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
Witch Doctor
De Staat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got all these herbs don't mean a f***ing thing
I am the little witch, with the magic tricks
Mistrust the white house, come and get your fix
It's not about the numbers, what you feel is real
Crystals, rays of light, the taste of orange peel
Open the mind, change the mind, that's how we achieve
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
I taste the green when you come here and complain
I'll give you cleanliness, while I'll make it rain
I'm a corpse eating vulture, who tells you how to feel
Don't trust the white coats, I'll make you a better deal
Put a needle in the cheek so turn the other one
Come back tomorrow, because we'll never get it done
Open the mind, change the mind, that's how we achieve
Can't hurry to try right, it's what I believe
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
Witch doctor
The lyrics to De Staat's song "Witch Doctor" are a critique on the growing culture of alternative medicine and mistrust towards traditional medicine. The first verse speaks to the disillusionment that people may feel towards modern medicine, despite the abundance of readily available treatments. The singer claims to be a "little witch" who has the power to heal with her "magic tricks" and suggests that people should come to her instead of the "white house", which can be interpreted as a reference to traditional medical establishments.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Witch Doctor" four times, offering a kind of mantra that invokes a mysterious and alluring figure who has the power to heal. The second verse reinforces the idea that alternative medicine is a better solution to physical and mental ailments, even though it may require more time and patience. The singer references putting needles in the cheek, which may be a reference to acupuncture, a popular alternative treatment.
Overall, "Witch Doctor" is a commentary on the perceived failures of modern medicine and the growing appeal of alternative therapies that rely on individual experiences, rather than scientific evidence. It speaks to the power of belief and the desire to find healing in unconventional ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little sicky, seems to be the pain
Addressing someone who is unwell and in pain.
Got all these herbs don't mean a f***ing thing
Claiming that the herbs and natural remedies don't work.
I am the little witch, with the magic tricks
Presenting oneself as a healer with supernatural abilities.
Mistrust the white house, come and get your fix
Encouraging people to mistrust conventional medicine and seek their treatment.
It's not about the numbers, what you feel is real
Stating that personal experiences and feelings are more important than objective evidence.
Crystals, rays of light, the taste of orange peel
Suggesting the use of pseudoscientific and unusual treatments.
Open the mind, change the mind, that's how we achieve
Encouraging an open mind to the use of alternative medicine.
Can't hurry to try right, it's what I believe
Stating a personal belief in alternative medicine and the need to be patient with its effects.
Witch doctor
The title of the song, repeating the chorus.
I taste the green when you come here and complain
Implying that the singer can sense the negative energy of the person seeking help.
I'll give you cleanliness, while I'll make it rain
Promising to cleanse the person of their illness and bring about healing.
I'm a corpse eating vulture, who tells you how to feel
Using shocking imagery to convey the message that the singer can cure anything and everything.
Don't trust the white coats, I'll make you a better deal
Encouraging people not to trust medical professionals and instead rely on alternative medicine.
Put a needle in the cheek so turn the other one
Suggesting an unconventional treatment method that might cause discomfort.
Come back tomorrow, because we'll never get it done
Implying that healing is a continuous process and requires multiple visits.
Open the mind, change the mind, that's how we achieve
Repeating the message of the third and seventh lines.
Can't hurry to try right, it's what I believe
Repeating the message of the sixth and eleventh lines.
Witch doctor
Repeating the chorus for a final time.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, CTM Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TORRE FLORIM JANSSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ARealCupcake
This is not the Witch Doctor I was looking for, but it's the Witch Doctor I stayed for.
ARealCupcake
@Googol Also not the one I was looking for, but still pretty good :D
ARealCupcake
@SinclairWest I mean, I knew which one I was talking about, but thanks for the link I guess :)
Giovana Camani
@ARealCupcake this john seed from far cry 5
Drasťa
If you haven't seen De Staat live you have to do it! It was one of the best concerts I've seen in my life!
Ben Locsei
Word
Samuel William
I saw them last night for the first time. Incredible!
Vermonol
Definitely now one of my favourite film clips in the last few years. Fantastic band, wish they'd come to Australia
Nitay A.
This feels like the perfect boss fight for a video game with very little supernatural elements set in the wild west or victorian England. This setup, and combat with the giant crowd acting as a hive mind and the squishy "witch doctor" in the middle.
Juan Pablo Ponce
Nitay A. What about joseph seed?