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
Naked Picture
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But everybody's got a soul to sell
When I was young my mama gave me some advice
She said boy don't you know everybody's got a price?
I make lots of money, I make more money than you
I drive around in my limo that's what I was born to do
And I might like you better if we fought together
Naked pictures, of your mother
Naked pictures of your mother
Naked pictures, of your mother GO!
I dropped the bomb on Japan
I was a hostage in Iran
I'm the ugly American
Now, I'm a government man
A government man!
I make lots of money, I make more money than you
I drive around in my limo that's what I was born to do
And I might like you better if we fought together
If its not to be noted I got somethin' better for ya
Naked pictures, of your mother
Naked pictures of your mother
Naked pictures, of your mother GO!
The lyrics to Electric Six's song "Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother)" seem to be a satirical take on wealth, power, and the idea that everyone has a price. The first two lines suggest that while people may not want to go to hell, they may be willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want in life. The next lines of the song talk about the singer's wealth and status, suggesting that it is his purpose in life to be rich and successful. The lines "And I might like you better if we fought together/ If it's not to be noted I got somethin' better for ya" could be interpreted as the singer saying that he values loyalty and will reward those who fight alongside him while offering a veiled threat or bribe.
The title line "Naked pictures of your mother" seems to be intentionally shocking and offensive, possibly an attempt to express that the singer is so powerful and influential that he can do whatever he wants without consequence. The final lines of the song reveal that the singer is a "government man," which further emphasizes the idea that he has immense power and control.
Overall, the lyrics to "Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother)" suggest a critique of those in positions of power and the exploitation and manipulation that often comes with it. The lyrics may also be interpreted as a commentary on the willingness of individuals to do whatever it takes to attain wealth and status, regardless of the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Well nobody wants to burn in hell
No one wants to go to hell and experience eternal punishment.
But everybody's got a soul to sell
Despite the fear of punishment in hell, people are still willing to make moral compromises for personal gain.
When I was young my mama gave me some advice
The singer's mother offered him some guidance at a young age.
She said boy don't you know everybody's got a price?
The singer's mother told him that everyone has a certain value and can be bought for the right price.
I make lots of money, I make more money than you
The singer is successful and wealthy, making more money than the person he is addressing in the song.
I drive around in my limo that's what I was born to do
The singer feels that he was destined to be financially successful and enjoy the privileges that come with wealth.
And I might like you better if we fought together
The singer is suggesting that he would appreciate the person more if they were to collaborate or work together towards some goal.
If its not to be noted I got somethin' better for ya
The singer is hinting that he has something to offer the other person as an incentive for their cooperation.
Naked pictures, of your mother
The phrase is repeated multiple times for emphasis, but its exact significance is unclear and likely absurd.
Naked pictures of your mother GO!
The repetition of the phrase is capped off with an exclamation of enthusiasm, adding to the overall chaotic tone of the song.
I dropped the bomb on Japan
The singer bragging about being responsible for the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II, although this may be sarcastic or ironic.
I was a hostage in Iran
The singer asserts that he was taken hostage during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
I'm the ugly American
The singer is identifying himself as the prototypical 'ugly American', a crude and insensitive stereotype of American tourists or travelers abroad.
Now, I'm a government man
The singer has transitioned into a position of power, now identifying himself as a member of the government.
A government man!
The song ends with the singer proudly announcing himself as a government representative, although the overall absurdity of the song calls this into question.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY SELPH, CORY MARTIN, JOSEPH FREZZA, STEPHEN NAWARA, TYLER SPENCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind