During the mid 90s Anohni started solo; after originally producing songs with Blacklips Performance Cult and other late-night cabarets she had a number of songs to work with. In 1995 she assembled a backing group—the self-styled Antony and the Johnsons—and began to focus on the musical side of her performances. The group built up a cult following at hip New York clubs such as the Kitchen and Knitting Factory. Anohni then received a NYFA for “performance art/emergent forms” which she used to record the Johnsons' debut album “Blue Angel”, that remained unreleased until Current 93 leader David Tibet signed Antony and the Johnsons to his Durtro label. The cast list of musicians on the album, released under the title "Antony and the Johnsons" in 1998, included Baby Dee (harp), Francois Gehin (bass), Todd Cohen (drums), Charles Neilson (guitar), and a number of string and woodwind players. This album later were reissued in 2000 and in 2004 by Secretly Canadian.
This collection of modern torch songs highlighted Anohni's soulful, multi-octave vocals and the Johnsons' graceful chamber pop arrangements, reaching a peak on "Cripple And The Starfish" and "Divine", the latter a tribute to the late transvestite movie star. Further recordings by Antony and the Johnsons emerged in the early years of the new millennium, including "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy" and a shared EP “Live at St. Olave's” with Current 93, recorded live at Saint Olave's Church in London, England.
In early 2001 released 3 song EP "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy", included covers of Mysteries of Love (Appeared originally on the film Blue Velvet) and Soft Black Stars.
Split EP included two new songs from the Johnsons, the first being You Stand Above Me, only one minute and thirty-six seconds long but containing all the melancholy and drama one would expect from the Johnsons. The other new track was The Lake which was an 1827 poem written by Edgar Allan Poe beautifully adapted to song. The Johnsons appear with Current 93 again on a 7”, with side B including the song Virgin Mary. This was limited to 500 copies, both released May 12th, 2003. By now the line-up of the Johnsons featured Todd Cohen, Jeff Langston (bass), Jason Hart (piano), Julia Kent (cello), Joan Wasser (violin), and Maxim Moston (violin).
It was around this time that Lou Reed heard the “I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy” EP. Reed then recruited Anohni for her album The Raven for guest vocals and took her on tour in 2003 which meant that Anohni appeared on Lou’s live album Animal Serenade. With the band now attracting wider attention, Anohni and the Johnsons signed to US based label Secretly Canadian. Secretly Canadian then reissued the band's debut to a wider audience in the USA.
The Lake was released the following year through the new label. It’s another 3 song EP including "The Lake" - Lou Reed appeared on Fistful of Love with guest vocals and guitar. The Horror Has Gone seems to be Anohni expressing the end of a depressing phase in her life, a positive lyrical change from her debut style.
In February 2005 Antony and the Johnsons released their second full length, I Am A Bird Now. It has guest appearances from Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, Lou Reed and Boy George. It went on to receive great critical acclaim in the UK and won Anohni the Technics Mercury Music Prize for 2005.
In 2006 Anohni appeared in the Leonard Cohen tribute concert and subsequent film "I'm Your Man." Her performance of "If It Be Your Will" is perhaps the highlight of the film.
The 5-song Another World EP was released on October 7, 2008. As promised, it shows a mixture of continuation of earlier songs' atmosphere as well as more experimental work. Antony and the Johnsons' third album, "The Crying Light", was released on January 19, 2009. This was followed by "Swanlights" in October, 2010. Both of these latter albums are less melodic and more experimental in nature the Anohni's earlier work and have met with critical acclaim yet little commercial success.
http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/
Atrocities
Antony and the Johnsons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To survey the damage
We noticed a bonfire
Burning in his eyes
He whispered
"It's the atrocities of your story
Of your story"
God visits all lost souls
To survey the damage
And holding his bleeding heart
A tear comes to his eye
He whispered
It's the atrocities of History
Of History
Of
Then he falls to the floor
For there's many more tears on the sunrise
And now we must eat those tears
Now we must eat our fill
Of the Atrocities
The Atrocities
The Atrocities
The Atrocities
The lyrics of Antony and the Johnsons' song Atrocities convey a message of the impact of the atrocities of the past on the present, evoking powerful emotions of pain, loss, and empathy. The opening lines of the song suggest that God is visiting the lost souls to see the damage caused by the atrocities. The use of the word "we" implies that the singer and the listeners also witness this. The mention of a "bonfire" burning in God's eyes suggests the anger and pain he feels towards these atrocities.
The second verse further emphasizes the pain and sorrow caused by history's atrocities. God is now holding his bleeding heart and shedding tears. The use of the phrase "the atrocities of History" suggests it is not just one event, but a series of horrific events that have caused significant damage. The last verse talks of how there are still more tears to fall, and we must eat those tears, suggesting that we must face and confront these atrocities and find a way to heal from them.
Overall, the song showcases how history's atrocities continue to affect us today and highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing the pain they have caused.
Line by Line Meaning
God visits all lost souls
The idea that God is omnipresent and watches over individuals.
To survey the damage
To witness the aftermath and consequences of hurtful actions.
We noticed a bonfire
The intense emotions that come from traumatic experiences.
Burning in his eyes
The depth of sorrow and pain that God observes in those who are hurt.
He whispered
Communicating a powerful, emotional message in a soft, comforting way.
"It's the atrocities of your story
Acknowledging the tragedy and suffering that each person carries with them.
Of your story"
And holding his bleeding heart
Describing the pain that God feels in response to human suffering.
A tear comes to his eye
Expressing the emotional response that God has towards the pain of others.
It's the atrocities of History
Highlighting the enormity of human suffering throughout time.
Of History
Then he falls to the floor
The overwhelming sadness and grief that can come from witnessing human suffering.
For there's many more tears on the sunrise
The vast magnitude of suffering that continues to occur in the world.
And now we must eat those tears
The responsibility to acknowledge, process, and heal from the pain that exists around us.
Now we must eat our fill
The importance of fully engaging with difficult emotions in order to heal.
Of the Atrocities
Emphasizing the severity and gravity of human suffering.
The Atrocities
The Atrocities
The Atrocities
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anohni
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sheldonmurphy6031
I have no idea what the hell i just stumbled on!!
I really really like this song!! WOW!
After i clicked songs (Spotify) checking this guy's music, i decided to see who this person was.
So many people making statements about, queer, trans, lgbq etc, and whatever lables.
I honestly dont care about those things. Humans are still human without labels; and great songs are great songs with or without labels!
A lot of his songs are AMAZING!!
He inserts a lot of weird things into his songs, the kind of weirdness tjat only comes from being human, and the part of human society rejects, because that part of human is of themselves, and denial for success is the way of modern society.
Ten Thumbs Up!!
Bravo 👏 👏 👏
@bej9281
This might sound stupid, i caught the song in a new netflix series, they played it for a brief seconds and in a really low voice but somehow i got caught in it and i had to find it! So beautiful...
@moseshiggins6346
emily in paris
@bej9281
@@moseshiggins6346 yes
@lavendergilly5843
Same
@trashchan983
just came from emily in paris too
@polyrhythmatics
It's not stupid at all. I'm glad you heard it.
@ilgnyalcn2321
Came from Emily in Paris
@justby4500
Same!!! just heard it and I m like I need to find it! Already download it ❤️ it's amazing
@bej9281
Thank god im not the only one! Better late than never
@justby4500
@@bej9281 true 🤍