The band's founder and singer Craig Minowa has a degree in Environmental Science, and his environmental, political, and social awareness is reflected in much of Cloud Cult's music. (Note: Craig Minowa actually has stated he intentionally doesn't sing about environmental awareness because he lives it...he doesn't need to preach it) The band's self-created non-profit record label, Earthology Records, uses the most environmentally friendly methods available to ensure minimum damage to the environment.
After two solo LP's, The Shade Project (1995), and Who Killed Puck? (2000), Minowa's sudden loss of his two-year-old son and subsequent separation from his wife, Cloud Cult emerged with They Live On The Sun in 2003, combining concepts of Minowa with performances by cellist Sarah Young and drummer Dan Greenwood, who shortly became members of the band. This album was deeply personal and painful album for Cloud Cult and you don't often hear songs from it in concert.
Minowa continued to use music to cope with the loss of his son on the following album Aurora Borealis. This album did begin to branch out more into exploration of pain and loss instead of just feeling it.
Minowa reunited with his wife, and the next album is widely considered their crowning achievement. Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus involved collaboration from a variety of musicians and has garnered praise from critics, even being acclaimed as "a work of insane genius". This album is capped off with the "happy-go-lucky" song, Lucky Today. This album was selected by esurance to be animated into a commercial. This was a contest for the most environmentally sound band because esurance labels themselves as the paperless insurance provider.
On April 10th 2007 Cloud Cult officially released their sixth LP, The Meaning of 8 (although it was available for sale online in late January): the first single was titled "Take Your Medicine." In April 2008, the band followed it with Feel Good Ghosts.
In 2009 band announced a break till 2010, though they released limited re-releases of their albums Lost Songs from the Lost Years, They Live on the Sun and Aurora Borealis (the last two as a double-disc).
Their concerts are certainly a sight to be seen. Along with Minowa on Guitars (and other fun things), they have got bass, drums, violin and cello. There are two official band members who actually do very little music during the shows; Minowa's wife Connie and Scott are painters. They create original works of art during the show (breaking only occasionally to sing or sometimes Scott plays Trumpet). Then, at the end of the show, they silent auction these paintings off to the highest bidder.
Their official website is www.cloudcult.com.
I'm Feeling So Friggin' Fine
Cloud Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dirt eyes, leather wings, and my arms are made of maracas
Do you find me attractive 'cause if we don't act now I might pass out
And I'm feeling so friggin' fine
The lyrics of Cloud Cult's song "I'm Feeling So Friggin' Fine" may seem nonsensical at first, but upon closer inspection, they actually reveal a lot about the singer's state of mind. The opening lines, "I was born in the belly of a frog and my brain is a bottle of vodka," suggest a feeling of disorientation or a sense of being out of place. It's as if the singer doesn't quite feel like they belong in this world, or they're struggling to make sense of their surroundings. The use of fantastical imagery, such as being born in the belly of a frog, adds to this feeling of displacement and otherworldliness. The line about the brain being a bottle of vodka could also suggest a desire to escape reality, or a dependence on substances to cope with life's challenges.
The next two lines, "Dirt eyes, leather wings, and my arms are made of maracas," continue the theme of the singer feeling physically and mentally disjointed. The unusual body parts mentioned here create a sense of confusion and disorientation, as if the singer doesn't quite know who they are or where they belong. The line about the maracas could also suggest a desire for stimulation or excitement; the singer's arms are made of instruments that are meant to be shaken and played, suggesting a need for movement and energy.
The final line, "And I'm feeling so friggin' fine," seems almost ironic in context. Despite all of the strange and unsettling imagery used in the preceding lines, the singer claims to be feeling fine. This could suggest a kind of joyful abandonment, or a willingness to embrace the absurdity of life. It may also suggest that the singer is putting on a brave face, trying to convince themselves (or someone else) that everything is okay, even when it's not.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in the belly of a frog and my brain is a bottle of vodka
I feel like I am a product of a bizarre blend of disconnected things, and my head feels like it’s been taken over by the effects of heavy drinking.
Dirt eyes, leather wings, and my arms are made of maracas
I view myself as being an oddity. My eyes might be murky like dirt, my wings could be thick and tough like leather, and my arms might feel like percussion instruments.
Do you find me attractive 'cause if we don't act now I might pass out
I'm feeling confident and enthusiastic and would like to know whether or not others can see what I am feeling, and I am so struck with elation that I worry that I might lose consciousness.
And I'm feeling so friggin' fine
Right now, I am ecstatic beyond words and nothing could bring me down from this feeling.
Contributed by Jackson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.