While occasionally collaborating with high-profile acts such as Nirvana and Joan Jett, Bikini Kill was well-known for shunning major labels and the mainstream rock press. After two full-length albums, several EPs and two compilations, the band disbanded in 1998.
The band reformed in 2019.
Main article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikini_kill
Rah! Rah! Replica
Bikini Kill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh god, she looked just like me
Only nice and sweet and better
But she's not bacon, boy
She's fucking Sizzlean, yeah
She burnt my dresses and she cut my hair
She burnt my dresses and she cut my hair
Doused out the fire in my stare
One
Two
Now I live on a new street, baby
Now I live on a new street, yeah
Now I live on a new street, baby
Address double zero and the place is nowhere
Don't you try to fake me out!
The song Rah! Rah! Replica by Bikini Kill is a powerful commentary on the idea of self-identity and the struggle that comes with it when one's sense of self is being challenged or threatened. The lyrics talk about the experience of catching her boyfriend kissing someone who looked just like her, but only nicer and better in her opinion. This replica, while physically similar to her, represents a different kind of femininity that Bikini Kill rejects. The lyrics "But she's not bacon, boy, she's fucking Sizzlean" clearly indicate that the replica may look like her, but she is a poor substitute and cannot compete with the genuine article.
Furthermore, the second half of the song deals with the aftermath of this discovery. The lyrics "She burnt my dresses and she cut my hair, He burnt my dresses and he cut my hair" show that this incident has led to a loss of identity and control. The loss of dresses and hair are symbolic of the loss of femininity and individuality. The final lines of the song, "Now I live on a new street, baby / Address double zero and the place is nowhere" are a manifestation of the singer's desire to start afresh and leave behind the painful reminders of her traumatic experience. All in all, the song is a confrontational response to the phenomenon of imitation, where the singer ultimately reclaims her lost sense of self and proudly asserts her own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught my boyfriend kissing a replica
I caught my boyfriend kissing someone who looked exactly like me
Oh god, she looked just like me
I couldn't believe how much she resembled me
Only nice and sweet and better
She was only better because she acted kinder and more pleasant than me
But she's not bacon, boy
But she's not the real thing, boy
She's fucking Sizzlean, yeah
She's just a cheap imitation, yeah
She burnt my dresses and she cut my hair
She destroyed my cherished possessions and ruined my appearance
Doused out the fire in my stare
She took away my confidence and passion
Now I live on a new street, baby
Now I've moved to a new place, baby
Address double zero and the place is nowhere
I don't want to reveal my new address because it's a place of anonymity and isolation
Don't you try to fake me out!
Don't try to deceive me or pretend to be someone you're not
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Kathleen Hanna, Billy Karren, Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind