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
Dirty Ball
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
died and went to hell but
it was too cold for you and
you never kiss and tell
So you came back up to me
just lookin' for something to do
now aren't you glad you found me?
Have I got just the thing for you
Put your dirty love in a ball
and bounce it off me
Push me up against the dirty wall
and squeeze it out of me
My stance is too wide for that stall
Are you gonna out me?
Put your dirty love in a ball
and bounce it off me
Your face was a petunia
Your body was glistening
I tried and tried to tell ya'
but you weren't listening
You don't seem like yourself
IS something wrong with you?
Cause I've got just the thing
to turn your grey skies to blue
Put your dirty love in a ball
and bounce it off me
Push me up against the dirty wall
and squeeze it out of me
My stance is too wide for that stall
Are you gonna out me?
Put your love into a dirty ball
and bounce it off me
Cool times and tasty love await you
Good vibes and Budweiser invade you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Bounce!
Bounce!
Like a dog that don't come when ya call
So goes my bouncing dirty ball
When love gets angry and love gets mean
You'll need a ball that's never clean
Like a double down when stakes are high
My dirty ball will never die
When love consumes you in its fire
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher!
Put your dirty love in a ball
and bounce it off me
Push me up against the dirty wall
and squeeze it out of me
My stance is too wide for that stall
Are you gonna out me?
Put your love into a dirty ball
and bounce it off me
Cool times and tasty love await you
Good vibes and Budweiser invade you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala
Never hates you!
My ball will never hate you!
It never hates you!
The song "Dirty Ball" by Electric Six is a playful and suggestive tune that seems to be about exploring new sexual experiences with someone who has returned from a dark place. The lyrics suggest that the person who is now back wants to engage in something dirty or taboo, and the singer is willing to oblige. The chorus, "put your dirty love in a ball and bounce it off me," is an invitation to act on these desires and explore new sexual frontiers together. The repeated references to a "dirty ball" are suggestive of something that is unclean or taboo but also playful and fun.
The second verse of the song seems to suggest that the person who has returned from a dark place is not quite themselves and needs something to turn their "grey skies to blue," which the singer offers to provide. The final section of the song repeats the chorus and emphasizes that the "dirty ball" is a constant source of pleasure and never something to be feared or hated.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a playful invitation to explore new sexual experiences with someone who has returned from a dark place, to find joy and escape from the mundane in something that is taboo and exciting.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard a rumor that you
Someone told me that you
died and went to hell but
you supposedly died and went to hell, but
it was too cold for you and
you found it too cold there and
you never kiss and tell
you didn't share any details about your experience
So you came back up to me
Now you've returned to me
just lookin' for something to do
with nothing else to occupy your time.
now aren't you glad you found me?
Aren't you happy that you stumbled upon me?
Have I got just the thing for you
I have the perfect thing for you
Put your dirty love in a ball
Collect all of your lust, passion, and desire
and bounce it off me
Throw all of it at me without any restraint
Push me up against the dirty wall
Force me against a filthy surface
and squeeze it out of me
Extract every bit of it from me
My stance is too wide for that stall
I don't fit comfortably in tight spaces
Are you gonna out me?
Will you expose my secret?
Your face was a petunia
You have an attractive face
Your body was glistening
Your body looked radiant and shiny
I tried and tried to tell ya'
I made several attempts to inform you
but you weren't listening
But you weren't paying attention
You don't seem like yourself
You don't appear to be your usual self
IS something wrong with you?
Are you having issues?
Cause I've got just the thing
Because I have the perfect solution
to turn your grey skies to blue
To bring happiness to your life
Cool times and tasty love await you
Fun times and enjoyable relationships will come your way
Good vibes and Budweiser invade you
Positivity and beer will surround you
Thank god my ball will never hate you
You're lucky that my ball will never harbor negative feelings towards you
Like a dog that don't come when ya call
Similar to a disobedient dog
So goes my bouncing dirty ball
That's how my ball behaves
When love gets angry and love gets mean
In times of turmoil and negativity in relationships
You'll need a ball that's never clean
You'll need a ball that's always prepared for the worst
Like a double down when stakes are high
Similar to taking a risk when the payoff is great
My dirty ball will never die
My ball will always be ready for action
When love consumes you in its fire
In the event that love takes over your life
Let the bouncing ball bounce you higher
Let yourself be lifted up by my bouncing ball
Never hates you!
My ball will never hate you
Contributed by Gabriella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JadKni
This is not only my favorite song on the album but my favorite E6 song period. I doubt there are many or any fans that agree with me here, and even I can't really articulate what it is about this song that works for me. But damn, does it work.
John Bowen
In my top ten, at least.
Kelbor Hal
I'm with you 12 years later.
Quinton Church
@Some Guy From The Internet It's the secondary chorus for me. It takes all the tight, coiled energy of the verses and chorus and lets them explode and soar.
...and I love that I can say that about a song that references the Larry Craig scandal.
Some Guy From The Internet
I like it enough that I just searched it out specifically because it was in my head, but probably not even in my top 20 tracks from E6. That isn't to shit on this song, just to say how great their collection is.
And also some of those 20 tracks happened in the 7 years since you made this comment.
Rosa
man I have this album & this song is one of those that makes you have like an epileptic reaction right away I start listening to it & go crazy!! XD
TheFlannelSamurai
Something about this songs chorus makes it my favorite song of theirs.
J B
luv it!
Rosa
I agree with you guys - there is something about this chorus... 😀
Rooster
Brilliant song. Why don't E6 rule the Universe?