The name of the group is derived etymologically from Swedish liquor Brännvin, a style of spirit best described as low-grade vodka. The name originated as a joke associated with the taupe-coloured Volkswagen Camper Van owned by Bergen in the mid-1990s which was said to run solely on bran flakes, brännvin and brand recognition when carrying the artists on tour around Canada.
1994–1996: Formation
In 1994, James Di Salvio (b. November 28, 1972) had received a royalty cheque for work on a remix he had done on a track for Quebec songwriter Jean Leloup, and invited his friend E.P. Bergen (b. 13 April 1972) to "come help him spend the money".[2] The two got together in Manhattan and coined Bran Van 3000 in 1994. Di Salvio was a video director and asked E.P. to come teach him how to produce tracks with a sampler and turntables. Together they went and bought studio equipment in Times Square. E.P. returned to Montreal and immediately co-wrote/produced a single with Jean Leloup called: "Johnny Go". E.P. invited James to come over and record his first ever rap on that song. It later went to number one in the Quebec charts. James Di Salvio also directed the music video. This was in effect the first ever Bran Van 3000 collaboration.
Together James and E.P. went back to New York to record "Forest" and "Ma Chambre" for Jean Leloup's platinum album "Le Dome". These tracks were very successful, leading to a record deal with Audiogram Records. Together with Haig V, they co-produced the first BV3 album. Jean Leloup gave "Forest" to Bran Van 3000. Bergen started a cover of "Come On Feel The Noise" with plans to have Sara Johnston sing on it. Di Salvio discovered Liquid. In 1996, the album was almost finished. As a joke, James and E.P. sent a demo of the unfinished songs "Drinking In LA", "Couch Surfer" and "Everywhere" to the Canadian Music Week contest. Bran Van 3000 came in first place with another act (Jack Rustle), but got disqualified because there was no real band to perform the showcase. They finished the album and E.P. started auditioning the touring band that included Gary Mackenzie, Nick Hynes and Rob Joanisse.
1996–1999: Glee
Bran Van 3000 finally released their first single, "Drinking in L.A.", in February 1997 in Canada. In April of the same year, the band released their first album, called Glee. The record went gold in 1998 and won a Juno Award for best alternative album. It contained 17 tracks, one of them entirely in French called "Forest" featuring Jean Leloup. "Afrodiziak", produced by E.P. Bergen sold 100 000 copies in Germany with EMI and appeared in the movie XChange. The song "Everywhere" was featured on the soundtrack to the film Practical Magic and "Drinking in L.A." was featured in the soundtrack to Playing by Heart. "Ceci n'est pas une chanson" (later "Une chanson") contains the main melody of "Perfect" song from The The.
In March 1998, Glee was released internationally albeit some changes: "Ceci n'est pas une chanson" became an instrumental simply called "Une chanson"; the French song, "Forest", was reworked with several English verses. The international version has 19 tracks. Previously unreleased songs are "Rainshine", "Carry On" and "Old School".
After signing with Capitol Records, Bran Van 3000 began a massive touring schedule. It started across Canada, then zigzagged across the United States in Bob Dylan's Tour bus. Every day, the band was waiting for confirmation of show dates. The dates were sometimes confirmed the day before and the band would have to drive for ten hours to the next gig, only to find the posters rolled up in the coat check of many venues instead of on the walls. This inadequate tour planning forced the band to play in front of 20 to 50 people a night. Things eventually got better.
In Europe, EMI booked the band months ahead of time so that there was adequate promo. The band enjoyed larger crowds and got the rockstar treatment in every country in Western Europe. They also opened up for Massive Attack, Björk in sports arenas, as well as Pulp and Moby when they got back home.
In July 1998, "Drinking in L.A." reached No. 36 in the UK Singles Chart,[4] becoming their first transatlantic hit. In August 1999 the single was re-released after the song was featured in a popular TV commercial for Rolling Rock, and peaked at No. 3 in the UK.
2000–2001: Discosis
In 2000, E.P. Bergen temporarily quit Bran Van 3000 to make a solo record: Airport Lounge and work on HBO movie scores: "Dead Awake" starring Stephen Baldwin and "Swindle" starring Tom Sizemore and Dave Foley of The Kids in the Hall.
In the summer of 2001, Bran Van 3000 released the album Discosis. The song "Astounded" featured the final recorded performance from soul legend Curtis Mayfield before his death and became the most successful Canadian single by the collective. Other collaborators on the album were Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour and reggae artist Eek-a-Mouse. The song Go Shopping was featured on the soundtrack to the Mexican film Y tu mamá también.
2002–2006: Hiatus
In the summer of 2002 the band's Web site indicated that it was not working on new material or touring, nor did the band at that time had any plans of doing so.
2006–2007: Rosé
Unbeknownst to fans in 2006, E.P. Bergen contacted Audiogram and the publishers to obtain the initial financing of a third album. It was later announced that BV3 was working on a third album, Rosé, which was released in Canada on October 30 and in the US on November 27, 2007. Rosé was co-produced by James Di Salvio and Sara Johnston with the collaboration of Fatlip, Max-A-Million, Swanza, Chris Opperman, Noel Osborne and others. The album was written in Los Angeles and was recorded at Depeche Mode's studio and in Hollywood at Steve Vai's Studio. On July 1, 2008, the original group got back together, on stage, at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, playing songs from Rosé as well as some of their previous hits, in front of a crowd numbering around 180,000.
2010–2012: The Garden
After the death of his friend and father, Bobby Di Salvio, James got the collective back together and confirmed a new album on August 2010. "The Garden" was released on October 19, 2010. Since then Di Salvio and parts of the group are touring through Montreal and Canada, collaborating with different singers and instrumentalists like Pierre-Luc Cérat, Nick Hynes, Pascal Lepage Stéphane Moraille.
The Answer
Bran Van 3000 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A pimpin' big daddy with a Lincoln Town Car
Drove it real fast with the fly-ass hos
Playing chicken with the devil for the greatest applause
First came the question
And then came the answer
And then came the ultimate question:
Then the messiah, alright
Lost and found with the resurrection
And with tools of deep precision
With the schools of thought complexion
Teaching us the brain expansion
It got heavy, we started dancing
Bran van three grand
We don't have to make it
Complicated
Act like a man, boy
We don't have to make it
Complicated
I said come comma comma comma some more
Kick up the club floor, that's what ya came for
Leave your big booty round at my front porch
And leave your big ugly frown back out the back door
Forget your big plans, your high ideals
'Cause it's a quicksand for the way you feel
When they put you down the river and they leave you squeal
Come on, squeal like a pig how the summer girl feels
We're leaving, leaving our machine this very evening
They're programming your head
So stop believing
No need to complicate, it's all illusion
Anyways, I feel the machine's got boring
Bran van three grand
We don't have to make it
Complicated
Act like a man, boy
We don't have to make it
Complicated
Hey Charlton Heston
Moses did alright without a handgun
If you're horny for god let Dizzy give some
I'm Dizzy D, no one the finer
The queen and king, from here to China
All the ladies love to give me the boom boom boom boom
Back to my room where it's hurry hurry hurry and wait
A bottle of crisp and a pasta plate
Kick up the love baby, down the hate
'Cause the bran van brothers do not complicate
Say hurry hurry hurry rush
You're moving so fast that you're out of touch
Money money money got your head in a mush
Now Bush has got the button, is he gonna push?
Well, some little joker got a dot-com deal
About Internet wiggers and keepin' it real
You're sweatin' like a fool to put the gravy on your meal
And now you just found out you lost your sex appeal
Bran van three grand
We don't have to make it
Complicated
Act like a man, boy
We don't have to make it
Complicated
The answer...
(Can you take me higher?)
...is in the dancer.
The lyrics of Bran Van 3000's song, The Answer, touch on several topics, including Christianity, societal expectations, and mental health. The first verse refers to Jesus Christ as a "superstar" and suggests that he was a "big daddy" who drove a Lincoln Town Car and played chicken with the devil. This image portrays Christ as a fearless, unconventional hero. The second verse poses a series of questions, culminating in the ultimate question: "Are you happy?" The messiah is said to have been "lost and found with the resurrection" and to have taught about "brain expansion." The overall message here is that happiness and enlightenment are achievable through inner exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus Christ was a superstar
Jesus was an exceptional and celebrated figure
A pimpin' big daddy with a Lincoln Town Car
Describing Jesus in modern terms as a cool man with swagger
Drove it real fast with the fly-ass hos
Jesus was a reckless driver and had attractive women that would ride with him and enjoy his company
Playing chicken with the devil for the greatest applause
Jesus put himself in harm's way to show off and entertain others
First came the question
An introduction to a series of events that followed the initial question
And then came the answer
A response to the question that was asked earlier
And then came the ultimate question: Are you happy?
A deeper, more philosophical question about contentment in life
Then the messiah, alright
An affirmation of Jesus' role as the Messiah
Lost and found with the resurrection
Jesus was once lost and then found again after his resurrection
And with tools of deep precision
Jesus was equipped with precision and expertise to complete his mission
With the schools of thought complexion
Jesus was well-educated and knowledgeable about different ways of thinking and philosophies
Teaching us the brain expansion
Jesus' teachings were meant to help people expand their minds and challenge their beliefs
It got heavy, we started dancing
Despite the heavy subject matter, there was still a need to enjoy life and have fun
Bran van three grand
A reference to the band Bran Van 3000
We don't have to make it Complicated
Life doesn't have to be difficult
Act like a man, boy
A humorous contradiction, telling boys to act like men
I said come comma comma comma some more
A playful transition into the next part of the song
Kick up the club floor, that's what ya came for
Encouraging people to dance and have fun
Leave your big booty round at my front porch
A suggestive and provocative line about inviting someone to a personal space
And leave your big ugly frown back out the back door
Telling people to leave their negativity behind
Forget your big plans, your high ideals
Discouraging people from sticking too closely to their plans and ideals
'Cause it's a quicksand for the way you feel
Plans and ideals can limit and trap you
When they put you down the river and they leave you squeal
Others can take advantage of your situation and leave you helpless
Come on, squeal like a pig how the summer girl feels
A reference to the movie Deliverance, telling people to express themselves freely
We're leaving, leaving our machine this very evening
Breaking free from the societal structures that hold people back
They're programming your head
People are being controlled by societal norms and beliefs
So stop believing
Stop blindly accepting what you've been told
No need to complicate, it's all illusion
Life is simpler than it seems
Anyways, I feel the machine's got boring
The societal structures that control people have become dull and tiresome
Hey Charlton Heston
A reference to the actor Charlton Heston
Moses did alright without a handgun
Moses was able to succeed without weapons
If you're horny for god let Dizzy give some
A playful reference to sexual desire involving religion
I'm Dizzy D, no one the finer
A self-introduction by one of the songwriters, Dizzy D
The queen and king, from here to China
Dizzy D and another songwriter are the kings of their music genre
All the ladies love to give me the boom boom boom boom
Dizzy D is bragging about his sexual prowess
Back to my room where it's hurry hurry hurry and wait
A reference to the contradictory nature of sex, where there's a rush followed by waiting
A bottle of crisp and a pasta plate
Ingredients for a romantic evening
Kick up the love baby, down the hate
Encouraging people to focus on love instead of hate
'Cause the bran van brothers do not complicate
A reference to the band's belief in life not being complicated
Say hurry hurry hurry rush
Encouraging people to move quickly
You're moving so fast that you're out of touch
Moving too quickly can cause you to lose touch with reality
Money money money got your head in a mush
Money can cloud your judgment and thinking process
Now Bush has got the button, is he gonna push?
A political reference to George W. Bush and his decision-making capabilities as president
Well, some little joker got a dot-com deal
A reference to the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s, where people made money from tech startups
About Internet wiggers and keepin' it real
A playful reference to people on the Internet who act differently than they do in real life
You're sweatin' like a fool to put the gravy on your meal
Working hard for something that may not be worthwhile
And now you just found out you lost your sex appeal
Losing the attractiveness that used to appeal to others
The answer...
Referring back to the earlier question
(Can you take me higher?)
A yearning to find a deeper meaning in life
...is in the dancer.
The answer is in the simple joys of life, like dancing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID DI SALVIO, JAMES DI SALVIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neirinjoseph6817
This is now 20 but what freaks me out is that I don’t think that it sounds dated at all.
I’m listening through headphones and you could’ve told me that this came out this year and I wouldn’t bat an eye... is anyone else in agreement with me?
@beefpepperoni6323
Yes
@jakobs.family.computer
Yep
@fungi42021
that's what so great about bv3
@JTC545
Still the best song on the playlist. Haters be damned
@errorafterdark5615
JTC545 ehrmm, nvm. Lol
@TheMegaGleek
Thank you so much for uploading this!!! I love this so much!
@rotgarg5308
I have not heard this song in like 10 years, but I still remember to never bet DBZ.
@LogInator999
I have an unhealthy addiction to this song, while I can understand why SEGA chose the Latch Brothers remix over the original due to the vulgarity of most of the lyrics, I still wish they had kept the chorus, that's my favorite part, damnit!
@attackofthecopyrightbots
sega?