Girl in a Coma formed when best friends Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz met in Jr-high school art class over a mutual love of the Smiths, Nirvana, and skipping school. All they needed was a singer. Enter Nina Diaz, Phanie’s little sister. Nina blew them away with her mesmerizing vocals, a powerful voice some critics have compared to Bjork, Patsy Cline, and the band’s hero, Morrissey himself. The trio practiced for three years, gigged at local punk rock clubs, played a High School talent show, one kid’s birthday party, and then hit the road, building up a solid and loyal fan base across the country.
In 2006, the Girls played for Joan Jett and long-time songwriting partner and producer, Kenny Laguna, at New York’s Knitting Factory as part of a cable TV show featuring unknown bands. Jett and Laguna were so impressed with the band that they signed GIAC to their label, Blackheart Records, on the spot.
The band’s 2007 debut album, Both Before I’m Gone, was a critical hit with raves from Alternative Press Magazine, the LA Weekly, Bust magazine, among many others, with the album reaching No. 23 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and No. 21 on iTunes. “Clumsy Sky,” the band’s first single, won a 2007 Independent Music Award.
In 2009, the band released their follow up album, Trio B.C. The album is a unique amalgamation of eclectic influences: oldies, rockabilly, 90s alternative, and contemporary bands both indie and mainstream.
Just a year later, the band recorded a companion piece to Trio B.C. Produced by Grammy-award winning producer Greg Collins (U2 and Gwen Stefani), Adventures in Coverland. features reinterpretations of songs and artists who have impacted the band. The songs range from a punked out version of Selena’s “Si Una Vez” to a stripped down version of Joy Division’s “Transmission.”
In early 2011, new material was piling up and the band was ready to head back into the studio to work on their upcoming album, Exits & All the Rest.
From sharing stages with their heroes to experiencing Arizona’s controversial laws firsthand, the album was born in an especially intense period for the band. The Girls headed a few miles north to Austin and recorded with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead). It was the band’s first time working on analog tape and all the basic tracks were laid down live. The recording process seemed to help the band capture some of the raw energy and power that they are known for in their live shows.
Static Mind
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh you’re making me rock back and forth inside my lonely boat.
Everyone will try to stop what they know they cannot control.
And it’s a ride on the other side and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
You’re so attractive attractive attractive when you fall.
And it’s your heart beating inside and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
I’m so attractive attractive attractive when I fall.
Just because oh I’m not heavy doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me oh you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m sane.
Oh reasons not to leave multiply like rabbits with hard drinks.
Everyone will try to stomp as I drift on back into my sheets.
And it’s a ride on the other side and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
You’re so attractive attractive attractive when you fall.
And it’s your heart beating inside and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
I’m so attractive attractive attractive when I fall.
And I’m just reading.
Just because oh I’m not heavy doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me oh you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m oh, you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m oh, you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m sane.
The lyrics to Girl In A Coma's song "Static Mind" are both evocative and enigmatic. At first glance, the lines seem to describe a state of emotional detachment or dissociation. The opening lines "Just because oh I’m not heavy doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me oh you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m sane" suggest that the subject is aware of her own emotional distance, and that others may love her because she is perceived as being more stable or rational than they are. The repetition of the phrase "attractive attractive attractive" throughout the song suggests that the singer is aware of her own allure, but that she is perhaps using this solely as a means of coping with her own alienation. The lines "And it’s a ride on the other side and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind" suggest a desire to escape from reality, or perhaps from herself, and a willingness to embrace the unknown, no matter how frightening it may be.
However, the song's lyrics are complicated by their use of repetition and metaphor. The phrase "everyone will try to stop what they know they cannot control" suggests that the singer is aware of her own power, and perhaps the difficulty she faces in reconciling her internal struggles with the expectations of others. The lines "Oh reasons not to leave multiply like rabbits with hard drinks" suggest that the singer is aware of the many reasons she might have to stay in a situation that is fundamentally unhealthy or unsustainable. The repetition of the line "I'm just reading" suggests a passive acceptance of one's own fate, or perhaps a desire to disengage from reality entirely.
Overall, "Static Mind" is a complex and multi-layered song that explores the ways in which human beings cope with emotional distance and detachment. While the exact meaning of the lyrics may be elusive, their use of metaphor and repetition allows them to convey a depth of feeling that is both raw and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because oh I’m not heavy doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me oh you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m sane.
Just because I'm not a burden doesn't mean he doesn't love me. He will love me because I am rational.
Oh you’re making me rock back and forth inside my lonely boat.
You are causing me to be restless and uncertain in my solitude.
Everyone will try to stop what they know they cannot control.
People will try to restrict things they know they cannot manage.
And it’s a ride on the other side and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
It's a journey into my alternative consciousness, with no possibility of return.
You’re so attractive attractive attractive when you fall.
You are intriguing and alluring, especially when you take risks.
And it’s your heart beating inside and it’s a one way ticket to my other mind.
Your heart is what draws me into my other mental state, and there is no way back.
I’m so attractive attractive attractive when I fall.
I am alluring and captivating when I am vulnerable and faltering.
And I’m just reading.
And I'm just taking it all in.
Oh reasons not to leave multiply like rabbits with hard drinks.
There are numerous excuses not to depart, especially when inebriated.
Everyone will try to stomp as I drift on back into my sheets.
Everyone will try to impede my relaxation and peace as I return to my bed.
Just because oh I’m not heavy doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me oh you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m oh, you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m oh, you’re gonna love me ‘cause I’m sane.
Just because I'm not a burden doesn't mean he doesn't love me. He will love me because I am rational.
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabby Montes
Nina's voice is amazing. ♥
hilaryisick
heck yeah, i'm from san antonio, texas. these girls represent, i love that these are most places i have gone to! good work girls, and yes, better than paramore! <333
Kamila Findlik-Koźlik
Really cool video :). I've been a huge fan, sice I saw you guys on Woodstock Festival in Poland. Awesome band, and I agree that's really shame that we cannot buy your record in poland, but I'll try to do that online. Anyawy, I LOVEEE YOUUU GRLS, hope that u'll come back to Poland soon! <3
Caroline Moore
wicked talent!!!!!! i love their music!!!! this song was part of a collection on free songs on itunes and i instantly fell in love with their music!!!
Gabriela
Siempre me va a gustar su musica girls <3
lostangelsixx
Love it!!! These girls are so nice, and SO GOOD live! :D
Matylda W.
I loved it from first time I heard it. Great one! And the video is just great! Blackheart Record rules!I love every single bad from em.
Jonathan Castelán Martínez
Excelente canción, estas chicas me encantan. Espero ver mas de ellas .
Elizabeth Castañeda
Me gustaa mucho esta canción !!! <3
inbigsa
Totally love this video. So fun! Puts a smile on my face and in my heart every time I play it. Better than beer ;)