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
This Is Not a Test
Bikini Kill Lyrics
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When it gets right down to the heart of the matter
When it gets right down to the bottom of it all
When it gets right down to the heart of the matter
When it gets right down to the BOTTOM OF IT ALL
You're dumb and I'm not
I'm fat, I can't sleep
There's someone following me
Yr so blind you don't wanna see
You're fucked and I'm not
You don't make all the rules, yeah!
I know what I'm gonna fuckin do
Me and my girlfriends gonna push on through
We are gonna stomp on you, yeah!
You're dumb I'm not
You're fucked I'm not
The Bikini Kill song "This is not a Test" is a fierce proclamation of independence and defiance against the status quo that disempowers and silences women. The repetition of the phrase "This is not a test" suggests both urgency and a refusal to accept the norms that the society imposes on women. For Bikini Kill, the oppression experienced by women is not a drill or a rehearsal but a daily reality that demands immediate action. The use of bold typography in the music video and promotional materials for the song reinforces this sense of urgency and defiance.
The lyrics speak to the heart of the matter of women's lived experiences, which are often marginalized or dismissed. The singer challenges the listener by saying "when it gets right down to the heart of the matter", suggesting that there is a fundamental issue at stake that is not being addressed by society. When the song gets "right down to the bottom of it all," the raw emotions that have been suppressed rise to the surface, exposing the injustice and pain that women have had to endure. The line "you're dumb and I'm not" suggests that the singer is no longer willing to tolerate being underestimated or dismissed as inferior.
The song expresses the tension between assertiveness and vulnerability, which are often wrongly considered as mutually exclusive for women. The lines "I'm fat, I can't sleep" and "I'm fat, I can't cum cum" hint at the bodily insecurities that women face, but they are not meant as self-pity or defeat. Instead, they are part of a larger statement of resistance, a refusal to be silenced by shame or guilt. The final lines "You're dumb I'm not, You're fucked I'm not" serve as a defiant reminder that women are not powerless victims but active agents of change.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not a test this is not a test this is not a test
This is not just a practice or a drill, this is real and serious.
When it gets right down to the heart of the matter
When we focus on the core issue or main problem.
When it gets right down to the bottom of it all
When we delve deep into the root of the issue and examine every aspect.
When it gets right down to the heart of the matter
Again, this line emphasizes the importance of addressing the main issue.
When it gets right down to the BOTTOM OF IT ALL
Emphasizing the seriousness and urgency of tackling the problem completely.
You're dumb and I'm not
An insult directed at someone else for being ignorant or foolish.
I'm fat, I can't sleep
The singer is experiencing physical and emotional discomfort due to their weight, which affects their ability to rest.
There's someone following me
The artist is feeling unsafe, uncomfortable, and paranoid about being watched or followed.
I'm fat, I can't cum cum
Referencing the difficulty some overweight people may have with sexual pleasure and/or performance.
Yr so blind you don't wanna see
An accusation towards someone who is deliberately or ignorantly avoiding the truth or reality of a situation.
You're fucked and I'm not
A taunt directed towards someone who is experiencing negative consequences while the singer is not.
You don't make all the rules, yeah!
Challenging someone who is trying to wield power and control over others by asserting their own autonomy and refusal to be controlled.
I know what I'm gonna fuckin do
The singer is determined and confident in their next course of action.
Me and my girlfriends gonna push on through
The singer and their friends are united and committed to fighting against a common problem or enemy.
We are gonna stomp on you, yeah!
Threatening physical or metaphorical violence against the person or system being opposed.
You're dumb I'm not
The artist restates their earlier insult.
You're fucked I'm not
The artist restates their earlier taunt.
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
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