If you're looking for a loud, fuzzy, catchy-… Read Full Bio ↴www.myspace.com/bangups
If you're looking for a loud, fuzzy, catchy-as-hell and at times abrasive record, look no further than Bangups EP "Ten Dollars An Hour." Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bangups consists of guitarist/vocalist Joey Dornbos and drummer Brent French. They've got that dirty, bluesy, early White Stripes thing going on, though with pop sensibilities reminiscent of The Strokes & The Animals. All of this makes for a very energetic listen.
One stand-out track is the foot-stomping "Sunburnt Love." This song centers on "Sweet Little Janie..." She's got "the jeans with the butterflies on the back pockets" that make the "boys' eyeballs pop out of their sockets." It's a dirty little tale of a young fellow's sexual encounters, the love that follows, and the inevitable break up; truly the makings of a typical youngster's summer. The snares just pound on the chorus, as the lyrics sing, "My sunburnt love died in the autumn rain.
Another notable track is an oddball tune titled, "Bible Camp." Musically, this sounds like a blues song. Lyrically, however, it's a full-out fundamentalist sermon. With a healthy dose of sarcasm, the words sound like they're spoken by some overprotective youth group leader. As the chorus prays, "Dear God, keep us safe on the road/Be with the kids and their chaperones...in Jesus' name amen/Now kids don't you dare forget this here bible church you represent...in Jesus' name amen."
This is the kind of music that Michigan, home to such greats as Iggy & The Stooges, Death, and The White Stripes, has used to smash a dent in rock n' roll history. Though Bangups have been around just a short time, they'll do their state proud if they keep cranking out albums like this one.-JS
Tongue Ear
Bangups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You made her your all or nothing
Shut your eyes and closed the curtain
Premonition called but you didn't want to listen
And what's love without some reciprocation
Well it's broken hearts baby and lots of mental frustration
Cause anybody watching you and her could see
You were fit to commit to that short circuit
But she flipped on the breaker to your lover current
You got a broken connection you been forsaken
Lying on your bed broken hearted and weeping
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah yeah yeah
Well it was pale green velvet
And moonlit mornings
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
It was a soft voice speaking
A wet tongue in your ear
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
It was a one hit wonder
She showed up and disappeared
Well you thought that you had a romance
With your hands up her shirt and down her pants
You had a simulation practically masturbation
Man trying to make her love you ain't a chance worth taking
It's got to harmonize with your body soul and mind
It's not a trick it ain't quick in fact it's awfully hard to come by
The song "Tongue Ear" by Bangups explores the theme of unrequited love and heartbreak. The lyrics describe a situation where the singer has fallen deeply in love with someone, but their affection is not returned in the same way. The lines, "You made her your all or nothing, shut your eyes and closed the curtain," demonstrate the singer's complete investment in the relationship, with the curtain indicating a sense of isolation from the outside world. The lyrics further suggest that the singer had the anticipation of the union failing, with the 'premonition', indicating that he knew the relationship was doomed from the start.
The song describes the pain that the singer feels from this unfulfilled love. The lyrics ask the question, "What's love without some reciprocation?" and then answer it with the lines, "Well, it's broken hearts baby and lots of mental frustration." The song draws attention to how difficult and frustrating it can be when a person you love does not show the same affection in return. The last verse of the song describes how the singer thought he had found love, but it turned out to be only a temporary infatuation, and not a genuine emotional connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we all saw this one coming
It was inevitable and not a surprise to anyone
You made her your all or nothing
You gave everything to her and risked losing it all
Shut your eyes and closed the curtain
You ignored the warning signs and refused to see the truth
Premonition called but you didn't want to listen
You had a feeling that something was going to go wrong, but chose to ignore it
And what's love without some reciprocation
Love requires mutual feelings and effort from both parties
Well it's broken hearts baby and lots of mental frustration
When one person loves more than the other, it can result in heartbreak and emotional distress
Cause anybody watching you and her could see
It was obvious to anyone observing you and her
She never tuned into your frequency
She was not on the same wavelength as you
You were fit to commit to that short circuit
You were willing to settle for a temporary and unsatisfying relationship
But she flipped on the breaker to your lover current
She ended the relationship and shut off the flow of affection and love you had for her
You got a broken connection you been forsaken
Your emotional connection with her is now broken and you feel abandoned
Lying on your bed broken hearted and weeping
You are heartbroken and crying on your bed
Well it was pale green velvet
Referring to a physical sensation that was initially enjoyable
And moonlit mornings
Referring to a romantic and idealized setting
It was a soft voice speaking
Referring to a seductive and alluring voice
A wet tongue in your ear
Referring to a sexual encounter that initially seemed pleasurable
It was a one hit wonder
Referring to a brief and unsatisfying experience
She showed up and disappeared
She entered your life and left just as quickly
Well you thought that you had a romance
You believed that there was a mutual romantic connection
With your hands up her shirt and down her pants
Referring to a sexual encounter
You had a simulation practically masturbation
You were essentially engaging in sexual fantasies without any real connection
Man trying to make her love you ain't a chance worth taking
Attempting to force someone to love you is not worth the effort and emotional pain it causes
It's got to harmonize with your body soul and mind
Real love requires a deep and meaningful connection on all levels
It's not a trick it ain't quick in fact it's awfully hard to come by
True love cannot be manufactured and takes time and effort to cultivate
Writer(s): JOSEPH DORNBOS, BRENT FRENCH
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steph Powell
Damn. First time I've ever listened to you guys and I'm in love. I wish you all the success in the world.
Julia Kostin
they were absolutely awesome at warped tour toronto! even though they had a small crowd, they definitely showed everyone in the audience what they were made of, and i was VERY impressed! so happy i got their autograph, they're definitely gonna make it big. they kinda remind me of the black keys too :)
Lyss
Love your music! You will definitely make it big! :) wish I could see you at Warped, maybe next year. Keep it up!
Alyssa IV
Thank god there's still some good music coming to Warped.
covertwinker
another great video! way to represent for the Redwings, Brent.
CaseyAnnexoxo
A band I'll most deffinetly be seeing at Warped Tour this year.
Randi Woodard
Haha you guys seem soo chill, can't wait to see you perform at Warped (:
crazychadmb
Hell yeah about time we have more bands from Michigan that are getting big
Roshan Krishnan
amen to that! so pumped to see these guys.
haveadrinkonme15
Along with Dead Sara, you guys will be the best band at Warped tour!