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
Face Cuts
Electric Six Lyrics
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They're coming and you've got no place to hide
You better listen to the beautiful girl inside
who wants her face cuts
Face cuts
Just enough to survive
Will you do whatever it takes to stay in the show?
I don't want to be the one to let you go
But I'll surely leave you behind
Picture yourself in Tinseltown
Lights are flashing, applause is loud
waving to the throngs of adoring crowds
who want your face cuts
face cuts
Just a touch of your life
Anything worth having, girl
is never free
Cause I look down on you
Looking up at me
Now you're going under for your surgery
Well I'll be right there by your side
You can be a shining star in the TV sky
OR maybe do a little twinkling in the movies (oh my!)
You'll be reaching for the brightest light
Tonight
Inside of an oyster is a beautiful pearl
And it saddens me that you weren't long for this world
But I'll still be on the lookout for the perfect girl
Who gets her face cut
Face cuts
A face that cuts through the night
And when I make all of my money you'll be on my mind
It was the hardest thing for me
to leave you behind
It's a good thing that young suckahs are easy to find
cause I'm running out of time
You can be a shining star in the TV sky
OR maybe do a little twinkling in the movies (oh my!)
You'll be reaching for the brightest light
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
The lyrics of Electric Six’s “Face Cuts” tell a story of a woman who desires extensive cosmetic surgery to enhance her appearance and improve her chances of fame and success. The lyrics are presented from a male perspective, presumably that of a music industry executive or a wealthy patron. The opening lines indicate that the woman is desperate for these changes but has nowhere to hide from the pressures of fame and success. The only voice of reason (the “beautiful girl inside”) encourages the subject to seek “just enough” cosmetic work to survive the harsh environment of Hollywood.
The remainder of the lyrics appears to be a dialogue between the two parties in which the man offers a warning about the costs of success while the woman insists on pursuing her dreams of stardom. The chorus repeats the “face cuts” motif, which seems to be a reference to the surgical procedures the woman is willing to undergo to achieve her goals. Despite the man’s misgivings about the woman’s desires and his own greedy motivations, he promises to stand by her during her surgeries and even after they are complete. He also hints that the woman will be easily replaced if she does not follow his advice and achieve the level of success he requires.
The lyrics of “Face Cuts” convey an important message about the high costs of fame and the pressures that women face in the entertainment industry to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. Beyond this message, the song has an engaging and memorable melody that combines elements of rock and funk. The driving beat and catchy chorus make it a popular choice for the dance floor or other high-energy environments.
Line by Line Meaning
Where you gonna be when your cells divide?
What will you be doing when you age and start to lose your looks?
They're coming and you've got no place to hide
You can't escape the effects of aging
You better listen to the beautiful girl inside
You should pay attention to what you really want
who wants her face cuts
Who wants plastic surgery
Face cuts
Plastic surgery
Just enough to survive
Just enough to maintain your looks
Will you do whatever it takes to stay in the show?
Are you willing to do anything to stay in the public eye?
Cause right now you've got a face for radio
You're not conventionally attractive enough for TV
I don't want to be the one to let you go
I don't want to break up with you
But I'll surely leave you behind
But eventually, I will break up with you
Picture yourself in Tinseltown
Imagine yourself in Hollywood
Lights are flashing, applause is loud
You're famous and successful
waving to the throngs of adoring crowds
You're acknowledging your fans
who want your face cuts
Who want you to get plastic surgery
face cuts
Plastic surgery
Just a touch of your life
Just a glimpse into your celebrity lifestyle
Anything worth having, girl
Anything valuable or desirable
is never free
Always comes with a price
Cause I look down on you
I think less of you
Looking up at me
You admire me
Now you're going under for your surgery
Now you're getting plastic surgery
Well I'll be right there by your side
I'll support you even though I don't fully approve
You can be a shining star in the TV sky
You can be famous on TV
OR maybe do a little twinkling in the movies (oh my!)
Or you can have a small role in a movie
You'll be reaching for the brightest light
You'll be striving for even more fame and success
Inside of an oyster is a beautiful pearl
Beauty can be found in unexpected places
And it saddens me that you weren't long for this world
It upsets me that your beauty is fading
But I'll still be on the lookout for the perfect girl
But I'll be searching for someone more conventionally attractive
Who gets her face cut
Who gets plastic surgery
A face that cuts through the night
An exceptionally beautiful face
And when I make all of my money you'll be on my mind
When I'm rich, I'll still be thinking of you
It was the hardest thing for me to leave you behind
Breaking up with you was tough for me
It's a good thing that young suckahs are easy to find
It's good that there are plenty of young, attractive people
cause I'm running out of time
Because I'm getting older and need to find someone new soon
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Contributed by Parker F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Morgulf
one of my favorite songs on the album. gotta love electric six.
mark lawes
seen them live last night......one of the best gigs i have ever been to.
Martin A. Maguire - [Music]
This song's sound gives me the creeps...