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
Graphic Designer
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got evil up inside her
She's a- she's a graphic designer
Nobody does it finer
Photoshop and Tiger
Simplification messiah
Pantone Two Ninety Niner
She's even redesigned in China
Taking your shit higher
Running something by her
She's a- she's a graphic designer
And she knows her designs of me are graphic
And she goes into work early to avoid traffic
And she don't need prose and she don't need pride
And she don't need your feedback to know where it's at
And she don't need a resume to get through my door
You better bring your A-game when you wage your war
A designer, designer!
She's a nine-to-fiver
Got evil up inside her
She's a- she's a graphic designer
Taking your shit higher
Running something by her
She's a- she's a graphic designer
The song "Graphic Designer" by Electric Six is a tribute to those skilled professionals who are often overlooked and underappreciated in the creative industry. The lyrics humorously portray a graphic designer as a savior of sorts - a "simplification messiah" who can take mundane or complex subject matter and turn it into something striking and memorable. The song also highlights the technical skills required of those in the profession, referencing both Photoshop and the Pantone color system.
Beyond the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the song seems to celebrate the passion and dedication required to succeed as a graphic designer. The titular character is described as having "evil up inside her," which could be interpreted as a desire to elevate her craft above the norm, while the lines "taking your shit higher" and "running something by her" suggest a willingness to go above and beyond to make a project stand out.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a nine-to-fiver
She works from nine to five at an office job.
Got evil up inside her
She has a wicked sense of humor or attitude.
She's a- she's a graphic designer
Her occupation is that of a graphic designer.
Nobody does it finer
She is considered one of the best at what she does and no one can top her.
Photoshop and Tiger
She uses a combination of design software programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, and Mac OS X Tiger operating system.
Simplification messiah
She is an expert at simplifying complex information, making it easy to understand for others.
Cropping suicider
She takes risks by cropping images in a way that may not be favored by others.
Pantone Two Ninety Niner
She is specific and precise in her choice of colors, such as Pantone color 299C.
She's even redesigned in China
Her work is so well-known that it has even been redesigned by others in China.
Taking your shit higher
She will take an idea or design and make it better or more impressive.
Running something by her
She is often consulted for feedback or approval on a project.
And she knows her designs of me are graphic
She is aware that her designs featuring the artist are sexually explicit or shocking.
And she goes into work early to avoid traffic
She arrives to work earlier than necessary to avoid traffic on her commute.
And she don't need prose and she don't need pride
She values substance over style and does not care about receiving praise.
And she don't need your feedback to know where it's at
She is confident in her skills and does not require feedback to know that her work is good.
And she don't need a resume to get through my door
Her reputation speaks for itself and she is well-known enough to not require a resume to be hired for a job.
You better bring your A-game when you wage your war
If you try to compete with her or challenge her in her field, you need to be at the top of your game.
A designer, designer!
She is proud to be a graphic designer and wants others to know.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
karl0bar
Anyone who loves Electric Six is automatically my best friend.
johnnyatab
Love this song and the lyrics.
Wysthric
Electric Six is fantastic. :)
zacman31
Killer song!
Bill capstick
my favourite track from Flashy
Luke K
sheeeee's a grapheec desiyner!!! I love his voice!!
WildFungus
his backup singing takes the cake though
Ben Mullen
Any other community college advisors here who play this during almost every Graphic design planning meeting to the delight of many a student? I guess its a pretty specific thing, lol
NoFearNoFlame
this is like rock and roll meets sienfield
WildFungus
SIMPLIFICATION MESSIAH!