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
Riding on the White Train
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living off the money she suckered from me
She wasn't satisfied living by the airport in Queens
Can you tell me now what any of it means?
Now listen
I see no point in trying to get you to listen
Your hypnotised by the camera you're kissing
All your cats are hissing tonight
Nothing gets settled when our animals fight
You look good in pictures but I think that the attention's
going to your brain
Hey little sister why do I only see you on the white train?
Riding on the white train
Riding on the white train
Riding on the white train
Riding on the white train
Solo!
Solo!
Solo!
Solo!
Now you got yourself into a sticky situation
But I don't make moves unless there's some reciprocation
I gotta know now should I be anticipating love
Or will you slap me with your bitches' gloves?
Ow!
Satan destroys you
But Jesus puts you in a bowl and smokes you
Hey little sister!
Your dreams are dying living on the white avenue
Living on the white avenue
Living on the white avenue
Living on the white avenue
Living on the white avenue
Ooh white avenue
Electric Six's song "Riding on the White Train" is a song about a woman who manipulates the singer for her own benefit. The woman is described as the queen of an evil galaxy, living off the money she suckers from the singer. She is not satisfied living by the airport in Queens and the singer questions if any of her actions have any significance. The chorus repeats the phrase "Riding on the white train" and this can be interpreted as a reference to the woman's luxurious lifestyle, often associated with the color white.
The song's verses criticize the media's influence on society, where people become fixated on their self-image and fame. The singer states that he sees no point in trying to get someone to listen as they are hypnotized by the camera. He compares his dogs barking to the cats hissing, which illustrates the competitive nature of people fighting for fame. The line "you look good in pictures but I think that the attention's going to your brain" points out that the woman is more focused on her fame than anything else.
The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, and a solo guitar section follows. In the final verse, the singer questions the woman's intentions, asking if she is anticipating love or whether she will slap him with her "bitches' gloves." The song ends with the line "your dreams are dying living on the white avenue," which implies that the woman's luxurious lifestyle is empty and unfulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
She was the queen of an evil galaxy
The woman in question was dominant in a corrupt world of her own.
Living off the money she suckered from me
She exploited the singer for his money and resources.
She wasn't satisfied living by the airport in Queens
Despite living in a comfortable condition, she was not happy with what she had.
Can you tell me now what any of it means?
The artist is questioning the reasons and purpose behind the woman's actions.
Now listen
The artist wants the listener to focus on his words and pay attention.
I see no point in trying to get you to listen
The singer is giving up on trying to persuade someone to listen to him.
Your hypnotised by the camera you're kissing
The listener is too obsessed with the superficial aspects of life such as social media and appearances.
My dogs are barking, man
The artist is feeling restless and irritable.
All your cats are hissing tonight
The people around the listener are angry and uncooperative.
Nothing gets settled when our animals fight
Things will not be resolved when two sides unwillingly clash.
You look good in pictures but I think that the attention's going to your brain
The singer believes that people are too obsessed with their appearance over their intelligence.
Hey little sister why do I only see you on the white train?
The artist is challenging his sister's decisions in life and asking why she is fixated on a particular path.
Riding on the white train
The journey towards a bright and hopeful future.
Solo!
A musical break in the song.
Now you got yourself into a sticky situation
The person being addressed has found themselves in a difficult and complicated situation.
But I don't make moves unless there's some reciprocation
The artist is hesitant to act unless there is some mutual benefit.
I gotta know now should I be anticipating love
The artist is uncertain whether or not love is a possibility in the given scenario.
Or will you slap me with your bitches' gloves?
The singer is worried that he will be met with hostility and aggression.
Ow!
An expression of physical pain.
Satan destroys you
The devilish and sinful parts of oneself can destroy a person.
But Jesus puts you in a bowl and smokes you
Even so, the divine and spiritual parts of oneself can ultimately prevail.
Your dreams are dying living on the white avenue
Living in a place of privilege and luxury does not always guarantee the achievement of one's goals and aspirations.
Living on the white avenue
Living in an affluent neighborhood or environment.
Ooh white avenue
A musical refrain to conclude the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandon Corley
Standing on my doorway
I wondered why his hand was painted red
It's just a scratch he said
Here we go again
We stumbled to the car
By the time we hit Prince Henry's he was white
I said you looked such a sight
He said I don't feel no pain
And I know just what to do
And I know it's nothing new
We've been through this before
But I don't follow
Why must it be you
On a white train?
I stuck until the end
Though you said I was no friend
But you were blind
You really lost your mind
On a white train
Some will swill and some will sip
Some just find a place where they don't slip
Others take a trip
On a white train
And I know just what to do
And I know it's nothing new
We've been through this before
But I don't follow
Why must it be you
On a white train?
Vanes
The simplicity of the solo makes it epic
Pinky Sunshine
To put a "solo" solo on top of the guitar solo is why they are GAWDS. LOVE ME SOME 6
Brandon Corley
Standing on my doorway
I wondered why his hand was painted red
It's just a scratch he said
Here we go again
We stumbled to the car
By the time we hit Prince Henry's he was white
I said you looked such a sight
He said I don't feel no pain
And I know just what to do
And I know it's nothing new
We've been through this before
But I don't follow
Why must it be you
On a white train?
I stuck until the end
Though you said I was no friend
But you were blind
You really lost your mind
On a white train
Some will swill and some will sip
Some just find a place where they don't slip
Others take a trip
On a white train
And I know just what to do
And I know it's nothing new
We've been through this before
But I don't follow
Why must it be you
On a white train?
Rosa
This was the first E6 song I heard in my life while searching for similar bands to Babylon Zoo. Got me hooked (E6 did) since.
Tom B
You must see electric 6 live!
PostalOverkill
I like the part with the solo lol!
YEET MIDER
incredible
Brandon Fearington
Da Bomb!!
bwooom
RIDING ON THE WHITE TRAIN!
Sunny Witch
Every time I play this video I have to leave the comment: SOLO.