Despite first emerging as early as the mid-70s or so via artists such as Yellow Magic Orchestra, Telex, and Yello, the genre didn't break through commercially into the mid-80s about, with bands such as Kraftwerk getting major notice. And electropop only achieved significant mass market popularity during the 2000s, thanks in part to the renewed popularity of the electro sound in a mainstream dance music. The crossover style known as electro house has played a big role.
Signature modern electro pop songs include "Heartbeats" by The Knife and "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Though the terms 'electro pop' and 'synthpop' were once used interchangeably and still sometimes are, each genre now has its own distinctive sound in general. Synthpop is often described as smoother, easier, and more classically 'pop' influenced than the often more frenetic and dense sounding electropop; synthpop lyrics will often focus on dancing, having a good time, and relationships while the latter will often focus on dark, moody themes and science fiction.
Future Reflections
MGMT Lyrics
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On the face and the hands
On a green colored island
On a primitive man
It was the future reflected
It felt familiar but new
A street was missing a building
The kids had something to do
There was a feeling the spirit was leaving
Red like a marker
So my tribe, with my knife
Cut the heart from a lonely life
I saw patterns on floorboards
Deep in the dust was a leader
Someone was walking on floorboards
Turned them from oak to cedar
He can assess the situation
I wrapped a string around my finger
Into the forest with the young ones
I don't expect to be a winner
But as long as you feel it
I'm a believer
My heart is phosphor
Sea rolls and death tolls
Break the surface don't break my bones
Off of the trail and off of your hands and
Onto a new plan
Is the cost to stay lost
Forever in an empty skin
Pale and thin
If it's good, or if it's fortune, I can't tell
But pieces come together for some reason just as well
Their guns couldn't see us
There's a sea outside my door
And one day I'll appreciate
The rush of blood and the washed out beat of the shore
And remember what it felt like
To be alone
Sitting in the sunlight
All alone
In "Future Reflections" by MGMT, the singer shares a reflective moment where he pictures future events in his mind's eye. He sees a green-colored island inhabited by primitive men where traces of the future were reflected on their faces and hands. There was a familiar feeling to the situation, but something about it was new to the singer. Details such as a street missing a building and the children having something to do all seem to form the picture of an alternative future.
The singer then mentions feeling like "the spirit was leaving," and with the help of his tribe and knife, he cuts the heart from a lonely life. As the song progresses, he begins to see patterns and leaders deep in the dust, but he does not expect to be a winner as he ventures into the forest with the young ones. While the lyrics can be somewhat cryptic, it can be interpreted as a reflection on the singer's journey to find direction, and the strange future he sees as he begins to forge a new path.
Line by Line Meaning
And there were future reflections
The singer witnessed reflections of the future.
On the face and the hands
The reflections were on a person's face and hands.
On a green colored island
The reflections were on an island that was green in color.
On a primitive man
The reflections were on a primitive or ancient human.
It was the future reflected
The reflections were of the future.
It felt familiar but new
The future felt familiar but was still new and unknown.
A street was missing a building
There was a street where a building had been recently removed or destroyed.
The kids had something to do
The children in the area had found something to occupy their time.
There was a feeling the spirit was leaving
The artist felt like something important was being lost or taken away.
Red like a marker
The color red was a significant image.
So my tribe, with my knife
The singer's community or group, armed with a knife, took action.
Cut the heart from a lonely life
The artist's group intervened to end someone's lonely and unhappy existence.
I saw patterns on floorboards
The singer noticed designs or markings on the floor.
Deep in the dust was a leader
There was a leader hidden or buried in the dust or dirt.
Someone was walking on floorboards
There was a person walking on the floorboards.
Turned them from oak to cedar
The person walking on the floorboards caused a change in the type of wood present.
He can assess the situation
There was a person present who could evaluate the circumstances.
I wrapped a string around my finger
The singer tied a string around their finger, possibly for memory or other purposes.
Into the forest with the young ones
The singer went into the woods with younger individuals.
I don't expect to be a winner
The artist doesn't believe they will be victorious or successful in their endeavors.
But as long as you feel it
The artist acknowledges the importance of feeling something, even if it isn't favorable.
I'm a believer
The artist believes in something.
My heart is phosphor
The singer's heart is bright or luminous like phosphorus.
Sea rolls and death tolls
The sea waves crash and death is inevitable.
Break the surface don't break my bones
The singer wants to surface or come up to the top without breaking their bones.
Off of the trail and off of your hands and
The singer wants to be off the beaten path and away from other people.
Onto a new plan
The singer is starting a new part of their life with new goals or strategies.
Is the cost to stay lost
Remaining lost comes with a price or consequence.
Forever in an empty skin
The artist feels like they will be hollow or unfulfilled for the rest of their life.
Pale and thin
The singer might be unwell or not thriving.
If it's good, or if it's fortune, I can't tell
The singer isn't sure whether a situation is going well or if they're just lucky.
But pieces come together for some reason just as well
Things seem to be working out, even if the reasons aren't fully understood.
Their guns couldn't see us
The artist's group was invisible or hidden from view from those with guns.
There's a sea outside my door
The artist can see the ocean from their location.
And one day I'll appreciate
The singer will eventually understand or admire something.
The rush of blood and the washed out beat of the shore
The artist will appreciate the feeling of blood pumping and the sound of ocean waves on the shore.
And remember what it felt like
The singer wants to recall the feeling of a situation.
To be alone
The singer wants to remember what it felt like to be completely and utterly alone.
Sitting in the sunlight
The singer was once sitting outside in the sunshine when they felt alone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNER GOLDWASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind