All of his music up until Oops! I Did It Again were classified as IDM (Intelligent dance music) and had very little vocals or lyrics for the most part. However, Kidwell was not content to stay behind the laptop while on tour, and quickly and openly aspired to become "#1 Entertainer". He started to hone freestyling skills and performing new songs. In 2002, he won a coveted tour spot opening for the East Coast leg of the Death and Dismemberment tour with Death Cab for Cutie and old friends from Washington, DC The Dismemberment Plan. Later that year, Tall, Dark, and Handcuffed, his first album with full vocals, was released.
2003 was a pivotal year for Kidwell - after spending his entire life living in or around Baltimore, he packed up and drove out to Oakland, California. Car malfunctions and a week stranded in the western US became the inspiration for his second album of that year, Maryland Mansions, an album about suicide which pushed the motifs of his previous album Being Ridden further and was modelled somewhat on the Nine Inch Nails EP Broken. Two music videos for Maryland Mansions were released early in 2004, and Kidwell moved again, to Chicago a few months later.
Shortly thereafter, he married Roby Newton (from the band Milemarker), and reorganized Cex as a three-piece: Kidwell, Newton, and Cale Parks (from the bands Joan of Arc and Aloha). This configuration released an EP, Know Doubt, in 2005 on a Chicago label called Record Label. The next Cex album is titled Actual Fucking and will be released July 4th, 2006. The album is heavy on vocals and will be released by Seattle label Automation Records.
Earth-shaking Event
Cex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it and hand the mic to me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it aim the camera at me
Cex got his heart broke, can you believe that?
I've got the pieces to prove it, but this track'll be my gluestick
An album on my shelf that'll tell me what I really need to hear
It's all the same, all rage, all tears
And It'd be nice to pump my fist, shout "Bitch!" and feel great
But I just can't relate
I like girls, they're the one thing that makes this life worth livin'
So we ought to stop singing this stale regurgitation of dismiss
Today it all changed, you see I broke up with my girl
But I'ma right a party jam and dedicate it to her
Don't think for a minute I'm out to fake sensitive
You can kill me if you see me on some lily-faced shit
I'm just sick of the same self-righteous regret
I'm snatching mics and guitars from the whiny and redundant
Catch the blunt end of the role model's brutal honesty
Don't wallow in their mess depressed, follow me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it and hand the mic to me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it aim the camera at me
Middle finger to the indie rock singer
Middle finger to the wack MC
Middle finger to the uncreative underground
And a sack of middle fingers to y'all on MTV
Middle finger to the indie rock singer
Middle finger to the wack MC
Middle finger to the uncreative underground
Now some sucks claim that their lyrically superior
Writing Cex off cause they say I'm not serious
Yeah, you might use a few more syllabyles
But you're singing about the exact same shit Britney Spears is
So hear this, I represent the average music listener
You've been bringin' us down, and now we're all pissed at ya
I'm takin' your crowns and handin' 'em out on the corner
To little kids sick of being tormented and bordered
I'm not gonna cry cause my girl and I split
I'm gonna be psyched that our lives even ever mixed
And that I didn't let the artist living in my headphones
Turn me bitter and cliche, ridiculous and emo
Oh no, au contraire my brother
Your mind sings precisely your problem with others
Because the five bisexual hang-ups are out
Sexual phone ringing off the hook, that's what it's about.
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it and hand the mic to me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it aim the camera at me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can it and hand the mic to me
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
This planet's seen in recent history
So I suggest that you can
Shut the fuck up, please!
In "Earth-shaking Event," Cex argues that breaking up with a girl is not as significant as some may believe it to be. He asserts that in comparison to the other earth-shattering events the world has experienced, such as war and natural disasters, a relationship ending is trivial. Cex disapproves of the common reaction to a break-up, which involves wallowing in self-pity, writing sad songs, and indulging in negativity. Instead, Cex offers an alternative method of handling break-ups, which involves writing a party jam and dedicating it to one's former partner. He encourages his audience to stop singing the typical songs of heartbreak and take a different approach to break-ups, one that involves positivity and growth.
Furthermore, Cex criticizes the music industry and culture for producing and promoting the same redundant songs of self-pity and nostalgia. He disapproves of the overused themes of sadness and regret, which he believes are unproductive and uninspiring. Cex urges musicians and listeners alike to move on from these stagnant musical themes and move towards a more innovative and positive path.
Overall, "Earth-shaking Event" is a call to action for listeners to rethink their reaction to break-ups and to move forward with a more positive and productive attitude. Cex's lyrics and message encourage growth and positivity in the face of heartbreak, and he criticizes the music industry and culture for promoting adherence to stagnant themes and attitudes.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I feel it necessary to remind you, my friend
Cex is about to offer his friend some advice
That splittin' with your girl ain't the most earth-shaking event
Breaking up with a girl isn't the biggest deal in the world
This planet's seen in recent history
Earth has experienced much worse events than a breakup
So I suggest that you can it and hand the mic to me
Cex wants to take over the conversation and talk about his own experiences
Cex got his heart broke, can you believe that?
Cex is admitting that he got his heart broken
I've got the pieces to prove it, but this track'll be my gluestick
Cex is using this song to help him deal with his heartbreak
An album on my shelf that'll tell me what I really need to hear
Cex has an album that helps him cope with his emotions
It's all the same, all rage, all tears
All breakup songs are essentially the same, expressing anger and sadness
And It'd be nice to pump my fist, shout "Bitch!" and feel great
It would be satisfying to express anger towards the person who broke his heart
But I just can't relate
Cex doesn't want to resort to anger, because he doesn't truly feel it
I like girls, they're the one thing that makes this life worth livin'
Girls are important to Cex and he doesn't want to create a negative image of them
So we ought to stop singing this stale regurgitation of dismiss
Cex wants to encourage musicians to stop writing clichéd breakup songs
Today it all changed, you see I broke up with my girl
Cex is sharing his personal experience of a recent breakup
But I'ma right a party jam and dedicate it to her
Cex is going to write a happy song for his ex-girlfriend
Don't think for a minute I'm out to fake sensitive
Cex doesn't want people to think he's pretending to be emotional for the sake of the song
You can kill me if you see me on some lily-faced shit
Cex is assertive that he won't be fake and cheesy in his music
I'm just sick of the same self-righteous regret
Cex is tired of hearing the same type of breakup song
I'm snatching mics and guitars from the whiny and redundant
Cex is taking control of the music industry and wants to change it
Catch the blunt end of the role model's brutal honesty
Cex wants to be an honest role model in his music
Don't wallow in their mess depressed, follow me
Cex wants people to stop feeling sad and to follow his lead instead
Middle finger to the indie rock singer
Cex is critical of indie rock musicians
Middle finger to the wack MC
Cex also doesn't like bad hip-hop artists
Middle finger to the uncreative underground
Cex is fed up with unoriginal artists in the underground music scene
And a sack of middle fingers to y'all on MTV
Cex doesn't approve of mainstream MTV musicians
Now some sucks claim that their lyrically superior
Cex doesn't think other musicians are actually better than him
Writing Cex off cause they say I'm not serious
Other musicians don't take Cex seriously
Yeah, you might use a few more syllabyles
Other musicians might have fancy wordplay, but it doesn't mean they're actually better
But you're singing about the exact same shit Britney Spears is
Other musicians are just as unoriginal as pop star Britney Spears
So hear this, I represent the average music listener
Cex wants to create music that appeals to everyday people
You've been bringin' us down, and now we're all pissed at ya
Cex is angry at other musicians for producing unoriginal music
I'm takin' your crowns and handin' 'em out on the corner
Cex wants to take over the music industry and reward original musicians
To little kids sick of being tormented and bordered
Cex wants to inspire young, bullied kids to pursue music and art
I'm not gonna cry cause my girl and I split
Cex isn't going to be sad about his breakup
I'm gonna be psyched that our lives even ever mixed
Cex is grateful for his time with his ex-girlfriend
And that I didn't let the artist living in my headphones
Cex didn't let sad music bring him down
Turn me bitter and cliche, ridiculous and emo
Cex doesn't want to become a stereotype of sad musicians
Oh no, au contraire my brother
Cex isn't going to be upset about his breakup
Your mind sings precisely your problem with others
Your own thoughts express your issues with others
Because the five bisexual hang-ups are out
Cex doesn't want to be judged for his sexuality
Sexual phone ringing off the hook, that's what it's about.
Cex is being sexually active and enjoying it
Shut the fuck up, please!
Cex is ending his message and wants others to stop being unoriginal and negative
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind