Their first single was 1993's "Stutter", which was a word-of-mouth hit largely due to the promotional efforts of Radio 1 DJ and Deceptive Records label boss Steve Lamacq. In spite of a period of relative quiet, Elastica's fame grew throughout 1994 as Frischmann's relationship with Blur's Damon Albarn made tabloid headlines. Elastica's first LP, Elastica, entered the charts at #1.
Further UK chart hit singles followed: "Connection" and "Waking Up". In 1995 there was a lawsuit from Wire claiming that many of the band's melodies were taken from Wire compositions. Notably, Wire's "I Am the Fly" has a chorus similar to Elastica's "Line Up", and the intro of "Connection" is nearly identical to Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba". Indeed the band had originally intended to sample the intro of the song directly. The Stranglers also passed comment that Elastica's "Waking Up" bore a marked resemblance to their song "No More Heroes". The band did not deny these accusations and were not ashamed by these similarities, stating that all pop bands have borrowed ideas and all music was eventually recycled.
Elastica were able to garner better American sales than other Britpop bands, replacing Sinéad O'Connor on Lollapalooza in 1995. "Connection" and "Stutter" were huge airplay favorites on modern rock radio in the United States and also both charted Pop. Among their extensive tour schedule the band performed at Glastonbury in 1995, where their set was interrupted by a streaker, a George Best look-alike, who would briefly join the band as a keyboard player in 1997.
After extensive touring, the band began to experience personnel problems. In 1997, bassist Annie Holland left the band, citing repetitive strain injury following excessive touring as her reason for departure. In 1999 Donna Matthews left the band. There were several line up changes and keyboard players. Various supporting musicians came and went. Their second album was much delayed after several years of recording. There were worrying rumours of entire albums being scrapped and band tensions due to the perfectionism of Frischmann. The "lost years" of the band were often compared to the Stone Roses recording their Second Coming album.
A quickly recorded lo-fi self-titled EP was released in 1999, and the follow-up LP, The Menace, was finally released in 2000 to moderate sales. A less focused effort than their debut, the album nonetheless contained some interesting moments and more electronic songs than before. One of the high points was "How He Wrote Elastica Man" featuring Mark E. Smith (of The Fall) on vocals, and a cover of Trio's 1982 hit "Da Da Da". A new line up was revealed with two keyboard players replacing Matthews for tour dates.
The band made their long-awaited UK comeback at the Reading Festival in 1999, where they headlined the Radio 1 stage. A largely successful UK tour followed in 2000 to support the release of The Menace, although their festival appearances that year were marred by illness. The band released a final single "The Bitch Don't Work" on limited edition 7" and announced their break-up in September 2001.
Elastica's song "Connection" was used in May 2004 in Garnier television commercials, and was also used as the theme of Trigger Happy TV.
Car Song
Elastica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I love it in a motor
And the way it feels
To ride around on new wheels.
I hardly know you
But I think I'm going to
Let's go siesta
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
Sometimes I just can't function
My heart's spaghetti junction
Every shining bonnet
Makes me think of my back on it.
I just can't escape the feeling
That I'd rather be free wheeling
In every little Honda
There may lurk a Peter Fonda, ho
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
Elastica's "Car Song" is a high-energy ode to the joy of driving fast cars. The lyrics express a deep love for cars and the feeling of driving on new wheels. The singer describes herself as a "car lover" and talks about the way it feels to ride around in a car, both physically and emotionally. The song has an upbeat, catchy tempo that captures the thrill of being on the open road.
The lyrics also contain a hint of danger, with references to detours and the feeling of going too far. The singer seems to be acknowledging the risks associated with reckless driving, but the excitement of the speed and the rush of adrenaline are too powerful to resist. The chorus repeats the phrase "here we go again" which suggests that this is a repetitive cycle of thrill-seeking and escape.
The middle section of the song introduces a Peter Fonda reference, tying the love of cars to the counterculture of the 1960s. The singer suggests that every little Honda could contain a potential rebel, like Fonda in "Easy Rider." The implication is that driving fast cars is not just a personal thrill, but a way of expressing individuality and rejecting conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
You could call me a car lover
I have a deep appreciation for cars and am fascinated by them.
'Cause I love it in a motor
Because I enjoy the sensation of being propelled by a motor.
And the way it feels
The way it feels to ride around in a car.
To ride around on new wheels.
To have the experience of driving or being a passenger in a car with new tires.
I hardly know you
I do not know you well.
But I think I'm going to
But I have a feeling that we are going to become better acquainted.
Let's go siesta
Let's take a leisurely nap or break from our normal activities.
In your Ford Fiesta
While we are inside of your Ford Fiesta.
Here we go again
I am repeating a behavior or pattern.
I'm riding in your car
I am a passenger in your car.
Let me count to ten
I need to take a moment to compose myself or calm down.
'Cause it's gone way too far
Due to the situation escalating or becoming out of control.
Up my street to nowhere
We are driving without a specific destination or goal.
You know what detours are
You are aware of changes or alternate routes that may be taken due to unforeseen circumstances.
Sometimes I just can't function
Occasionally, I am incapable of performing well or being productive.
My heart's spaghetti junction
My emotions are tangled and complicated, like a literal spaghetti junction.
Every shining bonnet
Every shiny car hood.
Makes me think of my back on it.
Reminds me of sitting on the car hood and feeling free.
I just can't escape the feeling
Unable to avoid or ignore the emotion or sensation.
That I'd rather be free wheeling
I would prefer to experience freedom and spontaneity.
In every little Honda
In any Honda vehicle.
There may lurk a Peter Fonda, ho
I am excited about the possibility of experiencing the same sense of freedom as the actor Peter Fonda.
And it's gone way too far
And the situation has escalated or become out of control.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JUSTINE ELINOR FRISCHMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TV EYE
[Verse 1]
You could call me a car lover
'Cause I love it in a motor
And the way it feels
To ride around on new wheels
I hardly know you
But I think I'm going to
Let's go siesta
In your Ford Fiesta
[Chorus]
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
[Verse 2]
Sometimes I just can't function
My heart's spaghetti junction
Every shining bonnet
Makes me think of my back on it
I just can't escape the feeling
That I'd rather be free-wheeling
In every little Honda
There may lurk a Peter Fonda
[Chorus]
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
Metra Petra
I cant get over this
-the outfits
-the setting
-the feeling
-the sound
-the everything
Mia Aguirre
the 60's were in in the 90s
Nadia Shireen Siddiqi
Reminds me of Taipei city
Steve Sanda
Very clever / I like your shirt / how do I talk you out of it
Cara Feeley
I absolutely adore this song. The rhythms are so great, my parents had this CD and played it in the car when I was a kid and now as an adult I still both love the song and feel nostalgic towards it.
TV EYE
[Verse 1]
You could call me a car lover
'Cause I love it in a motor
And the way it feels
To ride around on new wheels
I hardly know you
But I think I'm going to
Let's go siesta
In your Ford Fiesta
[Chorus]
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
[Verse 2]
Sometimes I just can't function
My heart's spaghetti junction
Every shining bonnet
Makes me think of my back on it
I just can't escape the feeling
That I'd rather be free-wheeling
In every little Honda
There may lurk a Peter Fonda
[Chorus]
Here we go again
I'm riding in your car
Let me count to ten
'Cause it's gone way too far
Up my street to nowhere
You know what detours are
Here we go again
And it's gone way too far
Man Walks Dogs
Bit disappointing to read it's free-wheeling not three-wheeling, though the next rhyming couplet never made sense being about Honda not Reliant.
Honeybarbecuepumpum
This never gets old to me.
Benedetto Bruno
17 May 2019. Always and forever, thank you to Great Britain and the British people whose creativity, since the 1960s, has given the rest of the World hundreds of unique bands such as the Elastica and music of unparalleled beauty, quirkiness and atmosphere. What would our lives have been without British bands? Thank you from Sicily. And love, admiration and adoration.
MrBardoTube
Grande Band 😁