The band's core members were Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. This duo recorded and released the band's ambient debut album Feel Good Lost, in 2001, with contributions from Ohad Benchetrit (also known as Years), Evan Cranley, Leslie Feist, Justin Peroff, Bill Priddle, and Charles Spearin. All of these musicians would emerge as key members of Broken Social Scene in future endeavors.
After the release of Feel Good Lost (an almost entirely instrumental album), Drew and Canning decided to transition the band into a more energetic sound reflective of the Toronto indie music scene of the early 2000's. As a result, they brought in a number of local artistic and musicial friends -- the Apostle of Hustle Andrew Whiteman, Jason Collett, Metric's Emily Haines, and Leslie Feist -- to flesh out their live show with lyrics and vocals. Over time, the band also came to include contributions from James Shaw, John Crossingham, Lisa Lobsinger, Julie Penner, Sam Goldberg, and Stars' Amy Millan.
Many of the later guest musicians joined with Drew, Canning, Peroff and Spearin to record the band's second album You Forgot It In People in 2002 on the label Arts & Crafts. This album, an eclectic, restlessly creative collection of experimental yet accessible pop songs, became the band's critical and commercial breakthrough -- it was greeted with widely positive reviews, and landed on many music critics' year-end Best-Of lists. For the success of the release, Broken Social Scene was awarded the Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award in 2003.
The album also included musical contributions by Bill Priddle, Jessica Moss, Brodie West, Susannah Brady and Ohad Benchetrit, but these were credited as supporting musicians rather than band members. On the supporting tour, the band consisted of Drew, Canning, Peroff, Whiteman and Jason Collett, along with whoever else was available to attend any individual show. Amy Millan and Gentleman Reg also joined for some shows.
In 2004, the B-sides and remix collection Bee Hives was released.
Broken Social Scene released their third full-length, self-titled album on October 4, 2005, with new contributors including k-os, Jason Tait and Murray Lightburn. The inside booklet accompanying album also noted several new faces as part of Broken Social Scene. A limited edition EP To Be You And Me was also printed along with the album. For the first time David Newfeld, who had produced Broken Social Scene's albums, was listed as a band member.
The group appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on January 31, 2006 performing 7/4 (Shoreline). During the several-year recording hiatus that followed, many members focused on their respective solo musical efforts; Drew and Canning both released albums under the name Broken Social Scene. The entire band appeared in the 2009 film The Time Traveler's Wife, performing an acoustic/folk-like cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." In Spring 2009, the band reported that it was in the process of recording a new album under the production guidance of John McEntire (of The Sea and Cake and Tortoise). The album, titled Forgiveness Rock Record, was released on May 4, 2010.
It was announced on August 15, 2011 that the band would go on an indefinite hiatus following an October 1, 2011 show featuring Isaac Brock and a fall tour in support of TV on the Radio. On November 8, 2011, a tweet in advance of a concert in Rio de Janeiro stated that it would be the band's final live performance.
The band returned in 2017 with a tour of Europe, Canada, and California. Their new single "Half-Way Home", was part of their latest album due to be released later in 2017. This was their first time writing a full-length album in 7 years.
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I'm Still Your Fag
Broken Social Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Felt their mouths with stitches at that were slowly lit
Kept your uniform this time because I couldn't quit
Haven't felt the ground so cold without getting sick
And I'm still your fag
I'm still your fag
Kleenex love to fill right up with all the broken kids
I swore I drank your piss that night to see if I could live
But my wrists couldn't stand the life that we missed
And I'm still your fag
I'm still your fag
You're only coming out because you came back in
You're only coming out because you came back in
And I'm still your fag
I'm still your fag
The lyrics of Broken Social Scene's song I'm Still Your Fag tells a complex and emotional story that is open to interpretation. The song seems to revolve around a tumultuous and possibly abusive relationship between the singer and the subject of the song. The first few lines describe the singer's knowledge of the subject's married and parental status, and the graphic violence they have inflicted on their family. This stanza conveys a sense of shame and disgust at the subject's behavior, but also hints at a connection that the singer cannot quite sever, as demonstrated by their keeping the subject's uniform.
The second stanza is even more opaque, and possibly metaphorical. The singer seems to be describing a lover who is either physically or emotionally unavailable, and who remains connected to their past traumas. The line, "Kleenex love to fill right up with all the broken kids," could refer to a medication that is popular among teenagers, or to an explosive or volatile relationship that leaves both participants feeling hollow and devastated. The final lines, "But my wrists couldn't stand the life that we missed / And I'm still your fag," suggest that the singer has attempted self-harm or suicide in the past, and that they are still emotionally tied to the subject in spite of their trauma.
Overall, the song takes a dark, often cryptic look at the struggles and pain that come with intimate relationships. It suggests that even in the midst of intense isolation or suffering, there is a possibility of connection, and that love and sex can be both healing and destructive.
Line by Line Meaning
Heard about your wife and kids where we slept
I found out about your family while we were together
Felt their mouths with stitches at that were slowly lit
I imagined silencing your family in a violent way
Kept your uniform this time because I couldn't quit
I couldn't resist keeping something of yours to remind me of you
Haven't felt the ground so cold without getting sick
I am emotionally numb and indifferent to everything around me
And I'm still your fag
I am still subservient to you and cannot let go of our past relationship
It's a possibility to live without lips
It's possible to live without the physical act of kissing
Kleenex love to fill right up with all the broken kids
Our love was like a cheap substitute for real love, and attracted those who were also broken and hurting
I swore I drank your piss that night to see if I could live
I did something extreme to prove my loyalty to you
But my wrists couldn't stand the life that we missed
I couldn't handle the pain and emptiness that came with our relationship ending
You're only coming out because you came back in
You are only revealing your true self because you want to be with me again
And I'm still your fag
Even though you have power over me, I still have feelings for you and am willing to submit to you
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brendan Canning, David Newfeld, David Whiteman, Evan Cranley, Jason Collett, Justin Peroff, Kevin Drew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelicdexter
This song came out when I was in high school and it changed me. At that time I didn't know there was a possibility for me to live my life freely (I live in Romania, you see) but this helped me pull through. Couldn't really talk about the song, as I was afraid that it would put me in the spotlight, but I kept it as my little secret. The fact that there was music out there for people like me changed everything and I couldn't be more thankful.
@djm55
I'm glad that you were able to persevere, and I'm sorry that you had to keep such a large part of your life secret. Is the world so bereft of compassion and love that people would deny happiness to two people who happen to be of the same gender? I hope things are better for you in Romania these days.
@simonwaldram6680
I'm not even really a Broken Social Scene fan, but I still think this is the greatest music video of all-time.
@67Kiffy
14 years ago already.. man time flies
@dearbluecat02
:,(
@codymccormack3554
This is quietly one of my favourite tracks from YFIIP. "You're only coming out cause you came back in" is such a beautiful line.
@aJazzcat
There's so much in this video that's symbolic on some crazy levels. I never really noticed it in all the years since I first saw it, until just now.. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL
@RobertMichaelTodd
This song helped change my life. Songs are rarely written regarding the gay male experience.
@StingaB1
I've always loved this song but never saw the video until today. I got chills and cried, lol
Is that weird? I'm a girl btw. I just think this was beautiful.
@kamalmanzukie
im a guy, and no its not weird. it didn't make me cry, but i recognize elements in it that could if it hit me in the right mood. i find it incredibly moving, and it warms my cold heart. whoever came up with this as a music video for this song is a genius, it says so much and matches perfectly the message and feeling of the song in an interpretive way