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
I Am a Song!
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was the only thing I knew how to do.
She was banging and gone
She was banging and banging it over and over
She said you better get some music in you
And you know I'm saving some
From the person I've become.
And if you are willing to wait long, something better always comes along.
I am a moral subsidy
I am a song
An angry three minute symphony
Yes I belong to the society a piety to love
But I still need someone to show
Now baby
I was hanging around, I was hanging around at the bottom of the food chain, looking for you.
You were burrowing down, you were caught in a struggle with your vajayjay
Is there anything I can do?
Cause I can lend a helping hand
Be careful where you stand
Cause I turn into king kong
When the coffee gets too strong
I am a song
An evil simons melody
I am a song
In an unusual key
I am a song
A three minute symphony
Yes I belong to the society a punishment and merriment of love
I fit you like a music glove
You were bringing me down
You were hymning and humming about the apocalypse
Why are we stuck in an elevator?
I had to turn you around
And wise you up to bring you back to your grips
You can thank me for it later.
We couldn't have come this far, without a very special car
Someday we'll right the wrong
Og Julienne and the jingjing longs
I am a song
And though my words don't often rhyme
I am a song
With a refreshing twist of lime
Yes I belong
I'll let my music rule, cause it's something to for with love
But I'm not bigger than love
No I'm not bigger that love now baby
Come on, come on baby.
The lyrics to Electric Six's song "I Am a Song!" tell a story of a musician traveling on the road to find meaning in their life. The singer is lost and searching for a purpose when they are advised by a woman to get some music in their life. The woman saves something from the person the singer has become, indicating they were on a destructive path. However, something better will always come along if you wait long enough. The singer discovers they are a song, a moral subsidy and an angry three-minute symphony. They belong to a society that believes in piety and love, but they still need someone to show them the way.
The song continues with the singer helping someone in need and discovering an unusual key that fits them like a music glove. The person they helped was bringing them down with talk of the apocalypse, but they were able to turn them around and bring them back to reality. Finally, the singer realizes that they are not bigger than love.
Line by Line Meaning
I was traveling on, moving on the road to my Jehova.
I was on a journey to follow my beliefs and religion.
It was the only thing I knew how to do.
Religion was my only purpose.
She was banging and gone
Someone I cared for was gone and I was upset.
She was banging and banging it over and over
I couldn't stop thinking about and being upset over the loss of the person.
She said you better get some music in you
The person suggested I turn to music to help heal my pain.
And you know I'm saving some
I am preserving some part of myself.
From the person I've become.
From the ways I have changed.
And if you are willing to wait long, something better always comes along.
You will be rewarded for being patient and waiting for a better outcome.
I am a song
I am a piece of music.
I am a moral subsidy
I am a moral support.
I am a song
I am a piece of music.
An angry three minute symphony
A powerful and brief piece of music filled with anger.
Yes I belong to the society a piety to love
I am meant to be appreciated and enjoyed by people who believe in love.
But I still need someone to show
Despite my purpose, I still require someone to take notice of me.
Now baby
Addressing someone affectionately.
I was hanging around, I was hanging around at the bottom of the food chain, looking for you.
I was searching for someone who was not as interested in me.
You were burrowing down, you were caught in a struggle with your vajayjay
You were struggling emotionally.
Is there anything I can do?
Willing to help in any way I can.
Cause I can lend a helping hand
I am willing and able to assist.
Be careful where you stand
Watch where you step.
Cause I turn into king kong
I suddenly become very strong and powerful.
When the coffee gets too strong
When my emotions intensify.
An evil simons melody
A dark and ominous piece of music.
In an unusual key
Played in an unusual and unique style.
A three minute symphony
A brief and powerful piece of music.
Yes I belong to the society a punishment and merriment of love
I am appreciated by people who love both the good and bad sides of love.
I fit you like a music glove
I suit you perfectly.
You were bringing me down
You were causing me to feel sad.
You were hymning and humming about the apocalypse
You were expressing concerns about the end of the world.
Why are we stuck in an elevator?
Expressing frustration or confusion as to why things are not going smoothly.
I had to turn you around
I had to help you go in the right direction.
And wise you up to bring you back to your grips
I advised you to help you regain your focus.
You can thank me for it later.
You will appreciate my help in the future.
We couldn't have come this far, without a very special car
We would not be where we are today without something special or essential.
Someday we'll right the wrong
We will eventually correct any mistakes we made.
Og Julienne and the jingjing longs
A nonsensical and meaningless phrase used for the sake of lyrics.
And though my words don't often rhyme
Despite not always using rhyming words in my lyrics.
With a refreshing twist of lime
Offering something unique and fresh.
I'll let my music rule, cause it's something to for with love
I let my music be my guide and it is tied to love.
But I'm not bigger than love
My music is not more important than love.
No I'm not bigger that love now baby
Reiterating that love is more important than music or anything else.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rooster
Best song on Zodiac. Great album by a great band. Best of the 21st Century IMHO
Croove55
Feelgood song of the millennium.
S3X3CUTION3R
@McMonkeyful Mighty fine said bro!