Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded in 2005 by The Unicorns co-founder/songwriter Nick Thorburn (often performing as "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This debut picks up where The Unicorns left off and takes the music to new heights without departing from The Unicorns' unique if sometimes peculiar appeal.
Islands plays beautiful pop melodies, intertwined with elements of afro-pop, hip hop, and indie rock, among others. One of the main gimmicks of the band is the recorder brought over from The Unicorns, which is prominently featured in the song "Jogging Gorgeous Summer." Nick Diamonds rules over the band with an iron fist. Other members include: Patrice Agbokou, Aaron Harris, Alex Chow, Sebastian Chow, and Patrick Gregoire. Return To the Sea, their rookie effort, was released on April 4th, 2006 on the brand new label, Equator Records, and Rough Trade in the UK. Digital Distribution handled by Alpha Pup.
On May 20, 2008, Islands released its second album, Arm's Way, on Anti- Records.
On September 22, 2009 Islands released their third full length album, Vapours.
On February 14, 2012 Islands released their fourth full length album, A Sleep & A Forgetting.
On September 17, 2013 Islands released their fifth full length album, Ski Mask
On May 13, 2016 Islands released their sixth and seventh full length albums, Should I Remain Here, At Sea? and Taste.
If
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
장난이 아냐 Shawty I don't wanna play no games
(No more) 돈이 넘쳐도 널 대신할 순 없기에
거짓말이라도 말을 해줘 날 위해
Tell me that you love me even if it's fake
장난이 아냐 Shawty I don't wanna play no games
돈이 넘쳐도 널 대신할 순 없기에
거짓말이라도 말을 해줘 날 위해 (yeah)
Thinking 'bout you up all night
Up all night, yeah
더는 같이 있고 싶지 않다고 말해도
내일 다시 만날 땐 괜찮다고 말해줘 oh
아무래도 I cannot leave, I cannot leave you
(Tell me that you love me, baby)
Tell me that you love me even if it's fake
장난이 아냐 Shawty I don't wanna play no games
(No more) 돈이 넘쳐도 널 대신할 순 없기에
거짓말이라도 말을 해줘 날 위해 (yeah)
Tell me that you love me even if it's fake
장난이 아냐 Shawty I don't wanna play no games
돈이 넘쳐도 널 대신할 순 없기에
거짓말이라도 말을 해줘 날 위해
The song "If" by Islands is a contemplative and thought-provoking piece that explores the theme of cause and effect. The song comprises a series of "If... then" statements that showcase a chain reaction of events that occur as a result of one action. The opening lines, "If the clothes make the man then the moths make the holes, and it shows, yes it shows, by the shape the hole grows," serve as a metaphorical representation of how our actions have consequences, and over time, they reveal our true nature.
The second verse delves into a more controversial topic – evolution. The lyrics, "If early man really did mate with Neanderthal then, modern man is a mix of beastial sex," suggest that the genetic makeup of modern man is a product of interbreeding with the now-extinct species. The lyrics leave one contemplating how much of our evolutionary history is still pulsing in our veins and how much we know about our past.
The repetition of the lines, "If you ain't sweet to me, I'll desert you in a heartbeat. If you don't savor me, I'll salt you make you savory" highlights how people's actions and behavior towards others can determine the outcome of any situation. The metaphor used in the lyrics implies that life can be bitter or sweet depending upon how one treats others.
Overall, Islands' song "If" is a powerful commentary on the intricacies of life and the effects of our actions on the world around us. It is a song about cause and effect, evolution, and the importance of treating others with respect and kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
If the clothes make the man
If a person's attire defines them
then the moths make the holes
Then the insects responsible for destroying clothes are responsible
And it shows, yes it shows
It is evident and apparent
By the shape the hole grows
By the specific form of the damage caused
If early man really did mate with Neanderthal then
If there was interbreeding between early humans and Neanderthals
Modern man is a mix of beastial sex
Modern humans have a mix of genes from different human species
If you ain't sweet to me, I'll desert you in a heartbeat
If you aren't kind to me, I will leave you instantly
If you don't savor me, I'll salt you make you savory
If you don't appreciate me, I will make you regret it
If the boy keeps hitting his head against the dash of the car
If the young male keeps banging his head on the dashboard of the vehicle
Will the horsefly leave his ear? Will the blood make it hard?
Will the insect that feeds on blood leave him alone? Will he suffer brain damage?
If sequencing genes brings them back to breed
If the process of analyzing DNA brings extinct species back to life
Mm, mm, mm, mm
N/A
Mm, mm, ah, ah, ah
N/A
Will we get along with them this time?
Will we be able to interact peacefully with these resurrected species?
When the sky finally falls, if you're holding me
When the end of the world comes, if you're with me
I can die finally knowing it ends peacefully?
Will I be able to pass away with the knowledge that everything is ending calmly?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jin Young Yoon, Sung Won Jung, Geum Jae Yun, Se Hyeon Hwang, Seong Hun Choi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind