While the band's early work blended noise rock with electropop, their later work incorporates Italo disco. The band is known for evolving through the years since their original collaboration, and experimenting with various musical genres.
They have released a number of albums since the early 2000s, their most recent being 2008's Deep Gems.
Glass Candy was formed by Ida No, from Vancouver, Washington and Johnny Jewel, from Austin, Texas, in 1996. The two began working together in Portland, Oregon, just across the Columbia River from No's hometown of Vancouver, Washington. No describes their early work as "droney and weird." Their first two singles, which they self-released under the name "Glass Candy & the Shattered Theatre", were "Metal Gods" (2001) and a cover of Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer" (2002). They toured with The Convocation Of... in 2001, and released a live album that year on Vermin Scum. Their first studio album, Love Love Love, was issued on Troubleman Unlimited in 2003. A second full-length followed on Troubleman the next year. Jewel founded Italians Do It Better with Mike Simonetti as a subsidiary of Troubleman. In 2007 Glass Candy released their third album B/E/A/T/B/O/X on this label to considerable critical praise. In late 2008, a rarities, b-sides and remix album was released under the name Deep Gems. In a review of Deep Gems, Spin Magazine referred to the band as "an eccentric Portland pair" that "spook the dance floor".
Glass Candy songs were used for a Chloe runway show, as well as used by Karl Lagerfeld for the Spring/Summer '08 Chanel Haute Couture fashion show and the Fall/Winter one of '08/'09.
Recently Glass Candy's "Digital Versicolour" was used in the soundtrack to Nicolas Winding Refn's feature length film Bronson.
Current members
Ida No - vocals
Johnny Jewel (formerly known as John David V.) - drums, programming
Former members
Avalon Kalin - drums
Jimi Hey - drums
Dusty Sparkles - saxophone and drums
Discography
Smashed Candy (Vermin Scum, 2001)
Love Love Love (Troubleman Unlimited, 2003)
Life After Sundown (Troubleman Unlimited 2004)
Iko (Troubleman Unlimited, 2005)
"I Always Say Yes (12" Main)" (Italians Do It Better, 2007)
B/E/A/T/B/O/X (Italians Do It Better, 2007)
Miss Broadway (Vinyl, 12")" (Italians Do It Better, 2008)
Deep Gems (Italians Do It Better, 2008)
Covered In Bugs
Glass Candy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes Ida
I can't relax
Why
Because I'm covered in bugs
Aaaaeeeiah
Oh Ida
You just really need to relax
With the sound of the waves rolling
And the fish swimming
And your staring off into the blue blue sky
Oh Eva
I don't know
When I think of the sky I get so nervous
I think about 2000 years ago
People couldn't even see the colour blue
Then what colour was the sky
Black
Ewwww
You mean to tell me
That people thought that the sky was black
Yes
That was us
That was so long ago
We didn't have anyway to make out world pretty
Can you believe it
Black
Aaaaaeeeee
The lyrics of Glass Candy's song "Covered In Bugs" are difficult to interpret on the surface level. However, the conversation between the two people, Eva and Ida, seems to address a feeling of discomfort, restlessness, and anxiety. Eva attempts to soothe Ida by suggesting that she tries to think of being on a beach, envisioning the calming sounds and colors of the ocean. However, Ida's anxiety seems to stem from a deeper sense of unease about the world around her. She mentions feeling "covered in bugs," which can metaphorically represent a sense of fear, paranoia, or a feeling of being trapped.
When Ida mentions the color of the sky, the conversation takes an interesting turn. She suggests that 2000 years ago, people couldn't see the color blue and therefore perceived the sky to be black. This fact seems to leave Ida even more uneasy, as it symbolizes a lack of understanding or knowledge about the world. It is possible that Ida is struggling with a sense of existential dread or a fear of the unknown, which can cause her to feel "covered in bugs." The conversation ends abruptly with a scream, leaving the listener wondering about the true meaning behind it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Eva
Beginning the conversation
Yes Ida
Acknowledging the other person
I can't relax
Expressing inability to relax
Why
Asking for the reason behind it
Because I'm covered in bugs
Explaining that the reason for inability to relax is being covered in bugs
Aaaaeeeiah
Expressing disgust or discomfort
Oh Ida
Addressing the other person again
You just really need to relax
Offering a suggestion to relax
Why don't you think of walking on the beach
Suggesting an activity to relax
With the sound of the waves rolling
Describing the atmosphere of the suggested activity
And the fish swimming
Further adding to the atmosphere of the suggested activity
And your staring off into the blue blue sky
Painting a mental picture of the suggested activity
Oh Eva
Returning to the conversation topic
I don't know
Expressing uncertainty or doubt
When I think of the sky I get so nervous
Explaining how the thought of the sky affects the singer
I think about 2000 years ago
Explaining what brings up this thought
People couldn't even see the colour blue
Describing how things were 2000 years ago
Then what colour was the sky
Asking a question about the past
Black
Answering the question about the past
Ewwww
Expressing disgust or discomfort
You mean to tell me
Asking for clarification
That people thought that the sky was black
Rephrasing the previous statement for clarification
Yes
Confirming the previous statement
That was us
Acknowledging our past selves
That was so long ago
Reflecting on the time difference
We didn't have anyway to make out world pretty
Explaining the lack of aesthetics in the past
Can you believe it
Expressing disbelief or amazement
Black
Reiterating the past color of the sky
Aaaaaeeeee
Ending the conversation with an expression of disgust or discomfort
Writer(s): John Padgett, Lori Monahan
Contributed by Eli L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.