Babylon Zoo was a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, En… Read Full Bio ↴Babylon Zoo was a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, England, fronted by Jas Mann. They were best known for the song "Spaceman", which on its release on January 21, 1996, went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of release - a record at the time.

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

Bikini Machine
Babylon Zoo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Life was oh so, so erotic
Somewhere deep inside his eyes
Share a joke, drink a coke
Tighten up your favourite clothes
Lovers always
Telling lies
Maybe they're just outta time
Dig a hole on your own

satan's crawlin on my soul

Turn around, face this way
Better to avoid the rays
Plastic hearts ignore the pain

But oh, oh, oh mean Mr. Terror believe it
Build me a queen with with your magnetic machine
Hey Mr. Terror believe it
Build me a queen with with your magnetic machine
I want to be my subterranean queen
Oh no, no, no natives are frightened away
Oh no, no, no she's gonna blow you away
Mean Mr. Terror believe it
Build me a queen with your magnetic machine
Mean Mr. Terror believe it

Build me a queen with your bikini machine man
I want you to be my subterranean queen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Babylon Zoo's "Bikini Machine" are full of evocative imagery and esoteric references, making it a complex and thought-provoking song. At its core, the song seems to be about the power of technology to shape and control our lives, as well as our desire to use that power to create something beautiful and subversive. The opening lines are particularly striking, as they describe life as "oh so, so erotic" and suggest that there is something mysterious and alluring lurking "deep inside [the singer's] eyes." Perhaps this hints at the seductive power of technology itself, which can be both frightening and thrilling at the same time.

As the song progresses, we get more hints about the singer's motivations and desires. They seem to reject the idea of conforming to societal norms ("tighten up your favourite clothes"), and instead embrace a more subversive approach to life ("dig a hole on your own"). There is also a suggestion of deception and shady dealings, as the singer thinks about "lovers always telling lies" and wonders if they are simply "outta time." This creates a sense of unease and mistrust that permeates the song, as if the singer is constantly looking over their shoulder and wondering who to trust.

The chorus of "Bikini Machine" is perhaps the most memorable part of the song, with its repeated refrain of "mean Mr. Terror believe it / build me a queen with with your magnetic machine." This is a clear nod to the power of technology to shape and control our lives, as the singer seems to be calling upon some unseen force to create a "queen" that they can control. The reference to a "bikini machine" is also intriguing, as it suggests a subversive use of technology that is both sexualized and rebellious.

Overall, the lyrics to "Bikini Machine" are a fascinating exploration of the power of technology to shape and control our lives, as well as our desire to use that power to create something subversive and beautiful.

Line by Line Meaning

Life was oh so, so erotic
Life was very sexually charged

Somewhere deep inside his eyes
There was something mysterious and intriguing about him

Share a joke, drink a coke
Let's relax and have a good time

Tighten up your favourite clothes
Get ready for a night out

Lovers always
People in love

Telling lies
But they may not be truthful with each other

Maybe they're just outta time
Perhaps their love has run its course

Dig a hole on your own
You're on your own in this situation

satan's crawlin on my soul
I feel like a part of me has been corrupted or compromised

Turn around, face this way
Pay attention to what I'm about to say

Better to avoid the rays
It's best to stay out of trouble