The themes of her music are fit for her moniker. “I chose the alias ‘Anomie Belle’ to speak to the decadent alienation of the American dream,” she explains. “I am perplexed by the ways that, though we may be critical of them, we are still shaped by and complicit in the perpetuation of oppressive, unjust, and unsustainable ideologies and ways of life that driven not by values and ethics, but by profit and power.”
***
“Anomie Belle has proven herself to be a legitimate quintuple threat as a masterful composer, producer, programmer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. Her sultry, smoky vocals combine with her slithery, seductive programming for the perfect balance of sexiness and darkness. Anomie Belle is poised to find herself among the most revered names of the genre” - URB Magazine
“Anomie Belle is a gorgeous curio of the Seattle scene with her Sia meets Portishead meets Björk sound - otherworldly music that transports me from my own skin to somewhere other than here. Featuring classical composition as a foundation, the Oregon native layers everything from violins to electric guitar to glitchy bleeps under a vocal style that vacillates between neo-soul and something more dramatic.” - 303 Magazine
“Anomie Belle broke onto the scene in 2008 to rave reviews. [She] is a classically trained violinist, and approaches drums, synths and guitars with similar attention to detail. [How Can I Be Sure] is looped and layered delicately, swirling soulful vocals together with percussion that carries a moody sadness.” - Tom Tom Magazine
“She sings with such soul, it is difficult not to be captivated. Her voice is a perfect marriage of Beth Gibbons and Amy Winehouse. In fact, Belle nearly manages to convey the pain of emotional desolation on par with the aforementioned musicians. Along with the downtempo structure, her carefully restrained vibrato, and the dreamy backing ambiance, [Slither] is not one to be missed for those familiar with trip hop and minimalism.” - In Your Speakers
“Anomie Belle is a musical mastermind, creating layered, ethereal music completely on her own. The beauty is in the layering of electronic and acoustic instruments, weaving an engrossing musical tapestry. How Can I Be Sure is a four-song EP by the Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist. Belle is in complete control of her music, handling all the performing as well as the recording and engineering. Her Renaissance woman take is so refreshing in this day and age of auto-tuned singers dominating the music charts.” - Innocent Words Magazine
“Her voice is very rich, very distinctive, very soulful at times, and once heard, easily identifiable (and no, I don‘t mean it sounds exactly like Bjork, it sounds like Belle). Her playful use of electronics accentuates her lyrics and vocal stylings, rather than rigid songs with words spat out over the top. The tracks seem very organic, and quite unlike anything I’ve heard recently.” - Release Magazine
“She combines electronic and experimental elements with sensual beats, lush strings and layered vocals, dropping the listener into the melancholy heart of her beautiful symphonies. Anomie Belle will dissolve you.” - Performer Magazine
Free tracks can be downloaded from her official website, www.anomiebelle.com.
Bedtime Stories
Anomie Belle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for all the mistakes my parents made
'cause it's their generation
that has left us a nation
of waste and complacenece and apathy
I can't expect to follow the example of struggle my parents gave
as they took to the street
with no mind for defeat
Time goes by
and I've become
less than I could ever dream
than I could ever know
I could have done
You can tell me bedtime stories and they all end well
But I'm looking on the outside and it is clear that there is more to tell
You can tell me bedime stories but they don't include suffering, injustice
that you can't explain and must dilute
And I am listening to what she said
Time goes by
and I've become
less than I could ever dream
than I had ever know
I could have done
Time goes by (If I could tell you everytime I felt myself go along)
and I've become (to the fashioning of self that's sold to the weakest and the dumb, it'd be)
More than I could ever think
than I could ever dream
I could have done
The lyrics of Anomie Belle's song "Bedtime Stories" delve deep into the complexities of generational gaps and the impact of one's upbringing on their perspective on life. The opening lines state that the singer cannot be held responsible for their parents' mistakes, as they belong to a generation that has left behind a legacy of waste, complacency, and apathy. The following lines express the inability of the singer to follow the example of their parents, who struggled against the system and spoke out against obedience. The passage of time has made the singer feel as though they have not lived up to their full potential, underlining a sense of regret.
The chorus begins with the juxtaposition of "bedtime stories," typically associated with comfort and innocence, against the harsh reality of the singer's world. The listener is made aware that the stories they are being told do not include suffering or injustice, and that they must be diluted to be made palatable. The final lines of the chorus are almost accusatory in tone, as if the singer is challenging the listener to expand their understanding beyond these sanitized tales.
The final verse reinforces the themes of regret and the struggle against conformity, with the singer acknowledging that they have become more than they ever thought they could be, yet less than they ever dreamed. The last line of the song implies a sense of missed opportunity, as if the singer wishes they could have done more with their life.
Overall, "Bedtime Stories" is a thought-provoking meditation on the impact of the past on the present and the importance of being aware of the broader social context in which we live.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't be held responsible
I'm not accountable
for all the mistakes my parents made
for errors committed by my folks
'cause it's their generation
as it is their time on earth
that has left us a nation
that led to our country being
of waste and complacenece and apathy
with much waste, complacency, and lack of interest
I can't expect to follow the example of struggle my parents gave
I can't expect to emulate my parents' fight
as they took to the street
when they marched outside
with no mind for defeat
and refused to give up
and condition to speak no to obey
and conditioned to never question or disobey
Time goes by
As time passes
and I've become
and I have changed
less than I could ever dream
not achieving my wildest aspirations
than I could ever know
even less than I realized
I could have done
I could have accomplished more
You can tell me bedtime stories and they all end well
You can narrate happy tales to me
But I'm looking on the outside and it is clear that there is more to tell
But based on what I see outside, there must be more to the story
You can tell me bedime stories but they don't include suffering, injustice
You can narrate stories, but they exclude suffering, injustice
that you can't explain and must dilute
that you can't clarify and have to water down
And I am listening to what she said
I'm paying attention to her words
Time goes by
As time passes
and I've become
and I have changed
less than I could ever dream
not achieving my wildest aspirations
than I had ever know
even less than I realized
I could have done
I could have accomplished more
Time goes by (If I could tell you everytime I felt myself go along)
As time passes (If I could explain each instance when I complied)
and I've become (to the fashioning of self that's sold to the weakest and the dumb, it'd be)
and I've transformed (to how the weakest and least intelligent are pressured to conform)
More than I could ever think
accomplishing more than I could imagine
than I could ever dream
achieving beyond my wildest dreams
I could have done
I could have accomplished more
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.