Following 3 albums on French indie record labels, Burning Heads (1992), Dive (1994), Super Modern World (1996) and two back-to-back albums on Epitaph Europe with some of the most memorable melodic punk hits, 1998's Be One With the Flames and 1999's Escape, les Burning – as they are referred to by their native fans – released their first dub album, Opposite (2001), finally putting to disc the musical bridge between two styles too many considered opposites, a bridge they'd been building live for 15 years.
2004 saw the release of the more introspective and excellent Taranto (Sony France / Yelen Musiques), followed by an electro-punk side project called Never Trust a Punk…, released in common with Alif Sound System under a shared name: BHASS Project, further proof if anyone needed it of their musical diversity.
Punk rock is never far with the Burning Heads, and Bad Time For Human Kind, and the band self-recorded and self-released their 2006 in a traditional DIY way, returning to full-throttle melodic punk rock with a firm hardcore backbone.
In 2007, they kept the dub fire going with Opposite 2, and in 2009 released Spread the Fire.
In 2009 the band dropped Hear This and in 2014 Choose Your Trap, all still self-released on their own label, Opposite Prod.
Absolute legends in the French punk scene, they have also toured with bands like NOFX, Propagandhi, Down By Law, Bad Religion and Ten Foot Pole all over the world, from Europe to North America.
The Burning Heads have an ability to get their melodic choruses stuck in your head while they pummel you with aggressive punk rock at the same time.
Queen America
Burning Heads Lyrics
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Walking on the air she's always there
She's the queen of all the beauties
There's so much brightness in her eyes
There she is waiting in the dark
Her room has never been so small
Tonight she was th one
With her long hair blond
Now she's so alone
There she is the queen america
Nothing could ever be the same
She feels so lonely with her crown
So many tears in her eyes
Applauses turned into whispers
She needs something to get higher
tonight she was the one
With her long hair blond
Now she's so alone
The lyrics to Burning Heads' song "Queen America" describe the rise and fall of fame, power, and ultimately loneliness. The song depicts the titular character, Queen America, as a symbol of beauty, power, and success, who is always present and shining, but she is overshadowed by the darkness of her own isolation. The opening lines of the song present a vivid image of the character walking on air, always present and always shining. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the crown that has been bestowed upon her only serves to further isolate her from others, and that her once roaring audience is now nothing more than whispers.
The lyrics paint a picture of a once-great queen who now feels extremely lonely with her crown, as her isolation becomes more apparent than ever. The line "tonight she was the one with her long hair blond, now she's so alone" shows that even though Queen America appeared to be surrounded by attention in the past, she is now left with nothing but loneliness. The song suggests that fame and power can bring many things, but they cannot replace the feeling of real connections with people, as Queen America ultimately lacks.
Line by Line Meaning
There she is the queen America
She is the embodiment of American beauty.
Walking on the air she's always there
She seems to effortlessly navigate life and be present in every situation.
She's the queen of all the beauties
She is considered the most beautiful woman in America.
There's so much brightness in her eyes
There is a lot of energy emanating from her that is easily observable through her eyes.
There she is waiting in the dark
She is in a state of anticipation, possibly for the next opportunity to shine.
Her room has never been so small
Despite her royalty, she can feel trapped and uncomfortable in the confines of her space.
Tonight she was the one with her long hair blond
She had a moment where she shone brightly due to her physical appearance.
Tonight she was the one
She was the center of attention, possibly due to her status or beauty.
Now she's so alone
She feels isolated and possibly unfulfilled despite her privilege.
Nothing could ever be the same
Life has changed permanently for her, likely due to the timing of her success.
She feels so lonely with her crown
Despite her position of power, she still feels isolated and unhappy.
So many tears in her eyes
She is deeply emotional and possibly upset about her current situation.
Applauses turned into whispers
The adoration she received at her height has faded, with her experiencing more criticism or indifference than before.
She needs something to get higher
She is searching for something to regain her former sense of pride and elevation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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