After years of recording in relative seclusion in the hills of Los Angeles, Ariel Pink (the first non-Animal Collective member on the Paw Tracks roster) made his official Paw Tracks debut with The Doldrums. Recording at home with a guitar, bass, keyboard, and 8-track (the drum sounds were created with his mouth).
Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something by turns beautiful and confusing. Some may find his personal yet detached approach highly addictive, while others may be instantly turned off by the obvious lo-fi production and the vocal drumtracks.
In the summer of 2003, Pink passed a CD-R on to New York based band Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend Jimi Hey (of All Night Radio and Beachwood Sparks) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks, and several weeks later they contacted him expressing an interest in releasing his music. Pink became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pink's previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest.
Pink has gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pink's albums which have been commercially released come from his yet-unfinished "Haunted Graffiti" series and are thus the best known.
Pink's tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. As he explained to LA Weekly:
“People boo me everywhere...They don't even hide their contempt. I'm used to it now...Hey, I'm giving audiences the real thing...For better or worse, I'm out there, and those are the circumstances. People don't like it when it seems like you don't know what's happening, or I'm getting bummed out with certain aspects and I can't hide it. I think people feel that pain and just think it's bad.”
Initially playing shows alone with pre-recorded music, Pink has since employed the efforts of keyboardist Kenny Gilmore, bassist Tim Koh (White Magic), drummer Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr) as Haunted Graffiti. However, even with a backing band unfamiliar audiences are generally hostile towards the unrehearsed nature of the live compositions.
In July, the band embarked on Pink's "Thanks Mom, I'm Dead" tour.
One genre that may interestingly define Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is one known as Hauntology.
Scared Famous
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a little bit shy
But once you know me
It'll be all right
We can go on a date
Take you on a scary trip
To Firecrack ...!
Too many nights all alone at home
Me and the TV playing telephone
By the time my answer gets through
You tell me Jeopardy won't gimme the clue
My sense tell me "Go on,
Get on with the race"
My senses tell me "Just go on,
And tell them you won"
The Grammy, the Oscar,
The world
(x2)
And you and I, we should go inside
Look at cards and commit suicide
TV won't tell me the news
Me and my fucking shit
Break out your noose!
My senses tell me "Go on,
Get on with the race"
My senses tell me "Just go on,
And tell them you won"
The Grammy, the Oscar
The world
The Grammy, the Oscar
Oh no!
December 1st, 1921
Me and your mama
Started having fun
And why didn't she
Come out of you?
Like a .. bitch
She took a .. screw!
My senses tell me "Go on,
Get on with the race"
My senses tell me "Just go on,
You know that you've won"
Don't worry
The Grammy, the Oscar
The world
The Grammy, the Oscar
A lover!
My senses tell me "Just go on,
And tell them you've won"
My senses tell me "Go on"
The lyrics to Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's song "Scared Famous" are abstract and nonsensical, weaving together different images and ideas that seem to have no clear connection. However, there are a few recurring themes that emerge throughout the song, including a longing for connection with others, a sense of isolation or detachment from the world, and a desire for recognition or fame. The song opens with the singer confessing that he is shy, but that things will be alright once the listener gets to know him. He then suggests that they go on a date and take a scary trip to a place called Firecrack.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more disjointed and fragmented, jumping from the singer's experiences at home alone with the TV, to a desire to win prestigious awards like the Grammy and Oscar, and even to a bizarre reference to December 1st, 1921 and his mother's sexual encounters. The ultimate message of the song is somewhat unclear, but it seems to be a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and the difficulty of connecting with others in a world that is often isolating and hostile.
Overall, "Scared Famous" is an intriguing and mysterious song that leaves much open to interpretation. While the lyrics may seem nonsensical or random at first glance, a deeper analysis reveals a series of recurring themes and motifs that point to deeper emotional and psychological struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, little baby
The singer is addressing someone in an endearing way.
I'm a little bit shy
The singer feels shy or timid in social situations.
But once you know me
The singer believes that if someone gets to know them, they will become more comfortable.
It'll be all right
The artist thinks that once they build a connection with someone, everything will be fine.
We can go on a date
The artist suggests going on a romantic outing with someone.
Take you on a scary trip
The singer proposes going on an exciting or thrilling adventure.
To Firecrack ...!
Firecrack is left ambiguous, but may imply a dangerous or exciting location.
Too many nights all alone at home
The artist conveys loneliness from spending too much time by themselves.
Me and the TV playing telephone
The artist uses the TV as a substitute for social interaction.
By the time my answer gets through
The artist feels that they are not adequately communicating with others.
You tell me Jeopardy won't gimme the clue
Jeopardy is a game show where contestants try to answer difficult trivia questions, so this line means that even something as simple as the answer to a question is difficult for the singer to obtain.
My sense tell me "Go on,
Get on with the race"
The artist is motivated to move forward and succeed in their goals despite any obstacles in their way.
My senses tell me "Just go on,
And tell them you won"
The singer trusts their instincts to propel them to success.
The Grammy, the Oscar,
The world
(x2)
The singer desires significant acclaim and recognition.
And you and I, we should go inside
The singer suggests going somewhere private with someone else.
Look at cards and commit suicide
The artist suggests playing cards as a pastime, and the mention of suicide could be interpreted in a few ways - a reference to Russian roulette or a suggestion that the game is boring enough to want to die.
TV won't tell me the news
The artist feels like they are not receiving important information from traditional sources.
Me and my fucking shit
Break out your noose!
The singer is frustrated with their current situation to the point of contemplating self-harm.
The Grammy, the Oscar
The world
The singer reiterates their desire for fame and recognition.
Oh no!
The repetition of this phrase could indicate dread or anxiety.
December 1st, 1921
Me and your mama
Started having fun
This verse may be a reference to a historic event or just a personal anecdote without much deeper meaning.
And why didn't she
Come out of you?
Like a .. bitch
She took a .. screw!
This verse is full of vulgar sexual imagery and seems to be directed at someone who is not present. It could maybe refer to the artist's own birth, but not enough context is given to be sure.
My senses tell me "Go on,
Get on with the race"
The singer is resolved to keep pursuing their goals despite setbacks or challenges.
My senses tell me "Just go on,
You know that you've won"
The artist is confident in their own abilities and destined for success.
Don't worry
The singer is trying to reassure someone (could be the same person they were addressing at the start of the song.)
A lover!
This phrase seems out of context but could be an exclamation of excitement or relief.
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luna
THIS IS ALL KILLER NO FILLER. GIRL IN A TREE'S PIANO RIFF REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT. DEATHCRUSH99 IS STRAIGHT UP A MASTERPIECE. LOVE THIS CUADRUPLE L PEE!!!!
Данил Кашин
It may be inspired by Love - A House Is Not a Motel
Viewbob
My favorite album of all time
dream safari
one of my favourite albums
Kai Dare
This rules! Thanks for uploading this
Jamyjamy
great stuff!
kd fax
Wow. Favourite album
Catchasmurf
Legend
kingcon2k11
A lot of these are higher quality than the official versions. Are these the remasters set to release next year?
Particularly howling at the moon
Bobby Worrest
@Maiq can I ask where you got these songs? are they from some special source or just rips of the ff/scared famous double cd-r album?