The… Read Full Bio ↴Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001. The initial practicing lineup consisted of 10,000 Marbles (Guitar), Concentration Camp (Vocals), and Mustard Gas (Bass Guitar). Just prior to recording their demo tape, Concentration Camp moved to guitar and vocal duties were taken over by Pink Eyes (also known as Mr. Damian). Drums are played by Mr. Jo (also credited as G. Beat or J. Falco) and Young Governor was added as a third guitarist in 2007.
Following the release of the demo, the band embarked on a long series of 7" vinyl 45 rpms. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the band shunned full length LP or CD formats, preferring to output their music two songs at a time. While some record distributors refused to carry the singles, they were generally released to broad appeal, receiving glowing reviews in many punk fanzines. The artwork and feel of the records was a tribute to the Dangerhouse Records era of punk vinyl.
The band released the "No Pasaran" 7" in May of 2002. The records aesthetic and philosophy was greatly influenced by anarchism and the participation of anarchists in the Spanish Civil War in particular. The cover and insert featured anarchist propaganda posters and portraits of Spanish farmers and peasant soldiers.
The Police 7" was released on March of 2003, quickly followed by what is considered the bands most significant recording, the Baiting the Public 7" in May of 2003. This single was in tribute to the Viennese Actionism, a far left art movement during the 1960s, and the Situationist International. The record featured one song spread over two sides, and illegible liner notes, meant to shock and annoy the buyer.
Two more 7"'s followed in 2004, the Dance of Death single, and the Litany 4-song EP. The vinyl releases to this point were collected on 2004's Epics in Minutes CD.
The band's use of imagery and symbolism took a decided turn after the release of Epics in Minutes, as it was followed by two obscure and limited 12"s, the Looking for Gold 12", and the live Let Likes be Cured by Likes 12". Many felt at this point the band's message became esoteric to the point of confusion, while others felt the turn towards a more convoluted approach was ultimately more rewarding. The Looking for Gold 12" contained no liner notes or credits, no song titles, and a hidden track. It was self-released by the band in 2004 in a limited run of 600 copies and immediately became one of the most infamous and sought-after modern hardcore punk releases, selling for over $100 on internet auction sites like ebay. The title track was 17 minutes long, used 19 guitar tracks, had a three minute drum solo and contained 4 minutes of whistling, all unconventional by punk rock song-writing standards.
Following a lengthy and rumoured self-written interview in Maximum Rock and Roll, that discussed some of the band's politics and identity, many people became suspicious of the band's intentions, based on their allusions to mind control, fascism, early 20th centruy occultism, and Nazi mysticism. The release of a split 7" in 2004 with the band Haymaker did little to allay these concerns as it contained a picture of Hitler addressing a Hitler Youth Rally in 1938. A public clarification followed in late 2004 after the band was attacked onstage at a concert in Toronto.
In the summer of 2004 the band returned to form with the release of the Generation 7" and 12" EPs. The record contained the trademark sound the band had developed with their earlier releases. The record would go onto sell more than 6000 copies in that year and would represent the definitive Fucked Up release of the later period. The live performance of "Generation" had at this point become a focal point of most shows and saw hundreds of people dance and mosh in a mad frenzy of violence and aggression, and would result in many injuries.
After touring for most of 2005 the band took on David Eliade as a quasi-full time manager/promoter, and released a new UK-only 7", Triumph of Life, on VICE records. The band is currently signed to Jade Tree, on which they released the double album Hidden World in 2006. Hidden World was generally well received in the music community, although many traditional punk fans who once glorified Fucked Up for their "short and fast" older songs couldn't quite grasp Hidden World, which was 74 minutes long. Owen Pallett (commonly known as Final Fantasy) did the strings for the album, and Alexisonfire's vocalist George Pettit made an appearance as a guest vocalist on the final track. The album served as Fucked Up's "major label debut", receiving positive reviews from Pitchfork Media, SPIN magazine, and NOW magazine. The albums was also picked as "#1 punk album of the year" by the Canadian magazine Exclaim!.
After Hidden World, Fucked Up began their yearly record series based off of the Chinese calendar. They released the Year of the Dog 12" in late 2006. Fucked Up also appeared on MTV Live Canada in January 2007. Fans in attendance reportedly caused $2000 worth of damages during the recording. After a European tour in the spring and an early summer U.S Tour that took the band to the U.S Southeast for the first time ever, Fucked Up proceeded to play several major music festivals including South by Southwest, Tales of the Jackalope, Oshesga Fest, and POP Montreal. In July of 2007, the band released the second album in the Chinese calendar series "Year of the Pig". The 12" is technically a single, featuring the song Year of the Pig and it's b-side Black Hats. Year of the Pig is over 18 minutes long, and is about the treatment of sex workers in Canada.
Currently, the band has made comments about several different projects, including a follow up full length to Hidden World, and a musical based off the song 'David Comes to Life' from the Hidden World album.
Queen Of Hearts
Fucked Up Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the rays don't make it to the street
Through the gates come the employees
Beat down and draggin' their feet
Lefties handin' pamphlets, workers comin' in
Two people on the pavement never be the same again
She placed it in his hand
Well they must have seen the sparks
Neither understands
What just happened to their hearts
Another mornin' of this place has ripped me out of my dreams
Realizin' life's a waste as the whistle blows off steam
One thing I'm betting on is nothin's ever gonna change
It's like our progress has just stalled and everyday's the same
She placed it in my hand
Co-workers seen the sparks
I couldn't understand
What just happened to my heart
Hello, my name is David, your name is Veronica
Let's be together, let's fall in love
Hello, my name is David, your name is Veronica
Let's be together, 'til the stars go out
Well all we need is for somethin' to give
The dam bursts open, we suddenly live
The boot off my throat, life is returning
The boot off my throat, let's all emote
Dawn breaks across this town and a new dawn breaks for me
Take the pains of the underclass
Tryin' to smile through gritted teeth
We must now all join up and throw off the shackles of shame
United we can't be defeated
They shall hear us proclaim
I placed it in his hand
Comrades seen the sparks
Couldn't understand what happened to my heart
Hello, your name is David, I am Veronica
Let's be together, until the water swallows us
Hello, you must be David, I am Veronica
Let's be together, until we're all finally crushed
Well all we need is for somethin' to give
The dam bursts open, we suddenly live
The boot off my throat, life is returning
The boot off my throat, let's emote
Well all we need is for somethin' to give
The dam bursts open, we suddenly live
The boot off my throat, life is returning
The boot off my throat, let's emote
The lyrics of "Queen of Hearts" by Fucked Up express a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the monotony and futility of daily life. The opening lines describe a bleak industrial landscape, where workers trudge to their jobs, oppressed and exhausted. However, amidst this desolate landscape, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of a chance encounter between two people who share a moment of connection. The lyrics suggest that this brief, but powerful, encounter has the potential to disrupt the monotony of their routines and spark a rebellion against the oppressive forces that dominate their lives.
As the song progresses, we see the characters grappling with their conflicting emotions and uncertain futures. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Hello, my name is David, your name is Veronica/Let's be together, 'til the stars go out" expresses a desire for connection and intimacy, but also a recognition that this connection may be temporary and fraught with uncertainty. The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope, as the characters join forces with their comrades and proclaim their determination to shake off their chains and fight for a better life.
Overall, "Queen of Hearts" is a powerful and evocative depiction of the struggles faced by working-class people in modern society, and a rallying cry for solidarity and resistance in the face of oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun rises above the factory
The day starts at the factory but there is no hope or positivity
But the rays don't make it to the street
The negative atmosphere of the factory keeps the workers from feeling any joy
Through the gates come the employees
The workers are forced to come in and work
Beat down and draggin' their feet
The work tires and demotivates the workers
Lefties handin' pamphlets, workers comin' in
Despite some attempts at activism, the workers ultimately still have to work
Two people on the pavement never be the same again
Something significant happens to two people outside the factory
She placed it in his hand
A significant and special item is handed to someone
Well they must have seen the sparks
There is a noticeable attraction or chemistry between the two people
Neither understands
They do not comprehend their newfound emotions or bond
What just happened to their hearts
They are feeling something unexpected and new
Another mornin' of this place has ripped me out of my dreams
The routine of the factory destroys any sense of hope or aspiration
Realizin' life's a waste as the whistle blows off steam
The harsh reminder of a depressing work life hits as the factory whistle blows
One thing I'm betting on is nothin's ever gonna change
The workers are hopeless and expect the same dismal routine each day
It's like our progress has just stalled and everyday's the same
There is no sense of personal growth or improvement in the factory
She placed it in my hand
The special item is now handed to someone else
Co-workers seen the sparks
The observers notice the chemistry between the two people
I couldn't understand
The person does not comprehend their newfound emotions or bond
What just happened to my heart
The person is feeling something unexpected and new
Hello, my name is David, your name is Veronica
Two people introduce themselves to each other
Let's be together, let's fall in love
They express a desire to be in a romantic relationship
Let's be together, 'til the stars go out
Their love and commitment goes beyond mortal life
Well all we need is for somethin' to give
The situation needs a catalyst for change
The dam bursts open, we suddenly live
Once the situation changes, life and hope will flow in
The boot off my throat, life is returning
They will finally be able to breathe and live life without oppressive forces
Let's all emote
They should express their emotions openly and genuinely
Dawn breaks across this town and a new dawn breaks for me
A new day and hope emerges for the person's entire community
Take the pains of the underclass
The struggles of the oppressed and struggling class need to be acknowledged
Tryin' to smile through gritted teeth
There is a facade of a happy and content life while struggling underneath it all
We must now all join up and throw off the shackles of shame
Everyone needs to come together to remove the societal and personal shame holding them back
United we can't be defeated
Together they are strong and unbeatable
They shall hear us proclaim
Their voices will echo and be heard
Hello, your name is David, I am Veronica
Another introduction between two people
Let's be together, until the water swallows us
Their love and commitment will last until death or disaster
Hello, you must be David, I am Veronica
The people introduce themselves again, but this time reversed
Let's be together, until we're all finally crushed
Their love and commitment will try to last through any and all hardships
The boot off my throat, life is returning
The oppressive forces are removed and life is able to thrive
Let's emote
They should express their emotions freely and openly
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Joshua Elliot Zucker, Sandy Miranda, Michael Ian Haliechuk, Paul Jonah Falco, Benjamin Peter Warden Cook, Damian Abraham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind