Across three solo albums, DAWN has honed a style of music that she describes as “genderless and genreless”.
DAWN’s 2019 album New Breed was her most successful to date. Showcasing her home city New Orleans and the Carnival Indian culture makes her latest album a one of a kind masterpiece. Her vocal and dance ability are matched with her production and songwriting skills making her one of most extraordinary talents of our time. New Breed was named as one of the year’s best albums by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Vogue, FACT, LA Times, Spin, Rap Up and many more. DAWN continues to push the boundaries of music and visual technology with her videos and live show, becoming the first artist to perform live in 360 on YouTube. She has also released a VR album debuted by WIRED as well as collaborated with her long time partners Adult Swim making her the first black female singer to do so. What makes DAWN a unique pop sensation and a phenomenon is that she does this all DIY. Being completely Independent with no label or team she has broken ceilings for women, POC, LGBTQ, and so many others. DAWN is more than just her music, she is a movement.
Teen Spirit
Dawn Richard Lyrics
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It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yeah, hey, yay
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello!
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yeah, hey, yay
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello!
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
The lyrics of Dawn Richard's song Teen Spirit are actually a cover of the iconic Nirvana song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The track has been slightly modified but carries the same lyrical substance as the original version. At the start, the first two lines of the lyrics "Load up on guns, bring your friends, It's fun to lose and to pretend" express a deep feeling of detachment and insecurity about life, as said by Kurt Cobain, the writer of this song, co-creator of the grunge genre.
However, as the song continues, it imbues a sense of irony that portrays how the youth of that period viewed things in a different light. By including lines like "With the lights out, it's less dangerous, Here we are now, entertain us, I feel stupid and contagious, Here we are now, entertain us" express this twisted sense of humor and countercultural attitude. The chorus "A mulatto, An albino, A mosquito, My libido" is a series of non-sequiturs that follow a specific rhythm, adding to the meaning of empty and confused youth.
In conclusion, Dawn Richard's Teen Spirit, with its music video, was an homage to a song that has had a considerable influence on the rock and youth culture of the 90s. The lyrics reflected the same angst of that generation and its apathetic rebellion against a society that was slow to respond to the moral and social issues of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Load up on guns, bring your friends
Arm yourself and bring your allies for protection and power
It's fun to lose and to pretend
It's exhilarating to go against the norm and act as if nothing matters
She's over bored and self assured
She's too accustomed to her life and too confident in her abilities
Oh no, I know a dirty word
I'm aware of taboo language but I'll use it anyway
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
When everything is dark and unclear, you feel safer to act as you please
Here we are now, entertain us
We're bored and looking for something to stimulate and distract us
I feel stupid and contagious
I feel foolish and like I'm spreading a negative energy
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
I see and accept the diversity in the world, including different races, insects, and my own sexual desires
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
I'm not great at what I'm supposed to excel at but I'm grateful for the opportunity anyway
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Our tight-knit community has been steadfast and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind
I don't remember why I enjoy certain things, but that's okay, I'll keep doing as I please regardless
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
A denial!
Multiple repetitions of a refusal to accept something, perhaps suggesting a repeated cycle
Contributed by Olivia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.