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

Talking Turkey
Electric Six Lyrics

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You get the hotel,
I'll get the box of wine.
No sadder words had been spoken,
Since the dawn of time.
When we were young,
We never think that it will come to this,
Because you only get one shot;
I took my shot and missed.

She said "You just keep it still love,
I'll get the cameras going".
I'm still amazed at the things I do,
To keep my debts from growing.
She says "We've got some sort of symbiotic relationship",
And for our purposes,
She says she finds me well equipped.

(She's barkin' up my tree),
(And bouncin' on my knee).
Like some sort of Buddha-baby!
(She's a talkin' turkey),
(Smokin' my jerky).
I guess I'm in the market for what she's hawkin',
Build some more shelves cause we're gonna keep stockin',
We can talk turkey till the turkey starts talkin' to me!

Her stomach's bigger than my eyes!
(Happy Thanksgiving, baby!)
She smothers me inside;
This time I daren't forget the gravy.

She says "I'll just freshen up now,
I'm expecting some more friends".
And it's becoming clear to me,
There's more filth around the bend.
She said (?) for the kind of internet,
And she always gets everything that she sets out to get.

(She's teaching birds and bees),
(And always pushin' me).
Like a leather monstrosity!
(She's a talkin' turkey),
(Smoking the jerky).
Better get the door 'cause I hear your friends knocking,
(?) and just keep walking.
We can talk turkey till the turkey is talking to me!
Talking to me!

She's shaking her thighs!
(You know how to treat a lady),
She smothers me and dies!
Happy Thanksgiving, baby,
Happy Thanksgiving, baby,
Happy Thanksgiving, baby,

Happy Thanksgiving, baby!
Baby.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Electric Six's song "Talking Turkey" tell the story of a man and woman in a relationship, with the man seemingly down on his luck financially. He suggests they split the cost of a hotel room, and he'll provide a box of wine to drink. However, the woman seems to be the one in control, as she sets up cameras to record their encounter and seems to be manipulating him for her own purposes. The chorus contains a series of odd metaphors and descriptions, with the woman being compared to a Buddha-baby and a talking turkey, and the man seeming unsure of what's going on.

Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on power dynamics in relationships, particularly when one person holds more financial power than the other. The man seems to be almost demeaned by the woman's actions, reduced to a source of entertainment for her and potentially even paying for the privilege. The strange imagery of the chorus only serves to highlight the surreal, uncomfortable nature of the situation.

Line by Line Meaning

You get the hotel, I'll get the box of wine.
You handle the accommodation, while I take care of the drinks - a division of labor that seems only logical.

No sadder words had been spoken, Since the dawn of time.
The line is meant to be satirical, as it is a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration to describe a simple statement like the one before it.

When we were young, We never think that it will come to this, Because you only get one shot; I took my shot and missed.
When people are young, they believe the world is their oyster and that they will achieve everything they desire, but as time goes on, they realize that they only have one chance to make life count, and sometimes, they miss that chance.

She said "You just keep it still love, I'll get the cameras going".
The artist's partner tells him to remain calm as she prepares to record whatever is about to happen, presumably for posterity.

I'm still amazed at the things I do, To keep my debts from growing.
The artist is astonished at the lengths they'll go to avoid debt or monetary trouble, often going against their better judgment.

She says "We've got some sort of symbiotic relationship", And for our purposes, She says she finds me well equipped.
The singer's partner describes their relationship as a mutually beneficial one, adding that the singer has the necessary attributes to satisfy their needs.

(She's barkin' up my tree), (And bouncin' on my knee). Like some sort of Buddha-baby!
The singer's partner is aggressive and sexually insatiable, and the singer invokes the image of the Buddha to describe her childlike and blissful disposition.

(She's a talkin' turkey), (Smokin' my jerky). I guess I'm in the market for what she's hawkin', Build some more shelves cause we're gonna keep stockin', We can talk turkey till the turkey starts talkin' to me!
The artist's partner is a persistent seller, and the artist compares them to a turkey, both in terms of their aggressive sales tactics and their desire for sex. The artist acknowledges that he's interested in what they're selling and wants to keep more of it in stock, even if it means resorting to unconventional measures.

Her stomach's bigger than my eyes! (Happy Thanksgiving, baby!) She smothers me inside; This time I daren't forget the gravy.
The artist's partner overindulges, eating more than is necessary, which the artist is not used to. Thus the artist must remind himself to prepare all the necessary fixings for their Thanksgiving meal.

She says "I'll just freshen up now, I'm expecting some more friends". And it's becoming clear to me, There's more filth around the bend.
After dining with the artist's partner, she mentions that she'll be entertaining more guests shortly. The artist takes this to imply that there are more people of an unscrupulous nature on the horizon.

She said (?) for the kind of internet, And she always gets everything that she sets out to get.
The singer's partner is extremely resourceful when it comes to the internet and can locate whatever she needs with ease.

(She's teaching birds and bees), (And always pushin' me). Like a leather monstrosity!
The artist's partner is domineering, possessive, and determined, equated here to an imposing leather object.

(She's a talkin' turkey), (Smoking the jerky). Better get the door 'cause I hear your friends knocking, (?) and just keep walking. We can talk turkey till the turkey is talking to me! Talking to me!
The singer's partner is still selling, now relating to a turkey that seems to have come to life. The singer's partner tells him to answer the door while she continues her sales pitch. The singer suggests they'll continue their strange conversation until the turkey itself begins talking.

She's shaking her thighs! (You know how to treat a lady), She smothers me and dies! Happy Thanksgiving, baby, Happy Thanksgiving, baby, Happy Thanksgiving, baby, Happy Thanksgiving, baby! Baby.
The singer's partner is sexually aroused and intent on receiving pleasure from the singer, who professes to know how to treat a woman right. She smothers him in the process, which is a common slang term for ejaculating, while he wishes her a happy Thanksgiving repeatedly.

Lyrics © SWISS CHOCOLATE MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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