There are two artists that have used the name Electric Six
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

It's Showtime!
Electric Six Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

get out on the floor
do things to make em adore ya
show em why you were born
and put a little mustard on it

don't tell me what time it is now
don't tell me what time it is now
i know what time it is now

i know what time it is now
it's showtime - showtime

teach the world to move to your sound
hop around and twirl around
and put a little mustard on it

don't tell me who to love or hate now
don't tell me who to love or hate now
don't tell me who to love or hate now
don't tell me who to love or hate now

cause I'm totally filled with hate now
I'm totally filled with hate now
it's showtime

one for the money
two for the show
it is all done with computers

hey mister!
put a little mustard on that mustard!

don't tell me how to do my job now
don't tell me how to do my job now
don't tell me how to do my job now
cause I'm totally doin' my job now

I'm totally doin' my job now
showtime

Overall Meaning

In Electric Six's song "It's Showtime!", the lyrics focus on the idea of putting on a show for the audience and doing whatever it takes to make the audience adore the performer. The first few lines "get out on the floor, do things to make 'em adore ya, show 'em why you were born, and put a little mustard on it" suggest that the performer needs to give their all on stage and prove to the audience why they were born to do this. The repetition of "don't tell me what time it is now, I know what time it is now, it's showtime!" emphasizes the importance of the moment and that it's time to shine.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of being your own person and not letting others dictate your actions or feelings. The line "don't tell me who to love or hate now, cause I'm totally filled with hate now" suggests that the performer has their own feelings and opinions, and they aren't going to let someone else tell them what to think. The chorus encourages the performer to let loose and enjoy the moment, with lines like "teach the world to move to your sound, hop around and twirl around."

Overall, the lyrics to "It's Showtime!" encourage performers to put on a show and let their creativity soar, with a message of independence and authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

get out on the floor
Start dancing and moving on the floor

do things to make em adore ya
Perform actions to make the audience love and admire you

show em why you were born
Demonstrate your purpose in life to the audience

and put a little mustard on it
Do it with enthusiasm and energy

don't tell me what time it is now
I don't need to know the current time

i know what time it is now
It's time to perform

it's showtime - showtime
It's time to start the show

teach the world to move to your sound
Influence the audience to dance to your music

hop around and twirl around
Encourage the audience to jump and spin

and put a little mustard on it
Do it with enthusiasm and energy

don't tell me who to love or hate now
I don't want anyone dictating my feelings