De Staat have been described by SonicAbuse as "genre-hopping Gremlins of the first order, who take in the eclectic, grand slamming funk of Beck, the dance grooves of Kelis’ Milkshake, the horny soul of QOTSA (...) and the lost, gothic romanticism of Nick Cave often within the same song."
The band's sound gradually evolved from rather heavy, riff-based 'desert rock' in the vein of Queens Of The Stone Age and Kyuss to a more eclectic 'heavy disco' sound with funky synthesizers and bouncing melodies. Typical for this shift in sound is 2014's Vinticious Versions EP, on which - if you wish - the 'new De Staat' interprets songs of the 'old De Staat'.
November 2021 saw the first release of a possible series of EP's based around the three colors red, yellow and blue. Each color represents the main vibe of a track. Red stands for dark and hard, yellow stands for light-footed, and blue stands for melancholic. De Staat frontman Torre Florim explained that future song releases would fit these vibes and possibly become a series of EP's instead of an album.
Line-up:
Torre Florim - vocals, guitar
Vedran Mircetic - guitar
Jop van Summeren - bass, keyboard, vocals
Rocco Hueting - percussion, keyboards, synth, guitar, vocals
Tim van Delft – drums
BAND HISTORY
De Staat debuted in 2009 with Wait for Evolution and shortly thereafter performed on all major Dutch stages and festivals such as Lowlands and Pinkpop, and internationally at Sziget and Glastonbury. The album was awarded various prizes, and in 2011 and 2012 the band received a 3FM Award for Best Alternative Act. Second album Machinery was released in 2011. Once again, De Staat toured a large number of European venues and festivals, this time with an extra element added to their live shows: a huge, specially built machine. In 2013 they released I_CON, which was awarded an Edison, Holland’s most prestigious music prize. Late 2013 they played three packed out riotous shows at the Black Heart in London.
www.destaat.net
The Fantastic Journey of the Underground Man
De Staat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look out for pigs, 'cause I ain't got no light
Ride through the shadow, to my friend Jack
Did you miss me baby? Well, now I'm back
I drink that courage into my veins
Let Jacky D. take the shame away
Shake, shake, 'cause it might get better
All I want is to get together
Shake, shake, 'cause it might get better
Wait for someone to go to bed with / All I want is to get together (parallel)
I see you dancin' baby, the whole night long
I don't know why, but I - I want your hump
Like a sniper baby, I hunt for you
I wait for hours and then do an interview
I shake my ass and then she goes away
I like to play, but I don't know the game!
(Chorus)
The Fantastic Journey of the Underground Man by De Staat is a gritty and dark song that deals with themes of escapism and self-destructive behavior. The song opens with the singer addressing the audience with the words "Sweet dreams, it is saturday night, Look out for pigs, 'cause I ain't got no light." Here, the singer is suggesting that the listener might be in a dangerous place, and that they should be wary of the police. This creates a sense of urgency that carries throughout the song.
The singer then rides through the shadows to visit his friend Jack, and the two of them proceed to drink heavily throughout the night. The chorus of the song repeats the words "Shake, shake, 'cause it might get better, All I want is to get together, Wait for someone to go to bed with / All I want is to get together." This reflects the singer's desire to escape from reality and find someone to be with, even if it means engaging in self-destructive behavior.
The second verse of the song sees the singer hunting for a woman, and waiting for hours to get close to her. However, despite his efforts, the woman ultimately leaves him, leaving the singer feeling lost and unsure. The song ends on an uncertain and ominous note, with the singer repeating "Shake, shake, 'cause it might get better" as though trying to convince himself that things will improve.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet dreams, it is saturday night
It's the weekend and I'm ready to have a good time
Look out for pigs, 'cause I ain't got no light
I don't want to attract cops by using any lights
Ride through the shadow, to my friend Jack
I'm going to my friend Jack's place, but avoiding well-lit areas
Did you miss me baby? Well, now I'm back
I'm back and ready to party with my friends
I drink that courage into my veins
I'm using alcohol to give me confidence
Let Jacky D. take the shame away
I want to forget about my problems and let the alcohol do its job
Shake, shake, 'cause it might get better
I'm hoping that dancing and partying will make me feel better
All I want is to get together
I just want to hang out with my friends and have fun
Wait for someone to go to bed with / All I want is to get together (parallel)
I'm not necessarily looking for a hookup, but I wouldn't mind it either
I see you dancin' baby, the whole night long
I notice you dancing and having a good time all night
I don't know why, but I - I want your hump
I'm attracted to you and I don't know why
Like a sniper baby, I hunt for you
I'm looking for a chance to make a move on you
I wait for hours and then do an interview
I spend a lot of time trying to get your attention and talk to you
I shake my ass and then she goes away
I try to impress you, but you're not interested and leave
I like to play, but I don't know the game!
I enjoy flirting and trying to pick up people, but I'm not very good at it
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TravAlma
Where does the time go?? It was like yesterday when this was all-over the good-old 3FM. And now, some 8 odd years later...and the guys are finally getting the well-deserved recognition. Heck, they're now touring with MUSE! Stay cool you guys! ♪♥
Sebastiaan Sweers
TravAlma yes indeed
TheRubbaRazza
This band is amazing.
Rotten State
fck yeah.takin the world
Jeremiah Rhodes
From jump, this band has fully understood the value of a simple yet effective music video.
Goof Vermeulen
JAAA de clip is mooi gelukt! trots dat ik heb mogen mee werken aan dit juweeltje! veel succes voor jullie gewenst in de big 09! groet! gOof
JustMePeter94
Ga zo door gasten! Een van de enige echte goede bands waar Nederland trots op mag zijn!
Bas Willekes
Heel fijn om naar te luisteren, en nu ook om naar te kijken. Ze zijn live ook er goed en leuk! Hoop dat ze dit jaar weer zo veel festivals aan doen.
GrungeBouke
Geweldig! Ik heb De Staat gezien in een klein kroegje tijdje geleden, het was toen al helemaal geweldig. En opeens: Zie je ze op tv en hoor je ze op de radio. Echt vette muziek.
Dutchbest
Great band, I could see these guys being at the main stage in several years.