The band first experienced chart success when their second single "Take Me Out" reached #3 in the UK Charts, followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand which entered the UK album chart at #3. The band went on to win the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and two BRIT Awards in 2005 for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act. NME named Franz Ferdinand as their Album of the Year. From the album, three top-ten singles were released, "Take Me Out", "The Dark of the Matinée" and "This Fire". The band has also received several Grammy Award nominations.
The band is named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria whose assassination was one of the main reasons for the start of the First World War. The band decided on the name after seeing a racehorse named Archduke Ferdinand win the Northumberland Plate in 2001, eventually coming to the decision as the alliteration and sound of the name appealed to them.
- Discography
Franz Ferdinand (2004)
You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
Blood; Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013)
FFS (2015) (Collaborative album with the band Sparks)
Always Ascending (2018)
Hits to the Head (2022)
The Academy Award
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These pictures will shock you
Love is a drag we don't need anymore
We don't need to score
Show me the body
404
Gateway not found
My wife is such a fine
Show me the body now
We're starring in the movies of our lives
We're starring in the movies of our lives
And the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Yeah, the Academy Award for good times goes to you
There's a camera held in every hand
The clamor of applause in every mind
But the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Show me the body, Hikikomori
Through liquid crystal we look at the world
From our parents' homes
Show me the body
The secret of longevity is to stay away from them
Show me the body
Show me the body now
We're starring in the movies of our lives
We're starring in the movies of our lives
And the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Yeah, the Academy Award for good times goes to you
There's a camera held in every hand
The clamor of applause in every mind
But the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Show me the body
You never realize how much eight pints are
'Til you see them on the ground
They cover so much ground
Locked up predator
Hunter gatherer
Once rare commodity
Now recently found salt, sugar and fat
There's heavy traffic
Show me the body now
We're starring in the movies of our lives
Starring in the movies of our lives
And the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Yeah, the Academy Award for good times goes to you
There's a camera held in every hand
The clamor of applause in every mind
But the Academy Award for good times goes to you, you
In Franz Ferdinand's song "The Academy Award," the singer makes multiple references to the body and the ways in which we interact with the world around us. The opening lines, "Show me the body / These pictures will shock you," could be interpreted as a commentary on our fascination with consuming images of real-life violence and trauma through the media. The lines "Love is a drag we don't need anymore / We don't need to score" suggest a lack of interest in traditional forms of romantic or sexual fulfillment, perhaps due to the distractions and excesses of modern life.
The chorus, "And the Academy Award for good times goes to you / There's a camera held in every hand / The clamor of applause in every mind / But the Academy Award for good times goes to you," may be a critical reflection on our obsession with celebrity culture and constant self-documentation through social media. The verses also touch on themes of isolation and detachment, referring to the Japanese term "Hikikomori" (referring to those who shut themselves off from the outside world) and the idea of staying away from one's own parents.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the ways in which we interact with and consume the world around us, offering a slightly jaded view of our current cultural moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me the body
Requesting to see proof or evidence
These pictures will shock you
The visuals are intense
Love is a drag we don't need anymore
Choosing to avoid or not prioritize love
We don't need to score
Not seeking validation or approval
404
Indicating an error or missing information
Gateway not found
Unable to connect or access something
My wife is such a fine
Complimenting the romantic partner
Show me the body now
Urging to see proof immediately
We're starring in the movies of our lives
Recognizing that life is like a movie with us as the main character
And the Academy Award for good times goes to you
Complimenting someone for their enjoyable presence
There's a camera held in every hand
Everyone has access to recording their life
The clamor of applause in every mind
Experiencing internal validation or satisfaction
Show me the body, Hikikomori
Specifically requesting to see someone's proof or evidence
Through liquid crystal we look at the world
Viewing the world through technology, such as screens
From our parents' homes
Living with or nearby family
The secret of longevity is to stay away from them
Avoiding toxic or negative relationships for a longer, healthier life
You never realize how much eight pints are
An observation of the effects of drinking too much alcohol
'Til you see them on the ground
Realizing the amount consumed after seeing empties on the floor
They cover so much ground
Drinking a lot can have far-reaching consequences
Locked up predator
Someone who is confined, but still has harmful intentions
Hunter gatherer
A metaphor for the primal instincts and needs of humans
Once rare commodity
A reference to something that was valuable or desirable
Now recently found salt, sugar and fat
A commentary on unhealthy modern diets
There's heavy traffic
Referring to a lot of activity or obstacles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley, Julian Victor Corrie, Paul Robert Thomson, Robert Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind