While Gang Gang Dance is generally associated with fellow space cases (Animal Collective, Black Dice), their sound is wholly unique. While their earlier sound was much more chaotic and sprawling, the latest material is a combination of skewed pop music with the unpredictability of experimental/noise performances. The eerie female vocals are reminiscent at times of an airy Kate Bush, trapped in a deep well with no one to sing to. The band belts out Arabian synth lines mixed with delayed out shimmer guitar, over dark poly-rhythms. Their beat heavy weird tribal-noise appeals to fans of all flavors of marginal and/or left centered pop music. And yes, you can dance to it.
Princes
Gang Gang Dance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, Strydes!
Yeah, it's nice, it's nice
Yo, cloud nine no hang
Oh shit, Gang Gang
Yo
Look missy, I'm trying to get mainstream money
Please don't get ...
Look, I take the rest of 'em out
...I'm the best one about
Fuck them haters, spouting that bullshit
(I remember your eyes rolled back in your head
...what's the universe been sayin'?)
Music dough ain't going too far,
so we're bring that scales bringing that bags
Give me two secs *pulls, bags*
Music first
Jeans are ripped... charming
(I see you in the corner, I see you in the grass)
The lyrics of Gang Gang Dance's song Princes feature guest artist Tinchy Stryder who opens the track with his signature ad-libs. In his verse, he talks about his desire to earn "mainstream money" and spend it on branded clothes and items like Bapes and ice cream. He proceeds to dismiss his haters and claim his position as the best one around. The rest of the lyrics seem fragmented and hard to decipher, with occasional phrases like "I remember your eyes rolled back in your head" and "Jeans are ripped... charming" that leave the listener to construct their meanings.
Overall, the song seems to be reflecting the hedonistic world of mainstream success and the pressure to conform to it. The lyrics juxtapose the pursuit of money and fame with the fleeting moments of pleasure that come with it, as symbolized by the reference to ice cream. The fragmented nature of the lyrics and the occasional references to bodily experiences like rolling eyes suggest a certain dissociative state, perhaps brought about by the constant pursuit of the next high.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, Strydes!
Addressing Tinchy Stryder
Yeah, it's nice, it's nice
Agreeing with Tinchy Stryder's previous statement about getting mainstream money
Yo, cloud nine no hang
Feeling great and inspired, no negative feelings
Oh shit, Gang Gang
Excitement for Gang Gang Dance's collaboration with Tinchy Stryder
Yo
Starting a new thought
Look missy, I'm trying to get mainstream money
Expressing a desire for mainstream success and financial gain
Spend it on Bapes and ice cream, money
Planning to use the money to purchase trendy clothing and enjoy life's pleasures
Please don't get ...
Interruption or hesitation in the artist's thoughts or speech
Look, I take the rest of 'em out
Confidence in one's abilities to surpass others in a given field
...I'm the best one about
Asserting oneself as the most skilled or talented in the group or industry
Fuck them haters, spouting that bullshit
Dismissing negative opinions and criticism from others
(I remember your eyes rolled back in your head
...what's the universe been sayin'?)
A sudden, unrelated thought or flashback to a past memory or experience
Music dough ain't going too far,
Acknowledging the limitations of making money through music
so we're bring that scales bringing that bags
Turning to drug dealing to make more money
Give me two secs *pulls, bags*
Taking a brief moment to attend to a drug-related task before returning to music
Music first
Acknowledging that despite turning to drug dealing for more money, music is still a top priority
Jeans are ripped... charming
Expressing a casual, carefree attitude towards fashion and appearance
(I see you in the corner, I see you in the grass)
A sudden, unrelated observation or thought
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.