, who writes most of the band's material, has said, "When I seriously started to try to write songs, my main influences were, like, Burt Bacharach, Jim Webb, and Brian Wilson. Those were the guys I kinda looked at their music and went, 'What the hell are they doing here?' I was just fascinated by the structures and the harmonics."
The melody of the first and eponymous track on their second album Electric Version, for instance, begins with an arpeggiated diminished triad --- a rare and strange opening flourish for a pop song.
The band have released a series of well-received albums: Mass Romantic (2000), Electric Version (2003), Twin Cinema (2005), Challengers (2007), Together (2010), Brill Bruisers (2014) and Whiteout Conditions (2017). In 2019 they released In the Morse Code of Brake Lights.
The band members include:
- Carl Newman - vocals, guitar, ebow, synthesizer, harmonica, pump organ, xylophone
- Dan Bejar - vocals, guitar, synthesizer, melodion
- Kathryn Calder - vocals, piano
- Neko Case - vocals, tambourine
- John Collins - bass, guitar, synthesizer, ebow, vocals
- Kurt Dahle - drums, percussion, vocals
- Todd Fancey - guitar
- Blaine Thurier - synthesizer
The New Pornographers are frequently referred to as an indie supergroup because of the following members' associations:
- Carl Newman, solo artist (as A.C. Newman), also of Superconductor and Zumpano
- Dan Bejar of Destroyer,Swan Lake and Vancouver Nights.
- Kathryn Calder of Immaculate Machine.
- Neko Case, solo artist, also of Maow and cub
- John Collins of The Evaporators
- Kurt Dahle of Limblifter and Age of Electric
- Todd Fancey of Fancey
- Blaine Thurier, independent filmmaker
Newman, however, doesn't care for the term: "I'm really tired of that supergroup label, and I wish people would stop using it. None of us were known at all outside of Canada --- I just don't think it's accurate."
Sing Me Spanish Techno
The New Pornographers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After picking the glass off the ground
Go to now
After shaking the thing for a sound
Do we see what the clock makes you do
But I won't let this happen to you
In a town
Where I lost every shirt on the fence
Go to now
I am bleeding a trail through the lens
When I see what I now know is you
I was caught in the eye as you came
Pulled by my name
I'm fallin' through
Traveling at godspeed
Over the hills and trails
I have refused my call
Pushin' my lazy sails
Into the blue flame
I want to crash here right now
The hourglass spills its sand
If only to punish you
For listenin' too long
To one song
Listenin' too long
To one song
Sing me Spanish techno
Listenin' too long
To one song
Listenin' too long
To one song
Sing me Spanish techno
Go to now
After wiring the thing to explode
Wired for sound
Wide awake here for days in a row
Now we see what the engine can do
And I won't let this happen to you
I won't let this happen to you
Traveling at godspeed
Over the hills and trails
I have refused my call
Pushin' my lazy sails
Into the blue flame
I want to crash here right now
The hourglass spills its sand
If only to punish you
For listenin' too long
To one song
Listenin' too long
To one song
Sing me Spanish techno
Listenin' too long
To one song
Listenin' too long
To one song
Sing me Spanish techno
The New Pornographers’ song “Sing Me Spanish Techno” features cryptic lyrics that are open to interpretation. The song tells a story of a person who has been through hardships and is trying to move forward. The first verse begins with a command to “go to now” after having picked up broken glass from the ground and shaking something for a sound. The lyrics suggest a feeling of aftermath and getting back to reality.
The second verse talks about the town where the person has lost everything and is now bleeding a trail through a lens, which could signify the person’s willingness to see things clearly. The line “I was caught in the eye as you came, pulled by my name, I'm fallin' through” suggests that the person is being pulled back into something that they may have been trying to escape from.
The chorus is where the song’s title comes in. “Sing me Spanish techno” may connote to the idea of wanting something fast-paced, exotic, and fun, in order to escape from the weight of the things they have been through. The verses after this talk about exploring the limit of one's own capabilities and having the courage to take risks. The final line, “I won't let this happen to you,” is like a promise to the self to keep pushing forward and to keep living life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Go to now
Stop what you're doing and focus on the present moment
After picking the glass off the ground
Cleaning up the mess and moving on from past mistakes
After shaking the thing for a sound
Searching for meaning or purpose in something that may not have any
Do we see what the clock makes you do
Are we aware of how time controls and dictates our actions
But I won't let this happen to you
But I will protect you from being ruled by time
In a town
In a place where I've experienced loss
Where I lost every shirt on the fence
Where I've lost things that I've displayed or trusted
I am bleeding a trail through the lens
I am leaving a trace of my own experiences and emotions
When I see what I now know is you
When I recognize and see your true self
I was caught in the eye as you came
I was captivated by you when you entered my life
Pulled by my name
Drawn to me by a connection or attraction
I'm fallin' through
I am caught up in my emotions and losing control
Traveling at godspeed
Moving through life quickly
Over the hills and trails
Through the ups and downs of life
I have refused my call
I have resisted a clear path or purpose
Pushin' my lazy sails
Trying to motivate myself and take action
Into the blue flame
Going towards a risky or dangerous situation
I want to crash here right now
I want to let go and lose control in this moment
The hourglass spills its sand
Time is running out and cannot be paused
If only to punish you
If only to blame someone else for my mistakes
For listenin' too long
For staying stuck in a repetitive or unfulfilling situation
To one song
To a limited or narrow perspective
Sing me Spanish techno
Provide an escape or distraction from reality
After wiring the thing to explode
After intentionally creating chaos or destruction
Wired for sound
Excited and ready for something new or stimulating
Wide awake here for days in a row
Unable to rest or sleep due to excitement or anxiety
Now we see what the engine can do
Now we understand the full potential of what we've created
And I won't let this happen to you
And I won't let you make the same mistakes
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Carl Allan Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind