Clare Fader & the Vaudevillains is a dark cabaret act that blends cabaret, … Read Full Bio ↴Clare Fader & the Vaudevillains is a dark cabaret act that blends cabaret, jazz, pop, and world music that calls Winston-Salem, North Carolina their home.

Led by Clare Fader on vocals, the Vaudevillains - Aaron Bachelder (percussion), Brad Cokendolpher (guitar), Mary K. Elinks (cello), and Andy Mabe (bass and backing vocals) - released the album Seventh and Trade in 2003 on the Raconteur Records label, "The Southeast's Most Independent Label" founded by Fader herself.

Prior to Seventh and Trade, Fader released a "solo" album entitled The Elephant's Baby in December, 2000, to which Dirty Linen said, "One of the more unique American recordings I have heard in recent years."

Clare Fader's music has been used in episodes of MTV's The Real World, as well as in Ramin Bahrani's film Man Push Cart. She's also been featured on a "Biddycast," which is a Podcast program started by her friends the Lascivious Biddies.

Alice
Clare Fader Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Alice
Aurora's boring Alice
I saw her snoring
The laser lights aren't bright enough
For Alice

Camping
Underneath the stars

She says they're not stars at all
Just reflections from a disco ball

And the D.J.'s
Spinning dreams
Or so it seems
To the girl with googly eyes
But not Alice

It's a capital wonderland

Wonderland
For Alice

Overall Meaning

The song "Alice" by Clare Fader portrays a dreamlike narrative tale of Aurora's Alice. Aurora's Alice is a dull character who is depicted as boring and uninterested in the party atmosphere. The singer observes Alice snoring while the laser lights are not bright enough for her. The lyrics suggest Alice is not enjoying herself at the event, which contrasts with the opinions of the other partygoers.

Alice is camping under the stars with other people who believe they are real stars. However, Alice believes they are just reflections from the disco ball, indicating that she is a realist. The DJ spins dreams for the attendees, but the singer suggests that only Alice is immune to the DJ's dream-weaving while everyone else falls under his mesmerizing effect. The setting is termed a capital Wonderland for Alice, emphasizing that the singer is interested in Alice's perspective and how it differs from the others.

Line by Line Meaning

Alice
Introducing the singer of the song

Aurora's boring Alice
Alice is not as fascinating or exciting as her friend Aurora

I saw her snoring
Alice is unimpressed or disinterested in her surroundings, possibly even asleep

The laser lights aren't bright enough
Alice finds the current scene underwhelming or not visually stimulating

For Alice
Stating the subject and cause of Alice's boredom or lack of enthusiasm

Camping
Describing the current activity of the group

Underneath the stars
The campsite is in a location where the night sky is visible

She says they're not stars at all
One person in the group is challenging the others' perceptions of the stars

Just reflections from a disco ball
The supposed 'stars' are actually reflections from a disco ball they hadn't noticed, adding context for the next few lines

And the D.J.'s
Referring to the musician(s) playing music for the group

Spinning dreams
Creating a dreamlike atmosphere with the music

Or so it seems
Alice doubts the magic and is skeptical or unimpressed with their experience

To the girl with googly eyes
The other person in the group is very excited and impressed by the atmosphere and their experience

But not Alice
Alice is not swept up in the excitement, setting her apart from the others

It's a capital wonderland
The location is ostensibly very interesting, potentially comparing it to Wonderland in 'Alice in Wonderland'

Wonderland
Continuing the comparison to a magical world

For Alice
Repeating the subject and theme of the song, that the excitement and wonder are lost on Alice

Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS