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
Don't Be Afraid of the Robot
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wanna see what my love can be
And now you're beggin' on your knees
little child, little sister
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of my love
feel my hand moving up your skirt
and now you're getting kind of high
little mama, little darling
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of my love
Turn those machines back on
Turn those machines back on
Turn those machines back on
Turn those machines back on
Oh, don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't be afraid of my love
The lyrics of Electric Six's "Don't Be Afraid of the Robot" are ambiguous and leave room for interpretation. The song, on the surface, appears to be about a romantic or sexual encounter with a woman who is afraid of the singer's advances. The singer encourages the woman, referred to as "little child," "little sister," "little mama," and "little darling," to not be afraid of his love, or more specifically, his "robot." The robot may symbolize the singer's sexual prowess or power, or it may represent a fear of technology or automation.
The repeated refrain of "turn those machines back on" adds to the ambiguity, but could be interpreted as a call to embrace technology once again, to not be afraid of it. The song may be commenting on society's fear and resistance to technological advancements, despite the potential benefits they may bring.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of seductiveness and empowerment, with the singer urging the woman to let go of her fears and embrace their encounter. However, the use of the term "little" repeatedly to address the woman adds a hint of condescension and dominance to the situation, creating a more complex dynamic.
Line by Line Meaning
You wanna go where the bad girls go
You are drawn to places where people often engage in risky or immoral behavior.
You wanna see what my love can be
You want to experience the full potential of my love.
And now you're beggin' on your knees
Your desire for my love has become so intense that you are pleading for it.
little child, little sister
I am addressing you in a playful and affectionate manner, as if you were a younger sibling.
Don't be afraid of the robot
Don't fear the intense and overwhelming passion that I can offer you.
Don't be afraid of the robot
Reiterating the previous line, don't let your fear inhibit you from experiencing my love.
Don't be afraid of my love
My love for you is powerful and intense, but it is not something to be afraid of.
You wanna go where you might get hurt
You are seeking out experiences that may be dangerous or harmful to you.
feel my hand moving up your skirt
I am making sexual advances towards you.
and now you're getting kind of high
Your arousal is increasing and you are feeling euphoric.
little mama, little darling
I am addressing you in a flirtatious, endearing way.
Turn those machines back on
Switch on the machines that stimulate your pleasure and desire.
Turn those machines back on
Repeat of the previous line, urging you to indulge in the experience.
Turn those machines back on
Once again, urging you to embrace the pleasures that are being offered to you.
Oh, don't be afraid of the robot
Emphasizing that the intensity of the experience is nothing to be afraid of.
Don't be afraid of the robot
Repeating the earlier statement to reinforce the idea that you should embrace the experience.
Don't be afraid of my love
Restating the idea that my love is strong and intense, but not something to fear.
Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joseph Brown
Please me and all of us other E6 lets get a petition to get the band to make an album of remastered Wildbunch songs. Any else up for this please reply back asap.