Chicks on Speed's attitude, combining punk rock aesthetics and feminism -- inspired among all by the cultural criticism of such people as Situationists, Valerie Solanas or Stewart Home -- towards music-making is mischievous, prankish and not a little bit ambiguous; they have jokingly called themselves a "fake band", as a sort of parody of producer-led girl groups like Spice Girls. On the other hand they are very serious about running the whole business; with single and album releases, promotional videos, tours and their own record label, not to mention their art exhibitions, performances, fashion designs and similar activities. The ambiguity is about whether they want to remain an experimental art project or aspire towards being a pop act making it all the way to the charts.
The critical and audience responses to Chicks on Speed have been mixed: they have had their championing proponents -- such as British journalists Piers Martin and Jill Mingo (who works as their PR/press officer), and pHinn (who has maintained their extensive "Official Unofficial" fan site since 2000 at pHinnWeb) -- who think that their approach is fresh and innovative, not to speak about their dedicated hardcore fans, but negative comments have been heard too from the critics (often male) who think Chicks on Speed are just faddish and dilettante-ish, their cultural criticism only half-baked and contrived sloganeering (this was obvious, for example, by the less-than-enthusiastic reception their 2004 album Press the Spacebar had among many critics). The worst audience response to Chicks on Speed was probably had when in June 2004 they played as the warm-up act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' UK tour, which reached its climax at Hyde Park, London: Chicks on Speed were bottled off of the stage virtually on every date by the Red Hot Chili Peppers fans who were less than understanding towards the Chicks' art-punk attitudes and their Hymn "We Don't play Guitars".
The 2004 Manchester UK needs to be seen on context, Anthony Kiedis criticised the audience reaction to the Chicks without realising that such a reception in Manchester is often an indicator of future long-term success, for example the 1966 reaction to Bob Dylan ("Judas") and the Sex Pistols Lesser Free Trade Hall gig (‘That’s rubbish! We could do so much better than that.")
Chicks on Speed's very first release was the cassette Analog Internet in 1997 on their own Stop Records. Their first vinyl release, Warm Leatherette 7" (1998), was a stripped-to-the-bone cover version of Daniel Miller's 1978 song he recorded as The Normal. The record was produced by Tobi Neumann, with a backing track by Dj Hell. In 2000 the band relocated to Berlin. Chicks on Speed have toured all over the world: in Europe, Americas, Australia and Asia. As additional live members have been Ann Shenton of Large Number (ex-Add N to (X)).
Chicks on Speed have released the albums The Un-Releases (2000) (a compilation of rare tracks), the debut album proper Chicks on Speed Will Save Us All (2000), 99 Cents (2003) (one of its tracks, 'Wordy Rappinghood', featured such guest vocalists as Peaches, Miss Kittin and Nicola Kuperus of ADULT.) and Press the Spacebar (2004) (together with Spanish band No Heads and producer Cristian Vogel). Furthermore, in 2000 they released a four-track EP Chix 52, with cover versions of the songs by The B-52's. In 2001 was released another EP, with German postrock band Kreidler, called The Chicks on Speed / Kreidler Sessions. They have worked also with such producers as Glove (Tobi Neuman and Thies Mynther), Vienna's Cheap Records artists Christopher Just, Patrick Pulsinger and Gerhard Potuznik; also Ed DMX of DMX Krew, Hecker, Mika Vainio and Pan Sonic and others. Chicks on Speed also appeared as guests on the live album of Finland's Club Telex Noise Ensemble. British band Sand and Finnish Pan sonic are some other artists they have performed with live. Chicks on Speed have had close contacts with the people of Vienna's Mego label, and have created cover art for both albums of Fenn O'Berg. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld did a photo session for the sleeve of their Fashion Rules single (2002). COS have also collaborated with other fashion designers, Jean Charles de Castelbajac and Jeremy Scott.
COS have released cover versions from the songs of such artists as The B-52's, Nick Cave, Cracker, Delta 5, Malaria!, David Bowie and Tom Tom Club.
There are music videos for Chicks on Speed's singles Glamour Girl (directed by Deborah Schamoni/Smoczek Policzek, 2000), Kaltes Klares Wasser (there are two versions of this: the first directed by Juliane Solmsdorf in 2000, the second for MTV's distribution by Deborah Schamoni/Smoczek Policzek, 2001), and We Don't Play Guitars (featuring Peaches, 2003). Chicks on Speed also have some more experimental type of videos such as Don't Work, Trade (2000), Trading Post (?), and Sellout (2001). Additionally, there is a one-hour length documentary video Chicks On Speed, A Retrospective (directed by Juliane Solmsdorf, 2001), consisting of home videos from the band's archives. Deborah Schamoni has made an experimental and surreal dance piece short film Visitors (2005), where Chicks on Speed arrive as aliens to New York City, slowely getting beaten up and eventually becoming homeless and losing each other, made for Deitch Projects, New York. Other new videos include 2 edits for the song Super Surfer Girl, by Mariah Garnet.
Chicks on Speed's first book, It's A Project, was published in 2004 by UK's Booth-Clibborn Editions: being a picture book type of collection of press clippings and personal memento, with a CD of rare and unreleased tracks, dress designs, and so on; all packed in a fabric bag.
The group members have run three record labels: Go Records, Stop Records, and Chicks on Speed Records, the latter one which is still active, having also released albums from other artists such as Sylvesterboy (a.k.a. Schorsch Kamerun of the Hamburg punk band Die Goldenen Zitronen), DAT politics, Le Tigre, Kevin Blechdom (formerly of Blectum From Blechdom), Angie Reed (formerly of Stereo Total), Ana da Silva (formerly of The Raincoats) Anat Ben David and Susanne Brokesch.
Chicks on Speed are about to release their 4th album , titled CUTTING THE EDGE, the first single "Art Rules" produced by COS and Christopher Just stars the Art Star Douglas Gordon was released on Chicks on Speed Records mid 2008 and second single Super Surfer Girl, with remixes by whomadewho and Christopher Just. Cutting The Edge will be release in March 2009 on Chicks on Speed Records-
COS LOVE AND LISTEN 2 CSS whomadewho Anat Ben-David Le Tigre Peaches miss kittin yelle
Kiki Moorse, once collaborator of COS from 1998 - 2006 is currently pursuing solo projects www.kikimoorse.com
we dont play guitars
Chicks On Speed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
like rock n roll over here tonight
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We're standing on stage with our microphones, but we don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
Can you play guitar?
We don't play guitars
said can you play guitar?
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We're standing on stage with a microphone but we don't play guitars
Got the Sherman up here with us, no we don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
said can you play guitar?
We can go shopping in the supermarket but we don't play guitars
We shop more than other people, we don't play guitars
Can you play guitar?
Can you play guitar?
Were standing in Tobi's studio but we don't play guitars
Neither do Kiki or Melissa
No we don't play guitars
We like to use gaffa tape but we don't play guitars
Give us your gaffa tape, we don't want your guitars
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
No we don't play guitars
You may not play guitars but I do!
You know, maybe 'cause don't play guitars but
P-E-A-C-H-E-S plays guitar
I play guitar, that's right
I play guitar
Well you may not play guitar but I play guitar
And I love it!
We like using gaffa tape but we don't play guitars
Give us your gaffa tape 'cause we don't play guitars
Can you play guitar?
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
We don't play guitars
The song "We Don’t Play Guitars" by Chicks On Speed features repetitive lyrics that explicitly state that the band does not play guitars. The chorus of the song is simply "We don't play guitars" repeated several times. The verses mention various situations where the band is present but not playing guitars, such as being on stage with microphones and a Sherman synth, shopping at a supermarket, and being in the studio with other band members who also do not play guitars.
The repetition of the phrase "We don't play guitars" seems to be a deliberate rejection of traditional rock and roll conventions, where guitars are often seen as the centerpiece of a band's sound. Instead, Chicks On Speed embrace electronic music and samples, which are featured heavily in their music. The lyrics also hint at a sense of humor and irony, as the band members make a point to repeatedly deny something that is often seen as a defining characteristic of a rock band.
Overall, the song can be seen as a celebration of individuality and breaking away from established norms. By proudly proclaiming that they do not play guitars, Chicks On Speed establish themselves as a unique band with their own distinctive sound and approach to music.
Line by Line Meaning
We always thought that we were not a rock n roll band but it sure feels like rock n roll over here tonight
Although we never considered ourselves a rock n roll band, tonight’s performance feels like one.
We don't play guitars
We don't actually play guitars, despite being on stage.
We're standing on stage with our microphones, but we don't play guitars
Got the Sherman up here with us, no we don't play guitars
We are on stage holding microphones, not guitars. We have a Sherman synthesizer with us, but we still don't play guitars.
Can you play guitar?
Do you have the ability to play the guitar?
We can go shopping in the supermarket but we don't play guitars
We shop more than other people, we don't play guitars
We can go to the supermarket to shop for our daily needs like everyone else. We shop more than other people, but it doesn't mean we are guitar players.
Were standing in Tobi's studio but we don't play guitars
Neither do Kiki or Melissa
No we don't play guitars
We are currently in Tobi's music studio, but the three of us don't play guitars. Kiki and Melissa don't either.
We like to use gaffa tape but we don't play guitars
Give us your gaffa tape, we don't want your guitars
We enjoy using gaffa tape for various purposes, but we are not interested in playing guitars, so you can keep yours.
You may not play guitars but I do!
You know, maybe 'cause don't play guitars but
P-E-A-C-H-E-S plays guitar
I play guitar, that's right
I play guitar
Well you may not play guitar but I play guitar
And I love it!
Even though the rest of us don't play guitars, P-E-A-C-H-E-S does, and I love playing the guitar too!
We don't play guitars
We want to emphasize again that we don't play guitars.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: - HANREICH, - HOTHOMATO, - KLOSS, - KLUSKE, ALEX MURRAY-LESLIE, KATHRIN MOORSE, MATTHIAS KLOSS, MELISSA LOGAN, THOMAS HANREICH, TORSTEN KLUSKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Inescapable Utopia
easily the most playful band I have encountered. if their music career peters out they should consider becoming like a kindergarten teacher for adults
Sophievdp
woop! love this song! Chicks on Speed + Peaches = PURE GOLD!!
RemoteAbductionArm
Well, I play guitar, but I really like that people who don't necessarily are good at their instruments still perform.
Spdif77
как же мне нравится их стиль =)
DavoTron
So I've been trying to find this tune on and off for many years after I saw it on the Sci-Fi channel as a kid. I finally found it! Do you know how unsearchable this song is if all you can remember is "play guitar" and it had girls singing it?!
DeepRestless
I love the video and I love Chicks On Speed!! <3
Anastasia
ha this is such an awesome song, my favourite bit is when the chick comes who DOES play guitar and she yells "and i love it!" that makes me giggle :D
Andrew Thompson
Peaches!
WeDontPlayGuitar
dance-dance, drunk-drunk, jumps-jump, smoke-smoke... I'm a big fan of Peaches and Chick On Speed. this song remembers me their shows :)
Niéri Svensson
I love this song!!! And the video too!!!