Indovina and Human Drama began their career in New Orleans in the early 80s as The Models, releasing two singles along with compilation appearances. A mid-'80s move to Los Angeles and the discovery of an already existing Australian band also named The Models set the stage for Indovina and company to begin their new incarnation.
The newly renamed Human Drama became a member of the "Scream scene" of the mid-'80s, which sprang up around the short-lived Los Angeles underground goth/metal club that brought Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to the world. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness", to the 1987 Scream Compilation LP, which led to a major label deal with RCA.
1989 saw the release of the debut Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death EP and the full length Feel LP. Both releases featured a electric guitar-oriented approach. Indovina felt that RCA wasn't properly promoting the band, and the band and label parted ways.
Moving to the independent Triple X label, the next Human Drama release was 1992's The World Inside. Stylistically different from the first two releases, Indovina moved Human Drama into a quieter, more strings-based sound. This album is widely regarded as Indovina and Human Drama's most important work. The LP earned the band critical raves and a near fanatical following, especially in Mexico. A solo performance of various cover songs by Indovina at the album's release party predicted the next Human Drama album. Released in 1993, PinUps was an open tribute to David Bowie's album of the same name, a collection of remakes of various sources of inspiration.
A move to New York city accompanied a temporary co-release stint on the Projekt label, resulting in two additional mid-decade releases, 1994's Human Drama EP and 1995's Songs of Betrayal, which was later re-released as two separate discs with additional tracks.
The next Human Drama release would be a live album. 1997's Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four Days Later, featuring many of the early Feel-era songs, along with some new cover song choices.
1999 brought Solemn Sun Setting, which saw a merging of the two "different" Human Drama styles, before the following year's career overview, Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World.
The final Human Drama album, 2002's Cause and Effect, continuing themes from Solemn Sun Setting, was an unexpected goodbye from Indovina and company, for both the band and their fans.
In 2004, Human Drama recorded their final track, the Beatles "Let It Be", which was given to fans who attended the band's farewell performance in Los Angeles. When asked why he chose "Let It Be" as their final recording Indovina answered, "I strived my entire career to write a song as good as that, but since I couldn't, I decided to record it as a salute to, what is in my opinion, the best song ever written".
Indovina has since moved on with his next project, Sound of the Blue Heart.
About Michelle
Human Drama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She yearns for simplicity
She works so hard only to hide
Only to hide behind her camouflage
For the curious she has no time
She'd rather stay inside
But once I caught a glimpse of her
Through a crystal, blue eyes saw
The hope that comes from dreams
Where we all know about Michelle
There are no pearls in her life
Only cheap imitations that
She sometimes allows herself to see as real
And for a moment or two there's a mother's love
And religion she never found
And the one who could replace both mother and God here on Earth
CHORUS
Michelle, would you notice if the walls would fall?
For lack of love, do you hate?
Do you notice as I try to chip away
CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS
The lyrics of "About Michelle" by Human Drama is a poignant and introspective ballad that laments the struggles of a woman named Michelle. The song talks about how complicated her thoughts are and how she yearns for simplicity, but instead, she works hard to hide behind her camouflage. Michelle avoids curious eyes and prefers to stay inside her shell. The lyrics suggest that Michelle's life is devoid of the finer things, and she only sometimes allows herself to see cheap imitations as real. However, the song also acknowledges that Michelle found love and care in the form of a mother figure and a replacement of a religious authority on earth. The song invites Michelle to notice and embrace the hope and dreams that she tucks away and find inspiration in them.
The lyrics convey the emotional complexity and turmoil experienced by Michelle, and the singer invites her to question her choices and notice the love and care that she deserves. The repeated chorus, "Where we all know about Michelle," prompts the listeners to put themselves in Michelle's shoes and reflect on their own struggles and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Shaken by complicated thoughts
Michelle is often disturbed by complex ideas and concepts, which cause her to feel uneasy.
She yearns for simplicity
Michelle longs for a life that is uncomplicated and straightforward.
She works so hard only to hide
Michelle puts in a lot of effort but does not seek attention or accolades for it.
Only to hide behind her camouflage
Michelle wears a mask to conceal her true self from others.
For the curious she has no time
Michelle does not care about others' opinions or concerns about herself.
She'd rather stay inside
Michelle prefers to stay indoors and avoid socializing.
But once I caught a glimpse of her
Despite Michelle's guarded nature, the singer manages to see through her facade.
Through a crystal, blue eyes saw
The artist saw Michelle's true intentions and hopes through her sparkling blue eyes.
The hope that comes from dreams
Michelle holds onto her aspirations and ambitions for a more fulfilling life.
Where we all know about Michelle
Despite her isolation, Michelle is a memorable and significant person.
There are no pearls in her life
Michelle does not have anything valuable or precious in her life.
Only cheap imitations that
However, she sometimes sees the small joys in life as valuable, even if they are not quite the real thing.
She sometimes allows herself to see as real
Michelle convinces herself that insignificant things are significant in order to find meaning in her life.
And for a moment or two there's a mother's love
Michelle briefly feels the love and care of a mother, even though she has never experienced it herself.
And religion she never found
Michelle has not found spiritual fulfillment in the traditional sense.
And the one who could replace both mother and God here on Earth
The artist suggests that they could be a source of comfort and guidance for Michelle in the absence of both a motherly figure and religion.
Michelle, would you notice if the walls would fall?
The artist wonders if Michelle would even care if her personal walls were to come down.
For lack of love, do you hate?
The singer ponders whether Michelle's lack of love in her life has caused her to feel hate or resentment towards others.
Do you notice as I try to chip away
The singer is trying to break down Michelle's walls and connect with her, but wonders if she is aware of their efforts.
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.