The band's figureheads and main songwriters were Jelle Paulusma (lead vocals) and Anne Soldaat (guitar, vocals). Critics often heard echoes of early Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and other sixties bands from the American west in Daryll-Ann's particular blend of indie rock.
After an initial EP (Decibel, 1991) and début album (Renko, 1992) on tiny domestic labels, the band drew the attention of Hut, the indie branch of Virgin Records. The I Could Never Love You and Come Around EP's (1993 and 1994, respectively) were praised by critics in Holland and the U.K. The group toured Europe and their first full-length album for Hut, Seaborne West (1995), even saw a U.S. release. It received rave reviews in the U.K. music press.
Due to disappointing sales, however, the band was dropped by Hut and joined the respected Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings, for which they continued to release albums to huge critical acclaim (but moderate commercial success). A small international cult following continued to follow the band, so that some of their Excelsior releases were also put out internationally.
Daryll-Ann's studio albums for Excelsior Recordings:
Daryll-Ann Weeps (1996)
Happy Traum (1999)
Trailer Tales (2002)
Don't Stop (2003)
Excelsior also released a limited edition live album, entitled DA Live (2000).
The band decided to call it a day in 2004. Frontman Jelle Paulusma resurfaced two years later with his first solo album, using his his family name Paulusma as his moniker, whereas guitarist Anne Soldaat went on to form the band Do The Undo (self-titled début album released in 2007) and subsequently started recording under his own name, Anne Soldaat.
2014 saw Daryll-Ann's eagerly anticipated re-formation: original line-up, no new new material, old songs only. The band's brief reunion and farewell tour of The Netherlands received rave reviews.
On April 24, 2022, the band reunited once again, this time for one night only, to perform at Paradiso during the 25th anniversary party of Excelsior Recordings.
Everybody's Cool
Daryll-Ann Lyrics
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Low esteem without a warning
Kill the weak for worse for better
Till the morning comes around
She built the wall till no one's there
When everywhere there's anger
There's no one really there
Everyone's enacted from the start
Ride a wave one to remember
Rock the reef for such a long time
Catch the ride until September
Guard your gracious life
She built a wall what else is new
Where everyone's an actor
And everybody's cool
She's always on the losing end
Everyone's enacted from the start
She missed the ball what else is new
When everywhere there's anger
She's desperatly uncool
And always on the losing end
Everyone's enacted from the start
(And everyone is at the superstar)
Everyone's enacted from the start
The lyrics to Daryll-Ann's song "Everybody's Cool" reflect the themes of loneliness, social anxiety, and the societal pressure to put on a façade of being "cool" and detached. The singer of the song seems to be struggling to fit in, building walls around themselves to protect against the anger and hostility of others. The line "kill the weak for worse for better" suggests a Darwinian competition for power and status, in which empathy and kindness are seen as weaknesses. However, the repeated line "everyone's enacted from the start" suggests that this competition and façade is not a genuine expression of individuality or creativity, but rather a script that everyone feels obligated to follow.
The second verse brings in imagery of surfing and catching waves, suggesting a desire to escape and find freedom from the pressure to be "cool". However, even in this context, the singer is guarding their "gracious life" and perhaps still feeling isolated and detached. The line "she missed the ball what else is new" adds a sense of resignation and defeat, suggesting that this struggle to fit in is a recurring pattern. The song concludes with the repetition of "everyone's enacted from the start", further emphasizing the sense of conformity and artificiality in social interactions.
Overall, "Everybody's Cool" is a powerful commentary on the pressure to fit in and the toll that can take on individual well-being and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hide away your love in anger
When you're mad or upset, you tend to hide your emotions and love away.
Low esteem without a warning
Feeling badly about yourself, without any obvious reason.
Kill the weak for worse for better
People are willing to bring others down just to make themselves feel better.
Till the morning comes around
The feeling of wanting to feel better will persist until the next day.
She built the wall till no one's there
She has isolated herself so much that she has no one left around.
When everywhere there's anger
Surrounded by people who are upset and mad all the time.
There's no one really there
The people around her are superficial and not there for her emotionally.
Always on the losing end
She always feels like she's losing in life and relationships.
Everyone's enacted from the start
Everything and everyone around her feels rehearsed and fake.
Ride a wave one to remember
Experiencing something amazing that will be unforgettable.
Rock the reef for such a long time
Dealing with a difficult situation for a prolonged period of time.
Catch the ride until September
Riding the wave of something until the end of summer.
Guard your gracious life
Protecting the good things in your life.
She built a wall what else is new
She has created emotional barriers for herself before.
Where everyone's an actor
People around her are not genuine and only play a role.
And everybody's cool
Everyone around her acts like nothing is wrong and puts on a facade.
She's always on the losing end
She feels like she always comes up short.
She missed the ball what else is new
She has failed to seize opportunities before.
She's desperately uncool
She feels like an outsider and unaccepted by the 'cool' people around her.
(And everyone is at the superstar)
Everyone around her is trying to be someone they're not and be a superstar.
Everyone's enacted from the start
Everything and everyone around her feels rehearsed and fake.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANNE SOLDAAT, JOHANNES A. JELLE PAULUSMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind