1.) 90s alternative rock band 2.)… Read Full Bio ↴At least 2 bands have the name “Cake”.
1.) 90s alternative rock band 2.) 60s Girl pop band 3.) Underground 70s pop/funk band. 1.) Best-known for their ubiquitous hit "The Distance," Cake epitomized the postmodern, irony-drenched aesthetic of '90s geek rock. Their sound freely mixed and matched pastiches of widely varying genres -- white-boy funk, hip-hop, country, new wave pop, jazz, college rock, and guitar rock -- with a particular delight in the clashes that resulted. Their songs were filled with lyrical non-sequiturs, pop-culture references, and smirky satire, all delivered with bone-dry detachment by speak/singing frontman John McCrea. Cake's music most frequently earned comparisons to Soul Coughing and King Missile, but lacked the downtown New York artiness of those two predecessors; instead, Cake cultivated an image of average guys with no illusions and pretensions about their role as entertainers. At the same time, critics lambasted what they saw as a smugly superior attitude behind the band's habitual sarcasm. Perhaps there was something in Cake's doggedly spare, low-key presentation that amplified their ironic detachment even when they didn't intend it, but most reviewers pegged them as one-hit wonders after the success of "The Distance." Nonetheless, Cake managed a few more alternative radio hits in the years that followed, while largely retaining the same approach.
Cake was formed in Sacramento, California in 1991 by vocalist/songwriter John McCrea, who'd recently returned home after spending a few years in Los Angeles, unsuccessfully trying to break into the music business. The original lineup of Cake also featured guitarist Greg Brown, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, bassist Sean McFessel, and drummer Frank French; McFessel soon left to attend college, and was replaced by Gabe Nelson. In 1993, the band released their debut single, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle," on a local basis, and followed it with a self-produced, self-released, self-distributed album, Motorcade of Generosity. Motorcade found its way to the revived Capricorn label, which released the album nationally after Cake signed a contract with them. With the prospect of extensive national touring, both Gabe Nelson and Frank French left the band, and were replaced by bassist Victor Damiani and drummer Todd Roper. Re-released by Capricorn, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle" caught on at college radio in 1995, and was followed by two more singles, "Ruby Sees All," and "Jolene" (not the Dolly Parton song).
Cake's second album, Fashion Nugget, was released in 1996 and spawned a breakout smash in the Greg Brown-penned "The Distance," which dominated alternative radio that fall, and even turned into an unlikely sporting-event anthem. Mostly on the strength of "The Distance," Fashion Nugget charted in the Top 40 and sold over a million copies. It also spun off a somewhat controversial follow-up single in a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive"; although the band professed its sincere admiration for the song, some critics and listeners took it as a smarmy putdown, in part because of McCrea's deadpan vocals. In 1997, Greg Brown and Victor Damiani both left Cake and formed a new group, the new wave-influenced Deathray, which eventually released its debut album on Capricorn in 2000. Meanwhile, McCrea briefly considered putting Cake to rest, but brought original bassist Gabe Nelson back to replace Damiani instead. For Cake's next album, McCrea used a tag-team procession of guitarists -- five in all -- on different tracks; the result, Prolonging the Magic, was released in 1998. True to its sardonic title, it defied critical opinion to produce another big, alternative radio hit in "Never There," plus decently successful follow-ups in "Sheep Go to Heaven" and "Let Go."
Prolonging the Magic sold nearly as well as Fashion Nugget, and was also certified platinum. For the supporting tour, one of the album's guitarists, Xan McCurdy, officially joined Cake full-time. In the spring of 2000, the band signed a new deal with Columbia, and debuted in 2001 with their fourth overall album, Comfort Eagle, which became their highest-charting yet (at number 13). The lead single, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," was a hit on alternative radio, and even earned some MTV airplay -- no longer an easy task for any artist -- with a video that featured reactions to the song by randomly selected people on the street. Following the completion of the album, drummer Todd Roper left the group to spend more time with his children, and was replaced on the supporting tour by Pete McNeal. Pressure Chief appeared in 2004. Redefining the meaning of independent -- the band was by then recording in a studio powered entirely by solar energy, and free of the corporate involvement of even so much as a utility bill -- released Showroom of Compassion some six years later in 2011.
Biography by Steve Huey
2. The Cake (which is currently being redirected to this page) was a psychedelic girl pop group from the 1960s with the album Slice of the Cake in 1968.
3. Cake, a 70s funk/pop band who’s most popular track was “Make Up Your Mind” in 1979.
Dime
Cake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the dark and dusty corner by the TV shelf
Is a small reminder of a simpler time
When a crumpled up pair of trousers cost a brand new dime
Well you ask me how I made it through and how my mint condition could belong to you
When I'm on the ground I roll through town
I'm a president you don't remember getting kicked around
I'm a dime
And I shine I'm freshly minted
I am determined not to be dented
By a car or by a plane or anything not yet invented
I'm a dime
I'm fine
And I shine
In the hiss and rumble of the freeway sounds
As the afternoon commuters drive their cars around
There's a ringle jingle near the underpass
There's a sparkle near the fast food garbage and roadside trash
I'm a dime
I'm fine
And I shine I'm freshly minted
I'm silver-plated I'm underrated
You won't even pick me up because I'm not enough for a local phone call
I'm a dime
I'm fine
And I shine
I'm a dime
I'm fine
And I shine
I'm a dime
I'm fine
And I shine
In the first verse of the song "Dime," Cake describes a small and simple object, a dime lost in the corner of a motel room, which is a reminder of the past. The singer refers to the fact that a dime once held more meaning than it does today. Years ago, a pair of trousers cost only ten cents, but now a dime is not even enough to make a local phone call. Cake emphasizes the common expression "I'm just a dime a dozen," where a dime is used to indicate the worthlessness of something in comparison to what things used to cost.
The second verse of "Dime" takes place on the freeway, where the dime is lost among the sounds of the city, among the commuters and fast-food trash. The dime is still shining, despite its seemingly low dollar value. Cake portrays the meaning of a dime in a different way in the second verse, describing it as something that is not appreciated, underrated, and even ignored. The dime, though small, is still valuable in its own way, but people tend to overlook that value.
Overall, the lyrics to "Dime" express the idea that the value of the dime has changed over time. However, the dime is still important in its own right, despite being seen as just another low denomination coin. The song emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value in even the small things in life and not taking them for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
In the brown shag carpet of a cheap motel
A description of the setting the singer finds themselves in.
In the dark and dusty corner by the TV shelf
The singer highlights the obscurity of their location.
Is a small reminder of a simpler time
The singer sees something that reminds them of a time in the past when things were easier.
When a crumpled up pair of trousers cost a brand new dime
The artist reflects on a time when a small amount of money could have more value.
Well you ask me how I made it through and how my mint condition could belong to you
A hypothetical question the artist posits about how they ended up in their current state.
When I'm on the ground I roll through town
The singer compares themselves to a coin rolling along the ground.
I'm a president you don't remember getting kicked around
The singer compares themselves to a president on a coin that has been ignored or mistreated.
I'm a dime
The artist is a dime, a small but valuable coin.
I'm fine
The artist is in good condition and is still valuable despite their size.
And I shine I'm freshly minted
The artist views themselves as new and shiny, ripe for use.
I am determined not to be dented
The singer expresses their resolve to remain in good condition.
By a car or by a plane or anything not yet invented
The artist expresses their determination to avoid damage from any source.
In the hiss and rumble of the freeway sounds
The singer highlights the noise of the outside world around them.
As the afternoon commuters drive their cars around
The singer comments on the action and movement of people around them.
There's a ringle jingle near the underpass
The singer hears a sound that catches their attention.
There's a sparkle near the fast food garbage and roadside trash
The artist sees something shiny in among the garbage.
I'm silver-plated I'm underrated
The artist comments on their own value and worth.
You won't even pick me up because I'm not enough for a local phone call
The singer highlights how people ignore or overlook small coins like them.
I'm a dime
The singer reiterates that they are a dime.
I'm fine
The artist reiterates that they are in good condition.
And I shine
The artist reiterates that they are shiny and new.
I'm a dime
The artist reiterates that they are a dime.
I'm fine
The singer reiterates that they are in good condition.
And I shine
The artist reiterates that they are shiny and new.
I'm a dime
The singer reiterates that they are a dime.
I'm fine
The singer reiterates that they are in good condition.
And I shine
The singer reiterates that they are shiny and new.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN M MCCREA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nothing Personal
In the brown shag carpet of a cheap motel
In the dark and dusty corner by the TV shelf
Is a small reminder of a simpler time
When a crumpled up pair of trousers lost a brand new dime
Well you ask me how I made it through and how my mint condition could belong to you
When I'm on the ground I roll through town
I'm a president you don't remember getting kicked around
I'm a dime , I'm fine
And I shine I'm freshly minted
I am determined not to be dented
By a car or by a plane or anything not yet invented...
I'm a dime , I'm fine
And I shine
In the hiss and rumble of the freeway sounds
As the afternoon commuters drive their cars around
There's a ringle jingle near the underpass
There's a sparkle near the fast food garbage and roadside trash
I'm a dime, I'm fine
And I shine I'm freshly minted
I'm silver-plated, I'm underrated
You won't even pick me up because I'm not enough for a local phone call...
I'm a dime , I'm fine
And I shine
I'm a dime, I'm fine
And I shine
I'm a dime, I'm fine
And I shine
WiglyWorm
It takes a very special band to write and play a compelling, interesting, and memorable song as sung from the perspective of a dime that has been cast aside. Cake is that band.
Matt Binder
Poetic yet Silly, yet I yern for the time time if the dime
Joey Dyker
they have a talent for quirky songs
reverendbug
This song always makes me think about a person who is always second place in life, be it relationships, friendships, employment, or what have you, and they're unloading that feeling onto someone who actually takes the time to put them first and ask why they haven't been snatched up by someone in marriage or in a great career
Zoinky Blueberg
I saw a brand new dime on the ground the other day and this song instantly came into my head. Nobody could figure out why I was grinning.
Christopher Todd
"I'm a dime / I'm fine / and I shine" That's all you really need to know about this song. I listen to this song whenever I feel lost in the trash on the side of the road. I still shine.
jkeebla
@jerrrrr j
jerrrrr
True... people might not pick you up cause you're "not even enough for a local phone call", but you shine
Tracie Gannon
I just love Cake.. the storylines behind their lyrics just take you there. 😊
silves trista
no es de las mejores canciones pero me trae muchos recuerdos, gracias Cake por acompañarme en la vida, sobre todo en aquellos viajes, espero algún día poder verlos tocar en vivo