The band formed in 2002. Their rhythmic post-punk style has been compared by critics to Joy Division, The Slits and Public Image Ltd.
Their debut Ep, History, was released on Paper Bag Records in 2004. The follow-up album, X-Amounts, was released October 11, 2005.
Singer Nirmala Basnayake left the band in late 2006.
Disco Blackout
Controller.Controller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How about the forty-ninth
What keeps you down there
What keeps you up at night
This city's getting so hot
They gonna cut the lights
This city's getting too hot
They gonna cut the lights
They gonna cut the lights
They gonna cut the lights
It ain't no big deal.....
It's just the blackout feel.....
[and repeat! from the start]
The lyrics of Controller.Controller's song Disco Blackout can be interpreted in various ways as it uses metaphors and symbolic language that can be open to different interpretations. However, one possible interpretation is that the song describes the current state of the world where people are living in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety. The "parallels" could refer to the similarities between different situations, such as wars and conflicts around the world, and how they are interconnected. The mention of the "forty-ninth" could refer to the state of California, the 49th state to join the United States, and how it is struggling to cope with the current situation. The line "What keeps you down there/What keeps you up at night?" suggests that people are struggling to maintain a balance between their fears and desires, with the constant threat of danger looming over them. The reference to the city getting "so hot" and the lights potentially getting cut off could symbolize the impending doom that people fear. The repeated line "It ain't no big deal/It's just the blackout feel" could be a way of acknowledging the situation, without being overwhelmed by it.
Line by Line Meaning
You want to hear about parallels
Do you want to know about connections or similarities between things?
How about the forty-ninth
Let me give you an example, consider the forty-ninth parallel (a line of latitude) that separates Canada and the United States.
What keeps you down there
What is holding you back or causing you to feel low or depressed?
What keeps you up at night
What is causing you to stay awake or worry during the night?
This city's getting so hot
The situation or atmosphere in the city is becoming intense or dangerous.
They gonna cut the lights
The authorities may shut off the power supply to the city or the club.
This city's getting too hot
The situation or atmosphere in the city is becoming too intense or dangerous.
It ain't no big deal.....
It's not a significant problem or issue.
It's just the blackout feel.....
It's just the sensation of being in a blackout (a power outage or a sudden loss of consciousness).
Contributed by Samantha D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.