"Political Journalist" isn't… Read Full Bio ↴Anika Henderson, post-punk/avant garde/dub
"Political Journalist" isn't a credential we usually have in musician's bios, but this is exactly what Anika was doing while living between Berlin and Bristol earlier this year when she met Geoff Barrow. The producer was looking for a new singer to work with his band Beak>, and it was immediately clear they shared the same musical vision, including a love of punk, dub and 60s girl groups.
Just a week later Anika and Beak> (Barrow, Billy Fuller and Matt Williams) went into the studio to begin recording material. The resulting album was recorded in twelve days, live, with the four together in one room. Dub with no overdubs. The collaboration is political, trashy, dub, punk, funk ... a cohesive sound, and and experience in uneasy listening.
In the tradition of short-lived but deeply influential 99 Records and the NYC's 80s No Wave nexus, the nine songs on Anika run the gamut from experimental rock ("Yang Yang", "Officer Officer") to covers of folk ("Masters of War") and pop songs ("Terry", "I Go to Sleep"), while showcasing reverb-drenched ancient drum machine rhythms.
The album will be released by Beak's label Invada in Europe, and in USA & Japan by Stones Throw.
http://www.stonesthrow.com/anika
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Anika Auwiler, a German pop-folk artist out of Bonn (http://anika-musik.de/)
3. Footwork artist from Oregon, United States (https://soundcloud.com/anika_onesixty)
No One's There
Anika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But, where the hell d'ya come from?
Do you come here often?
Are you here with someone?
'cause I swear to God that I've seen you a hundred time before
Do you have my number?
'cause I am what you're looking for
My dubious intentions
It isn't very often
That I fall this hard for someone
And I know this may sound crazy
I don't want to freak you out
But give me just a moment
To tell you what I'm all about
'cause, I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I'm no plain Jane, Mary-Ann, or Suzie-Jan, or Eleanor
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
My world's an open door
Get my underscription upon ?
But do you believe in free love in candid conversation
Cause I've spent my whole life hiding to hide in a plastic shell
Now that I have found you
I'm gonna crawl out of myself
'cause, I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I'm no plain Jane, Mary-Ann, or Suzie-Jan, or Eleanor
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
My world's an open door
Hey now
I don't care I don't really want to know now
Take a walk out for a while if you can now
I'm the only girl you want to be around now
Hey now, I'm gonna love you
Can you never never leave me now
Cause I'm no ordinary girl, I want to break it now
'cause, I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I'm no plain Jane, Mary-Ann, or Suzie-Jan, or Eleanor
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I'm no plain Jane, Mary-Ann, or Suzie-Jan, or Eleanor
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
My world's an open door
I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
The lyrics to Anika Paris's song "I'm No Ordinary Girl" are about a woman who is clearly interested in someone she has just met, but at the same time is trying to convince them that she is not your typical girl. The opening lines of the song reveal her curiosity about this person and her desire to get to know them better. She asks them where they are from, if they come to the venue often, and if they came with someone. She also offers her number, as she believes she may be what they are looking for.
The pre-chorus shows her vulnerability as she admits to her "dubious intentions" and how rare it is for her to have such strong feelings for someone. She warns the person that what she is about to say may sound crazy, yet she wants to express her uniqueness. She says that she is not an ordinary girl, and as much as it may seem strange, she has a "pocket full of dreams."
In the chorus, she repeats that she is not an "ordinary girl in an ordinary world." She is not your average woman, and she is not content with being a "plain Jane," "Mary-Ann," "Suzie-Jan," or "Eleanor." She wants more, and the person she is talking to has "happiness for sale" that she desires. She declares that her world is an open door, meaning that she is willing to take risks and embrace new opportunities.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as an anthem for individuality and self-expression. The lyrics combined with the upbeat and catchy melody create a feel-good and empowering tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Pardon me for asking
I apologize for interrupting your time
But, where the hell d'ya come from?
I am curious about your origin
Do you come here often?
Are you a regular visitor of this place?
Are you here with someone?
Do you have a companion with you?
'cause I swear to God that I've seen you a hundred time before
I have a feeling that I have seen you in this place several times before
Do you have my number?
Do you want to have my contact information?
'cause I am what you're looking for
I believe that I am the one you are looking for
Pardon my presumption
I apologize for assuming
My dubious intentions
My intentions are questionable
It isn't very often
It is rare
That I fall this hard for someone
(Usually) I do not develop strong feelings for someone this quickly
And I know this may sound crazy
I understand that what I am about to say may sound insane
I don't want to freak you out
I do not want to scare you
But give me just a moment
But please allow me some time
To tell you what I'm all about
To explain what kind of person I am
'cause, I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I am not a typical girl in a normal environment
I'm no plain Jane, Mary-Ann, or Suzie-Jan, or Eleanor
I am not a common or average girl like those named
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
As weird as it may sound, I have a lot of aspirations and hopes
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
I see you exuding joy and I want to feel that too
My world's an open door
I am open to the world and possibilities
Get my underscription upon ?
I cannot decipher this line as it contains errors or may be misspelled.
But do you believe in free love in candid conversation
Do you support the concept of loving and open communication?
Cause I've spent my whole life hiding to hide in a plastic shell
Because I have spent my entire life concealing myself in a fake persona
Now that I have found you
Now that I have met you
I'm gonna crawl out of myself
I'm going to break free from my fake personality
Hey now
Hey there
I don't care I don't really want to know now
I don't mind, I don't want to know it now
Take a walk out for a while if you can now
Please leave for a while, if you are free to do so
I'm the only girl you want to be around now
I am the only girl you would like to spend time with now
Hey now, I'm gonna love you
Hey there, I'm going to love you
Can you never never leave me now
Please never leave me
Cause I'm no ordinary girl, I want to break it now
Because I am not an average girl, I want to shatter your expectations
I'm no ordinary girl, in an ordinary world
I am not a typical girl in a normal environment
And as strange as it may seem, I've got a pocket full of dreams
As weird as it may sound, I have a lot of aspirations and hopes
You've got happiness for sale across the room and I want more
I see you exuding joy and I want to feel that too
My world's an open door
I am open to the world and possibilities
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OCEANTIDE MUSIC
Written by: ANIKA T. PERESS, DEAN LANDON, DONNA MARY SUSAN PACIFICI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TelluriumAlloy
She is brilliant! Love her voice!
@VenusRedman
dark, eerie, creative . Geoff Barrow can do no wrong. <3
@mighteehealthy
her voice is awesome!!
@mangemonpino
You guys have the vibe most music miss nowadays. Big love from Montreal.
@Instill23
I love how stones throw is so diverse when it comes to their artists. They got a taste of everything. From Aloe to Madlib. From Quas to Anika. Its amazing. One day i shall be blessed to be part of the stones throw family. Props to Anika
@bella9ch
Wow, Bauhaus/Velvet all together! Makes me also think about Wenders' "Wings of Desire" from the 90's. Great atmosphere!
@reidgelding7909
You nailed it in terms of musical reference.. There was that time Nico sang for Bauhaus but was too smacked out and had to be held upright. This is the sound without the drugged up idiocy. Personally I can't get enough of this song,." I know how the system works and it doesn't "is lyrically brilliant .....
@twenteetoo
Never expected how much I love her
@marchofflamesgmail
This is SUCH a freshing listen.. Its like if Joy Division was fronted by a lady . Actually breath taking.
@johnybaltimore3687
if that lady's name is Nico, sure