Jas Mann had formerly been in an indie music band, called The Sandkings, which he left in 1992, because of musical differences.
Babylon Zoo was signed to Phonogram Records after A&R rep Clive Black heard their first three-track demo tape in May 1993. When Black moved to Warner Bros. Records in 1993, he took Mann's contract with him. An album had been prepared and sleeves for a single, "Fire Guided Light", were printed, but Babylon Zoo's debut was put on hold again when Black moved once more to EMI in 1995, where the band were signed on to a seven-album contract.
However, promotional copies of the song "Spaceman" had already been distributed, and chosen to tie in with the release of a new Levi's jeans TV advert. The single went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart and also went to Number 1 in the single charts in twenty-three countries.
An album entitled The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes was produced at Mann's New Atlantis Productions music/artwork/video centre. It was released in 1996 and included new-age tracks such as "Is Your Soul for Sale?" and "I'm Cracking Up I Need a Pill". It debuted at #6 on the album charts and reached the Top 20 in 17 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
In 1997, Jas Mann was lampooned on the channel 4 TV series, Brass Eye.
Three years later, in 1999, a follow-up album was released entitled King Kong Groover, but Mann decided not to promote the album as he was not getting support from his label EMI since the departure of the man who had signed him, Clive Black. Mann subsequently decided to move to India and work for an aid agency.
Years active 1992–2000
Are You a Boy or a Girl?
Babylon Zoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never sell your soul (ah ah)
Never sell your soul
Life is a nipple for millions of people
Hangin' around on the town, are you a boy or girl
Mirrors an' poses, we powder our noses
Struttin' around in a gown, are you a boy or girl
Anybody, does anybody care
Walkin' around, you're the talk of the town
We're no more then trash
But after today (the whole world knows my answer)
After today (the poison tastes much better)
And when you're a boy (the whole world knows my answer)
And when you're a girl (the poison tastes much, poison tastes much better)
Bigger then Jesus, a pleasure to meet us
What's going out on the town, are you a boy or girl?
Make up and poses, glam lookin' closer
Color the town with the sound, are you a boy or girl?
We got dinosaur's feet, diggin' holes in the street
Jackin' up on the beat
The young dudes you're in with me oh yeah, oh yeah
But after today (the whole world knows my answer)
After today (the poison tastes much better)
And when you're a boy (the whole world knows my answer)
And when you're a girl (the poison tastes much, poison tastes much better)
But after today (the whole world knows my, the whole world knows my answer)
After today (the poison tastes much better)
And when you're a boy (the whole world knows my answer)
And when you're a girl (the poison tastes much, poison tastes much better)
*Repeat
The lyrics of Babylon Zoo's "Are You a Boy or a Girl?" explore the themes of gender identity and societal perception. The song starts with the repeated refrain of "Never sell your soul," which hints at the temptations and pressures that people face in conforming to societal norms.
The chorus of the song asks the question, "Are you a boy or girl?" and highlights the fact that society tends to label and judge individuals based on their gender. The verses describe the various ways people try to conform to these gender norms, including makeup, poses, and clothing choices.
The song also touches on the idea that fame and celebrity status can be fleeting and shallow. The line "Bigger than Jesus, a pleasure to meet us" suggests that celebrities can be idolized and worshipped by the public, but their fame can be fickle and short-lived.
Overall, the lyrics of "Are You a Boy or a Girl?" urge listeners to stay true to themselves and resist the pressures to conform to society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Never sell your soul (ah ah)
It's important to keep your values and not compromise them
Life is a nipple for millions of people
Life can be challenging and uncomfortable for many
Hangin' around on the town, are you a boy or girl
People are judged based on their appearance and gender
Mirrors an' poses, we powder our noses
We spend a lot of time and effort trying to look good
Struttin' around in a gown, are you a boy or girl
Gender norms are restrictive and limit self-expression
Anybody, does anybody care
People's opinions can be hurtful and judgmental
Walkin' around, you're the talk of the town
People can be quick to gossip and spread rumors
We're no more then trash
People are often dismissed and devalued
But after today (the whole world knows my answer)
There's a sense of liberation from hiding one's true identity
And when you're a boy (the whole world knows my answer)
Revealing one's gender identity can be empowering
And when you're a girl (the poison tastes much, poison tastes much better)
Society often values femininity over masculinity, but this can come at a cost
What's going out on the town, are you a boy or girl?
Society places a lot of importance on gender and appearance
Make up and poses, glam lookin' closer
We use cosmetic enhancements to conform to societal beauty standards
Color the town with the sound, are you a boy or girl?
Music can be a liberating and unifying force
We got dinosaur's feet, diggin' holes in the street
We can be unconventional and disruptive
Jackin' up on the beat
Music can be exhilarating and transformative
Contributed by Camden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.