Beanbag a… Read Full Bio ↴There has been more than one artist using the name Beanbag
Beanbag appeared with two tracks on the 1984 compilation LP, 'Bands That Could Be God', compiled by Gerard Cosloy of 'Conflict' fanzine. The compilation has become sought after as one of the better and more interesting compilations of US underground music of the time. The album pertained to be a selection of quality, though lesser-known underground music from Boston, Massachussetts, so presumably they were a Boston band or from thereabouts. The tracks had a 'lo-fi', though kind of 'new wave/synthpunk' sound. Two of the better-known artists on the compilation were Deep Wound and Moving Targets.
Beanbag was an Australian band that formed in 1995 and broke up in late 2002.
The group comprised core members vocalist Hans Van Vliet, guitarist Michael Mullins, bassist Phil "Hirvy" Hirvela, and drummer Phil Usher. Steven Lewis-Driver assumed the bass position when Hirvy left the band in early 2002. Jesse Palmer also filled in on guitar after Michael returned to Australia a couple months before the band's demise.
Beanbag released three albums. Guttersnipe was released independently in 1998. They also had two albums on American label Inpop Records, Free Signal (2000) and Welladjusted (2001). During their time in the United States, Beanbag toured extensively, were nominated for two GMA Awards, and had songs featured on several television soundtracks.
The band broke up after a van accident that occurred while driving back to Nashville. The driver swerved to avoid a deer on the interstate. The van and the trailer filled with their gear ended up in a ditch. Hunz was taken to the hospital where he stayed for three days with lung damage. With no vehicle, no gear, and no vocalist, they had very little choice except to disband.
From their Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beanbag_(band)
Freesignal
Beanbag Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The car drove past at a hundred miles.
It threw a bag in the shape of a body that read.
I've got time and you're wasting it here.
She knew these words and placed her body back into her bunk.
She dreamed of better spaces.
Like the ones stuck in replay.
Ejected from her morals
I'd like a signal that I receive.
A clearer picture than my TV.
A static free emotional sound
Breaking through all the darkness that surrounds me.
Towns seem to compliment her style.
She trys to swallow a sinker with the hook intact.
Probing her heart with words of fabrication.
She torments herself but that thin line to heaven is strong.
Her feet can barely function. (she looks around)
She's breathing from one lung. (she looks around)
She's just convinced to die, to die.
She says "that word" which cuts like a knife.
Coming from your TV is a message far from truth.
The lyrics of "Freesignal" by Beanbag are rich in symbolism and convey a deep sense of emotional distress. The opening line, "I have a reason to live. Can't take away from me!" is a declaration of resistance against the forces that try to break the singer's spirit, despite the fact that she might feel lost and disconnected from the world around her. The car that drives past at a hundred miles and throws a bag in the shape of a body that reads "I've got time and you're wasting it here" represents the fleeting nature of time and how it can seem like it's slipping away.
The singer finds herself trapped in a life that's devoid of meaning, and her dreams of better spaces are the only source of solace she can find. She's torn between her desire to break free from her mundane existence and the fear of losing herself in the process, as evident in the line "ejected from her morals, her mind told her it's sane, it's sane". The reference to a static-free emotional sound that breaks through the darkness surrounding her reinforces the idea that the singer is searching for a beacon of hope, something that guides her through the tough times.
The final lines of the song, "Coming from your TV is a message far from truth", serves as a reminder of how we can be manipulated by media and bombarded by messages that aren't helpful. It's a reflection on the importance of seeking out truth and meaning for ourselves rather than relying on external sources. Overall, "Freesignal" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that captures the essence of the struggle to find purpose in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a reason to live. Can't take away from me!
I have found a purpose to exist and no one can deprive me of it.
The car drove past at a hundred miles.
A vehicle drove by at an extremely high speed.
It threw a bag in the shape of a body that read.
The vehicle tossed a bag that resembled a person and had words written on it.
I've got time and you're wasting it here.
I have a limited amount of time on this earth and you are not using it effectively.
She knew these words and placed her body back into her bunk.
The female understood the words on the bag and then went back to her bed.
She dreamed of better spaces.
The woman had aspirations for improved environments.
Like the ones stuck in replay.
Places that are memorable and continuously replayed in her mind.
Ejected from her morals.
She has lost her sense of morality.
Her mind told her it's sane, it's sane.
Despite her lack of values, her psyche still thinks it's normal.
I'd like a signal that I receive.
I desire a sign that I can understand.
A clearer picture than my TV.
A vision that is more precise than anything seen on television.
A static free emotional sound.
A noise with no distortion that touches the heart.
Breaking through all the darkness that surrounds me.
Removing all the negativity and cynicism that surround me.
Towns seem to compliment her style.
The woman appears to fit in well with the local atmosphere.
She trys to swallow a sinker with the hook intact.
She attempts to swallow a fishing weight that still has its hook attached.
Probing her heart with words of fabrication.
She examines her emotions with lies and deceit.
She torments herself but that thin line to heaven is strong.
She causes herself pain, but her connection to the afterlife is still powerful.
Her feet can barely function. (she looks around)
She has a difficult time moving her feet, as she surveys her surroundings.
She's breathing from one lung. (she looks around)
One of her lungs is dysfunctional and she inspects her surroundings.
She's just convinced to die, to die.
She has made up her mind to pass away.
She says 'that word' which cuts like a knife.
A certain word that she utters, deeply hurts her.
Coming from your TV is a message far from truth.
The messages broadcasted on television are deceitful and not true.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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