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
The Afterlife
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like two reptiles eating flies
Turning up dials
Like audiophiles hearing with their eyes
Reading and writing and ultimate fighting
When you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs
Scratching and biting is oh so exciting
When you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs
There is no exodus in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There is no point to this in the afterlife [the afterlife]
[Life]
[Music]
[Life]
De-materialize and hide your greatest failing
Open up your eyes and fantasize you're sailing away
Cleaning and scrubbing will greatly improve this
When you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs
Bouncing and clubbing’s the new kind of hubris
When you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs
There is no consequence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There is no border fence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There is no consequence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There is no border fence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
The song The Afterlife by Electric Six showcases the band's unique style of combining catchy pop rock beats with dark and twisted lyrics. The song seems to be exploring the concept of the afterlife, but it is done in a way that is both absurd and humorous. The opening lines of the song describe permanent smiles, which are likened to the way reptiles consume flies. The song then goes on to describe the act of turning up dials, as if one is hearing with their eyes like audiophiles. The lyrics seem to be invoking the sense of the duality of life, where life can be both beautiful and hideous at the same time.
The middle portion of the song seems to suggest that one's actions in life will have consequences even in the afterlife. Lines like "when you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs" seem to imply that one's association with others can have implications in life and even in the afterlife. The song suggests that one can hide their "greatest failing" by de-materializing, but ultimately the consequence of their actions will catch up to them. The chorus of the song echoes the futility of the afterlife, where there is no point or consequence to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Permanent smiles
People in the afterlife have permanent smiles on their faces.
Like two reptiles eating flies
These permanent smiles are like those of reptiles consuming flies.
Turning up dials
In the afterlife, people turn up dials to experience more sensations.
Like audiophiles hearing with their eyes
This increase in sensation is similar to audiophiles who experience sound with their eyes closed.
Reading and writing and ultimate fighting
Activities such as reading, writing, and fighting have no importance in the afterlife.
When you lay down with dogs, you lay with my dogs
The phrase 'lay down with dogs' means associating with bad people, and in the afterlife, people will associate with the singer's 'dogs' - i.e., bad people.
Scratching and biting is oh so exciting
Actions that are seen as aggressive or violent in the real world are exciting and encouraged in the afterlife.
There is no exodus in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There is no exit or escape from the afterlife.
There is no point to this in the afterlife [the afterlife]
This life is pointless in comparison to the afterlife.
De-materialize and hide your greatest failing
People can shed their past mistakes and failings by de-materializing them in the afterlife.
Open up your eyes and fantasize you're sailing away
People can create their own reality in the afterlife and escape to a peaceful place by simply imagining it.
Cleaning and scrubbing will greatly improve this
In the afterlife, cleaning and scrubbing have a positive impact on people's lives.
Bouncing and clubbing’s the new kind of hubris
Actions that are seen as arrogant or prideful in the real world are celebrated and praised in the afterlife.
There is no consequence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There are no repercussions for actions taken in the afterlife.
There is no border fence in the afterlife [the afterlife]
There are no borders or limitations in the afterlife.
[Life]
The song briefly acknowledges that life exists before and after death.
[Music]
The song exists as a form of commentary on the afterlife.
[Life]
The song briefly acknowledges that life exists before and after death.
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eelco J. van Kampen
Such a great sounding song. Sounds like classics such as:: The Future Is In The Future, Transatlantic Flight, White Eyes and Synthesizer; just amazing stuff :)
TheUnassembled
Electric Six can sing about anything and make it sound delicious.
Arg0n01
+TheUnassembled Or make a song about nothing and still be entertaining as hell.
Bubberoon
One of my favourites... ❤️
Adolph Oliver Bush
by far my fave on this album
The Great Muchacho
This is the shit. And it need more Recognition.
Des bisous de France !
Podcast Fan
Recognizing? From whom..? They would not get it anyway. You are recognized in this feeling of how significant this song & band is. Guess you & fans of E6 are capable of understanding how significant it is where as many wouldn't understand.
Podcast Fan
Open your eyes...& fantasize your sailing.