Circus Contraptio… Read Full Bio ↴a bracing curative for the afflictions of our time
Circus Contraption (founded in 1998) is the name of a one-ring circus, vaudeville and dark cabaret troupe based in Seattle, Washington. The troupe, which employs about a dozen performers, uses live, original music paired with old-style circus performances, heavily influenced by cabaret and vaudeville acts. The shows are conceived for adults and usually feature some mature content.
The troupe first performed at the Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival, but soon branched out to other venues around the U.S., including a U.S. tour in 2005. Their local and touring shows, with names like "Bracing Curative," "Eat Circus," "The Beer, Bread & Cheese Cabaret," "A Raree Show," and "Gallimaufry: An Evening of Jiggery-Pokery," played to sold-out audiences.
In addition to its live shows, Circus Contraption sells recordings of its original music on CD.
Discography
Our Latest Catalogue CD (2001)
Gallimaufry CD (2002)
Grand American Traveling Dime Museum CD
Nickelodeon
Circus Contraption Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me a whirl
Turn my crank
I'm your kind of girl
You'll want to catch my number
Again and again
I'm your Nickelodeon
Peek behind the curtain
Get a surprise
I'll sing you a lullaby
To pull you inside
Grab the brass ring
I'll give you a thrill
I'm your Nickelodeon
So, c'mon, Big Daddy
Don't make me feel bad
Are you listening
I'm ringing your bell
A tabernacle choir
In a 4 alarm fire
I know you wanna
It's easy to tell
So, step right up
And have no fear
I'll whisper sweet nothings
Into your ear
Your nightly addiction
Your forbidden sin
I'm your Nickelodeon
The lyrics to Circus Contraption's song Nickelodeon are a playful, yet subversive commentary on the dynamics between performers and audiences in the world of entertainment. The opening lines "Drop a nickel in, give me a whirl, turn my crank, I'm your kind of girl" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the commodification of performers, as they are reduced to mere objects that are inserted into a machine for the pleasure of others. The performer is aware of this dynamic but embraces it, using language like "I'm your kind of girl" to encourage the audience to objectify her.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the performer is not simply a passive object but an active participant in this dynamic. She offers a tantalizing promise of secrets and surprises behind the curtain, luring the audience in with the promise of a lullaby. The performer acknowledges that this is all a game, referring to herself as a Nickelodeon and encouraging the audience to "grab the brass ring" for a thrill.
The final lines of the song are the most intriguing, as the performer directly addresses the audience with the line "Your nightly addiction, your forbidden sin, I'm your Nickelodeon." This suggests that the performer understands the addictive quality of entertainment and the illicit thrill that comes with indulging in it. By framing herself as a forbidden sin, she is challenging the audience to question their own desires and motivations for seeking out entertainment.
Overall, the lyrics to Nickelodeon are a thought-provoking exploration of the power dynamics present in the world of entertainment, and the ways in which performers and audiences are complicit in perpetuating these dynamics. Through playful language and subversive imagery, the song encourages listeners to reflect on their own relationship with entertainment and the ways in which they participate in its commodification of performers.
Line by Line Meaning
Drop a nickel in
Put a coin in the machine to activate it
Give me a whirl
Activate the machine and see what happens
Turn my crank
Use the machine's lever to start the show
I'm your kind of girl
I'm what you're looking for
You'll want to catch my number
You'll want to experience my show again and again
Again and again
Repeatedly
I'm your Nickelodeon
I'm the type of entertainment that you want
Peek behind the curtain
Take a look at what's happening backstage
Get a surprise
Be amazed by what you see
I'll sing you a lullaby
I'll use my voice to draw you in
To pull you inside
To get you invested in the show
Grab the brass ring
Take advantage of an opportunity
I'll give you a thrill
I'll entertain you and make you happy
So, c'mon, Big Daddy
Addressing an audience member as an authority figure
Don't make me feel bad
Don't disappoint me
Are you listening
Are you paying attention
I'm ringing your bell
I'm grabbing your attention
A tabernacle choir
A highly skilled and talented group
In a 4 alarm fire
In an intense and highly-charged situation
I know you wanna
I know you're interested
It's easy to tell
It's obvious
So, step right up
Come closer and experience the show
And have no fear
Don't be afraid
I'll whisper sweet nothings
I'll say things that you want to hear
Into your ear
Directly to you
Your nightly addiction
A nightly routine that you can't resist
Your forbidden sin
Something that you shouldn't be doing, but can't resist
I'm your Nickelodeon
I'm the type of entertainment that you crave
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.