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.
Pigs
Cake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight
They leave that role to the poor
Yeah
Time will tell them they have power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating like people just like pawns in chess
Wait until that judgment day comes
Yeah!
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
Now in darkness world stops turning
As you hear the bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
And as god has struck the hour
They have judgment
God is calling
On their knees the war pigs crawling
Making mercies for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Oh lord, yeah!
Cake's version of War Pigs is a cover of Black Sabbath's iconic anti-war song. The lyrics are a critique of the military-industrial complex and the politicians who profit from war at the expense of the poor and innocent. The song starts with a warning about the gathering of generals like witches at black masses, plotting destruction and death. The imagery of burning bodies in the fields and the war machine keeps turning highlights the cycle of violence and death caused by war. The politicians are criticized for starting the war but leaving the poor to fight and die in it. The song suggests that the war is not fought to protect people or defend a cause but only for the amusement of those in power. The reference to people being treated like pawns on a chessboard emphasizes their dehumanization and disposability. The song ends with a vision of judgment day when the war pigs, who had the power, are brought to their knees and made to crawl, seeking mercy for their sins. The devil, portrayed as a laughing Satan who spreads his wings, seems to have the last laugh.
Line by Line Meaning
Generals gathered in their masses
The military leaders come together in large numbers
Just like witches at black masses
Their actions are creepy and ominous
Evil minds that plot destruction
Their intentions are malicious and geared towards causing damage
Sorcers of death's construction
They have the power to create and manipulate death and destruction
In the fields the bodies burning
The aftermath of war is a horrific sight
As the war machine keeps turning
Wars continually happen despite the unforeseeable consequences
Death and hatred to mankind
The consequences of war are dire for everyone involved
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
The media and propaganda perpetuate negative views and ideologies
Oh lord, yeah!
Expresses exasperation and frustration with the current state of affairs
Politicians hide themselves away
Politicians distance themselves from the tragedies of war they help instigate
They only started the war
The politicians, not the soldiers, are the ones responsible for starting wars
Why should they go out to fight
The politicians do not believe in their own cause enough to fight for it
They leave that role to the poor
The soldiers are often the everyday citizens who become casualties of war
Time will tell them they have power minds
The politicians will suffer the consequences of their actions
Making war just for fun
In some cases, wars are started not out of necessity but entertainment
Treating like people just like pawns in chess
People are often the casualties of war, being treated as disposable pawns
Wait until that judgment day comes
The politicians will have to face the consequences of their reckless actions
Now in darkness world stops turning
The world is plunged into chaos and turmoil due to war
As you hear the bodies burning
The horrors of war include the burning of deceased bodies
No more war pigs have the power
The corrupt politicians who instigated wars no longer hold power
And as god has struck the hour
There is a sense of divine intervention, as if God has had enough of the devastation of war
They have judgment
The politicians finally face judgement for their actions
God is calling
It feels like there is a spiritual reckoning happening
On their knees the war pigs crawling
The once-powerful politicians are now powerless and begging for forgiveness
Making mercies for their sins
The politicians are finally reckoning with the destruction they have caused
Satan laughing spreads his wings
The destruction caused by war is the work of the devil
Oh lord, yeah!
Expresses exasperation and frustration with the current state of affairs
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: F. IOMMI, J. OSBOURNE, T. BUTLER, W. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidmeir9348
As for their cover of I will Survive (also fantastic), Cake shows what a great cover is all about.
Not reproducing the song beat for beat as there is no way to ever outdo the original, but to keep the basic premise and spirit of the song (so people can relate to it otherwise they'll wonder who the f you are singing about), but to do it with your own style and musicianship so people see it as your song, it sounds fresh and reflects you.
Just for example, All along the watchtower by Jimi Hendrix.
Anyone listens to Bob Dylan's original can immediately tell it's a Dylan song (musically) with the acoustic guitar and the harmonica.
Anyone listening to the Hendrix version can tell immediately, this is a HENDRIX version of the song through and thru.
The same with Cake, the original war pig is classic sabbath, but this sounds like classic cake with the distinctive bass (Cake's bass player is a godamn god) and add of brass.
Fantastic rendering, Cake truly is one of the 90's best groups, no contest.
@sjeverett75
Cake is a very underrated band. They are solid and original. Even their covers are unique. Their bass player is solid as a rock, he never gets lost in the mix.
@CB-by5iw
So right
@CB-by5iw
sjeverett75 bro you so right
@CB-by5iw
Is this real
@5hevek
@Doug Gerber Yes. Ever head War Pigs like this? Ever really listened to their own shit? If you've heard their like before, point the way.
@darthsalad6211
@Kay Cee Didn't think that bass players got any action lol.
@boblahblah5742
War Pigs is probably one of the most covered songs of all time. Why? because it's a genius piece of rock and roll. I've heard hundreds of versions in clubs and on wax. VERY few have come close to what Cake achieved here. I have serious doubts about your " practical joke " theory. People cover songs because they love them ,and yes, on rare occasion, to mock them. This, being probably the best rendition of the song by anyone, ever, was definitely not the latter. Cake managed to breathe new life into a song that I was completely burned out on, and THAT isn't someone joking around. It's carefully and thoughtfully, remaking a classic in your own vision.
@jchapuran1
The original will always be the "best" but Cake did an incredible job with this cover. It's not a straight copy, they really made it their own such that listening to each version is a completely separate and amazing experience. That's what great covers are all about!
@jackd6269
idk man i might like this version better. i can't not appreciate the original but if i want to listen to the version i think sounds best i might have to watch this one ahah
@damianosplay9457
@Jack D I agree, this version is way better imo