1. An alterna… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that have used the name Electric Six
1. An alternative rock band from the United States
2. A musical group from South Africa
1. Electric Six is a six-piece Detroit-based rock band consisting of Dick Valentine (vocals), Tait Nucleus? (synthesizers), Johhny Na$hinal (guitar), Da Ve (guitar), Percussion World (drums), and Smorgasboard (bass) who play a mix of rock, funk and disco.
The band's first notorious formation comprised Valentine, Rock and Roll Indian (guitar), Surge Joebot (guitar), Disco (bass, former member of Detroit Cobras), and M (drums). Dick Valentine (real name Tyler Spencer) has always been the primary songwriter (both music and lyrics) of Electric Six, currently and under their former incarnation, when they were known as the Wildbunch. During the band's temporary split at the end of the 1990s, Spencer formed his own band called The Dirty Shame and released one CD entitled Smog Cutter Love Story which featured, among other tracks, a first version of Fire track "Vengeance and Fashion". The band reformed by 2001 to record and release the first release of 'Danger! High Voltage' and record the track 'Dealin' With Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord' with Troy Gregory for his Sybil album.
Electric Six fuses rock and punk with the laid-back funky rhythms and falsetto vocals of disco, and a distinctly comic touch. However, they tend to reject such genre classifications as disco-metal and disco punk. They formed the band in 1996 and were initially known as The Wildbunch, eventually dropping that name due to pressure from the Bristol trip-hop collection of the same name. Throughout the latter half of the '90s, they played about once a month at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Magic Stick, and the now-defunct Gold Dollar in Detroit, the center of a scene that produced breakout acts like the White Stripes.
Electric Six's 2002 breakout single "Danger! High Voltage" was an infectious dance-rock number, and Jack White from The White Stripes helped sing back up vocals to this track. White has denied this, though Spencer has confirmed it in several interviews. The single reached number 2 on the UK singles chart, and they enjoy icon status in that nation.
Their second single, "Gay Bar", released in 2003, became a hit as well in the UK, reaching #5 in the charts and further aided the group's growth. Curiously, in the American Radio Edit of this track, The words "Nuclear War" are censored with whip-crack sound effects. After fulfilling their recording duties (namely their debut album) three members left in June, leaving Dick Valentine, Tait Nucleus? (synthesizer), and M.
The Colonel (Zach Shipps, guitar, ex-member of Brendan Benson and Mood Elevator), John R Dequindre (guitar and whose stage name is a combination of two Detroit streets) and Frank Lloyd Bonaventure (bass) subsequently joined the group, though they had all been credited on the album and most had been associated with the group for some time. At that time, they were touring in the UK, and they managed to seamlessly replace the members without interrupting the gigs. In time, Johnny Na$hinal joined the group on guitar, Dequindre switched to bass, and Bonaventure switched to law school.
The band's sophomore album, Señor Smoke, was released in the UK on February 14, 2005. Percussion World replaced M on drums around the same time.
The first single from the album put the band at the center of controversy, especially with Queen fans following a cover of the Queen hit song "Radio Ga Ga". The controversial music video shows lead singer Dick Valentine as the ghost of Queen's flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury and a backing band of poodles. Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who wrote the song, said that he was "unimpressed" with the video; however, Queen guitarist Brian May reportedly liked it. Electric Six claims they were contractually obligated to commit the song to the album. Issues with Warner Brothers caused a switch to Metropolis Records, who released Señor Smoke in the US.
Switzerland was released in September 2006. A plethora of videos have also been released, and a fan contribution contest led to the video for the single "I Buy the Drugs."
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master was released in October 2007. Their next album, titled Flashy, was released in October 2008. In October 2009, their sixth album, KILL, was released. The 7th album, Zodiac was released on September 28, 2010, with one tour-exclusive single ("Jam it in the Hole") and the 8th, Heartbeats and Brainwaves, on October 11th 2011.
A double live album is set for release in 2012.
2. Electric Six was a Soweto-based South African combo active in the 1960s and 1970s
Cold Future
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one youre giving to me
Spending all my days, tied to your computer
Downloading all your shit for free
People laughing at me and my face turning red
And I'll never forget what you said
"You'll be doing this 'til you're dead"
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Everybody's lookin' and my heart it's torn and tattered
Everybody's lookin' at me as if I no longer matter
Everybody's lookin' at me, everybody's lookin' at me
And how you let your evil light shine down on me...
And how I let your evil rain fall down on me...
And how I let you get your fingers into me...
And how I let you get your business into me
It's a cold, cold future
The one I shall inherit today
Stripping all the parts off of your computer
Throwing everything away
The debts of ones and zeros renting space in my head
And I'll never forget what you said:
"Instructions were better when read"
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Let your evil light shine down on me
And you let your evil light shine down on me
Now you let your evil rain fall down on me
And you let your evil light shine down
The lyrics to the song "Cold Future" by Electric Six allude to the idea of a bleak, dismal future where people are disconnected from one another despite being incredibly connected to technology. The first verse talks about how the future being given to the singer is "cold" as they are forced to spend all their time tied to a computer downloading things for free. The line "people laughing at me and my face turning red" suggests that this is a humiliating experience for them. The person responsible for this cold future is not mentioned directly, but it is implied that it is a larger societal issue. The repetition of "Ah!" after each verse adds to the feeling of frustration and helplessness that the lyrics convey.
The second verse shifts to a more personal take on this cold future. The singer's heart is "torn and tattered" as they feel like they no longer matter to anyone. The use of the word "evil" to describe the other person's actions suggests that they are doing something wrong, possibly exploiting or taking advantage of the singer. The line "throwing everything away" can be interpreted as the singer rejecting this cold future and everything that comes with it. The debts of ones and zeros renting space in their head refer to the mental burden of constantly being tethered to technology.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a future where people are consumed by technology and disconnected from one another. It raises questions about the ethics and consequences of living in a world where everything is so intertwined with the digital realm.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a cold, cold future
The future looks bleak and unforgiving.
The one youre giving to me
The future is being handed down and imposed on me.
Spending all my days, tied to your computer
I am consumed by technology and stuck in a never-ending loop of digital existence.
Downloading all your shit for free
I am being forced to accept and consume everything you put out, without any compensation or benefit to myself.
People laughing at me and my face turning red
Others mock and belittle me, causing me shame and embarrassment.
And I'll never forget what you said
Your words have left a permanent mark on me.
"You'll be doing this 'til you're dead"
You have condemned me to a life of servitude and submission to technology.
Everybody's lookin' and my heart it's torn and tattered
I feel exposed and vulnerable, my emotions fragile and damaged.
Everybody's lookin' at me as if I no longer matter
I am seen as irrelevant and insignificant in a world dominated by technology.
And how you let your evil light shine down on me...
You have inflicted your harmful, manipulative influence on me.
And how I let your evil rain fall down on me...
I have allowed myself to be controlled and influenced by your malicious actions.
And how I let you get your fingers into me...
I have allowed you to manipulate and control me, to the point where it feels invasive and intrusive.
And how I let you get your business into me
I have allowed your corporate interests to consume and dominate my life and identity.
The one I shall inherit today
The bleak future is being passed down to me, despite my objections and reservations.
Stripping all the parts off of your computer
I am rejecting and resisting the invasive influence of technology in my life.
Throwing everything away
I am rejecting and discarding the harmful, oppressive aspects of technology.
The debts of ones and zeros renting space in my head
The overwhelming pressure of technology and digital existence is weighing heavy on my mind and consciousness.
And I'll never forget what you said:
Your words have left a lasting impact and influence on me.
"Instructions were better when read"
You long for a simpler time, when human connection and understanding were prioritized over technological advancement and interference.
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
campex
Great song. Goes to show anything E6 does always hits the mark. If I were more of a hipster douchebag who always goes on about the song they want at their funeral, I'd pick this.