Officially the band started in 1991 and started playing shows in 1992. However, they only played a small number of shows at this stage and decided to concentrate their efforts on practicing. In 1993 the band started playing regularly in venues around Calgary.
In 1996 Chixdiggit! were signed to Sub Pop records. They released their first self-titled album on the record label, however they only lasted a short time on the label. The band left the label as they felt as though they didn't fit in with the record label's ideals. As stated by Mike from the band: "the people that actually had to sell our records and deal with us on a day to day basis were not quite so fond of us".
At this stage Chixdiggit was touring worldwide. They were quickly picked up by Honest Don's Records, a Fat Wreck Chords subsidiary from San Francisco.
After the release of 2000's From Scene to Shining Scene, the band took a hiatus, from which they returned in 2003 and in 2005 the band started writing and recording its fourth full length album, Pink Razors. The album was released April 19, 2005 on Fat Wreck Chords in North American and Bad Taste Records in Europe.
Founding member Mike Eggermont left the band in 2002 and started Blatant Media, a software company. In 2003, drummer Dave Alcock (owner of Sundae Sound recording studio) left the band, and was replaced by the band's original drummer, Jason Hirsch.
On October 31st, 2007, the band released a re-recording of their debut album, Chixdiggit!, on Bad Taste Records. The re-recorded album was titled Chixdiggit! II.
Swedish Rat
Chixdiggit! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen a couple of towns
And I notice a thing,
It's a hairdo we call the Rat
Mmmm-hmmm-hmmm
Now it depends on the scene and the part of town,
but I know you'll agree
when you see the Rat
Uh-huh-huh
Now you're gonna wanna, gonna wanna, gonna wanna Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
High in the front, long in the sides in the back
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
And the tighter the jeans, the sweeter the cream
It's a Rat
Now I met a few girls who just got a Rat
Some people say that it is just hair,
but it puts it where
It's supposed to be
Uh-huh-huh
Now the younger girls that look up to you
wanna get one too,
by the time they do,
it will be old news
Whoa-whoa-whoa now
Now they're gonna wanna, gonna wanna, gonna wanna Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
High in the front, and long in the sides and the back
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
And the tighter the jeans, the sweeter the cream
It's a Rat
As tired, as the slip-ons, laying at the salons
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
High in the front, and long in the sides and in the back
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
And the tighter the jeans, the sweeter the cream
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
High in the front, long in the sides and the back
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
And the tighter the jeans, the sweeter the cream
It's a Rat
If I could live in a dream, I know what I'd want to see
It's a Rat
The song Swedish Rat by Chixdiggit! appears to be an ode to a particular hairstyle. The lyrics describe the style, which seems to involve a hairstyle with high hair in the front, long sides and back, and perhaps the requirement of tight jeans. The song suggests that this type of hairstyle is popular in various towns and scenes, and younger girls look up to women who have it. Towards the end of the song, the singer says that if he could live in a dream, he knows what he would want to see, and that is a Rat. The lyrics may appear to be simple, but they seem to capture a moment in time, where fashion and beauty were crucial to individuals' social status, particularly in the punk and ska scene.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I travel quite a bit
I have seen my share of towns
I've seen a couple of towns
I have traveled to more than one location
And I notice a thing,
I have observed something
It's a hairdo we call the Rat
It is a type of hairstyle that we refer to as 'the Rat'
Now it depends on the scene and the part of town,
The popularity of this hairstyle varies based on location and social group
but I know you'll agree
I am confident that you will concur
that you'll like what you see
You will enjoy what you observe
when you see the Rat
Once you witness 'the Rat' hairstyle
Now you're gonna wanna, gonna wanna, gonna wanna Rah-Rah-Rat
You will likely want to try out the hairstyle soon
It's a Rah-Rah-Rat
This type of hairstyle is referred to as 'a Rah-Rah-Rat'
High in the front, long in the sides in the back
It features a high front style with long portions on the sides and back
And the tighter the jeans, the sweeter the cream
The skinnier the jeans they wear, the more attractive the girls will appear
Now I met a few girls who just got a Rat
I have come across a few ladies who recently adopted 'the Rat' hairstyle
Some people say that it is just hair,
Certain individuals view it as only hair and nothing more
but it puts it where
However, the hairstyle makes it possible
It's supposed to be
For it to be visualized
Now the younger girls that look up to you
Younger females who are inspired by older females like you
wanna get one too,
Also aspire to have the same hairstyle
by the time they do,
But by the time they make the change
it will be old news
It will no longer be a new trend
As tired, as the slip-ons, laying at the salons
The hairstyle is so common that it is getting old as the slippers that people wear in the hair salons
If I could live in a dream, I know what I'd want to see
If I could experience living in a dream world, I would definitely choose to witness 'the Rat' hairstyle
Contributed by Caleb W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.