CocoRosie began as a duo, with Sierra singing, playing the guitar, piano and harp, and Bianca singing and manipulating various children's toys, electronic and percussion instruments, as well as other exotic noisemakers. They subsequently added various backing musicians, usually a bassist, keyboardist, and beatboxer. They have been a very active touring group, playing across Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.
They have released seven full-length albums: La maison de mon rêve (2004), Noah's Ark (2005), The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (2007), Grey Oceans (2010), Tales of a GrassWidow (2013), Heartache City (2015) and Put the Shine On (2020).
In 2003, Bianca was growing restless and decided it was time for a change. Leaving her apartment in Brooklyn to travel the world, she ended up at Sierra's apartment in Paris. Over the course of the next two months, the women spent nearly every waking hour in Sierra's bathroom, chosen as the most acoustic and isolated room in the apartment. Soon, they had completed both a hip-hop recording (never released) called "word to the crow" and their proper debut album La Maison de Mon Rêve.
Originally, La Maison de Mon Rêve was only intended to be distributed within a close circle of friends. However, by 2004 the lo-fi album had been released on independent label Touch and Go Records, who had obtained a copy of the CD and had uncharacteristically pursued signing the artists. Since the creation of their first album, the Casady sisters have been virtually inseparable.
Stylistically they may be assigned to the indie rock, psychedelic folk, folktronica genres, and are sometimes associated with the New Weird America movement. Sierra, who studied operatic vocal techniques, takes the lead vocals and also plays guitar, harp and flute. Bianca is a percussionist and also beatboxes. The group also uses various objects such as toys to construct their unique sound. Popular indie bands such as The xx name them as a major influence.
They were actively touring during most of 2004, playing across the U.S. and throughout Europe with artists such as TV on the Radio, Bright Eyes, Battles, Devendra Banhart, and Busdriver among others.
Official website: http://www.cocorosiemusic.com
Lyla
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a hundred Euro
You said you'd take me
To your little car
Your friend lived near by
He had a house and all
Where was i from you said
Well it's not Yugoslavia
It's not Yugoslavia at all
It reminded me
Of a movie i just saw
About a little girl
From Yugoslavia
She got sent away
They made her prostitute
She ate McDonald's all day
And never had a chance to play
Lyla
You wanted to buy me
For a hundred euro
You said you'd take me
To your little car
Your friend lived near by
He had a house and all
Where was i from you said
You guessed Yugoslavia
But it's not Yugoslavia
It's hardly Yugoslavia at all
Lyla
The song "Lyla" by CocoRosie tells a story about a man who attempts to buy a woman for 100 euros, promising to take her to his car and to his friend's house nearby. The woman in question refuses his advances, stating that she is not from Yugoslavia, and proceeds to explain how the man's actions reminded her of a movie she just watched about a young girl from Yugoslavia who was forced into prostitution and never had the chance to play. The song highlights the objectification of women and the dangers they face in a society that commodifies them.
The lyrics of "Lyla" shed light on the many issues that women face in a world dominated by male entitlement and privilege. The song's use of visuals to describe the plight of the young girl from Yugoslavia who was forced into prostitution brings a stark reality to the listener, serving as a reiteration of the need to end the objectification and commodification of women. The song is also a reminder that women are more than items for sale or exchange, that they are human beings with a right to self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
You wanted to buy me
The singer is being approached by someone who wants to purchase them
For a hundred Euro
The potential buyer has offered a sum of money in exchange for the singer
You said you'd take me
The buyer promised to transport the singer somewhere
To your little car
The method of transportation offered is a small car owned by the buyer
Your friend lived near by
The buyer has a friend living in close proximity to the intended destination
He had a house and all
The friend in question has a home, suggesting possible accommodations for the singer
Where was i from you said
The buyer asked about the singer's place of origin
You guessed Yugoslavia
The buyer made an incorrect assumption about the artist's country of origin
Well it's not Yugoslavia
The artist clarifies that they are not from Yugoslavia
It's not Yugoslavia at all
The artist emphasizes that Yugoslavia is a very wrong guess
It reminded me
The singer is experiencing a personal recollection triggered by the conversation
Of a movie i just saw
The recollection is related to a movie the artist has recently watched
About a little girl
The movie focuses on a young female character
From Yugoslavia
The character in the movie is originally from Yugoslavia
She got sent away
The girl in the movie was forced to leave her home
They made her prostitute
The girl in the movie was presumably coerced into sex work
She ate McDonald's all day
The girl in the movie did not have access to proper nutrition
And never had a chance to play
The girl in the movie was not given the opportunity to have a normal childhood
Lyla
This word is either a name, title or perhaps an exclamation that has personal significance to the singer
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bianca Leilani Casady, Sierra Rose Casady
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
c.
this song is devastating. i have just finished watching lilya 4-ever & can say that this song is a perfect match for lilya.
Automne
Tout simplement magnifique ....
Sara Upegui
Such a simple melody yet so affecting
inemere
So beautiful...
Xtremememestv
Just realized that sound in the background is a cell door opening and closing
D M
But its not yugoslavia...
Zaur Gamkrelidze
what the hell are those background sounds
Johan Meyer
Is this based on Lilja 4-ever or something?
Mk Mnll
Tiago Carvalho that's what the song says
A
yes it is