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
Future Boys
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got a car but he don't drive
Billy meets him at the office
Neither one knows he's alive
Tommy's closing a big deal
And he's running late for squash
Mikey's Talking on the cell phone
Here come the future boys (future boys)
Making money, oh my God!
Looking so good you want to eat them
Watching how future women treat them
No weapon on Earth could ever defeat them
Here you see the creature in his natural habitat
Can't take away his money 'cause he's got too much of that
Future boys, we'll be future boys
Stevie's joined the corporation
Another boy for the beehive
Johnny makes love to a dummy
Says, "Ain't it good to be alive"
The song Future Boys by Electric Six satirizes the corporate world and the absurdity of modern masculinity. The verses describe men going through the motions of a mundane workday, Bobby has a car but doesn't drive it, Billy doesn't even recognize him at the office. Tommy's "big deal" and Mikey's confidence on his cell phone demonstrate their sense of self-importance within their jobs, which they prioritize over any other aspect of their lives.
The chorus introduces the "Future Boys" who are idolized in the corporate world for their success and wealth, with the singer almost salivating at the thought of consuming them. The lyrics suggest that even a weapon could not defeat them, and they are unstoppable, representing the cult of masculinity and success that is so revered by some. In the bridge, the song takes on a nature documentary tone, depicting the "creature" (the Future Boy) in his natural habitat, with the message that his obscene wealth makes him untouchable.
Overall, the song shines a light on hypermasculinity, the hollow nature of corporate culture, and the emphasis on money and power above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
Bobby goes to work on Mondays
Bobby routinely goes to work on Mondays.
He's got a car but he don't drive
Although Bobby owns a car, he chooses not to drive it.
Billy meets him at the office
Billy meets Bobby at their workplace.
Neither one knows he's alive
They are not aware of each other's existence.
Tommy's closing a big deal
Tommy is in the process of finalizing a significant business transaction.
And he's running late for squash
He is late for a game of squash.
Mikey's Talking on the cell phone
Mikey is engaged in a phone conversation.
His confidence is never lost
Mikey always exudes confidence.
Here come the future boys (future boys)
A group of futuristic men are arriving.
Making money, oh my God!
They are earning a significant amount of money.
Looking so good you want to eat them
They are incredibly attractive.
Watching how future women treat them
Observing how women of the future interact with them.
No weapon on Earth could ever defeat them
They are invulnerable to physical harm.
Here you see the creature in his natural habitat
This is what they look like in their natural setting.
Can't take away his money 'cause he's got too much of that
They have such a large amount of wealth that it can't be taken away.
Future boys, we'll be future boys
They identify themselves as the future boys.
Stevie's joined the corporation
Stevie has started working for the same company.
Another boy for the beehive
He is another worker for the organization.
Johnny makes love to a dummy
Johnny is intimate with an inanimate object.
Says, "Ain't it good to be alive"
He expresses his excitement for being alive.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kemby !
'here you see the creature in his natural habitat;
can't take away his money 'cuz he's got too much of that'
The tone of that line is so good-
the guitar work, amazing.
Marc H
Best song on a great album!
AnonymousXXXXXX
God-tier song.
The Futureboys
New band on the block 'The Future Boys' covering very passionately Electric Six's 'Future Boys' check it out on our Youtube Channel 'wearethefutureboys'
Яшар Бабаев
БОМБА БЛЯТЬ!!!
Cathal C
future boys will be future boys!!
Hendrik Hepting
....we used to argue about who was the lucky one to put this track on the truntable .... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!!!! STILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Francois
Awesome bros :D
Rambling Man
Posted so many times I'm sure. But, it's not old to me....
Making money.... OH MY GOD!!!
ihreee
MAKIN money, OOOOH my god!!! lookin so good you'd almost eat them!