Their first, eponymously-titled mini album was the first release ever of Berlin-based label Machinery, its title track becoming one of the most frequently played titles in Northern Europe. They continued their collaboration with Jor Rosen's label, in time releasing 6 singles and 3 albums until the label was acquired and later dissolved by new management.
In 1997 they signed with Polydor, but after one album (Dehumanizer) that partnership ended - clearly the dark electronic sound didn't fit in with Polydor's dance-label What's Up ?!. On Dehumanizer the band was briefly joined by Norbert Drescher (aka Norri) as drummer.
2001 saw the release of their latest album, Schlafende Energie, on Synthetic Symphony. According to their homepage (2008), they have a new album finished. They are just shopping around for a new label to master, press and distribute it.
Dance Or Die are a popular (at least in Central and Northern Europe) band that span many musical genres. Cold techno sound meets deep goth voice (vocalist Gary Wagner even sings as guest on other artist's records, as on "Take Some More" by And One) form a perfect ground for the cyber-themed lyrics about life in the machine age.
Their albums were thus appropriately named:
-3001 for the future.
-Psychoburbia for the psychotic nature of modern suburbia.
-Everspring for the spring of a watch and life being bound within the artificial boundaries of mankind's inventions (time).
-Dehumanizer for what modern society does to individuals. (Though it may have been named after the album of Black Sabbath, whose song "Black Sabbath" Dance Or Die did cover on Psychoburbia.)
-Schlafende Energie (literally: sleeping energy) is a term coined by German television series Raumpatrouille and means an energy reserve, but it was used for its potency.
Dance Or Die are members of a media collective called Clan of Nihil. For some American versions of their records, they were renamed Do Or Die by their label Machinery.
Daydream
Dance or Die Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what I feel
You're the material find out what's real
This is the remi
And this can't be you
You've got the right things
You know what to do
You're not tellin' me
So many questions
Won't you stay with me?
It is no daydream
I found the way you're leading to hell
It is a daydream
See it, blue eyes
You found a way just to hide on the lies
Just a daydream
Just a daydream
You've got the answer
You're not tellin' me
So many questions
Won't you stay with me?
You've got the answer
This can't be you
You've got the answers
You know what to do
You've got the answer
So many questions
It is no daydream
That's what I feel
You're the material find out what is real
This isn't real
And this can't be you
You've got the right things
You know what to do
You've got the answer
You're not tellin' me
So many questions
Won't you stay with me?
You've got the answer
You've got the answer
The lyrics to Dance or Die's song "Daydream" express a sense of confusion and longing for answers. The singer is unsure if what they are experiencing is real or just a daydream. There is a sense of frustration with the lack of communication from the person they are talking to, who seems to have the answers they need but won't share them.
The repetition of "you've got the answer" emphasizes the belief that this person has the key to resolving the confusion and uncertainty in the singer's mind. However, there is also a feeling of betrayal as the singer realizes the person they trusted may have been leading them down a path to hell with lies. The line "you're the material find out what is real" suggests that the person may have been focused on superficial or material things rather than being honest and authentic.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of yearning for clarity and truth in a situation that feels uncertain and potentially dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
It is no daydream
I'm not just imagining this
That's what I feel
This is how I truly feel about you and our situation
You're the material find out what's real
You're the tangible thing in my life, help me figure out what's true and genuine
This is the remi
This is the remix or new version
And this can't be you
This behavior or situation isn't who you truly are
You've got the right things
You know what to do in this situation
You know what to do
You have the answers to our problems
You're not tellin' me
You're withholding information from me
So many questions
I have a lot of inquiries and doubts
Won't you stay with me?
Please don't leave me alone to deal with this
I found the way you're leading to hell
I've realized that following you will lead me to a negative and harmful outcome
See it, blue eyes
I can see the deception and lies in your eyes
You found a way just to hide on the lies
You've found a way to conceal and deceive me with your falsehoods
Just a daydream
It was only an illusion
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.