Imperial Teen was formed in San Francisco in 1995 by Roddy Bottum (keyboard… Read Full Bio ↴Imperial Teen was formed in San Francisco in 1995 by Roddy Bottum (keyboard player for Faith No More), Lynn Perko, Jone Stebbins and Will Schwartz. A pop aesthetic of crunchy guitar riffs and classic boy/girl harmonies quickly developed, finding all four members switching off on instruments and taking turns behind the mic. The band had barely been playing together for six months when they landed their first record deal (London / Universal) and found themselves in the studio. The result was the amazingly fresh and joyous Seasick, which tickled the fancy of many a critic and music fan alike, with its infectious pop grooves standing out in a musical climate dripping with grunge. After several unforeseen roadblocks (label inertia, recording delays) Imperial Teen went on to release "What Is Not To Love" in 1999, and managed to garner even more praise and adoration worldwide. Their latest album "The Hair The TV The Baby & The Band" was released in 2007 by Merge Records.

Year of the Tan
Imperial Teen Lyrics

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I wanna dance

I can shake a stick at all the living (Hey, wait a minute)
Got two holes in my hands (I think I need a sec)
It's not enough to feed a nation (I just wanna sit right here)
I'm not just another fan (I don't feel so good in this dress)
I see you looking at the living (Take a minute, take a look at me)
Put it back in your pants (Tell me, tell me what you think you see)

Do you need an invitation? (Do I give off a bubble effect?)
Mr. Wagon, meet the band (Think I need another cigarette)

I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Take it easy, I don't wanna dance)

Shaking hips for a living (Maybe later I'll be feeling good)
It's the year of the tan (Maybe greater than I thought I could)
Another Jagger imitation (Something subtle gets me something sweet)
Drinking wine out of a can (Time with me isn't a two-way street)
No more waiting, time for living (Buying into the beauty myth)Make a flash in the pan (Telling everything, I'll take the fifth)It's my latest incarnation (Let it out and let me live it up)
Sweaty tickets in my hand (This isn't fun, I think I'll give it up)

I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Take it easy, I don't wanna dance)

We gotta dance (I don't wanna, don't wanna)
We gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
We gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
We gotta dance (Sit down here and watch me eat to the beat)

Dance
Dance
Dance
Dance

I gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Take it easy, I don't wanna dance)

I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, don't wanna)
I gotta dance (I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I gotta dance (Take it easy, I don't wanna dance)

We gotta dance (Maybe later I'll be feeling good)
We gotta dance (Maybe greater than I thought I could)

We gotta dance (Possibilities I can't ignore)
I gotta dance (Come on, baby, let's get on the floor)

Overall Meaning

Imperial Teen's song "Year of the Tan" is a witty commentary on celebrity and the pressures of fame. The song opens with the lines "I wanna dance, I can shake a stick at all the living" which sounds like a declaration of an individual's desire to dance, but it's actually a criticism of performative culture. The line "Shaking hips for a living, It's the year of the tan" refers to the celebrity culture, where individuals are expected to maintain a particular image for public consumption.

The lyrics "Do you need an invitation? Mr. Wagon, meet the band" mock the self-importance of celebrities and how they often act entitled to attention. The song suggests that the celebrity lifestyle can be exhausting, and they need to "let it out and live it up." However, the pressure to perform and maintain their image can also lead to burnout and frustrations, as expressed in lines like "I don't feel so good in this dress."

The chorus, "I gotta dance (Don't wanna, don't wanna)...Take it easy, I don't wanna dance" plays with the idea of being trapped in a cycle of expectations versus personal desire. The song urges individuals to find their own definition of success and happiness rather than chasing societal standards.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna dance
I have an urge to dance

I can shake a stick at all the living (Hey, wait a minute)
I have the ability to criticize others, but let me slow down and think for a second

Got two holes in my hands (I think I need a sec)
I feel vulnerable and need a moment to collect myself

It's not enough to feed a nation (I just wanna sit right here)
What I'm doing isn't necessarily important on a grand scale, I just want to relax

I'm not just another fan (I don't feel so good in this dress)
I want to be recognized as an individual, even though I may not feel comfortable in my own skin

I see you looking at the living (Take a minute, take a look at me)
You're too busy staring at others, but I want you to take a moment and notice me

Put it back in your pants (Tell me, tell me what you think you see)
Stop making assumptions based on physical appearance alone and tell me what you really think

Do you need an invitation? (Do I give off a bubble effect?)
I'm interested in you, but I'm not going to make the first move. Do I come across as too aloof?

Mr. Wagon, meet the band (Think I need another cigarette)
I'm feeling overwhelmed and need to take a break

Shaking hips for a living (Maybe later I'll be feeling good)
I'm putting myself out there and it might take some time to get comfortable

It's the year of the tan (Maybe greater than I thought I could)
I'm feeling confident and optimistic about the future

Another Jagger imitation (Something subtle gets me something sweet)
I'm trying to emulate someone I admire, but I also want to find my own unique style

Drinking wine out of a can (Time with me isn't a two-way street)
I'm not interested in deep conversations or getting to know someone on a personal level

No more waiting, time for living (Buying into the beauty myth)
I'm not going to hold back anymore and will pursue what I want, even if it goes against societal norms

Make a flash in the pan (Telling everything, I'll take the fifth)
I want to make a quick impact, but I also need to protect myself from potential consequences

It's my latest incarnation (Let it out and let me live it up)
I am embracing a new version of myself and want to live life to the fullest

Sweaty tickets in my hand (This isn't fun, I think I'll give it up)
I have lost my enthusiasm for something I was once excited about

We gotta dance (I don't wanna, don't wanna)
We should dance, but I'm hesitant

Sit down here and watch me eat to the beat
I'm going to enjoy myself in my own way, even if it doesn't involve dancing

Possibilities I can't ignore
There are opportunities in front of me that I can't pass up

Come on, baby, let's get on the floor
Let's dance together and have fun

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BIG THRILLING MUSIC
Written by: JONE STEBBINS, LYNN ELISE PERKO, RODDY CHRISTOPHER BOTTUM, WILL SCHWARTZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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