The band had a revolving line-up of bassists and drummers, their most prolific being drummer Patty Schemel, and bassists Kristen Pfaff (d. 1994) and Melissa Auf der Maur. In 2002 the group disbanded to pursue other projects. Eight years later in 2010, Hole was reformed by Love with new members, despite Erlandson's claim that the reformation breached a mutual contract he had with Love. The reformed band released the album Nobody's Daughter, which had originally been conceived as Love's second solo album. In 2013, Love retired the Hole name, releasing new material and touring as a solo artist.
Hole has been noted for being one of the most commercially successful female-fronted rock bands of all time, selling over three million records in the United States alone and having a far-reaching influence on contemporary female artists. Music and feminist scholars have also recognized the band as the most high-profile musical group of the 1990s to discuss gender issues in their songs, due to Love's aggressive and violent lyrical content, which often addressed themes of body image, abuse, and sexual exploitation.
Hole went on to become the most commercially successful female-fronted grunge band in history, selling over 3 million records in the United States between 1991 and 2010. In spite of Love's often polarizing reputation in the media, Hole received consistent critical praise for their output, and was often noted for the predominant feminist commentary found in Love's lyrics, which scholars have credited as "articulating a third-wave feminist consciousness". Love's subversive onstage persona and public image coincided with the band's songs, which expressed "pain, sorrow, and anger, but [an] underlying message of survival, particularly survival in the face of overwhelming circumstances." Music journalist Maria Raha expressed a similar sentiment in regard to the band's significance to third-wave feminism, stating, "Whether you love Courtney [Love] or hate her, Hole was the highest-profile female-fronted band of the '90s to openly and directly sing about feminism."
While Rolling Stone compared the effect of Love's marriage to Kurt Cobain on the band to that of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, they noted that "Love's confrontational stage presence, as well as her gut-wrenching vocals and powerful punk-pop songcraft, made her an alternative-rock star in her own right." Author Nick Wise made a similar comparison in discussion of the band's public image, stating, "Not since Yoko Ono's marriage to John Lennon has a woman's personal life and exploits within the rock arena been so analyzed and dissected." The band has been cited as a major influence on several contemporary artists, including indie singer songwriter Scout Niblett, Brody Dalle of the Distillers and Spinnerette, Sky Ferreira, Lana Del Rey, Tove Lo, Tegan and Sara, and the British rock band Nine Black Alps. The band ranked at #77 of VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists.
Clouds
Hole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So so many things I could've done
But clouds
Angel dust gets in your eyes, your hair
On acid stars you're getting there
My body's assembled into
A little itty-bitty gift to you
When you die, I've looked at life that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
So, so don't let them inside, don't let them know
Don't give yourself ohh away
But now my friends are acting strange
They shake their heads man, they say I've changed, well
Well, something's lost, rearranged
From living every, every, every, I've
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
I'ts just illusions I recall
I really don't know, I really don't know
I really don't know, I really don't know
I really don't, I really don't clouds at all
Why are we here...terrified, terrified, wow
The lyrics to "Clouds" by Hole are rich in imagery and reflect a tumultuous emotional journey. The opening lines, "Rows and flows of angel hair / And ice cream castles in the air / And feather canyons everywhere / I've looked at clouds that way" create a nostalgic and fantastical tone, where the singer remembers seeing beauty and magic in the world. The following lines, "Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels / The dizzy dancing way you feel / As every fairy tale comes real / I've looked at clouds that way," continue this tone, emphasizing the singer's idealistic view of the world.
However, the song takes a turn with the lyrics, "But now they only block the sun / They rain and snow on everyone / So so many things I could've done / But clouds." Here, the singer takes a more pessimistic view of the world, recognizing that what was once perceived as magical and beautiful is now just a hindrance. The lyrics, "Angel dust gets in your eyes, your hair / On acid stars you're getting there / My body's assembled into / A little itty-bitty gift to you / When you die, I've looked at life that way," create a surreal and almost hallucinogenic image, as if the singer is experiencing life through a drug-induced haze.
The final lines, "I've looked at clouds from both sides now / From up and down, and still somehow / It's just illusions I recall / I really don't know clouds at all / Why are we here...terrified, terrified, wow," reveal a sense of confusion and uncertainty about life. The singer is left wondering what the purpose of it all is and why they feel so scared. Overall, the lyrics to "Clouds" by Hole are dark and introspective, exploring the contrast between the beauty and the harsh realities of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Rows and flows of angel hair
I used to look at clouds and imagine them as something beautiful and ethereal
And ice cream castles in the air
Clouds were like castles made of ice cream, and my imagination ran wild with possibilities
And feather canyons everywhere
The sky was like a canvas, and clouds were the brushstrokes creating intricate designs and beauty
I've looked at clouds that way
I had an innocent and creative outlook on life and the world around me
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
Clouds reminded me of romantic imagery like the scenes of a Ferris wheel or a full moon in the sky
The dizzy dancing way you feel
The reactions I had to seeing clouds were joyful and almost overwhelming
As every fairy tale comes real
My mind was able to conjure up scenarios where dream-like fairy tales seemed real and tangible
I've looked at clouds that way
My perspective was once innocent and full of wonderment, but things have changed
But now they only block the sun
Clouds have become an obstacle in my life rather than a source of happiness
They rain and snow on everyone
The obstacles that clouds represent affect everyone, causing stress and chaos
So so many things I could've done
I am left wondering about the things I missed out on because of the hindrance brought about by clouds
But clouds
Clouds have taken on a negative connotation in my life
Angel dust gets in your eyes, your hair
The things that once brought me joy and allowed me to float away are no longer pure and have negative side effects
On acid stars you're getting there
The journey I was on was not a wholesome one as I was chasing artificial highs and not authentic experiences
My body's assembled into
My physical being is becoming smaller and less significant in the grand scheme of things
A little itty-bitty gift to you
What I leave behind after death is not so grand or significant, making it feel like it was a tiny present for someone else
When you die, I've looked at life that way
Death felt like a completion of life, but my perspective has now shifted
But now it's just another show
Life doesn't hold the same meaning or importance that it once did
You leave 'em laughing when you go
The life I lived now seems trivial and unimportant, making my death almost humorous in a sad way
So, so don't let them inside, don't let them know
I don't want others to know how much my perspective has changed and how insignificant life seems to me now
Don't give yourself ohh away
I don't want to reveal how much of myself I've lost to this new perspective
But now my friends are acting strange
My changed perspective has affected even those closest to me, making me feel alienated from them
They shake their heads man, they say I've changed, well
My friends notice a difference in me, but I am unable to explain what has happened
Well, something's lost, rearranged
I can feel that something has changed within me, and it has affected my entire outlook on life
From living every, every, every, I've
I used to live life to the fullest, but now I am living a life that feels empty and lacking
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I have seen clouds from both an innocent and imaginative perspective, as well as a negative and obstructive perspective
From up and down, and still somehow
Despite changing my outlook on life, I still cannot find a sense of meaning or fulfillment
I'ts just illusions I recall
The things I used to believe held meaning and value now seem like mere illusions
I really don't know, I really don't know
I am lost and confused about the direction my life is taking and what it all means
I really don't know, I really don't know
My life's purpose feels unknown and confusing
I really don't, I really don't clouds at all
The clouds I used to find such beauty and positivity in are now just another insignificant aspect in my life
Why are we here...terrified, terrified, wow
I am questioning the point of it all, feeling fearful and unsure of what lies ahead
Contributed by Lucas F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Peter Pumkinghead
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