With the European marketplace going crazy for his blend of dramatic synth-rock, darkness-infused pop, and intricately-constructed indie dance, IAMX, originally from the Middlesbrough, United Kingdom but currently based in Los Angeles, has been headlining festivals in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine etc. and sharing the stage with Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, and The Cardigans among others.
Like an 80s electro glam soundtrack to a Jan Švankmajer film or an almost unfathomable hybrid between the sexy swagger of Prince and the cool and collected respectability of Roxy Music, IAMX mixes Chris’ erotically-charged vocals with music that is, at once, frantic yet controlled.
With such strikingly cinematic songs as the waltzy drama of "President" to the percussive sexual predatory dirtiness of "The Negative Sex" to the indelibly infectious synthpop of the sweeping "Spit It Out", The Alternative is exactly just that - the alternative to the cookie-cutter music scene that dominates the airwaves. Considering the rabid reception he receives from his performances, it seems it's time for the masses to grasp The Alternative.
The beginning of 2011 have witnessed the newest IAMX effort, Volatile Times. The sound quality being on par with virtually no fillers, the album draws on cabaret style (Bernadette is an example), another highlights include a fragile and haunting hymn of I Salute You, Christopher, wooshing and energetically charged Into the Asylum with probably the most outspoken hysteria feel ever seen on Corner's songs, as well a sonic masterpiece Commanded by Voices with its waving and rippling yet mellow intro chords..
The first single from Volatile Times, Ghosts of Utopia, was released in Feb. 2011 and the video premiered in a short span of time. What would be the next Corners' artistic step is remaining to be seen.
An I For An I
IAMX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the white light.
Double bluff and figure:
An Eye for an Eye.
We go into the TV,
To the motherland smile,
Apocalypse and rapture psyche in:
If you're not with us you're a ghost.
An Eye for an Eye.
We owe it to disaster.
To the black fire.
The anger and enclosure of desire.
An Eye for an Eye.
We owe it to the sex toys,
To the icons of our time,
Humility and torture in decline:
An Eye for an Eye.
If you're not with us you're a ghost.
An Eye for an Eye.
If you're not with us you're a ghost.
Eye for an Eye.
Eye for an Eye.
We owe it to the TV,
To disaster,
To the motherland smile,
To the willing souls,
To the willing souls,
To the willing souls!
The lyrics of "An I For An I" by IAMX are a powerful commentary on society's growing sense of vengeance and desire for retribution. The opening lines "We owe it to the willing souls, to the white lie, the double bluff and fever" suggest that we are indebted to those who are willing to deceive and manipulate others to get what they want. The repetition of "an I for an I" echoes the biblical phrase "an eye for an eye", which suggests a cycle of violence where revenge is necessary to achieve justice.
The song goes on to describe a world in chaos, where disaster, anger, and enclosures of desire reign. The lines "We owe it to the sex toys, to the icons of our time, humility and touch is in decline" suggest a world growing more and more obsessed with superficiality and material possessions. The reference to "the motherland smile" and "apocalypse and rapture signing in" further emphasizes a world in turmoil, where people cling to nationalistic ideologies and religious beliefs in the face of tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
We owe it to the willing souls
We have a duty to those who are eager to be a part of something, even if that something is sinister or immoral.
To the white lie
We owe it to deceitful statements that are meant to be beneficial or harmless, but ultimately conceal or misrepresent the truth.
The double bluff and fever
We have a responsibility to tactics that involve tricking or deceiving others into believing something false, and to the intense emotions that come with this type of behavior.
An I for an I
Retaliation or revenge is necessary and justified for any perceived wrongdoing.
We owe it to the TV
We owe it to the influence of mass media and the ways in which it shapes our attitudes and beliefs.
To the motherland smile
We owe it to the patriotic facade that nations put on, pretending that everything is fine and dandy even in dire circumstances.
Apocalypse and rapture signing in
We owe it to the ideas of the end of the world or apocalyptic events that are often romanticized and sensationalized in media and popular culture.
If you're not with us you're against
There is no middle ground, only an expectation of complete loyalty and agreement.
We owe it to disaster
We have a duty to times of turmoil and chaos, and the fear and uncertainty that comes from it.
To the black fire T
We owe it to the symbol of destruction and darkness, often associated with negative or 'evil' forces.
The anger and enclosure of desire
We owe it to violent emotions and the suppression of one's natural impulses or yearnings.
We owe it to the sex toys
We have a responsibility to the commodification of sexuality and the use of sex as a means of power or control.
To the icons of our time
We owe it to contemporary figures who inspire adoration or worship, often without critical examination of their actions or beliefs.
Humility an touch is in decline
We are losing the ability to be compassionate and empathetic towards others, instead becoming more self-involved and lacking in humility.
An I for an I
Retaliation or revenge is necessary and justified for any perceived wrongdoing.
If you're not with us you're against.
There is no middle ground, only an expectation of complete loyalty and agreement.
An Eye for an Eye.
Retaliation or revenge is necessary and justified for any perceived wrongdoing.
Eye for an Eye.
Retaliation or revenge is necessary and justified for any perceived wrongdoing.
We owe it to the TV,
We owe it to the influence of mass media and the ways in which it shapes our attitudes and beliefs.
To disaster,
We have a duty to times of turmoil and chaos, and the fear and uncertainty that comes from it.
To the motherland smile,
We owe it to the patriotic facade that nations put on, pretending that everything is fine and dandy even in dire circumstances.
To the willing souls,
We have a duty to those who are eager to be a part of something, even if that something is sinister or immoral.
To the willing souls,
We have a duty to those who are eager to be a part of something, even if that something is sinister or immoral.
To the willing souls!
We have a duty to those who are eager to be a part of something, even if that something is sinister or immoral.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CORNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anag775
Such a great song
@vickywilliams3648
love the guitar and the ending
@vengion1379
Just perfect
@BIZANTIM
I love all the songs from all albums) I started listen when I was 14 y.o., now I'm 24)) Love from Russia
@stellamoreno2215
Oh my god samee. I remember when this album came out in 2009 when I was 14 and it was my favorite album for years. Cheers from the Balkans 😃
@tenno1981
@@stellamoreno2215 Hi Stella. She wasn't talking to you Iamxafraidx. Bunch of pretentious jerks and their idol. Mine too XD I go to the concert in PRague! <3
@anag775
Saaaame
@user-oo3uc3lo7u
Thank you for your music, it's fantastic ❤
@user-ds4kx2fj3b
🖤🖤🖤
@cagriulu2278
I searched for this song of live version but I couldn't find it. If someone knows please let me know. Thanks and respect.