While still at school in Christchurch, Moa entered the 'Smokefree Rockquest'.
She received a record deal with Warner Music in New Zealand and Atlantic Records in New York. The record company had big commercialized plans for her - which conflicted with her brash down-to-earth personality. Overall Moa did not enjoy her time in America and returned to base herself in New Zealand. Her first album was released in 2001.
She released her second album on August 1, 2005. She has collaborated with many artists including New Zealand's SJD and Bic Runga. She has also joined the band Dimmer, in a backup and touring capacity. She appears on the Greenpeace single "Anchor Me", which commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. She also DJs under the pseudonym DJ Unika.
During September-October 2006 Moa toured New Zealand with just her acoustic guitar, playing at pub venues - almost all of which were sold out.
In October 2007, she released her third studio album, In Swings The Tide. The album was self produced for the first time.
Moa is openly lesbian.
Her website can be found at http://www.anikamoa.com/
Picture Me in the 70's
Anika Moa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd be floating in the crowd with voices
Time is on me, makeup mirrors my dream
Can you picture me in the 70's, in a white laced dress
I'd be listening to the stories that made you famous
Time is on my side, picture me in the 70's
Your computer has made love to my soul
And your first class women, when her eyes make you feel so whole
Shake her off me, shake her off me.
Shake her off me.
Can you picture me in the 70's, but I woke up to late
Time is running out for you and me and you and me.
In "Picture Me in the 70's," Anika Moa reminisces about a time that she never actually experienced. The song is about longing for a past era that was idealized and glamorous, painting a picture of Moa drifting through a sea of people, hair and makeup perfect, dressed in a white laced dress, feeling glamorous and free. Moa longs for a time where she could've been completely herself, unburdened by the constraints of societal expectations.
Throughout the song, Moa mentions time being on her side, but eventually, she realizes that time is running out for her to achieve the dreams she always had. The last line of the song says "Time is running out for you and me and you and me," showing that Moa sees herself in the song and is also focused on her future.
In the bridge, Moa references a "computer" that has made love to her soul, highlighting how technology has played an essential role in shaping her identity and dreams. The lines about shaking off a first-class woman suggest that Moa wants to reject societal expectations about her worth and focus on finding her own inner strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you picture me in the 70's, a buttercup
Can you imagine me as a carefree and happy-go-lucky girl in the 1970s?
I'd be floating in the crowd with voices
I would blend in with the crowd and enjoy the lively atmosphere and conversations.
Time is on me, makeup mirrors my dream
I have all the time in the world to pursue my dream of applying makeup and creating my desired look.
Can you picture me in the 70's, in a white laced dress
Can you imagine me dressed elegantly and beautifully in a white lace dress from the 1970s?
I'd be listening to the stories that made you famous
I would be engrossed in the stories that made you a famous person of that era.
Time is on my side, picture me in the 70's
I have all the time in the world to picture myself in the 1970s and live vicariously through my imagination.
And you'd sail away, and you'd hide in your field of gold
You would disappear and retreat to your safe haven when things get tough or overwhelming.
Your computer has made love to my soul
Your technology and digital world have captured my heart and soul, leaving me feeling fulfilled and happy.
And your first class women, when her eyes make you feel so whole
The women around you, especially the sophisticated ones, make you feel complete and fulfilled, with just a glance from their eyes.
Shake her off me, shake her off me. Shake her off me.
An expression of how you feel suffocated by the overwhelming attention from others and want to be free from their grasp.
Can you picture me in the 70's, but I woke up too late
Can you imagine my regret of missing out on the opportunity to experience the 1970s?
Time is running out for you and me and you and me.
Life is fleeting, and time is running out for both of us to experience our dreams and enjoy each other's company.
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laurence
on In the Morning
What a load of rubbish. The song is about having an abortion and the lyrics are Bleed, bleed, bleed, that's all I ever do. Stupid pc morons