Hüsker Dü broke with the anti-traditionalist ethos of most early hardcore bands. Their early songwriting shows the influence of folk, 1960s pop music, blues, and other forms (although often buried under a thick layer of angst and aggression), and has a strong melodic sense. The lyrics made astute, sharp, personal and social commentary, showing a great deal of vulnerability and sympathy for their subjects. Hüsker Dü's songwriting was widely admired, and their live shows were often a venue for brilliant improvisational playing. (A feedback-laden solo guitar performance from an early-'80s soundcheck tape merited release via the avant-garde Telus Magazine.) Hüsker Dü were also, however, widely regarded as somewhat unusual-sounding in their early prime, due to the instruments' non-standard tones: Mould's guitar is described below, while Hart's drums were considered 'thumpy' (and he consistently played slightly behind the beat); Norton played bass fairly laconically even at fast tempos, using his fingers rather than a pick. The band's sound can be considered an organic synthesis of these elements -- a unit that was quite powerful in combination, yet perhaps difficult to parse singly.
A particular strength of the group was the two powerhouse singer/songwriters, Mould and Hart. The tension between their musical styles (Mould was generally the angrier songwriter, Hart the more melodic one), and their willingness to collaborate, made the sum of their contributions greater than their parts. Another strength was Mould's unique, resonant guitar sound, described by a critic at the time as "molten metal pouring from the speakers." Mid-period Hüsker Dü songs are immediately recognizable via Mould's incandescent guitar tone, achieved by splitting the signal in the studio between amplified and direct tones and adding a light stereo chorus effect. Mould's technique involved playing resonant drone notes on the high strings. Although a trio, Hüsker Dü generally sounded extremely large on record and live.
The group is also notable as one of the first 1980s American underground rock bands to contract with a major record label, a move that blazed the trail for the rise of alternative rock a few years later. Another key Minneapolis band who served as an alternative rock icebreaker was The Replacements, who had a friendly rivalry with Hüsker Dü.
Mould has gone on to release other albums, including a recent solo double album release called Body of Song. Prior to that he took a stint as a writer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) scripting scenarios and fights.
Grant Hart died from cancer on September 14, 2017.
I'm Not Interested
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
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My lips begin to curl
She's livin', she's livin' in another world
She's just too damn surreal
And I'm not interested
In what she's got to say
I'm not interested
You lead your life so pure
You really do not know for sure
Which way you're really going
And that's what bothers me
In the first verse of Hüsker Dü's song "I'm Not Interested," the singer expresses his reaction upon seeing a particular girl. He admits that his lips curl up, which can imply a smirk or a gesture of skepticism. This reaction suggests that the girl's behavior or character is strange or unconventional. The next line, "She's livin', she's livin' in another world," reinforces this perception by implying that she exists in a reality that differs from the norm. The use of surrealism here highlights the girl's otherness and perhaps indicates that her actions or words are difficult to understand or relate to.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's lack of interest in what the girl has to say, implying that he finds her words unimportant or untruthful. The repetition of the line, "I'm not interested," underscores the singer's disinterest, possibly indicating that he has tried to engage with her before and found her unrelatable or untrustworthy. By stating that it's all lies anyway, the singer implies that he believes the girl is dishonest or insincere, reinforcing his skepticism towards her.
In the final verse, the singer comments on the girl's perceived virtuous lifestyle. By describing her as living a pure life, he suggests that she presents herself as morally upright and righteous. However, he points out that she lacks certainty about her direction in life. This uncertainty bothers the singer, likely because it contrasts with her seemingly principled outward appearance. This may suggest that he finds her hypocritical or inauthentic, as her actions and her claimed values seem incongruent.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Not Interested" depict the singer's reaction to a girl who he perceives as otherworldly, insincere, and lacking self-awareness. The song emphasizes his lack of interest in her thoughts or actions, portraying a deep skepticism towards her character and conveying a sense of disconnect and moral dissonance with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I see that girl
Whenever I catch a glimpse of that girl
My lips begin to curl
My mouth instinctively contorts into a smirk
She's livin', she's livin' in another world
She exists, she exists within a realm detached from reality
She's just too damn surreal
Her essence is excessively unreal
And I'm not interested
I am devoid of any desire or curiosity
In what she's got to say
In her verbal expressions
I'm not interested
I remain disengaged
It's all lies anyways
Everything she communicates is deceitful in nature
You lead your life so pure
Your lifestyle portrays an image of righteousness
You really do not know for sure
You genuinely lack certainty
Which way you're really going
The true direction of your path remains unknown
And that's what bothers me
And this is the aspect that troubles me deeply
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind