… Read Full Bio ↴The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion). The band is best known internationally for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" and best known in Canada for the 1991 single "Superman's Song".
After a multi-year hiatus, the band returned in 2015 with a tour and the new charity single "Promised Land" which was a collaboration with Marc Mysterio[1] following up his remix of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".
The origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.
In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid and Benjamin Darvill became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge just before the release of The Ghosts That Haunt Me.
After signing with BMG Records in 1991, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).
In the summer of 2017, the full band, except Benjamin Darvill, reunited for a show in Winnipeg and Brad Roberts went on a tour of South Africa in early 2018.
In July 2018, a reunited photo of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge was posted on the official Crash Test Dummies Facebook page, along with the announcement of Canadian Tour Dates for the fall.
Throughout their career, Crash Test Dummies have experimented with many different styles and genres of music. These styles include the acoustic folk rock of The Ghosts That Haunt Me, the electric alternative rock of A Worm's Life, the urban influences of Give Yourself a Hand, and the optigan-based compositions of Oooh La La!.
Crash Test Dummies recorded as a full five piece band from their debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me until Give Yourself a Hand. At this time, the most notable instrumentation of the band's music included Brad Roberts' lead guitar, Ellen Reid's keyboards, and Benjamin Darvill's harmonica. Another notable element of Crash Test Dummies' music are the contrasting harmonies between Brad Roberts' deep lead vocals and Ellen Reid's backing vocals in the higher register.
Beginning with I Don't Care That You Don't Mind in 2001, the band's albums were recorded primarily by Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, and a rotating roster of session musicians.
One of the biggest influences for Brad Roberts was the band XTC and Andy Partridge in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner.
There Is No Final Winner
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics
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There is no final score
The men have left the playing field and play no more
The hours have been counted
The work is finally done
And now the night begins to fall on everyone
The murderers their task
The hunted have been snared and gagged and masked
So when you're in the graveyard
Read those names in stone
After all, you'll never get to read your own
The song "There Is No Final Winner" by Crash Test Dummies conveys a message that life is not a competition with a final winner or score. It speaks about how the men have left the playing field and play no more, signifying the end of the competition. The lyrics then move on to the finality of life and how everything eventually ends.
The hours have been counted, and the work is finally done, leading to the start of the night. This can be interpreted as the end of our lives, as we have lived our lives and completed our tasks. The line "The lovers have done their loving, the murderers their task" highlights the inescapable nature of life, where people have different tasks to fulfill.
The last line of the song "So, when you're in the graveyard, read those names in stone, after all, you'll never get to read your own" emphasizes that everything and everyone has to come and go, and that we should cherish our lives while we can. The song's melancholic tone and deep lyrics encourage listeners to appreciate each moment of their lives and live life fully.
Line by Line Meaning
There is no final winner
Life isn't a competition with a final winner; there are no ultimate awards, accolades or triumphs.
There is no final score
There may be many milestones and measurements of achievements, but there isn't a final score to determine the ultimate winner.
The men have left the playing field and play no more
Everyone must eventually leave the game of life, and no one can play indefinitely.
The hours have been counted
Time has been valuably and dutifully spent counting successes and failures.
The work is finally done
The tasks, duties, and responsibilities have been completed.
And now the night begins to fall on everyone
As the sun sets and darkness spreads, everybody is in the same situation, no matter what they have accomplished or failed to do.
The lovers have done their loving
Those who have loved each other have given their best to show their affection and dedication.
The murderers their task
Those who have committed serious crimes have fulfilled their dark deeds and cannot undo them.
The hunted have been snared and gagged and masked
Those who have been chased and pursued by others have eventually been caught and apprehended.
So when you're in the graveyard
In the end, everyone will die, and when you walk through a resting place of the dead, remember that it is just a matter of when.
Read those names in stone
Acknowledge the people who came before and remember their lives and contributions.
After all, you'll never get to read your own
Your life will end before you're able to read an inscription on a tombstone about your own existence.
Contributed by Jackson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.