He started working as Dntel, pronounced Din-tell, in 1994. A collection of tracks created between 1995-1997 (Early Works For Me If It Works For You) was released on the Phthalo label in 1999, followed by the release of an EP recorded in 1994 (Something Always Goes Wrong) in 2000. After contributing a song to Plug Research's Voices In My Lunchbox compilation he was invited to do a full length for the label, preceded by a 12" EP (Anywhere Anyone).
Dntel released his full-length album Life Is Full Of Possibilities in 2001. The LP featured vocal contributions by many artists, including Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard on the breakout track (This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan, which led to a single in 2002 and later, the formation of the band The Postal Service with Gibbard. With vocals buried in static, cut-up acoustic guitars and sampled symphonies struggling to find somewhere to settle, Life Is Full Of Possibilities reserved Dntel's spot as a pioneer of contemporary glitch, electro-pop, and indietronica.
Tamborello is currently working with The Postal Service and continuing his solo work, including remixes for various artists. As Dntel, he is releasing a compilation, Early Works For Me If It Works For You II, which will feature unfinished instrumental tracks from when he was working on Life Is Full Of Possibilities in 1998-2001, to be released on Phthalo. He released his newest full-length LP, titled "Dumb Luck" on April 24, 2007. "Dumb Luck" is his first LP on Sub Pop records.
Why I´m So Unhappy
Dntel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In dreams.
This is why I'm so unhappy
And sees.
This space I am defending
In sections
Is now never ending
The way his hands unfold me
It seems
To form a ring around me
Unseen
He tells me I'm just hiding
In circles
It leaves my life divided
Alone, alone
Alone
He dumb dumb da dee dumb
(Hee e e e e e)
(He omm ohh ahhh)
The opening lines of the song “Why I’m So Unhappy” by Dntel paints a picture of a person sitting under someone in dreams which is the cause of his unhappiness. It could be interpreted in a few ways, but it seems like the singer of the song is not able to be with the person he wants to in waking life, and so he turns to dreams to feel close to them. The next lines “This space I am defending in sections is now never-ending overgrowth” suggests that the singer is trying to keep some kind of distance between himself and the person he desires, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult as time goes on. Whatever space he’s trying to keep, it’s slowly being consumed by “overgrowth” - perhaps a metaphor for his own feelings for the other person that are growing beyond his control.
The lines “The way his hands unfold me, it seems to form a ring around me unseen” could suggest that the person the singer desires isn’t physically with him, but his memories or dreams of the person are so strong that they envelop him anyways. Meanwhile, the person he desires might be telling him that “he’s just hiding in circles” which is splitting him up from his life and making him feel alone. It could be interpreted that the person he desires might be aware of his feelings, but doesn’t reciprocate them or is unable to act on them which is leading to the singer feeling isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
He's sitting under me
In dreams.
The person is constantly thinking about someone else, even in their dreams.
This space I am defending
In sections
Is now never ending
Overgrowth
The person is trying to hold onto something that has grown beyond their control, leading to frustration.
The way his hands unfold me
It seems
To form a ring around me
Unseen
The person feels trapped and suffocated in their relationship with the other person, which is not easily noticeable by others.
He tells me I'm just hiding
In circles
It leaves my life divided
Alone, alone
Alone
The other person is accusing the person of being closed off and not fully engaging in the relationship, causing the person to feel isolated and alone.
He dumb dumb da dee dumb
(Hee e e e e e)
(He omm ohh ahhh)
This line is nonsensical and does not contribute to the overall theme of the song.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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