1. Brazil was a si… Read Full Bio ↴There are four bands with the artist name Brazil:
1. Brazil was a six-man progressive punk group based in Muncie, Indiana. Brazil's style was at the same time psychedelic and intense in nature, conjuring up delicious imagery of sinister sci-Fi scenery with perhaps a dash of post-modernist philosophy thrown in for extra flavor.
The band was originally called "London". When learning that London had been the name of the first incarnation of Motley Crue, they then changed name to Brazil, staying on a geographic theme (also inspired by from Terry Gilliam's 1985 sci-Fi movie of the same name). Their sci-Fi themes and imagery may also be attributed to this same inspiration.
Brazil was also (for unknown reasons) fond of using French phrases and lines in their lyrics. Jonathan Newby's vocals, which are reminiscent of At The Drive-In/The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala's, often seem to have an unexpected French accent. Tours supporting acts such as Coheed and Cambria, Sparta, MeWithoutYou, Say Anything, Rainier Maria and Forgive Durden solidify the band in the modern rock soundescape.
Brazil has released officially "Dasein" (EP-Fearless Records), "A Hostage and The Meaning of Life" (Fearless Records) and most recently 2006's "The Philosophy of Velocity" on Immortal Records.
The band plan to release a final "post-mortem" ep release of 3 new tracks, 4 reworked versions of older songs and a live track as a digital download this fall titled "Ere I Am J.H." This release will be the flagship release on Newby's homespun label Elefant & Haus.
The final lineup of the band was: Jonathan Newby (vocals, Moog synthesizer, original drummer), Eric Johnson and Aaron Smith (guitars), Nic Newby (keyboards), Phillip Williams (bass), and James Sefchek (drums). The band had at least 8 drummers over time, including Nater Kane and others who were pulled in for tour support.
2. Brazil was an emotive hardcore/punk band from Iowa City that included Matt Davis on vocals/guitars from The Vidablue and Ten Grand.
3. Brazil were a rock band from Leeds, UK active circa 1999-2002. The group released the six-track 'This Is Future Wave' E.P., including songs such as "Pornstar" and "Flatline", followed by the Eatitfightitfuckit E.P. featuring the tracks "School Daze", "Sister Volume", "Charmed" and "Razor Queen", both in 2001.
4. Brazil was a Darkwave/Synth Pop/New wave band from Sisak, active in Yugoslavia in the 80's.
Strange Days
Brazil Lyrics
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Where ghosts of authors linger
There's a little man that whispers
In a radio transmitter
There's a lady on a spider
With a baby's head beside her
There's a voice inside my earlobe
From a place the sidewalks don't go
[Chorus]
These are strange days!
There's a man with an umbrella
Who is smoking citronella
And he sees fantastic visions
Of a world outside my prison
There's a fountain full of ashes
And a snake beneath the grasses
And he's asking everybody
What makes them melancholy
[Chorus]
My language is patois
Philosophy is in my boudoir
My head's in Constantinople
And my body's in a bubble
I'm a Rosicrucian Lackey
In the ministry of Peculiar Things
I will tell you my secret
But only if you keep it
[Chorus]
But enough about me, why don't you tell me about your day?
In Brazil's song "Strange Days", the lyrics describe a surreal and otherworldly experience. The singer describes a room inside their own finger where the ghosts of authors linger, and a little man whispers in a radio transmitter. They also mention a lady on a spider with a baby's head beside her and a voice inside their earlobe that comes from a place the sidewalks don't go. All of these descriptions contribute to the idea of a strange and fantastical world outside of our own reality.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "These are strange days!", which acts as a sort of acknowledgement and acceptance of the strangeness they are experiencing. The second verse introduces a man with an umbrella who sees fantastic visions and a fountain full of ashes with a snake beneath the grasses. The man asks everybody what makes them melancholy, further emphasizing the eerie and mysterious nature of this world.
The final verse delves even deeper into the singer's personal experience, describing themselves as a Rosicrucian Lackey in the ministry of Peculiar Things. They mention their language is patois and their philosophy is in their boudoir, further emphasizing their distance from normal reality. They offer to share their secret, but only if it's kept, potentially alluding to the idea that this surreal experience is something personal and private.
Overall, the lyrics of "Strange Days" create a sense of disorientation and otherworldliness, encouraging the listener to imagine this strange and fantastical world.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a room inside my finger
I have a small space within my finger where imaginary figures live
Where ghosts of authors linger
These figures are the spirits of writers who have passed away
There's a little man that whispers
One of these figures is a tiny man who speaks softly
In a radio transmitter
He communicates his message through a device that transmits radio waves
There's a lady on a spider
Another figure is a woman who rides on a spider's back
With a baby's head beside her
Her companion is an infant's head lying next to her
There's a voice inside my earlobe
I can perceive a sound in my earlobe
From a place the sidewalks don't go
This sound comes from a location that normal pedestrians are not able to traverse
[Chorus]
These are unprecedented times!
There's a man with an umbrella
I see a man holding an umbrella
Who is smoking citronella
He is puffing on a type of fragrant oil used to repel insects
And he sees fantastic visions
He perceives wondrous sights in his mind's eye
Of a world outside my prison
He imagines a world beyond my personal confines
There's a fountain full of ashes
I observe a fountain containing remains of the deceased
And a snake beneath the grasses
I notice a serpent hidden in the vegetation
And he's asking everybody
The man with the umbrella is inquiring of others
What makes them melancholy
He wishes to know what causes others to feel sadness
[Chorus]
These are peculiar and curious days!
My language is patois
My way of speaking is influenced by creole dialects
Philosophy is in my boudoir
I study philosophy in my private chambers
My head's in Constantinople
My thoughts are preoccupied with cultural and historical sights of Istanbul
And my body's in a bubble
Meanwhile, my body is confined within a small, isolated space
I'm a Rosicrucian Lackey
I am a low-ranking member in the organization of Rosicrucianism
In the ministry of Peculiar Things
I am serving in an unusual and unusual government department
I will tell you my secret
I am willing to share my personal secret with you
But only if you keep it
You must promise to maintain confidentiality if I reveal this information to you
[Chorus]
These are truly bizarre times!
But enough about me, why don't you tell me about your day?
I have shared enough about myself; now it is your turn to discuss how your day has been
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVE GENN, MATTHEW GOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind