Raised in Cornwall, James began DJing at free parties and clubs in the area in the late 1980s. His debut EP Analogue Bubblebath, released in 1991 on Mighty Force Records, brought James an early following; he began to perform across the UK and continental Europe. James co-founded the independent label Rephlex Records the same year. His 1992 debut album Selected Ambient Works 85-92, released by Belgian label Apollo, garnered wider critical and popular acclaim. James signed to Warp in 1993 and subsequently released charting albums such as ...I Care Because You Do (1995) and Richard D. James Album (1996), as well as Top 40 singles such as "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker" (1999); the latter two were accompanied by music videos directed by Chris Cunningham and brought James significantly wider international attention.
After releasing Drukqs in 2001 and completing his contract with Warp, James spent several years releasing music on his own Rephlex label, including the 2005 Analord EP series under his AFX alias and a pair of 2007 releases as the Tuss. In 2014, he made available a previously unreleased 1994 LP as Caustic Window. He returned later that year with the Aphex Twin album Syro on Warp, winning the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. He has since released charting EPs including Cheetah (2016) and Collapse (2018).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphex_Twin
Studio albums
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992)
Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)
...I Care Because You Do (1995)
Richard D. James Album (1996)
Drukqs (2001)
Syro (2014)
window_licker_
Aphex Twin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mmmmmmmmm ummmmmm
ah
MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmm Aiuh
MmmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmmmMMMMmm Aiouh
Uuuuuuu Uuuuuu Uuu Uaaah
Uuuuu uUuuuuU uu Uaaah
MmmmmmmMmmmmm Aiah
Uuuu Uuuu Uuuu Uuuu Uaaah
Uuuuuuu Uuuu Uuuuuuuu uuuu UuuUAH
Mmmmmmmmm Uh AhAhahah
Uuaaahoooouuuhh
Mmmmmyyaaaahhhh
Mmmmmmm
Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmmuuuaaoooo
MmmmmAaaaueeeeeuuuuu
do
J'aime faire des croquettes au chien
Laaa
Laaaaaa LAa Laaa
La Laaaa
Laaaa LaaLaaLaaaa
LA LA la
Laaaaa
Laaaaa LAaaaLaaa
Laa
La
Laaaaaa Laa LAaaaa
LA
Laaaa
La La Laaaa
MmmmmmmmmmmMMmmmmmmmmmmAaauuiiiooo
MmmmMmmmMmmmmmmmmmAiaia
DudududududududududuUuuuuUUUUUUU
MmmmmmmmmmMmmmmMmmmmmAiah
MmmmmmmmmmmmMmmmMmmMmmmmAiah!
Aouuuuhhh
Ummmmmmmm Mmm MmmmmmMmmm
MmmmmAaaaauuuuoooooooo
Aaaaaaooooooouuuuuu
Aaaaaaaeeeeaaaaeeeeooooo
The lyrics to Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker" appear to be mostly nonsensical vocalizations and vocal noises with a few French words and phrases thrown in. They are not meant to convey a clear message or tell a story, but rather to create a sonic landscape that is both eerie and entrancing. The use of vocalizations in this way is typical of Aphex Twin's style, which often involves the manipulation of sound and texture to create a mood or feeling.
The repetition of certain sounds and phrases in the lyrics may be intended to create a sense of unease or tension. The use of French phrases ("J'aime faire des croquettes au chien" translates to "I like to make dog biscuits") adds to the surreal and disorienting feeling of the song. Overall, the lyrics to "Windowlicker" are less about conveying meaning than about creating a specific ambiance and mood.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmmmmmmmmmmm mmmm
The opening sounds of the song, possibly representing the artist's desire to create a sense of mystery or intrigue right from the start.
Mmmmmmmmm ummmmmm
Continuation of the opening, with more humming sounds that could symbolize the artist's exploration and experimentation with sounds and music.
ah
A simple interjection, possibly added for emphasis or effect rather than conveying a specific meaning.
MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmm Aiuh
A continuation of the earlier humming sounds, representing the artist's interest in building up tension and anticipation for the rest of the song.
MmmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmmmMMMMmm Aiouh
Further exploration of the same sounds, possibly intended to create a hypnotic or trance-like effect on the listener.
Uuuuuuu Uuuuuu Uuu Uaaah
A change in the sound, with the addition of what appears to be a word or phrase. This could represent the artist's desire to add more depth or meaning to the song as it progresses.
Uuuuu uUuuuuU uu Uaaah
Another sequence of similar sounds, possibly building up to a climax or resolution later on in the song.
MmmmmmmMmmmmm Aiah
A return to the earlier humming sounds, possibly to create consistency and continuity throughout the song.
MmmmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmmMMmmmm Aiah
Similar to the previous line, with the addition of more sounds and variations to keep the song interesting and engaging.
Uuuu Uuuu Uuuu Uuuu Uaaah
More sounds and variations, building up to a climax or transition within the song.
Uuuuuuu Uuuu Uuuuuuuu uuuu UuuUAH
A continuation of the earlier sounds, possibly indicating that the artist is building towards something significant or memorable.
Mmmmmmmmm Uh AhAhahah
A break from the more consistent sounds of the earlier verses, with a more punctuated and pronounced vocalization. This could be intended to add more variety and contrast to the song.
Uuaaahoooouuuhh
A transitional sound, possibly indicating that the artist is building towards something new or different in the song.
Mmmmmyyaaaahhhh
A more pronounced and extended vocalization, possibly indicating that the artist is building towards a significant moment or climax in the song.
Mmmmmmm
Another break in the song, with a return to the earlier humming sounds. This could be intended to create a sense of relief or relaxation for the listener after the more dramatic moments earlier in the song.
Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmmuuuaaoooo
A continuation of the humming sounds, now with a more pronounced vocalization added on top. This could be intended to add more depth and variety to the song.
MmmmmAaaaueeeeeuuuuu
A more deliberate vocalization, possibly building towards something significant later on in the song.
do
A brief interjection, possibly indicating the start of a new section or sequence within the song.
J'aime faire des croquettes au chien
A French phrase that translates to 'I like to make dog croquettes', which could be intended to add a more playful or humorous element to the song. It may also represent the artist's desire to experiment with different sounds and language within their music.
Laaa
A simple vocalization, possibly intended to create atmosphere or add emphasis to certain parts of the song.
Laaaaaa LAa Laaa
A repeated sequence of vocalizations, possibly building up to something more significant later on in the song.
La Laaaa
Another repeated sequence, possibly intended to create consistency and familiarity within the song.
Laaaa LaaLaaLaaaa
A more complex sequence of vocalizations, building towards a significant moment or climax within the song.
LA LA la
A return to the same sounds and vocalizations used earlier in the song, possibly intended to create continuity or consistency within the track.
Laaaaa
Another repeated sequence, possibly intended to create an atmosphere or set a mood for the remainder of the song.
Laaaaa LAaaaLaaa
Another repeated sequence, building towards a significant moment later on in the song.
Laa
A simple vocalization, possibly intended to transition the song towards a new section or sequence.
La
A continuation of the previous line, adding more depth and variety to the song.
Laaaaaa Laa LAaaaa
A more complex sequence of sounds and vocalizations, building towards a significant moment or climax within the song.
LA
A simple vocalization, possibly intended to create a sense of anticipation or momentum within the song.
Laaaa
Another repeated sequence, possibly intended to create consistency or familiarity within the song.
La La Laaaa
A simple sequence of sounds, possibly meant to transition the song towards a new section or sequence.
MmmmmmmmmmmMMmmmmmmmmmmAaauuiiiooo
A more complex sequence of humming and vocalizations, building towards a significant moment or climax in the song.
MmmmMmmmMmmmmmmmmmAiaia
Another sequence of sounds, adding more depth and variety to the song and building towards a significant moment or climax later on.
DudududududududududuUuuuuUUUUUUU
A sequence of throaty and guttural vocalizations, possibly intended to add more variety and contrast to the song and build towards something significant later on.
MmmmmmmmmmMmmmmMmmmmmAiah
Another sequence of humming sounds, possibly intended to create a sense of continuity and consistency within the song.
MmmmmmmmmmmmMmmmMmmMmmmmAiah!
A more pronounced and deliberate vocalization, building towards a memorable moment or climax within the song.
Aouuuuhhh
A transitional sound, possibly indicating a significant change or shift within the song.
Ummmmmmmm Mmm MmmmmmMmmm
A sequence of sounds, building towards a significant moment or climax in the song.
MmmmmAaaaauuuuoooooooo
A more pronounced and extended vocalization, possibly building towards something significant or memorable within the song.
Aaaaaaooooooouuuuuu
Another extended vocalization, building towards a climax or resolution at the end of the song.
Aaaaaaaeeeeaaaaeeeeooooo
A final vocalization, possibly intended to bring the song to a dramatic and memorable conclusion.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD D. JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bartekkko
Turn down a bit on the hostility bro. I'm sorry for the first two sentences but I was a bit drunk (and a slav) back then (I'm not saying i'm not a drunk slav all the time, cause I am)
Now, the important stuff.
I like this video mainly because it's got absolutely amazing choreography and the main idea holds up well, so that all my possible nitpicks (that it's not that classy and really not subtle) can't penetrate deep enough to hurt the core. More importantly, I never implied that you thought it's the most unsettling thing ever, just that if this idea even half-shocks you, then you have no idea what other things the internet has in store (yes, I know that this music video came out way before 4chan was a thing)
Meanwhile, come to daddy is a mess. In fact, to explain the the very reason I came here to rewatch Windowlicker MV was because I hated CTD so much and was trying to figure out why, but you'll be glad to know that I did.
It's trying to be horror, but somewhere on it's way to Silent Hill it misread the signs and ended up in Resident Evil. That would be fine if it ended with some kind of twist, to show that the video knows and revels in being a retarded mess, but it didn't. It's just a collection of horror scenes with no cohesive narrative between them. We don't know anything about any of the appearing characters' motivations, let alone story, making the video feel very cold and lifeless, particularly in the scenes with the TV aphex-twin demon. it's literally "a dude with a distorted face saying ominous things and corrupting kids for no reason". .
To put it shortly, CTD sucks because it starts with a load of people doing stuff, and ends with people doing the exact same stuff they were doing at the beginning of the video.
ahem... is that a 600F3 in your profile pic? cool, i've got an SV650AL7, wanna go ride later?
@rijden-nu
> Turn down a bit on the hostility bro
Ok. Thanks for writing up this serious reply! :) Much better.
We apparently disagree on our interpretations of class and subtlety :) I do think there's a lot of both in Windowlicker, mostly found in the careful weighing of the not-so-subtle awkwardness (maybe a better word for what I meant than than unsettlingness) and the obvious scrutiny that went into the art direction doing that weighing.
And no, the idea, images, gender morphing etc. didn't shock me (believe it or not, my now 55-yo dad is a post-op transsexual, went through the procedure over the past decade and seeing him "transform" to her IRL physically and mentally over all that time was way deeper to the core than this music video could ever be :) ) Yeah this video is not actually shocking nor even that unsettling, it just skews my psyche (if that makes sense) in just that perfect way which I feel was exactly intended by the art direction.
Maybe me failing to properly convey the still quite emotional effect this song has on me is partly due to the simple fact that English is only my third language; I may miss subtly nuanced implications of words like "unsettling"... (My native language is Dutch; my second one German.)
The bike is a CBR 1000 F. If you ever find yourself around the Netherlands, hit me up :)
@WilkinsonX
It’s crazy to think it’s now been over 100 years since this was released.
@Marzapool
I know Bro RIP aphexious twintupulton the 3rd
@johnaskouts5915
People living in 2112 wouldn't comprehend this genius videoclip
@marissaineverett6213
Don't exaggerate. It's easily been 200 years now.
@adinocc2042
one mother fucking Hondo yrs!
@homomilleumbrae
Ikr , my grandfather told me that his grandfather used to tell him stories about how the salons used to go crazy anytime aphexious twintupulton the 3rd dropped a new track .
@crazysnas181
Aphex Twin doesn't need no beauty standard in women.He is his own beauty standard.
@DrGregoryHouseIT
Kinda narcissistic though.
@MixMastaCopyCat
+Gregory House how is it narcissistic when it's someone besides himself making this judgment about him?
@girlsdrinkfeck
thats what the video is about