They have released three studio albums to date - Problems (2007), Head of the Hawk (2009) and Company (2011). The band formed in 2002 and began their career playing improvised hip-hop sets in small bars.
Bluejuice released their debut album Problems in 2007 after two EPs and constant touring. Problems was well received by Rolling Stone magazine in Australia, which awarded the album a four out of five rating.The band's first single, "Vitriol", enjoyed airplay on the Australian national radio network Triple J, being the second most popular track in 2007 and ultimately reaching No. 11 in the annual Triple J Hottest 100 countdown in 2007. "Vitriol" ranked number 67 in the Australian Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Best songs of 2007. The video clip for "Vitriol" won best clip at Sunscreen Video Awards in 2007.
The video clip for "The Reductionist", the second single from Problems, was Rage "Indie Clip of the Week" in January 2008. The third single, "Phantom Boogie," received substantial airplay on Triple J. All three singles were produced by Genevieve Maynard.
In 2009, Bluejuice signed to the Australian record label Dew Process and recorded their second studio album at Big Jesus Burger in Sydney with producer/mixer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan, Public Enemy, Super Furry Animals, Weezer). Lead single "Broken Leg" debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number 47 on 23 August 2009. They released the album Head of the Hawk on 18 September 2009, and it debuted at No. 37 on the Australian Albums Chart. "Broken Leg" eventually peaked at No. 27 on the Australian Singles Chart, supported by a music video directed by Samuel Bennetts, as well as reaching No. 5 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2009. The band performed the song on Channel Seven's Sunrise and Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports.
The second single from Head of the Hawk is "(Ain't) Telling the Truth", which was added to Triple J airplay. The band have also been nominated for two ARIA Awards in 2009 for Best Breakthrough Artist (Single) for "Broken Leg" and Best Video for "Broken Leg". The "Broken Leg" video was directed by Sammuel Bennet and was shot at the Metro in Sydney with the local skipping team called (in video) "Shimmer Extreme" led by the coach TK. "Broken Leg" was also voted No. 1 on Rage's inaugural "Rage FIFTY" in 2009.
On the Grand Final (part 1) episode of the AFL Footy Show, Hawthorn Football Club players Ben Stratton, Jarryd Morton, Matt Suckling and Liam Shiels re-enacted the popular video clip to "Broken Leg" live as part of the 2010 Player Review.
On November 11, 2011, Bluejuice released their third album, Company. The first single 'Act Yr Age' was co-written by Sparkadia's Alex Burnett. The closing track, 'On My Own' was co-written by The Presets' Julian Hamilton.
In January 2012, Bluejuice once again completed their annual Sizzling Summer tour with dance act The Aston Shuffle. They also played both Big Day Out and Groovin' the Moo festival tours.
Miss Johnston
Bluejuice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said nothing but thought my colours were alright
Miss Johnston, you threw that photo away
You found that image in here, thought I was serious (?)
So Miss Johnston, you'd had a bit to drink
Maybe I pulled you off the block and found the same on the hot
So Miss Johnston, what is that message all week
Mixed in my grammar, thinking that you think I'm a creep
Just be careful who you're playing with, with, with
Just be careful if you're saying this, this, this
Just be careful who you're playing with, with, with
Just be careful if you're saying this, this, this
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
So Miss Johnston, you've got the shits at me
But-but-but-but I said nothing, you're far too easily steamed
Miss Johnston, what at that meeting was read?
I can see some damage through that will happen through the years
Miss Johnston, I see you in a few days
You tell me maybe you're free, I'm thinking maybe you're crazy
Miss Johnston, I'd like to meet you again
I sent that email today, we'll see who's serious then
And whispered
Just be careful who you're playing with, with, with
Just be careful if you're saying this, this, this
Just be careful who you're playing with, with, with
Just be careful if you're saying this, this, this
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
So Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Sent it straight to you, said to meet quarter-to-four
Miss Johnston, shouting out to the east
Fighting to fire me up, enraging, endangering the beast
So Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
So Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Here we go again, here we go again
Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Here we go again, here we go again
The song "Miss Johnston" by Bluejuice is a story of a man who meets a woman named Miss Johnston at night. They make eye contact and share a moment, and she tells him she likes his colors. He catches her throwing a photo of him away but wonders if she took the image from inside of her. Later, after having drinks, he feels as if she sees him as a creep in the messages he's been sending her. The chorus warns everybody to be careful about who they're playing with and what they're saying.
The song seems to be about the difficulties of communication and relationship-building in the age of digital connections, emphasizing the increasing sense of danger that can come along with them. The man puts himself out there and tries to build a connection with Miss Johnston, but the mixed signals and misinterpretations and overall eeriness of the entire situation causes tension.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that the communication contract between people changed since technology has been rampant, and it's becoming harder to make real connections as people tend to misunderstand others' intentions through the online discourse.
Line by Line Meaning
So Miss Johnston, we locked eyes at the side of the night
I saw Miss Johnston in the evening and we made eye contact
You said nothing but thought my colours were alright
Miss Johnston didn't say anything but seemed to like my outfit
Miss Johnston, you threw that photo away
Miss Johnston got rid of a photo, possibly because it made her uncomfortable
You found that image in here, thought I was serious (?)
Miss Johnston may have thought the photo was evidence of me being serious about something
So Miss Johnston, you'd had a bit to drink
Miss Johnston had been drinking
Maybe I pulled you off the block and found the same on the hot
I may have taken Miss Johnston away from a crowded area and found something to do together
So Miss Johnston, what is that message all week
I'm curious about a message that Miss Johnston has been sending all week, wondering if she thinks badly of me
Mixed in my grammar, thinking that you think I'm a creep
I worry that my bad grammar in the message will make me seem like a creepy person
Just be careful who you're playing with, with, with
I warn Miss Johnston to be cautious about the people she interacts with
Just be careful if you're saying this, this, this
I caution Miss Johnston to think carefully about what she says
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Refrain
So Miss Johnston, you've got the shits at me
Miss Johnston is angry at me for some reason
But-but-but-but I said nothing, you're far too easily steamed
I didn't say anything to upset Miss Johnston, she's just easily angered
What at that meeting was read?
I'm curious about what was discussed at a previous meeting
I can see some damage through that will happen through the years
I foresee some negative consequences from a decision made at the meeting
Miss Johnston, I see you in a few days
I will see Miss Johnston again soon
You tell me maybe you're free, I'm thinking maybe you're crazy
Miss Johnston suggests she might be free to meet, but I think she's unpredictable
I sent that email today, we'll see who's serious then
I sent an email to Miss Johnston and want to see if she takes it seriously
Miss Johnston, you're sure that you're not sure
Miss Johnston seems unsure about something
Sent it straight to you, said to meet quarter-to-four
I sent a message to Miss Johnston suggesting we meet at 3:45pm
Miss Johnston, shouting out to the east
Miss Johnston is calling out or saying something to the east
Fighting to fire me up, enraging, endangering the beast
Miss Johnston is trying to provoke me, which could be dangerous
Here we go again, here we go again
Refrain
Writer(s): STONE JACOB, YIANNOUKAS STAVROS, CRAIB JEREMY RAYMOND, MOLESWORTH EDMUND GUY, CIBEJ JAMES MATTHEW, HAUPTMANN JAMES WILLIAM
Contributed by Makayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.