Blue Hawaii, Arbutus Records and many of their Montreal counter-parts all began with the same breath in early 2010. Their debut album Blooming Summer (2010) was recorded following the pair’s travels in Central America. It frames a time of warmth and novelty, featuring dense female harmonies, tape saturated synths, guitars and drum machines. Eventually Ra (Raphaelle Standell-Preston) returned to her role in Braids, touring constantly, while Agor (Alexander Cowan) moved to Europe, treading deeper into dance music, electronics, and production.
The two decided to make Untogether in 2012; they began recording on New Years Day in Vancouver and intermittently worked on the project until summer broke in Montreal. The music followed their winter in Canada, it became colder, more introspective. It again captured a time and place, but instead of a dense saturation of love and excitement, this record reflects the vast world of self-awareness and delicacy. It takes for its subject the question of belonging, despite overwhelming space.
Musically, the production on the album is more spacious and physically it was recorded in separation. Despite this, it belongs together in its final form. It demonstrates successful creative process in a pair who composed apart, and in doing so it is a meditation on communication: how technology and art influence modern human relationships. It contains the vast space of two years passing, including watching their Montreal scene change as some launched into international success and others turned deeper inwards. Here, the album finds the conflict of separation/belonging to one’s self and community.
The duo notice that throughout the changing social and personal landscape which is one’s twenties, these divided notions and people somehow stay together. Even the name Blue Hawaii suggests a kind of melancholic, jaded paradise, but a paradise after all. It is because – or perhaps in spite of – these disjointed intersections that the record is called Untogether.
Sweet Tooth
Blue Hawaii Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Instead I leave you by yourself
Everyone always tests the ground
When they try to fly up south
It might seem early I just need
I just need to talk it out
To hold some, only energy through whole out
We finally push and shout, shout,
Oh it seems like we can’t put down
And there’s nothing, nothing else around now
When we found, when we found
When we found, when we found
When we found, when we found
Tell me what you wanna, go harder, go harder
Tell me what you wanna
Tell me what you wanna, go harder, go harder
Piece of me, it fits ok...
That’s what I wanted, that’s what I wanted
I still love it on my day side
That’s what I wanted, that’s what I wanted
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round.
The lyrics of "Sweet Tooth" by Blue Hawaii are an intricate look at the importance of communication in relationships. The first verse begins with the singer saying that they do not come around, but instead leave the other person by themselves. However, they recognize the importance of communication and seem to be making an effort to talk things out. They even mention the need to hold onto positive energy throughout the whole conversation. The second verse starts off with the idea that sweet souls often get hurt when they push themselves forward. This can lead to shouting and nothing else being around them. The singer seems to be telling the other person that they can talk about what they want and push harder, but that they, themselves, only want a piece of it. The repetition of the word "round" at the end of the lyrics could symbolize that they will continue to circle around each other until they have resolved their issues.
The song seems to be about the ebbs and flows of relationships, specifically those that have a sweet, almost addictive quality to them. The singer wants to communicate with their loved one but is hesitant or unsure about how to approach them. The idea that sweet souls get hurt when they push themselves is a universal truth that many people can relate to. Pushing too hard or too fast can often lead to negative outcomes, such as shouting or feeling alone. Ultimately, "Sweet Tooth" is about recognizing the importance of communication and finding a balance with those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Here’s some tea, I don’t come around
I may not visit often, but here's something small to show that I care
Instead I leave you by yourself
I may not always be physically present, but I trust in your ability to handle things on your own
Everyone always tests the ground
People are cautious when trying new things
When they try to fly up south
When they try to pursue their dreams or go against the norm
It might seem early I just need
It may be premature, but I just need to express myself
I just need to talk it out
I just need to communicate my feelings to someone
To hold some, only energy through whole out
To preserve and maintain positive energy throughout it all
Seems like sweet souls get some
Kind people receive good things in life
We finally push and shout, shout,
We have been bottling up our emotions for too long and finally need to express them loudly
Oh it seems like we can’t put down
It feels like we cannot let go of something
And there’s nothing, nothing else around now
In this moment, all that exists is our feelings and the need to express them
When we found, when we found
When we discovered something meaningful to us
Tell me what you wanna, go harder, go harder
Tell me what you desire and let's put more effort into achieving it
Piece of me, it fits ok...
A part of me feels content and satisfied
That’s what I wanted, that’s what I wanted
This is exactly what I hoped for
I still love it on my day side
I still enjoy this part of my life
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Repetition and continuity
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Continued repetition
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Further repetition and continuity
Round, round, round, round, round, round.
Continuation and completion of the repetition
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.