In 2006 Dananananaykroyd released two limited edition 7" singles, "Totally Bone" and "Some Dresses" on Moshi Moshi and Jealous Records respectively. A Japan-only CD EP, collecting both singles, was later released on Kanazawa's Klee/Rallye records. Singer Giles Bailey left the group and was replaced by drummer Calum Gunn while John Baillie Jnr joined the band on drums and additional lead vocals.
Dananananaykroyd released their first EP, Sissy Hits, on London-based Holy Roar Records in June 2008. Shortly after, they introduced ex-Russia drummer Paul Carlin as their new (other) drummer after James Hamilton of Errors left the band. Dananananaykroyd signed to Best Before Records shortly thereafter, and recorded their debut full-length album Hey Everyone! in the US with producer Machine.
The band have toured the UK extensively with bands such as Foals and in 2009 completed a European tour with the Kaiser Chiefs. They played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2009.
In June 2009, the band announced that bass player Laura Hyde had left, and would be replaced on tour by Ryan McGinness.
In August 2009 during a concert in Sydney, Australia, near the beginning of the band's set, singer John Baillie Junior jumped off stage and broke his arm causing the band to cancel the remainder of their Australian tour, as well as appearances at Pukkelpop and Belladrum festivals. Baillie snapped both bones that run from the wrist to the elbow, shearing a large chunk of bone from his elbow. Emergency surgery was needed in Sydney to fix the injury, leaving four metal screws in his arm permanently. His return show (with Calum and John sharing vocals duties) was Reading Festival only 3 weeks later which the band opened, playing to 10,000+ people on the Radio 1/NME stage. Baillie had said that one day he wanted to return to the venue in Sydney and continue the show from the floor where he fell and from the point in the set where it was cut short. The band were able to do this in July 2011, in which they performed at the Annandale Hotel exactly two years to the date after the accident.
The band announced that they were disbanding on 29th September 2011. Some of the former members of Dananananaykroyd went on to form Alarm Bells. Gunn joined Her Parents, while Baillie took on production duties in pop project Bossy Love.
1993
Dananananaykroyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lens at the ready and ink on the page
We can remove and we can take away
But keep it together for 1993
Posture proud, we want 1993
Take a time, back to 1993
Dress your rehearsal room scars
Suture your studio incision
Remember the good times in 1993
The lyrics to Dananananaykroyd's "1993" are a call to action for artists and creators to come together, to embrace their scars and imperfections, and to remember the good times of the past. The first line, "Mangle yourself and each other," speaks to the idea that to truly create something meaningful, you have to be willing to put yourself out there and take risks, even if it means potentially getting hurt or causing discomfort to those around you. The second line, "Lens at the ready and ink on the page," is a reference to the tools of the artist, both visual and written. The third and fourth lines, "We can remove and we can take away/But keep it together for 1993," suggest that even though parts of our past might be painful or difficult, we need to hold onto them and use them as fuel for our present and future creations. The repetition of "Posture proud, we want 1993" and "Take a time, back to 1993" drives home the nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, while the final two lines, "We'll turn your hissy fits into sissy hits/Remember the good times in 1993," offer a promise of transformation and a celebration of the joyful moments that still live on in our memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Mangle yourself and each other
Let's have wild and crazy fun together, without worrying about getting hurt
Lens at the ready and ink on the page
We're capturing every moment and memory, so we never forget them
We can remove and we can take away
We have the power to erase negative thoughts and experiences, and focus on the positive
But keep it together for 1993
Let's stay united and strong, so we can make the most of this year
Posture proud, we want 1993
Let's be confident and enthusiastic about this year, and make it great
Take a time, back to 1993
Let's reminisce about the past, and relive the good times we had in 1993
Dress your rehearsal room scars
Let's embrace our imperfections and use them as a source of creativity and inspiration
Suture your studio incision
Let's heal any wounds or conflicts within the group, so we can work together harmoniously
We'll turn your hissy fits into sissy hits
We can take any negative energy or frustrations and turn them into something positive and productive
Remember the good times in 1993
Let's keep the memories of the happy times we had in 1993 alive, and use them to motivate us in the present
Contributed by Olivia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.