The Fatal Flowers are a dutch rock band founded by Richard Janssen in 1984 … Read Full Bio ↴The Fatal Flowers are a dutch rock band founded by Richard Janssen in 1984 in Amsterdam. In the beginning the band aims to make melodious guitar rock. The Flowers are rapidly considered a talented promising band, and sign a contract at the large record company WEA. Under the guidance of top producer Craig Leon an eponymous EP is made. The first full album is produced by Vic Maille and contains the title song Younger Days. The album becomes a hit. In 1987, the Flowers receive an Edison for Younger Days and they are an opening act on Pinkpop. The third album, Johnny D. are back!, is produced by Mick Ronson. With this album the Flowers make a large step forward and the album is exclaimed by the readers of Oor magazine as the best Dutch album of 1988. Guitarist Dirk Heuff leaves the band and is replaced by 17 year old Robin Berlin, who makes a big impression by his playing. The Fatal Flowers receive the Zilveren harp. In 1990, the Fatal Flowers leave WEA and go to Mercury. They make a new album, Pleasure Ground, which is again produced by Mick Ronson. The album contains no hit single, but is very successful. Soon after that the Flowers break up, as Richard Janssen lost all fun playing. On 3 July 2002 the Flowers reunite in the blue tea house in the Vondelpark as a promotion for compilation album Younger Days - The Definitive Fatal Flowers.

Blackspot
Fatal Flowers Lyrics

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Hey girl now you look real cute
The way that you go through all those books
Does it make you feel any better
Does it chance all your looks
Does it tell you, you can love me
Does it say you can hate me too
Does it tell you what you think about me, in a month or two

Hey boy you got pushed around a lot in school and in the yard
Does it make you feel any better to get back at them at last
And you tell me you hate the things, you loved a month ago
And you wanna tell me how come, what makes you think I wanna know
What makes you think people take you seriously

You're just another blackspot on another white sheet

Overall Meaning

The song "Blackspot" by Fatal Flowers makes a commentary about the societal construct of appearances and how they affect relationships. The opening lyrics address a girl who reads books and how that affects her self-image. The singer questions whether her love or hate towards him is predetermined or if it's something she comes to understand over time. The following verses deal with a boy who has been bullied and how he seeks to undo the harm that has been done to him by taking revenge. However, he is marked by the experience, and the singer questions whether his opinions and beliefs are genuine, or if they are simply reactionary or fleeting. In the end, the song suggests that societal expectations can be limiting, and that people often project their own fears and desires onto others.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey girl now you look real cute
Addressing a girl, the singer admires her appearance.

The way that you go through all those books
The singer observes that the girl is an avid reader.

Does it make you feel any better
The singer questions if reading books brings any positive change to the girl's life.

Does it chance all your looks
The artist wonders if reading books changes the girl's outward appearance or demeanor.

Does it tell you, you can love me
The artist asks if the girl's reading material suggests that she is capable of loving him.

Does it say you can hate me too
The singer asks if the girl's reading material gives her permission to hate him as well.

Does it tell you what you think about me, in a month or two
The singer wonders if the girl's reading material provides insight into how she will perceive him in the future.

Hey boy you got pushed around a lot in school and in the yard
The artist shifts focus, addressing a boy who was bullied in school and perhaps in other areas.

Does it make you feel any better to get back at them at last
The artist questions whether or not getting revenge on the bullies has improved the boy's self-esteem.

And you tell me you hate the things, you loved a month ago
The boy tells the artist that his interests have changed quickly and often.

And you wanna tell me how come, what makes you think I wanna know
The singer is frustrated by the boy's attempt to share his constantly shifting opinions, feeling that they aren't important or relevant.

What makes you think people take you seriously
The artist questions the boy's motives for sharing his ideas, believing that others may not value his opinions.

You're just another blackspot on another white sheet
The singer ultimately sees the boy and others like him as insignificant, forgotten details in the larger picture of life.

Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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