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/
Bird Gerhl
Antony and the Johnsons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got my heart
Here in my hands now
I've been searching
For my wings some time
I'm gonna be born
Into soon the sky
'Cause I'm a bird girl
I'm a bird girl
And the bird girls can fly
Bird girls can fly
The lyrics of "Bird Gerhl" evoke the image of transformation as the singer describes themselves as a bird girl, waiting for their wings to appear so they can take flight. The idea of becoming a bird could symbolize freedom and the desire for escape, possibly from societal constraints or personal struggles. The lines "I'm gonna be born into the soon the sky" also suggest a rebirth or a new beginning, possibly one that takes place in the afterlife. The repetition of the phrase "bird girl," both in the chorus and the verses, underscores this sense of identity and transformation.
The lyrics also mention heaven, which could suggest a spiritual aspect to the transformation. The idea of bird girls going to heaven could mean that the singer believes that by becoming a bird, they will transcend their earthly troubles and achieve a higher state of being.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bird Gerhl" explore themes of transformation, freedom, and spirituality. They invite the listener to imagine themselves as a bird girl and to contemplate what that might mean for their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a bird girl now
I have transformed into a free-spirited bird-like being
I've got my heart
I possess the deepest emotions and feelings in me
Here in my hands now
I hold onto my beliefs firmly and protect them
I've been searching
I have been looking for my true identity and individuality
For my wings some time
I have been yearning for the ultimate level of freedom and independence
I'm gonna be born
I am about to embark on a new journey of self-discovery
Into soon the sky
Where the vast sky represents endless opportunities and possibilities
'Cause I'm a bird girl
My newfound persona is that of a bird, free from societal norms and constraints
And the bird girls go to heaven
As a free-spirited and pure-hearted bird girl, I will ascend to greater heights
I'm a bird girl
I have embraced myself as a bird girl, defying labels and conformities
And the bird girls can fly
As a bird girl, I have the ability to soar to new heights, breaking free from the shackles of conformity
Bird girls can fly
The newfound identity of being a bird girl represents the power of freedom and independence
Contributed by Nicholas C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Marie-YvonnePrevot
Anhoni is one of the artists that touch your soul. She has a rare talent indeed, which leaves you speechless and totally moved.
@nobodyowens8159
Anohni's voice reminds me of the ocean 🌊
She is capable of gentle waves yet crashing strong pulls of the sea ,
A total force of nature , a tsunami ,a ripple .
A rare honest talent .
@vanessadeikun3723
2024❤ спасибо тебе!!! Я заново начала жить❤❤
@Kiwi_DeFruit
I discovered this song in V for Vendetta years ago and it is so liberating to know Anohni's story as a transgender woman getting recognition for her music... in a movie that is about liberation and rights... just ah, I love that movie so so much...
@geraldineleleannec8351
Antony's voice is like a feather who is tickling the soul...
@justintoscooters8203
I played this song to my unborn child every night. Of all the joys that lighten suffering earth, what joy is welcomed like a newborn child? Erin Evans who is 5 now and still loves to listen to this song.
@tonymccarthy3877
So special 😎🎼❤
@1991Argentino
I went through the same thing. I understand your pain. A lot of strength, there is no other choice but to move forward.
@addammadd
Now that they’re 14, do they still love it?
@ObservingBeauty
Beautiful