History
Founded by three former members of the groundbreaking Boston band Think Tree, Count Zero recorded their debut CD "Affluenza" in 1996. With the addition of a full-time bassist and keyboardist, they played their first show in March of '96 at The Middle East in Cambridge, MA, and have been entertaining an expanding congregation of devoted fans ever since.
Personnel
Peter Moore: vocals
Will Ragano: guitars
Eric Paull: drums
Izzy Maxwell: bass
Joel Simches: keyboards
Sound
An obsessively creative mashing of many classic and modern styles of popular music are found in any given Count Zero song, from retro-groove to indie-rock to electronic pop to country twang. Raw sounds intermingle with lush Radiohead-esque orchestrations and unexpected sound/sample manipulations, affording a unique listening experience known for grabbing even the most jaded ears. Their distinctive sound combines the flair for melody and complexity of Flaming Lips and later Blur, the brains of Talking Heads/ Brian Eno and the raw power of Zeppelin and Sly Stone.
Why you should care
โข They tastefully present inordinately infectious melodies
โข They ingeniously engineer durable, socially-observant yet heartfelt lyrics
โข They create sophisticated, yet unpretentious arrangements
โข Their live performances are vigorous, exuberant and challenging
โข They probably won't go away........ever
What they are up to
Count Zero toured North America with The Dresden Dolls for six weeks in the Fall of 2004 to much acclaim. Their most recent release (their 3rd CD) Little Minds is a melody-riddled songfest, with lilting, melancholic lap-steel intermingling with an array of exotic synths, samples, odd turns and intense beats. With songs on both Guitar Hero 1 & 2 (one of the most popular video games in recent history), their fanbase is growing quickly.
Manpower
Count Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Recall when there were flowers there?
Before the Men in Power saw red
And turned yours into a scapegoat's head?
They said your pursuit of liberty
Had thrown all their boys in poverty
And "made most you women disobey."
How could so much change from yesterday?
And they seated their chiefs, resplendent
And they gave them the words you wore;
And they helped make your s** descendant
By closing your ev'ry door;
And if you still felt independent,
They'd demote you to working poor.
You were working, but guess who for?
For the Men in Power.
Manpower for the Men in Power.
(Who're the men enshrouded
Holding silent strings round my hands
That tug to make me blame you
And twist if I refuse to?)
You, with the powder on your cheek:
They've made the facts to keep you weak.
Their yellow research headlined the rags
While editors of the fashion mags
Said, "Your freedom's made you discontent"
Except when you'd choose their sponsor's scent.
And soon household goods would catch your eye
'Til "Surrender!" was your soul's sole reply.
And they deified hip reduction
And your roles early on were played;
They convinced you a liposuction
Was a sure way to make the grade;
And the press, with their trend construction,
Called you Over-The-Hill Old Maid
So you'd panic, and wed, afraid,
For the Men in Power.
Manpower for the Men in Power.
(Have we made no progress?
Has there been no lesson we've learned?
Are they so frail and fearful
They need to see you cower?
If they're disenfranchised
Boys are paid 'til tables are turned.
These men-in-white's advantage
Is that they own the tower.
And the fact I'm passive
Makes me all the more concerned!
Am I so tired and jaded
To fight the Men in Power?)
The song "Manpower" by Count Zero highlights the way in which those in power have historically sought to control women and strip them of their autonomy. The lyrics specifically address the way in which women have been pressured to conform to societal norms and expectations, such as through the pressure to marry or to conform to beauty standards. The lyrics also draw attention to the way in which those in power have sought to diminish the voices of women who challenge the status quo, such as by painting them as troublemakers or scapegoats. This is exemplified in the line "And turned yours into a scapegoat's head."
The song emphasizes the idea that those in power seek to control women for their own benefit, such as in lines like "You were working, but guess who for?/For the Men in Power." The song also touches on the way in which women are pitted against each other, such as through unrealistic beauty standards or societal expectations around marriage, in order to distract from the real issues perpetuated by those in power.
Overall, "Manpower" is a powerful commentary on the ways in which misogyny and sexism have been used to maintain power structures throughout history. It is a call to action for listeners to resist these systems of control and work towards greater autonomy and equality for all.
Line by Line Meaning
You, with the ribbons in your hair:
Addressing a woman with ribbons in her hair who might have experienced the change in society and culture caused by Men in Power.
Recall when there were flowers there?
Asking her to remember a time before Men in Power changed everything.
Before the Men in Power saw red
Referring to a time when Men in Power became angry and violent.
And turned yours into a scapegoat's head?
Men in Power blamed women for the problems in society and made them a scapegoat for everything.
They said your pursuit of liberty
Men in Power claimed that women's pursuit of freedom caused trouble in society.
Had thrown all their boys in poverty
Men in Power accused women of throwing their boys in poverty through their pursuit of liberty.
And "made most you women disobey."
Men in Power accused women of disobeying them and causing trouble in society.
How could so much change from yesterday?
Questioning how society changed so drastically from what it used to be.
And they seated their chiefs, resplendent
Men in Power with their wealth and power positioned themselves in high positions.
And they gave them the words you wore;
Men in Power controlled what women wore and tamed their voice.
And they helped make your s** descendant
Men in Power restricted women's reproductive rights and ability to control their own sexuality.
By closing your ev'ry door;
Men in Power limited women's opportunities and choices by closing doors to education, jobs, and other avenues of progress.
And if you still felt independent,
Even if women still felt independent and empowered, Men in Power would not tolerate it.
They'd demote you to working poor.
Men in Power would force women to a situation where they worked hard yet received minimal compensation and advancement.
You were working, but guess who for?
Questioning who women were working for even though they were doing the hard work.
For the Men in Power.
Women were working for Men in Power who controlled every aspect of their lives and society's functioning.
Manpower for the Men in Power.
Women were (and still are) mere tool of Men in Power who use them to maintain wealth, control, and superiority.
(Who're the men enshrouded
Asking who are the enshrouded men who hold control of the situation.
Holding silent strings round my hands
Enshrouded men hold the strings around women's hands, limiting their potential and power.
That tug to make me blame you
Men in Power manipulate women to blame each other for the problems instead of holding them accountable.
And twist if I refuse to?)
Men in Power escalate the manipulation and control if women resist or refuse their tactics.
You, with the powder on your cheek:
Addressing women who adorn powder as a symbol of beauty and vitality.
They've made the facts to keep you weak.
Men in Power manipulate facts and information to deliberately keep women down and powerless.
Their yellow research headlined the rags
Men in Power conduct research that supported their positions and published in media that aligns with their interests.
While editors of the fashion mags
Fashion magazines were part of Men in Power's propaganda machinery to keep women preoccupied with beauty and appearance and away from critical thinking.
Said, "Your freedom's made you discontent"
Men in Power and their sycophants accused women of being discontent and unhappy due to their pursuit of freedom and independence.
Except when you'd choose their sponsor's scent.
Women were free to choose as long as their choice benefited Men in Power.
And soon household goods would catch your eye
Men in Power pushed consumerism on women and made it a sign of success and progress.
Til "Surrender!" was your soul's sole reply.
Women surrendered completely to societal norms and Men in Power's control and manipulation.
And they deified hip reduction
Men in Power dictated what women's bodies should look like and made them a symbol of acceptance and progress.
And your roles early on were played;
Women were assigned roles and responsibilities that align with Men in Power's interest from an early age.
They convinced you a liposuction
Men in Power manipulated women into believing that they could achieve success and happiness through cosmetic surgeries and meeting beauty standards.
Was a sure way to make the grade;
Women were indoctrinated to believe that their earning power and success depended on their looks and beauty standards set by Men in Power.
And the press, with their trend construction,
Media was complicit in Men in Power's control and manipulation of women by publishing trends and stories that align with their interests.
Called you Over-The-Hill Old Maid
Women who do not align with Men in Power's expectations and are beyond marriageable age are demeaned and called names.
So you'd panic, and wed, afraid,
Women were made to panic and get married out of fear of being left alone, ostracized, or being called names.
For the Men in Power.
Everything that women did and still do is for Men in Power who control everything from households to governments to industries.
Manpower for the Men in Power.
Women's bodies, abilities, emotions, and lives are mere tools for Men in Power to maintain their superiority and dominance in the world.
(Have we made no progress?
Questioning if society has actually made any progress in empowering women and shedding off Men in Power's control.
Has there been no lesson we've learned?
Questioning if society has learned anything about women's rights, equality, and dignity.
Are they so frail and fearful
Asking if Men in Power are so weak and scared that they need to hold onto power by suppressing women.
They need to see you cower?
Men in Power need women to cower under their influence, control, and manipulation.
If they're disenfranchised
If Men in Power are disempowered, marginalized, or overthrown.
Boys are paid 'til tables are turned.
Men will be paid and given opportunities until women take control and turn the tables around.
These men-in-white's advantage
Men in Power's advantage exercised through their wealth, status, organizations, and societal norms.
Is that they own the tower.
Men in Power own everything, the power structures, and the institutions needed to maintain their power.
And the fact I'm passive
Acknowledging one's own passivity and indifference, which helps Men in Power maintain their control over women.
Makes me all the more concerned!
Realizing that one's apathy can embolden Men in Power and hurt the fight for women's rights and freedoms.
Am I so tired and jaded
Questioning if one's fatigue and disillusionment are making them give up on the fight for women's rights and empowerment.
To fight the Men in Power?
Asking if one still has the strength and purpose to fight against Men in Power's tyranny and violence.
Contributed by Nicholas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laura Celeste McPherson
God I miss this