1) Diorama is a darkwave band founded in 1996 in Reutlingen, Germany by Torben Wendt. His music was soon recognized by Adrian Hates of Diary of Dreams, so with his support and the support of Rainer Assmann (Daf/ Fad Gadget), a debut-album “Pale” was released in 1999. It was received very well both by the critics and the audience.
In 2000 Torben’s friend Felix Marc joined Diorama as a keyboard player, co-producer and backing vocalist. The second album “Her Liquid Arms” was released in April 2001. Despite its stronger rhythms and more forceful electronic sounds, the music preserved its distinctive atmosphere, established with the first album. The song “Advance” became one of the leading club hits and the band was becoming increasingly popular. The second album was followed by club-oriented single “Device” (December 2001).
Bassist Bernard Le Sigue joined the band the following year, and together with Torben and Felix saw the release of the third album, named “The Art of Creating Confusing Spirits”, the album was released in October 2002. During November and December of the same year, Diorama supported Diary of Dreams on tour.
After a long break and another addition to the band’s line-up (guitar player Sash Fiddler joining in 2003), the long-awaited fourth album "Amaroid" was released in April 2005. For the promotion of the new album, the band joined VNV Nation, on their “Formation” tour. In October 2005, Diorama released two more albums: A re-release of their first album “Pale”, with three new songs (“Don’t Be There”, “You and Ice” and “Crop of Illusions”); and “Re-Pale” – a collection of new versions of earlier songs, remixes and some previously unreleased songs. At the same time, the band went on their first headline tour throughout Germany.
At the end of 2006, Bernard Le Sigue left the band. On the 23rd of February 2007, a new single was released: “Synthesize Me”, a prelude for the next album, which was released 4 weeks later. “A Different Life” can be characterized as a criticism of the society ruled by artificial, deviant system of values. With his lyrics, Torben portrayed the revolt of the individual against the imposed principles and general degradation of true values and virtues.
"Cubed" is their seventh studio album, released on 19th March 2010. The figurative picture of a cube is the guiding theme of the album - a confined area serving as a living space be it as a stage, as a prison or as a shelter. This concept consequently features throughout the band's artwork and stage setting.
2) Diorama is an Italian folk rock band formed in 2003 by Antonella Colucci, Richard Rhodes and Alexander Sgura. Over the years the line-up has been slightly changed, and so far the band has released three albums. More information can be found on their website: http://www.dioramamusica.it
3) Diorama is a post-rock / math rock band from Peru, formed in 2011. The band invents post-jamming psychedelic landscapes with a math rock feel, very chill and very textured. Official webpages: https://www.facebook.com/DioramaBanda - http://www.youtube.com/user/dioramaband - http://diorama.bandcamp.com
Stereotype
Diorama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In concrete and glass
Compels your amazement
Until you're numb
How long will you marvel
Before you sign in?
The gates are wide open
And here you come
You give yourself away
For nothing
You give yourself away
For a stereotype
There's no call for help I won't come running
Too late to recognize you
They get you connected
To dreams off the rack
The choice between leader
And copycat
You may bask in rivers
Of wine to blank out
The tick of the time bomb
Placed in your head
You give yourself away
For nothing
You give yourself away
For a stereotype
There's no call for help I won't come running
Too late to recognize you
You think this is the path to freedom
A chance to leave
A path to freedom
It's not!
It's not!
You think this is the path to freedom
A chance to leave
A path to freedom
It's not!
It's not!
Some go to take part
Others just to witness how hard
You try
You try
You try
You try
The first verse of Diorama's "Stereotype" describes the awe-inspiring effect of modern society on the listener. The concrete and glass of urban and suburban landscapes are compared to the scent of the whole world, suggesting both a sense of wonder and a sense of confinement. The word "numb" implies that the listener is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the experience, but also perhaps that it is a temporary and ultimately unsatisfying sensation. The second line of the verse, "Compels your amazement," suggests that the listener is drawn into this environment without really having a choice. The question posed by the next line, "How long will you marvel/Before you sign in?" suggests that the listener can only resist the pull of the stereotype for a limited time before succumbing to it.
The second verse describes the process by which the listener becomes a "copycat" rather than a "leader." The dreams that the listener is "connected" to are "off the rack," implying that they are mass-produced and not personalized in any way. The choice between "leader/And copycat" seems to suggest that this is a binary decision, that one must either follow the predetermined path to success or be left behind. The next image of "bask[ing] in rivers/Of wine to blank out/The tick of the time bomb/Placed in your head" implies that the listener is trying to escape the reality of their situation through consumption, but this is ultimately futile because the "time bomb" is still ticking away.
Line by Line Meaning
The scent of the wide world
The alluring aroma of the vast globe
In concrete and glass
Amidst structures of cement and glass
Compels your amazement
Fascinates you beyond measure
Until you're numb
To the point of being desensitized
How long will you marvel
For how much time will you be amazed
Before you sign in?
Until you join in on the action
The gates are wide open
The entrance is unobstructed
And here you come
You enter the scene
You give yourself away
You sacrifice yourself
For nothing
Without any return
For a stereotype
For a common and unoriginal idea
There's no call for help I won't come running
Anything you ask of me, I will do
Too late to recognize you
It's past the point of realizing who you are
They get you connected
They establish a connection with you
To dreams off the rack
To pre-made, standard dreams
The choice between leader
The decision to either lead
And copycat
Or imitate others
You may bask in rivers
You can bathe in excess
Of wine to blank out
With alcohol to forget
The tick of the time bomb
The incessant countdown to doom
Placed in your head
Embedded in your mind
You think this is the path to freedom
You believe this will lead to liberation
A chance to leave
An opportunity to depart
It's not!
It is not that!
Some go to take part
Some join in to actively participate
Others just to witness how hard
Others simply to observe the difficult nature
You try
You attempt
You try
You endeavor
You try
You strive
You try
You make an effort
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.