The duo was formed in 2005 when Halligan answered a Craigslist ad for a singer posted by Shahani, who had previously founded the Supreme Beings of Leisure. Their 11-track debut album, The Mating Game, was released April 4, 2006 under Quango Music Group and has been reviewed and recognized by several magazine publications, such as Urb and People. The title track was featured on a commercial for the winery, Korbel.
In summer of 2007, Bitter:Sweet released The Remix Game, featuring reworked versions of tracks from The Mating Game by renowned producers such as Thievery Corporation, Fort Knox Five, and Skeewiff. These tracks were previously available only on vinyl, or unreleased.
They are often compared to, or appeal to fans of, Zero 7, Morcheeba, Björk, Portishead, Everything But the Girl, and Serge Gainsbourg.
Recently, they have been listed on the Top 10 on the iTunes Store electronic chart and have been placed on radio station KCRW's Top 5 Most Requested CD for the week of March 20, 2006 [1].
Additionally, they have been featured on the soundtrack of The Devil Wears Prada, in Episode 2 ("I Am a Tree") of Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy, in the movies Because I Said So and Shoot 'Em Up, in a Zune advertisement, and also placed on MSN's list for "Ones to Watch" [2].
Their official website is http://www.bittersweetmusic.com
The Mating Game
Bitter:Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sail away to heaven's open doors
Step right up
You're the next contestant
In this sweet charade
Take a number
Wait while I twist your fate
Mating game
On the mating game
Mating game
Hold me close enough to drink my rose
The devil in my pocket turn to go
Sorry if you want it
You're in a daze
Tonight, I love you
But tomorrow go away
Step right up
Who's the next contestant
In this sweet charade
Take a number
Wait while I tease you say
On the mating game
The mating game
On the mating game
Mating game
The mating game
On the mating game (mating game)
The mating game (mating game)
On the mating game (mating game)
On the mating game
In "The Mating Game," Bitter:Sweet sings about the thrill and deception of the dating game. The first two lines of the song set the scene, inviting the listener to join in a dance across the ocean floor and sail away to heaven's open doors. It's a romantic and seductive image, but the next lines introduce a darker element to the song. The singer refers to the dating game as a sweet charade, implying that there is something insincere or even deceitful about the pursuit of love. The lyrics go on to suggest that the person they're addressing is just another contestant in this game of love, waiting for their turn to be selected or rejected.
Despite the manipulation and uncertainty of the mating game, the song is still tinged with a sense of desire and attraction. The chorus repeats the phrase "On the mating game" several times, evoking a sense of repetition and ritual that is inherent in dating culture. The vulnerable and intimate lines "Hold me close enough to drink my rose" and "Tonight, I love you but tomorrow go away" also show that the singer is not immune to the emotional highs and lows of romantic pursuit. In the end, "The Mating Game" is a bittersweet commentary on the complexities of modern love and the choices we make in the name of passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Dance with me across the ocean floor
Come with me on this adventurous journey
Sail away to heaven's open doors
Let's go somewhere amazing together
Step right up
Come closer, be involved
You're the next contestant
You're the next person to play this game
In this sweet charade
This situation may not be what it seems
Take a number
Wait your turn
Wait while I twist your fate
Be patient as I manipulate your destiny
On the mating game
This is a game we play to find a mate
Mating game
The rules of the game
Hold me close enough to drink my rose
Hold me as close as possible
The devil in my pocket turn to go
My negative thoughts are leaving
Sorry if you want it
I apologize if you wanted something more
You're in a daze
You're confused and disoriented
Tonight, I love you
I have feelings for you right now
But tomorrow go away
But those feelings won't last
Who's the next contestant
Who's next in line to play the game
Wait while I tease you say
Be patient as I playfully entice you
The mating game
The game we play to find a mate
The mating game
The rules of the game
On the mating game
Participating in the game
Mating game
The rules of the game
The mating game
The game we play to find a mate
On the mating game
Participating in the game
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KIRAN SHAHANI, MICHAEL RAILTON, SHANA HALLIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind