Since 1996, an evolving lineup of the band, always fronted by singer/songwriter John Easdale, has been performing in one incarnation or another (initially billed as Easdale solo but usually with assistance from former band mates), and from then until 2003 played occasional shows in the L.A. area, as well as in New Jersey. However, amid renewed interest since the Bands Reunited episode in January 2004 and a large-scale appearance at KROQ-FM's annual Inland Invasion festival concert (attended by more than 78,000 fans) in September 2003, Dramarama has been touring nationally in 2004 and 2005, and released their first new, full-length studio CD, titled "everybody dies," on October 25, 2005.
In 1982, Dramarama formed in and around Wayne, New Jersey, where founding member Chris Carter owned a record store called Looney Tunez Records. The initial line-up consisted of singer/songwriter John Easdale, "Mr. E Boy" (Mark Englert) and Carter, later joined by Peter Wood on guitars, Jesse Farbman on drums. Jesse would leave the group after the third album, and was eventually replaced with drummer Clem Burke, whose prior band was Blondie. Other early bandmates included keyboardists Theothorous Athanasious "Teddy" Ellenis and "Secret Weapon" Tommy Mullaney, who doubled as the band's tour manager.
The current lineup consists of frontman John Easdale and several players from Dramarama's former incarnation, including lead guitarist Mark Englert and rhythm guitar player Peter Wood (the only band member who moved back to New Jersey and still maintains a residence there). Rounding out the band are Los Angeles-based musicians Tony Snow on drums, and Craig Ballam (guitar) and Mike Davis (bass), the two of whom also maintain a side project called Shobud. In addition, Mike Davis is the official bass player for Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford's eponymous solo band, and appears on Halford's upcoming CD, Halford IV.
A number of prominent musicians has joined the band for studio sessions on specific tracks over the years, perhaps most notably pianist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and guitarist Mick Taylor, late of the Rolling Stones, on Vinyl. In addition, fellow power pop artist Dwight Twilley lent vocals to several songs on hi-fi sci-fi, on which The New York Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain also made a vocal appearance.
In addition, other artists often join Dramarama onstage or in the studio, including bassist Steve "Muddy Shews" Shewchuk from seminal Jersey shore band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes; keyboardist Morley Bartnoff from Cosmo Topper (formerly of the 1980s band Burning Sensations), and harmonica player "Trashcan" Ray Barwick, as well as former No Soap Radio members Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and drummer Chris O'Hara.
Candidate
Dramarama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like any other candidate
With the tale walking home
Cause your future's at stake
My cities amaze you
And even smells like the street
There′s a bar down at the end
Where I can meet you and your friends
In the blood of the tree-cutters
Rolled up scandals and
Other boys
And having so much fun with the poisonous peoples
Spreading rumors and lies, and stories they made up.
Some make you sing
And some make you scream
And some make you wish
That you'd never been seen...
There's a shop on the corner that′s selling papier mache
Making bullet-proof faces, join and dance with Casius
Clay
And if you want it,
Boy,
Get it here babe!
So you scream out a lie:
"I want you! I need you!
Anyone out there? Anytime?"
You said: "kiss me, I′m the one"
I said: "Daddy, I want you when it's
Good it′s really good, and when it's bad I′m not abusive"
And if you want it, boy,
Get it here babe!
So on the street where you live
I put the hole on my hand
Before I put all I had into another man
On the leather floor, in the back of a car
In the center like a church with the door ajar
Well I guess we must be looking for a different kind
But we can't stop trying to make up our minds
When the sun drips down on the city at night
Flashin on the ground and kicking in fright
I guess we could cruise down one more time
With you by my side it should be fine
We′ll buy some drugs and watch a band
And jump in the river holding hands
The song "Candidate" by Dramarama is a reflection of the hedonistic and reckless lifestyle of a city youth, who is open to indulging in drugs, sex, and other pleasures of life. The lyrics convey a message of urgency as the singer convinces the listener to join him in pursuing a carefree life. The opening lines "I'll make you a deal, Like any other candidate" suggest a quid pro quo arrangement that involves the listener's cooperation in securing their future. The singer seems to be offering an escapade from the mundanity of daily life, which may or may not have tangible benefits.
The lyrics of "Candidate" are full of vivid descriptions of the city, such as "My cities amaze you, And even smells like the street" and "There's a shop on the corner that's selling papier-mache, Making bullet-proof faces, join and dance with Casius Clay." The chorus emphasizes the diversity of people and experiences that one can encounter in the city, where some things make you sing, some make you scream, and others make you wish you'd never been seen. The verses describe the singer's encounters with people who are mischievous and promiscuous, as he scrawls on walls with "the blood of the tree-cutters" and spreads rumors and lies.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll make you a deal
I'm willing to persuade you like any other political candidate
Like any other candidate
Like any other politician who tries to persuade you for their benefit
With the tale walking home
With a story to tell on my way home to make you more interested
Cause your future's at stake
Because I will make you believe that your future depends on the choices I'm presenting to you
My cities amaze you
My cities will fascinate you
And even smells like the street
Even the fragrance of the street will be sensory and mesmerizing
There's a bar down at the end
There's a bar where I can meet you and gain your favor
Where I can meet you and your friends
I want to meet not only you but also the people close to you
So I scrawled on the walls
I painted words on walls
In the blood of the tree-cutters
Using the blood of the people destroying the environment
Rolled up scandals and
Prepared hidden stories to reveal later to make a scene
Other boys
The other boys will join us and embrace our ideas
And having so much fun with the poisonous peoples
We are enjoying the company of not so ethical people who will do anything for the greater good of our purpose
Spreading rumors and lies, and stories they made up.
We spread misinformation and baseless rumors that others believe in our structure of thought.
Some make you sing
Some of our ideas are catchy and attractive
And some make you scream
Some of our ideas also infuriate and upset some people
And some make you wish that you'd never been seen...
Others make you regret ever aligning with us
There's a shop on the corner that's selling papier mache
There's a store in town selling paper mâché models
Making bullet-proof faces, join and dance with Casius Clay
The paper mâché is specifically shaped to create bullet-proof faces to celebrate boxing legend Casius Clay
And if you want it, Boy,
And if you're interested in what we have to offer, then
Get it here babe!
Come and get it from us!
So you scream out a lie:
You might scream out things that do not align with our thinking
"I want you! I need you! Anyone out there? Anytime?"
You might say things that convey a sense of desperation and plead for help, which we can exploit for political gain
You said: "kiss me, I'm the one"
And you might profess your desire for us and believe that we are the only ones who can help you
I said: "Daddy, I want you when it's
And I might respond by validating your passion, and telling you that when you need me, I'll be there
Good it's really good, and when it's bad I'm not abusive"
And I'll promise you that when things go well because of our policies or leadership, it will be really good. And if they don't, we won't be abusive to you.
So on the street where you live
So, back to reality and where you come from
I put the hole on my hand
I hurt myself to bear witness to my commitment to our movement
Before I put all I had into another man
Before going all-in on another man (metaphor for a political leader or ideology) and aligning myself with his ideals
On the leather floor, in the back of a car
We might perform questionable or illegal practices in the wrong places
In the center like a church with the door ajar
Gatherings for our cause might resemble church services, with an open-door policy to anyone interested, even if they're not sure what they believe in yet
Well, I guess we must be looking for different kinds
But ultimately, the people we meet and what we truly want might be different from what we think.
But we can't stop trying to make up our minds
We can't stop trying to figure it out despite the differences we face.
When the sun drips down on the city at night
As day turns into night and darkness takes over, our shadier practices become more prominent
Flashin' on the ground and kicking in fright
And people, realizing what they've gotten into or what they've facilitated, might be scared of the repercussions
I guess we could cruise down one more time
Perhaps we'll try once again to persuade you or deceive you with our thinking
With you by my side, it should be fine
And we'll make you feel that everything will work out if only you join us and support us
We'll buy some drugs and watch a band
We'll do things that are slightly controversial or frowned upon, but make you feel that we're just having some fun
And jump in the river holding hands
We'll do something as silly as plunging into a river while holding hands, just to create an illusion that we're all united and working towards the same goal.
Writer(s): David Bowie
Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.