1999's Breathing Tornados marked a new direction for Lee as he introduced synths and increased instrumentation into his sound. The album was a huge success, with the first single, "Cigarettes Will Kill You", finishing second in that year's Triple J Hottest 100. Lee also enjoyed success with the single "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" - from the album hey you. yes you. - reaching no 22 in 2002's Triple J Hottest 100.
In 2001 he joined forces with Evan Dando, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick and Jason Schwartzman of Phantom Planet and acting fame. Calling themselves Dando Lee Petersson Schwartzman, they recorded a single, "Dead or Anything", at Globe Studios, New York.
During 2003 he teamed up with Ben Kweller and Ben Folds for a side project entitled The Bens. They recorded four songs together in Nashville, resulting in a self-titled EP.
In late 2004, he left Steve Pavlovic's Modular Recordings and started up his own record label, Ten Fingers. The first release on the label was the single, "Gamble Everything For Love", followed by the album, Awake Is The New Sleep in February 2005. A defining release in his career, the album showcased a much brighter, positive side of Lee's personality, in contrast to his previous darker musings. Awake Is The New Sleep received several nominations for the 2005 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, and Lee won Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, and Single Of The Year for "Catch My Disease". Catch My Disease was also number 2 on the 2005 Triple J Hottest 100.
In September 2007, Lee released his sixth solo album, named "Ripe" after the final song on the record. The album is somewhat controversial, with most songs relating in some way to sex, lust and love. Mandy Moore features on the album in the song "Birds and Bees", and Benji Madden plays electric guitar in "Sex Without Love". It also features Sara Watkins, Rachael Yamagata, Charlotte Martin, Ned Bower, Taylor Locke and Robert Schwatzman (who is also credited for co-writing 'Sex Without Love'). It was a big step away from the spiritual "Awake is the New Sleep", but shows Lee's need for change in songs. The album was produced by John Alagia and released under the Inertia/Ten Fingers label 'Awake is the New Sleep' was released under.
February 2009 brought the release of his latest LP entitled "The Rebirth of Venus." This release also includes a bonus disk that includes six cover songs that Ben has done including "Kids" by MGMT and "New Wave" by Against Me!.
I Love Pop Music
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
The price of oil is at an all time high and rising (yeah)
Global warming threatens life as we know it on this planet (oh ooh)
And leaders have not committed to a plan of action on renewable energy
I love pop music, this is how we do it
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
Turn up the radio
And sing along, like you're all alone
Turn up the radio
And sing along, like you're all alone
There are over 6 billion people on this planet
And not enough fresh drinking water (we're in trouble)
Religious intolerance creating geopolitical instability (shine a light)
Politicians battling each other like professional wrestlers (ooh)
Further division is not the answer, division is not the answer
I love pop music, this is how we do it
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
Turn up the radio
And sing along, like you're all alone
Turn up the radio
And sing along, like you're all alone
Turn up the radio
Greed and fear seem to be the driving forces of modern life
We're encouraged to consume and consume
With no thought of where it all comes from, and where it all goes
Our lives are accelerating as we fall out of touch
With nature and ancient myth
We're desperately in need of a brand new dream
I love pop music, this is how we do it
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
I love pop music, this is how we do it
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
(Turn up the radio)
(And sing along, like you're all alone)
(Turn up the radio)
(And sing along, like you're all alone)
I love pop music, this is how we do it
It's politics you can romance to
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
Philosophy that you can dance to
(Turn up the radio)
(And sing along, like you're all alone)
(Turn up the radio)
(And sing along, like you're all alone)
Ben Lee's song I Love Pop Music is a commentary on the state of the world and our need for escapism through music. The chorus "I love pop music, this is how we do it, it's politics you can romance to, I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it, philosophy that you can dance to" reveals Lee's belief that pop music, despite being seemingly shallow and sugary, can still be a source of inspiration and a platform for political commentary. The verses address issues such as global warming, religious intolerance, and political polarization, highlighting the need for a new way of thinking and a new dream to aspire towards.
Lee seems to suggest that pop music, with its catchy melodies and danceable beats, can provide a temporary escape from the harsh realities of the world. The repeated phrase "turn up the radio and sing along, like you're all alone" reinforces this idea of music as a refuge from the problems of the world. However, Lee also acknowledges that this is not a permanent solution and that we need to address the underlying issues if we are to create real change.
Overall, the song can be seen as a call to action, urging us to face the challenges of the world while also finding moments of joy and respite through music.
Line by Line Meaning
I love pop music, this is how we do it
The singer loves listening to pop music and believes that it is the norm for how music should be enjoyed.
It's politics you can romance to
Pop music can contain political messages, but they are conveyed in a way that is enjoyable and relatable to the listener.
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it
The singer enjoys pop music that is cheerful and sweet, that puts the listener in a good mood.
Philosophy that you can dance to
Pop music can contain philosophical messages, but they are conveyed in a way that is easy to understand and fun to dance to.
The price of oil is at an all time high and rising (yeah)
The cost of oil is expensive and continues to increase.
Global warming threatens life as we know it on this planet (oh ooh)
Climate change poses a threat to the existence of life on Earth.
And leaders have not committed to a plan of action on renewable energy
Political leaders have not made an agreement on investing in renewable energy sources.
The food crisis is currently affecting a hundred million people worldwide
A large number of people globally are suffering from a lack of access to food.
Turn up the radio
Increase the volume of the radio.
And sing along, like you're all alone
Sing as if no one else can hear you, enjoying the moment by yourself.
There are over 6 billion people on this planet
The population of the planet is over 6 billion people.
And not enough fresh drinking water (we're in trouble)
There is a shortage of clean drinking water, and it poses a problem for humans.
Religious intolerance creating geopolitical instability (shine a light)
Intolerance of different religious beliefs can cause conflicts between nations and threaten global stability.
Politicians battling each other like professional wrestlers (ooh)
Political leaders compete against each other like professional wrestlers, without thinking about the impact on society.
Further division is not the answer, division is not the answer
Unity is the solution to societal problems, not further division.
Greed and fear seem to be the driving forces of modern life
Many people are motivated by selfishness and fear in today's society.
We're encouraged to consume and consume
Society promotes the idea of constant consumption, even if it is not sustainable or necessary.
With no thought of where it all comes from, and where it all goes
Consumers do not consider the origin or destination of their consumption.
Our lives are accelerating as we fall out of touch
People's lives are becoming faster-paced, causing them to become detached from nature and traditional values.
With nature and ancient myth
The artist believes that reconnecting with nature and ancient stories is necessary for society to improve.
We're desperately in need of a brand new dream
Society needs a fresh perspective on how to address its problems.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T G Ortile
I love Ben Lee's music! No useless drama.
David Ross
Damn good stuff as usual
Brainy Marte
Good
KindSir
😀