Decoder Ring was formed in 2001, in Sydney, Australia.

Original line… Read Full Bio ↴Decoder Ring was formed in 2001, in Sydney, Australia.

Original line-up consisted of Matt Fitzgerald ( keyboards, guitar) Geoff Towner (bass, El Mopa), Pete Kelly (guitar, Sea Life Park), Kenny Davis Jr (keyboards, piano, The Jackson Code, The Blackeyed Susans) & Thomas Schutzinger (drums). Original line-up recorded the EP "Spooky Action at a Distance" (2002) and album "Decoder Ring" (2002). Geoff Towner departed in 2003 and was replaced by Ben Ely (Regurgitator).

The track "Night Shift" from the EP "Spooky Action at a Distance" featuring vocals by Jodi Phillis (Clouds) was utilised in the soundtrack to the Alex Proyas film "Garage Days" (2002).

The band wrote the soundtrack for the 2004 Australian film Somersault, for which the band won an AFI Award for 'Best Original Music Score', an Australian Screen Sound Guild Award for 'Soundtrack of the Year', a Lexus IF (Inside Film) Award for 'Best Music', 'Best Original Song Composed for a Feature Film, Telemovie, TV Series or Mini-Series' at the APRA/Australian Screen Music Awards, a Jackson Hole Film Festival Award for 'Best Score' and was nominated for an ARIA Award in the category of 'Best Soundtrack/Cast/Show Recording'.

Kenny Davis Jr & Ben Ely departed after the recording of Somersault in 2004, the band subsequently reconfiguring with new members Lenka Kripac (vocals, keyboards), Xavier Fijac (keyboards, samples) & Matthew Steffen (bass).

All the band's performances are accompanied by film projections put on by Simon Killalea who, while not playing an instrument, is considered a member of the band.

The band wrote the soundtrack for the 2005 short feature Jewboy by writer/director Tony Krawitz, which was presented in 2006 at the Sundance Film Festival. Both of the films were shown at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2005 saw the band performing at the Homebake Festival, the Big Day Out concerts, Splendour in the Grass and Coockatoo Island Festival and the Perth International Arts Festival.

In 2006 Decoder Ring performed at the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival (Sydney) in March, then at Los Angeles, the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas shows in New York, followed by The Great Escape Festival, Splendour in the Grass and a national tour of Australia.

In 2007 a short film by Stephen Lance, Yolk, with music by Decoder Ring was screened as part of the Sydney Film Festival.

Recently Decoder Ring's remix of the song "Yama Yama" featured on an Australian Television advertisement for Tooheys Extra Dry beer. The song is adapted from Le Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki, a pseudo-Japanese concept album produced by French duo Jean Kluger and Daniel Vangarde (also known as The Yamasuki Singers) in 1972.

Music Box
Decoder Ring Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Der Welt, (the world)
Mein HeltŠ (my hero)

Lauf bis zu der Ende der Welt, (run to the end of the world)
Wenn dann du bis mein Helt. (when you do you¹ll be my hero.)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Decoder Ring's song Music Box convey the feeling of longing for someone to rescue or provide a sense of safety in a difficult and uncertain world. "Der Welt, Mein Helt" translates to "the world, my hero," suggesting a powerful, larger-than-life figure who can take on the challenges of the world and make sense of it all. The next line, "Lauf bis zu der Ende der Welt," or "run to the end of the world," suggests that the singer is seeking someone who is willing to go to great lengths to find them and provide them with the security they seek. Finally, the line "Wenn dann du bis mein Helt," which translates to "when you do you'll be my hero," expresses the hope and desire that the unknown hero will eventually arrive and fulfill their role as the savior of the singer's world.

Overall, the song's lyrics are poignant in their simplicity and express a universal human desire for safety, security, and someone to protect us from the unknowns of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Der Welt
The vast world with all its opportunities and possibilities.

Mein Helt
The person who is my protector, rescuer, and inspiration.

Lauf bis zu der Ende der Welt
I'm willing to go to any length, and face any challenge to achieve my dreams and reach my goals.

Wenn dann du bis mein Helt
Only when I have found my hero, who understands me, supports me, and stands by me unconditionally, will my journey be complete and fulfilling.

Contributed by Addison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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