Style
The band specializes in playing lounge-style covers of recent popular rock, metal, rap and hip hop songs, sung in a croony traditional pop vocal style, contrasting an elegant jazz treatment of the music with often profane and ribald lyrics to create a humorous dissonance.[2]
History
Since 2000, the band has released nine albums, and played in concerts around the United States, two concerts in Europe, and has made numerous television appearances, including performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Fox & Friends on Fox News Channel, Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN, NBC's Las Vegas series, NBC's Passions soap opera, and as the house band on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly and MTV's Say What? Karaoke series. Richard Cheese has also been featured on radio morning shows and syndicated radio programs such as Opie and Anthony, The Howard Stern Show, Kevin and Bean, Bob and Sheri, and The Adam Carolla Show. The band also performed at events for singer Brian Setzer, drummer Travis Barker, director Zack Snyder, and the Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards. The band gained exposure after their cover of Disturbed's "Down With the Sickness" was featured in the 2004 remake, Dawn of the Dead.
The band is currently in the midst of their 2009 "Martini Hero" farewell tour, after the conclusion of which they have announced they will no longer tour outside of Las Vegas.[2] Cheese has indicated that the decision to suspend extensive touring with his Lounge Against The Machine band was based on health concerns relating to the condition of his vocal cords, his desire to spend more time in the recording studio,[2] and because he is looking forward to new live performances of new material (from his forthcoming albums) with new musicians and band configurations. According to the band's website, Cheese will be occasionally performing with a band of Hawaiian musicians in support of his forthcoming 2010 "Lavapalooza" exotica album.
Members
The present line-up of the band consists of:
Richard Cheese: vocals
Bobby Ricotta: piano and keyboards
Frank Feta: drums and percussion
Billy Bleu: bass
Plus a rotating roster of other bass players, including 'Deep' Gordon Brie, Skip Neufchatal, Nacho, and Wayne String.
The names are all pseudonyms that refer to types of cheese (Ricotta, Feta, Bleu) and new band members either adopt the pseudonym of the player they replace, or new names are developed.
The role of pianist and musical director Bobby Ricotta is currently played by Noel Melanio, but was previously played by David Adler. When the drummer Buddy Gouda (Charles Byler) left the band in 2004, he was replaced by Brian Fishler and the stage name was changed to Frank Feta. The role of bass player Gordon Brie was played by Louis Allen and was previously portrayed by Christopher Monaco. The band currently has no permanent bass player. The band has also worked with numerous session musicians and performers, including horn players Eric Jorgensen, Terry Landry and Lee Thornburg, theremin player Pamelia Kurstin, vocalist Joshua Path, and singer "Weird Al" Yankovic. The only constant band member is Cheese himself.
Cheese's pseudonym is a reference to smegma, as Richard can be shortened to Dick, making his name "dick cheese". It is also a reference to retro "cheesy" lounge music. He is also known for his tiger-striped jacket, which is featured in many of the band's album covers.
Discography
Studio albums
Lounge Against the Machine (2000)
Tuxicity (2002)
I'd Like a Virgin (2004)
Aperitif for Destruction (2005)
The Sunny Side of the Moon: The Best of Richard Cheese (2006)
Silent Nightclub (2006)
Dick at Nite (2007)
Viva la Vodka (2009)
OK Bartender (2010)
Lavapalooza (2010 – projected August 2010) (as Richard Cheese presents Johnny Aloha)[3]
Back in Black Tie (2010 – projected)[citation needed]
A Lounge Supreme (2011 – projected)[citation needed]
Singles
"Indiana Jones Theme" (a.k.a. "The Raiders March") (2008)
Unreleased songs
"One Is The Loneliest Number" (Harry Nilsson) (from the soundtrack of the film "The Comedy Team Of Pete & James")
"Come Dancing" (The Kinks) (unreleased studio recording)
"Shitdick" (People Haters) (live on Opie & Anthony Show)
"Hash Pipe" (Weezer) (unreleased studio recording)
"Elevation" (U2) (unreleased radio recording)
"Renegades of Funk" (Rage Against The Machine) (unreleased live recording)
"Star Wars Cantina (Copacabana)" (Barry Manilow) (unreleased live recording)
Appearances
Television
CNN Showbiz Today – Richard Cheese interview (2000)
Last Call with Carson Daly
Fox News Channel – Fox & Friends Morning Show (fall 2002) (performed "Baby Got Back" live on the streets of New York City)
VH1's Rock & Roll Jeopardy! (2001-2002)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (April 2004) (performed "Baby Got Back" and "Personal Jesus")
NBC's Las Vegas ("Christmas in Las Vegas")
CNN Anderson Cooper 360° – Richard Cheese performance in Las Vegas (New Year's Eve 2007)
Radio
KROQ Kevin and Bean (various dates, various songs)
The Dr. Demento Show (various dates, various songs)
The Howard Stern Show (March 13, 2003)
The Opie & Anthony Show (June 17, 2005and various other dates prior to 2005, performed "Shitdick" and other songs live)
The Jonathon Brandmeier Show (various dates, various songs)
The Frank Show, KFMA Tucson, AZ and KDOT Reno, NV (various dates, various songs)
The Adam Carolla Show July 31, 2008; December 2, 2008
The Johnny Dare Show Morning Show (various dates, various songs)
The Rod Ryan Show (various dates, various songs)
Rick Emerson Show (various dates, various songs)
Tommy & Rumble Show (March 9, 2006)
Premiere Radio Networks Rock Comedy Channel (syndicated 2002-2005)
Film
Dawn of the Dead ("Down with the Sickness")
Podcasts
Coverville (April 5, 2006) Richard Cheese interview
Club 301 (November 30, 2006) Richard Cheese interview and music selections from "Silent Nightclub"
Other media
Richard Cheese collaborated with Michael J. Nelson in the RiffTrax for the movie Ocean's Eleven
References
^ Richard Cheese at the Internet Movie Database
^ a b c Joe Brown (2008-08-21). "Meet Richard Cheese: He’ll grate on you, make you laugh and sing along". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
^ http://www.richardcheese.com/rchome.html
Chop Suey
Cheese Richard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And put on a little makeup
Hide the scars
And fade away that shakeup
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
You wanted to
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Why did you leave the keys upon the table??
I don't think you trust
In my self righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
Je ne vous pense pas vous trust
Dans mon self righteous suicide
Je cry when angels deserve to
Father, father
Fucker, fucker
Father into your hands
I command my spirit
Father into your hands
Why have you forsaken me?
Why have you forsaken me?
I don't think you trust
In my self righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to
Die, ladies and gentleman
The lyrics of Cheese Richard's song Chop Suey are cryptic and somewhat enigmatic. The song talks about waking up, getting ready, hiding scars, and fading away a shakeup. The first few opening lines of the song might imply about hiding one's flaws and trying to make oneself look perfect. The lines may also mean that one needs to put on a façade for people to accept, as if society does not allow for differences or mistakes, and diversity is frowned upon.
The next part of the song questions, "Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? You wanted to." This opening line is repeated and might depict some distrust, betrayal, or abandonment in a relationship. The singer might not understand why the partner has left, and he might not be able to come to terms with it. The phrase "Why did you leave the keys upon the table?" might be a metaphor for the relationship's keys, which the partner left on the table as a way to say they want to end the relationship.
The final part of the song has a religious undertone as it quotes Christ's last words on the cross, "Father into your hands, I command my spirit." The song may also refer to suicide; the phrase "self-righteous suicide" is prominent throughout the lyrics. The singer might be questioning his/her faith in God and lamenting that angels die while many sinners live. The song may be a metaphor for society's double standards, injustices, and hypocrisies.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, grab a brush
Get up, take control of your life
And put on a little makeup
Take care of your appearance to conceal your flaws
Hide the scars
Conceal your emotional pain
And fade away that shakeup
Let go of the negativity and move on
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Why did you give up control?
You wanted to
You wanted to let someone else take the lead
Why did you leave the keys upon the table??
Why did you give away your power?
I don't think you trust
I believe you lack faith in me
In my self righteous suicide
In my self-righteous decision to end my own life
I cry when angels deserve to die
I mourn the loss of good people while I continue to live despite my unworthiness
Je ne vous pense pas vous trust
I don't think you trust me (in French)
Dans mon self righteous suicide
In my self-righteous decision to end my own life (in French)
Je cry when angels deserve to
I cry when angels deserve to (in French)
Father, father
God (addressed as a father figure)
Fucker, fucker
Exclamation of anger or frustration
Father into your hands
I entrust my soul to you
I command my spirit
I submit myself to your will
Why have you forsaken me?
Why have you abandoned me?
I don't think you trust
I believe you lack faith in me
In my self righteous suicide
In my self-righteous decision to end my own life
I cry when angels deserve to
I mourn the loss of good people while I continue to live despite my unworthiness
Die, ladies and gentleman
A command to die; a sarcastic remark or expression of nihilism
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian, Daron V. Malakian, Shavo Odajian, John Dolmayan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nathan Brill
I constantly reference this song whenever I hear the actual song “WHY? DID YOU LEAVE? THE KEYS? UPON THE TABLE?”
jackary
Iiii don't think youuu
In Sinatra~esque
Kim Taehyung Is My OPPA
“YOY WANTED TO” 😭😭😭
Rachel J
I've been listening to Richard cheese for over a decade and it never gets old ♥
Here Cometherats
First heard this song senior year in 2006. Still lovin it!
Cat_ass_trophy
Same!
Stephen JvR
I feel like I’ve lived a empty life now not having known about the awesomeness Cheeseness 🤘
ZamsadaZombie
I was lucky enough to see Dick Cheese and the full cheese menagerie live, with horns, in SF, right before Covid! It was SUCH a cool experience.
Armory Kittington
Luckyyyy
The Lab of No Return
OMFG I've been listening to this guy for years and I never thought of dick cheese 😂