1. An American indie roc… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists with this name
1. An American indie rock band
2. A Japanese visual kei band (Ｇｏｓｓｉｐ)
3. Another Japanese Visual-kei band, typeset as Gossip-ゴシップ-
An American indie rock trio from Portland, OR, originally formed in Arkansas and formally known as The Gossip. The genre-bending DIY post-punk rock trio bring a new level of lyrical power and musical sophistication to their ever-evolving, always-electrifying sound and sensibility on Music For Men, the indie group's first major label studio album.
According to Gossip guitarist and music creator Brace Paine, the idea of calling the band's new album Music For Men comes straight from Beth Ditto, the Gossip's iconoclastic lead singer and charismatic front-person. "It's like a feminist joke," Brace offers by way of wry explanation.
And while the Gossip incorporate a deft sense of cultural irony into Music For Men, there's nothing confusing about the post-punk trio's musical approach: direct and visceral, pulsing with a raw and unapologetic animal energy, drummer Hannah Blilie's propulsive rhythms interlocking with Brace's heart-pounding riffs and Beth's aggressive and cathartic vocals.
One of the year's most highly-anticipated event releases, Music For Men, the Gossip's new musical manifesto, marks the group's first full-length studio collection since their signature anthem-of-empowerment, "Standing In The Way of Control," broke-out big in 2006. Music For Men is the first new music from the group since the release of its major label debut, Live In Liverpool.
On-board to make sure the Gossip got the studio sound they were looking for was producer Rick Rubin, who the helped the band find its own distinct groove in every track. "He is a true mystic," Brace observes "All we talked about was John Cage. He's only cares about music, speakers and sound systems. He's really amazing to work with. I'd say 'make the bass sound like PiL' and he'd know what I was talking about, he got all the references. He would let me do whatever I wanted to do. Such awesome energy."
Brace admits that the band's experience cutting Music For Men at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu marked "the first time we ever had access to a studio like that. I can see if you let a musician loose in this big studio to just ride all this stuff, I can see why somebody would just come up with this huge thing. Having restraint was so important. I hate the over-production sound."
"We wrote a lot of this album in the studio," Brace continues, again referring to Shangri-La. "The Band built it in 1976 and Bob Dylan's old tour bus was in the back. It was empty so I turned it into my own little studio with my computer with GarageBand and my guitars and stuff. I loaded up all my gear into Bob Dylan's 70s tour bus and that's where I wrote. Beth would come in and I would play her demos. All the vocal lines are hers, the lyrics are hers. I do the sounds and she sings over it. She'd come in the Bob Dylan bus and we did a lot of demoing on our own during the day because it was more comfortable. She'd come in and sing into GarageBand. I'd write some things to her vocals. 'Dimestore Diamond' was actually her humming the song and I started playing bass to it."
While "Dimestore Diamond" lays the escapades of a punk-rock Second Hand Rose across a deep funk bassline and crackling rhythmic static, "Men In Love" fires up the ultimate dance-floor groove, as sweaty as it is transcendent. "Heavy Cross," the album's first single, finds Beth first cooing, then belting a confrontational challenge to the status quo of a cruel world.
Other new songs on Gossip's "Music For Men" include "8th Wonder," "Love Long Distance," "Pop Goes The World," "Vertical Rhythm," "For Keeps," "2012," "Love and Let Love," "Four Letter Word," and "Spare Me From The Mold."
"She's got a serious set of lungs. She's a great singer. I'm always blown away by what she does," say Brace admiringly of his bandmate. "Everything she did was on the first or second take."
When it came to the overall sound and vibe of Music For Men, "We kept it really simple. There's usually not more than two things going on at once on the record. It just started out with bass lines and then I'd put a guitar over it or synth. I thought a lot about how it's gonna sound live. We're a live band so much. We have a fourth member, a bassist, on-stage. I play keyboards at the same time as guitar."
The journey from "Standing in the Way of Control" to Music For Men has been a wild ride for the Gossip. “We have been out on the road a lot,” says Hannah. “The shows are great, every tour gets bigger, and the shows are more and more fun. We're really good friends and we’re having a great time.”
Brace and Beth have been friends since Brace was 15 and each of them was formulating a cosmopolitan world-view encompassing far more than their lives in small farming towns on the outskirts of Searcy, Arkansas. A punk mixtape made its way from Brace to Beth (via a mutual friend, Kathy Mendonca, who'd later become the first drummer for the Gossip) and the seeds of a long-standing friendship and musical union were planted.
"I ended up hanging out with her quite a lot," Brace, a budding local indie music entrepreneur. "I put out a tape of her band Little Miss Muffet." It wasn't long before Beth, Brace and Kathy moved to Olympia, Washington where "We lived in a punk house together and started the band in the basement."
Right from the beginning, the Gossip felt they were on to something special. "Beth was doing this bluesy thing," Brace remembers. "It was more lo-fi. We never did sound checks. Everything was super-loud and distorted. I didn't know how to play my guitar at all. Then we got this new drummer...."
Once drummer Hannah Blilie came on-board, the Gossip line-up was in-place, ready to shake some action and kick down some walls. The young indie trio broke-through with 2006's Standing In The Way Of Control, which reached #1 on the UK indie chart and #22 on the UK album chart while the title track became widely associated with the popular UK teen drama, "Skins."
The success of “Standing In The Way Of Control” and the Gossip’s incandescent performances rapidly established newcomer Beth Ditto as a cultural icon in the UK -- she was named the NME's Coolest Person In Rock (in one of her four cover appearances), took home the Glamour Awards' 2008 International Artist Of The Year, appeared on the cover of the premiere issue of Love magazine, and is a much-sought-after guest on UK television. Beth and the Gossip’s music were becoming recognized in the UK and Europe as a major force.
In a surreal world where he's talked to Karl Lagerfeld about the Velvet Underground during French Fashion Week, Brace claims that "Our lives have -- hilariously -- not changed at all really. We live in the same town. "
And though the daily lives of the band's members remain unaffected by the Gossip's growing notoriety, the heat of their music and the adrenaline-rush of their live shows are an ongoing source of excitement.
Since the group's formation, the Gossip has opened for and/or toured with a wide variety of musicians including Le Tigre, Chromatics, Tracy and the Plastics, Sonic Youth, Pre, YYY, Sleetmute Nightmute, Glass Candy, the White Stripes, CSS, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Erase Errata, Stereo Total, and the Kills among others.
The summer of 2007 found the Gossip on-board the True Colors Tour -- as part of an eclectic bill including Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Erasure, Rufus Wainwright, the Dresden Dolls, the MisShapes, the Cliks and host Margaret Cho -- for a series of concerts benefitting the Human Rights Campaign.
That summer found the Gossip closing the Glastonbury Festival, with Beth Ditto paying homage to the late John Peel, the massively influential British DJ/journalist/television presenter, during the group's set exclaiming "JOHN PEEL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNDERGROUND!!!" The Gossip was invited back to Glastonbury the following year.
2008 saw the release of Gossip - Live In Liverpool, a deluxe live CD/DVD documenting the group's incendiary show from July 9, 2007, focusing on the deep raw power, energy and intensity of the Gossip's live performances. In April 2008, in support of their live release, Gossip set off on a mini-tour of select US venues which included SRO shows in New York and a career-defining performance on the "Late Show with David Letterman."
"We are always on tour," says the band. As popular on the festival circuit as they are in the world's post-punk clublands, Gossip is lined up to play Radio 1's Big Weekend in May 2009 as well as a series of UK summer festivals including Latitude, Leeds, and Reading.
When the band's off the road, Beth, Brace and Hannah get together to practice at least twice a week. There's a club in Portland called Dunes, where Brace sets up shows and DJs "a lot." The group plays host to local post-punk parties and including a mythic underground soiree (now in hiatus) called "Suicide Club" where Brace whispers, "we would play post-punk records and show Joy Division videos on the wall. Maybe 30 kids would come. It was a great club. There was no sign because it was illegal."
With "Music For Men," the Gossip bring together the vital elements of danger, thrills and passion to their sound and vision, partying like it's 2012!!!
On January 22, 2010, it was announced that Gossip will be performing at Lilith Fair 2010, which is back by popular demand. ABC is the official sponsor of this year's Lilith Fair. For more information on the tour schedule and artists visit the Lilith Fair official website.
Sites: gossipYouth.com
2012
Gossip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You think you are invincible
When in fact you're powerless
You're missing the principal
You'll fear the loneliness
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
It's just like time has stopped
It's always someone's fault
Turn back the hands of the clock
I'll turn into a pillar of salt
A tragedy brings misery
Misery loves company
Company is misleading
I've made it this far
Without you
Without you
Without you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
So quick to seal our fate
Give it a second chance
We'll hurry up and wait
Victims of circumstance
A tragedy brings misery
Misery loves company
Company is misleading
I've made it this far
Without you
Without you
(Without you)
My heart may never beat again baby
Or have you got the best of me
My heart may never beat again baby
Or have you got the best of me
My heart may never beat again baby
Or have you got the best of me
My heart may never beat again baby
Or have you got the best of me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You think you are invincible
You're missing the principal
You think you are invincible
You're missing the principal
A tragedy brings misery
Misery loves company
Company is misleading
I've made it this far
Without you
Without you
Without you
I've made it this far
Without you
The song "2012" by Gossip is a commentary on the human condition, exploring the themes of powerlessness, loneliness, and the fleeting nature of time. The recurring "oh" sounds in the opening and closing carry a sense of resignation and weariness that captures the mood of the song. The first verse talks about how people may believe they are invincible, yet in reality, they are powerless and missing the fundamental principles of life. The mention of fear, loneliness, and salt imagery suggests a sense of bitterness and disappointment that arises when we face our limitations.
In the second verse, the song addresses the idea of second chances and the struggle against the inevitability of fate. The reference to "victims of circumstance" reflects a sense of helplessness that many people feel in their lives when they are unable to control the events around them. Finally, the repetition of the chorus "I've made it this far without you" serves as a defiant statement of independence and survival in the face of hardships.
Overall, the song's message is that we are all subject to the ups and downs of life, but ultimately it is up to us to push through and navigate our own path. The soft, haunting melody and confident vocals of Beth Ditto create a sense of resilience and courage, making "2012" a powerful reflection on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Repetitive vocalization, no discernable meaning
You think you are invincible
You hold an inflated sense of self-importance
When in fact you're powerless
You lack the actual control or authority you believe you have
You're missing the principal
You are not comprehending the main point or fact
You'll fear the loneliness
You will feel afraid and alone
It's just like time has stopped
The situation seems to have halted progress and development
It's always someone's fault
Blame for the situation is consistently directed towards others
Turn back the hands of the clock
Undoing past events or choices would be beneficial
I'll turn into a pillar of salt
Metaphorically speaking, I will suffer the consequences if I look back on what I left behind
A tragedy brings misery
When something catastrophic occurs, pain and unhappiness tend to follow
Misery loves company
People experiencing hardship or sorrow gravitate towards others in similar situations
Company is misleading
When seeking solace in others, they may lead you down the wrong path
I've made it this far without you
Despite your absence, I have been able to progress and thrive
So quick to seal our fate
We acted impulsively, determining the outcome before thinking it through
Give it a second chance
Allowing another opportunity for success or repair could be beneficial
We'll hurry up and wait
We will move with haste, only to be delayed or stagnated in the end
Victims of circumstance
Our predicament and misfortune were out of our control
My heart may never beat again baby
You have caused me great emotional pain and it may never heal
Or have you got the best of me
You have gained control over my emotions and thoughts and I may never recover
You think you are invincible
Repeating previous sentiment with reinforcement
You're missing the principal
Repeating previous sentiment with reinforcement
I've made it this far without you
Repeating previous sentiment with reinforcement
Without you
Repeating previous sentiment with emphasis
Without you
Repeating previous sentiment with emphasis
Without you
Repeating previous sentiment with emphasis
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Repetitive vocalization, no discernable meaning
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Repetitive vocalization, no discernable meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANNAH BLILIE, MARY BETH PATTERSON, NATHAN HOWDESHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind