1. BETTY is an alternative… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1. BETTY is an alternative rock group from New York City.
2. Betty (ベティ) was formed in July 2005 by 勇 and たら.
3. A Belgian TV-personality that released some singles like "Gek op jou" and "Boys, boys, boys".
4. A U.S Hard/Psych band from the 70's.
5. A female singer-songwriter from Mexico, was a member of the 90s pop group "Voces". Released the album "Alma Desnuda" in 2005 on Univision Music
6. An Armenian Junior Eurovision 2014 representant (full name Elizabeth Danielyan).
1. BETTY is an alternative rock group from New York City, The group originated in Washington, D.C. and traces its lineage to a birthday party for Dodie Bowers (the original owner of the 9:30 Club). The band's harmonies and unique lyrics attracted a cult following in the vibrant alternative music scene and among gay/lesbian audiences. A "BETTY Rules" t-shirt, an early marketing item of the band, appears on one of the AIDS quilts.
In the late 1980s the band relocated to NYC. The name of their first album, "Hello, BETTY!" comes from the standard opening for all their appearances. In 1995, the band expanded by adding lead guitar and drums to the initial line-up primarily of vocals with electronic accompaniment.
Betty appeared in every episode of the 1986 HBO Series Encyclopedia, singing educational songs each centered around a particular word, as well as performing the opening and closing theme songs. The members involved were Alyson Palmer/Amy Ziff/Elizabeth Ziff, although they were credited in the show's opening titles as simply "Betty".
In 2003 the group starred in its own off-Broadway show BETTY RULES directed by Rent's Michael Greif. The musical ran for 6 months at the Zipper Theatre. The show has since been performed in Chicago at the Lakeside Theatre and at Theater J in Washington, DC. BETTY has appeared as a regular guest artist on the television show The L Word, for which they provided the theme song.
Line-up:
Elizabeth Ziff (vocals, guitar)
Alyson Palmer (vocals, bass)
Amy Ziff (vocals, cello)
Tony Salvatore (lead guitar)
Mino Gori (drums)
2. Betty (ベティ) was formed in July 2005 by 勇 and たら.
JaME: Tara, the former bassist of Panic Channel, left this last band because of hearing problems. After his hospitalization, he decided to create the duo Betty with Yuu, the former Never Crazy vocalist. They had taken part in only six events, but within that time they released their maxi-single Aka of which all 2000 copies were sold out.
The newly arrived reinforcements for Tara and Yuu weren’t completely unknown to the music scene as Toki, formerly Tsubasa, was in Panic Channel, while Setsuki played guitar in Karen, and Kasumi took care of drums in Gimikku.
On March 13th 2006, an exceptional sold-out live celebrated the end of Betty and the beginning of 176BIZ in the well-known Takadanobaba Area. The maxi-single Shinkai ni oboreta Sakana was released on March 22nd, points out a more rebel side of the band, especially in songs such as Dekiai and Drag on downer. They went on with more lives until the oneman "the scReaM of pRiMe" on June 20th.
176BIZ spend the whole summer preparing their first album Atelier which was planned to be released in September of 2006 in two different versions. The limited version, which included a PV of the song Aqua on top of the 10-tracks regular album, was quickly sold out.
The band will participate in the Christmas 2006 celebration their label Danger Crue records organized which will take place in nothing less than the Nippon Budôkan (10000 seats) where gathered bands as S.O.A.P, MUCC, SID, girugämesh, Tetsu69 will also perform.
metro
Betty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I beg of you
Shame on you
Now go to sleep without your dinner
And cry in the morning without your way
Café au lait
You sang in the metro and woke the dead
Shame, shame, shame, shame
Metro, metro, mademoiselle
I beg of you not to tell
I beg of you
Shame on you
Now walk in the garden without your mittens
And read in the corner without your light
Café au lait
I sold my soul for fresh hot bread
You sang in the metro and woke the dead
Shame, shame, shame, shame
Metro, metro, mademoiselle
I beg of you not to tell
I beg of you
Shame on you
Now jump from the top of the highest steeple
And drown at the bottom of the deepest well
Café oh well
I sold my soul for fresh hot bread
You sang in the metro and woke the dead
Shame, shame, shame
Metro, metro, metro, metro
Metro, metro, metro, metro
Metro, metro, metro, metro
The lyrics of Betty's song "Metro" tell a story of secrets, shame, and regret. The first verse begins with a plea not to reveal a secret, followed by a condemning "shame on you." The second verse paints a picture of punishment, with the singer being sent to bed without dinner and crying in the morning. The refrain of "Café au lait" appears in both verses, perhaps representing a small comfort or luxury that is now unobtainable.
The chorus of the song introduces a key image - the singer selling their soul for fresh hot bread. This could be interpreted literally as a Faustian bargain, or more metaphorically as a trade-off of something valuable for something necessary but ultimately unsatisfying. The line "You sang in the metro and woke the dead" could be referencing the idea that music has the power to awaken emotions and memories in listeners who may have felt numb or disconnected. The repetition of "shame" and "metro" in the chorus underscore the themes of guilt and confinement.
The final verse takes a more drastic turn, with the singer seemingly choosing to jump from a steeple and drown in a well rather than face the consequences of their actions. The final line, "Café oh well," could be interpreted in a few different ways - it could be read as a resigned acceptance of a situation that cannot be changed, or as a sarcastic dismissal of the importance of small pleasures like coffee. Overall, the lyrics of "Metro" create a complex emotional landscape that touches on themes of secrecy, shame, and the struggle to find meaning in everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
I beg of you not to tell
Requesting the listener to keep a secret.
I beg of you
Asking the listener for a favor.
Shame on you
Expressing disapproval or disappointment.
Now go to sleep without your dinner
Punishing the listener by withholding food.
And cry in the morning without your way
Reinforcing the punishment by taking away the listener's control.
Café au lait
A French coffee drink.
I sold my soul for fresh hot bread
Making a sacrifice for a basic necessity like food.
You sang in the metro and woke the dead
Highlighting the power of music to move people.
Shame, shame, shame, shame
Repeating a phrase to convey a strong sentiment.
Metro, metro, mademoiselle
Referencing the setting of the song - the subway system in France.
Now walk in the garden without your mittens
Continuing the punishment by taking away protective clothing.
And read in the corner without your light
Further depriving the listener by taking away a source of comfort like a book or light.
Now jump from the top of the highest steeple
Suggesting an extreme form of self-harm.
And drown at the bottom of the deepest well
Illustrating the severity of the punishment.
Café oh well
Playing with the phrase 'O well' to include another coffee reference.
Shame, shame, shame
Continuing the repetition to express disappointment in the listener's actions.
Metro, metro, metro, metro
Recurring the main setting of the song, and possibly reminding the listener of their place in the public transportation system.
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MyMelodyOfTheHeart
I just love the dramatic black and white atmosphere in this video, which accompanies the song perfectly. Without the song, I could see this whole video being a short film, following you three on three separate, intertwining stories. Very nice work on this.
BETTYverse
thanks!
jane siberry
great work! well done alyson! the edition, vision, direction wow!
BETTYverse
Thank Jane! we love you!!
Penny Arcade
love this song !! xoxo
Karen Houser
You guys rock😀
E. Ziff
Yay!
Kathy Konkle
Awesome! I can't wait until your show this December at City Winery with Gloria Steinham here in NYC. I have my tickets already.
BETTYverse
we can't wait!! www.hellobetty.com
Jaycee Genocide
This Rocks 🤘🏼