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.
Feelings
Daryll-Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paralysed on the way home
Appears to be himself not crazy
Part of him must
Little man bigger dream big wanker
Trapped by the folk I guess
Neonlight is all he lives on
Fridaynight, friday after daytime
Not everything seems right
A big mans' hand on a small girls' shoulder
Candyman comes again
Little man bigger dream big wanker
Trapped by the folk I guess
Neonlight is all he lives on
And loneliness and hapiness
In this neighbourhood the light's
Deadly shaped for any stranger
And you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling
And you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling
And you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling
And you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling
The lyrics to Daryll-Ann's "Feelings" paint a picture of a lonely and desperate man, the Candyman, who appears to have lost touch with reality. The song describes him as "paralysed on the way home", which could suggest that he is emotionally numb and unable to face the world around him. However, the lyrics also suggest that there is a deeper, more complex aspect to his personality, that part of him is still "himself not crazy".
The song continues to describe the Candyman as a "little man" with big dreams, but also as a "big wanker" who is trapped by the expectations of others. The neon lights of his environment are all he has, but they are also a source of loneliness and unhappiness. The lyrics suggest that the Candyman is not alone in his isolation, as the small girl with the big man's hand on her shoulder seems just as trapped and powerless as he is.
The final verse of the song shifts to a more general observation of the world of the Candyman, describing the neighborhood as being "deadly shaped for any stranger". The use of the word "deadly" adds to the sense of foreboding and danger that pervades the song. The repetition of the phrase "and you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling" at the end of the song suggests that the singer is trying to convey the Candyman's emotions to someone else, perhaps in an attempt to increase understanding and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Candyman on a sunday evening
A man who provides temptations to others, possibly through substances or other means, is present on a Sunday evening.
Paralysed on the way home
The singer is unable to move, either physically or emotionally, while returning home.
Appears to be himself not crazy
The Candyman seems to be sane and behaving normally on the surface.
Part of him must
However, there is still something about him that is not quite right.
Little man bigger dream big wanker
A small man who has grand ambitions but is ultimately a failure.
Trapped by the folk I guess
He is confined or limited by the people and circumstances around him.
Neonlight is all he lives on
He is sustained by the bright and artificial lights of the city.
And loneliness
He is also plagued by loneliness and isolation despite being surrounded by people.
Fridaynight, friday after daytime
On a Friday night, after the end of the workweek.
Not everything seems right
Something is amiss or not quite perfect.
A big mans' hand on a small girls' shoulder
A larger, possibly threatening man is touching a smaller, vulnerable girl in some way.
Candyman comes again
The Candyman returns, possibly bringing more temptation and danger with him.
Neighborhood light's deadly shaped for any stranger
The lighting of the singer's surroundings seems to be dangerous or deadly for outsiders.
And you rage all about till you know how I'm feeling
The singer suggests that the only way someone can truly understand their emotions is by experiencing similar circumstances and feelings themselves.
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.