The band, who originate from Darwen, Lancashire, England, were long time favourites of John Peel for whom they recorded a total of eight sessions, three as Levellers Five between May 1990 and May 1992 and five as Calvin Party between September 1994 and September 2004. The last session was broadcast just a month before John Peel's death.
Only John Donaldson (writer/guitar/vocals) remains of the original line-up that also included Phil Hayes (guitar), Cameron Donaldson (guitar) Carole Fleck (bass) and Gavan Whelan (drums). Alongside Donaldson in the current line-up are Dave Thom (guitar), Cathy Brooks (bass), Dan Handley (drums) and Kerry Graham (vocals/korg/percussion).
The bands sound is marked by a lo-fi approach and insightful, often humorous lyrics.
Calvin Party have released three albums all on Probe Plus: Life & Other Sex Tragedies (1994), Lies, Lies & Government (1996) and Never As Black (2004). A fourth album, Godard's Girlfriend, is due for release in April 2008, again on Probe Plus. Following 'godards girlfriend' calvin party toured with the wedding present and toured holland and germany as well as supporting the fall.
tamsinA replaced kerry and there is a new single 8 DAYS released 8th december 08. there is a new album out in feb 09 with dates in u.k, europe and the u.s.
check out the calvin party myspace for updates...
Friction
Calvin Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We both know you need them
You're stuck in the middle of all irrelevance
And your heart is beating
Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle and rise to the top now
Won't you tell me what to do?
Cause i'm playin it
All wrong x2
You can't fight the friction (So, ease it off)
You can't take the pressure (So, ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (So, ease it off)
You can't fight the friction,
So ease it off
And get into the system
We both know you'll need one
At the tip of the needle,
It's taking over you
And your heart is beating
Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle and rise to the top now
When you've made it
Won't you tell me what to do?
Cause i'm playin it
all wrong x2
You can't fight the friction (So, ease it off)
You can't take the pressure (So, ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (So, ease it off)
You can't fight the friction,
So ease it off
Oh, why can't you let go
Like a bird in the snow
This is no place to build your home
You can't fight the friction (So, ease it off)
You can't take the pressure (So, ease it off)
Don't tell me to be strong (So, ease it off)
You can't fight the friction, so
Yeahhhh x4
The song Friction by Calvin Party is about the struggle to stay relevant and rise to the top of a competitive industry. The lyrics discuss the pressures that come with trying to succeed and the need to alleviate that pressure in order to succeed. The song speaks of being stuck in the middle of irrelevance and needing to rise to the top. The singer is reaching out to someone who has already made it and asking for guidance on how to succeed themselves.
The chorus of the song repeatedly states, "You can't fight the friction, so ease it off." This can be interpreted as a message to not fight against the hardships that come with trying to succeed but rather find a way to navigate through them. It's a reminder to take a step back and let go of the pressure in order to succeed.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of trying to succeed in a competitive industry and the need to find a way to rise to the top while also easing off the pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
I get down with the victim
I empathize with those who are struggling, and understand the feeling of being trapped.
We both know you need them
We understand that sometimes, we need to rely on other people to overcome adversity.
You're stuck in the middle of all irrelevance
You feel like you're going nowhere, trapped in a life that doesn't feel meaningful or purposeful.
And your heart is beating
You know you're feeling anxious and stressed.
Cause you know that you gotta
Because you know deep down that you need to make a change.
Get out of the middle and rise to the top now
You want to break free from your current situation and rise to the top of your potential.
When you've made it
When you've achieved what you've been striving for,
Won't you tell me what to do?
Can you give me advice so I won't repeat the same mistakes that you made in your path to success.
Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
I feel like I'm making all the wrong moves and I don't know how to proceed.
You can't fight the friction (So, ease it off)
You can't keep battling the challenges you face. So, relax a little and take things easier.
You can't take the pressure (So, ease it off)
You can't let the anxiety you feel overwhelm you, so you need to take things slower.
Don't tell me to be strong (So, ease it off)
Don't expect me to be strong in these difficult times; sometimes it's okay to let things be and take it easier.
And get into the system
Sometimes, to move forward in life, you have to fit into the established processes of society.
At the tip of the needle, it's taking over you
You're feeling increasingly trapped by your situation, like you're getting closer and closer to a breaking point.
Oh, why can't you let go
Why can't you just release yourself from this cycle of struggle?
Like a bird in the snow
Like a bird trying to fly in a snowstorm, you're fighting a losing battle in trying to push against the world.
This is no place to build your home
This current situation is not something to rely on for the long-term, it's just a temporary stop on your journey.
You can't fight the friction, so
You can't keep fighting the struggles and resistance you encounter, so it's best to relax and take things slower.
Contributed by Brody C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cursed_Spectre
Oldschool vibes coming back lately ❤
Cook rmns
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
It feel like summer
I feel like summer
I feel like summer
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
I feel like summer (ey)
She feel like summer
This feel like summer
I feel like summer
Oilslickgames
Reminds me of 2012/2013 back when I was a teen just enjoying life on a bmx
Allan Mancilla
More please 🔥🔥🔥🔥
platelegs
Dux n Bass has been robbed
Hikari Sakai
yea they straight up didn't credit them in the title of the video lol