“There’s a Michael Jackson influence,” confesses the producer/composer/musician with a gentle chuckle, about the third Jakalope album. “I made a conscious effort to look into the type of stuff I enjoy, so there’s a very heavy Jackson-factor in there, as well as a bit of a Donna Summer-thing going on.”
It’s one of the tastier ironies of Ogilvie’s catalogue that the pulsating influence of Donna Summer’s disco-synth svengali Giorgio Moroder is already felt in some of the more outré work he’s done in the past – albeit shrouded in night terrors – but it’s also no surprise.
“Moroder’s stuff was very influential in everybody’s world,” he says, “but especially for me, with Moroder being the first to do a lot of electronic stuff. I always had a very weak spot for that, and loved to be able to emulate that in any way. In the past with Jakalope I was trying to really stick to an industrial rock vein, but I’m trying to let it flow a little more with this album, and applying those influences.”
If Jakalope’s first two albums established a bubblegum meets sheet-metal blueprint for the enterprise, Things That Go Jump In The Night is a graduation into something a little more substantial, and a little less brazen in its effort to make itself heard. As Ogilvie notes, he’s letting the music “flow”, which means that Things That Go Jump In The Night has to some extent designed itself, taking Ogilvie and his cohorts to a slinkier place than Jakalope has occupied before. There’s at least one very good reason for the neon-lit and smoke-infused feel of the new material, or, as Ogilvie has it, “the lush, multi-dimensional sound.”
“These songs are really written with a lot more attention to the character of Chrystal’s voice,” he explains. “It’s a lot more mature, I think. That’s one of the things for me – the writing, performance and style has a whole new level of maturity, where before it was simple pop songs with simple vocals.”
Chrystal Leigh is Ogilvie’s newest muse, now that Katie B. has amicably moved on from her two-album collaboration with Jakalope. Ogilvie came across Leigh when he was petitioning friends and colleagues to find him the new voice. The Vancouverite aced her audition.
“I was blown away by her personality, her voice, and the fact that she’s a piano player,” recounts Ogilvie, before dishing, “I was dying to have someone to collaborate with, who actually is a musician and not just a singer.”
The results of their partnership? It’s anointed Jakalope with a Nancy-and-Lee or Serge-and-Jane vibe; adult, knowing, and altogether smoother than the boisterous dance moves of It Dreams and Born 4. Ogilvie had Leigh inaugurate the new Jakalope with a reverent cover of Julee Cruise’s “Falling”, which turned out every inch as celestial and haunting as the original. But it’s the Ogilvie/Leigh compositions that ultimately convince, be it “Magnolia” where an uplifting tempo juxtaposes the haunting lyrics, the boom box and B-movie organ laced “Cupcake”, which suggests a goth Gwen Stefani, or the gorgeous “Last Song Tonight”, which gives Ogilvie the chance to exercise his inner-John Barry with a tense string part emerging from a platter of schizoid, Aphex Twin percussive signals and rubbery bass. Throughout these tracks, Leigh establishes herself, unequivocally, as the new voice. “I’ve always been drawn towards Dave’s work and it’s nice to finally collaborate with someone I respect and inspires me. If there’s one thing Jakalope was missing was a chemistry between music and vocals and I’m excited to be that new voice.” Says Leigh. Jakalope has consequently taken an exponential leap forward, giving Ogilvie what he always wanted – an equality between its male and female principles.
“Look at my discography and there’s a lot of women I worked with,” he says. “And I always loved seeing passionate female performers, and it’s really something I think we’ve been lacking.”
“Joni Mitchell was one of my early influences,” Ogilvie continues, no doubt much to the surprise of any aging rivet-heads who grew up with Too Dark Park in constant rotation, “with just the power of what she was saying – it spoke to me very deeply. Seeing someone like Shirley Manson, from her onset to what she became, I just always loved to be able to see how someone with such a small demeanor in person can have such control of an audience. I just really, really enjoy that…”
Which brings us to Chrystal.
“The big thing I’ve always stressed,” he concludes, “is that when people see someone on stage, they want to be that person. You don’t want the person on stage to be part of the crowd, and Chrystal definitely stands out and is not part of the crowd. I’m so excited to be involved with that. She’s someone who takes the reins in her hands and is like, ‘Let me take control…’”
Light After Night
Jakalope Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I am uncomfortable
This rollercoaster of mine
My one track ride
Tell me you'll lie
With placing my alibi
I'm a poster girl
And you're the one take guy
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Satisfy
I'm hanging off of a cliff
Can't feel my insides are swift
And while I live for the fall
You're my mystery ball
Can't wait to catch that train
The one who's going your way
I'm a billboard sign
Here's the number to call
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Satisfy
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Satisfy
So
Here it goes
I don't listen
So
Here it goes
And so
Here I've gone missing
So here I go
I know which is wrong from right
I love how you make me fight
And I'll circle the light
Night after night
I know which is wrong from right
I love how you make me fight
And I'll circle the light
Night after night
I want you to
I want you to
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Satisfy
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Get me high
Dance with me
All the way
I want you to
Satisfy
The lyrics to Jakalope's song "Light After Night" seem to be about the singer being unable to resist temptation, and being uncomfortable with their own behavior. The singer is on a "rollercoaster," unable to control their own actions and seeking solace in someone who can provide an "alibi" for them. They describe themselves as a "poster girl," someone who is supposed to be perfect, and their partner as "the one take guy," someone who can make everything run smoothly.
Despite feeling uncomfortable, the singer wants to be with this person, to "get high" and "satisfy" themselves. They compare their desire to being "hanging off of a cliff," something that is scary and thrilling at the same time, and describe their partner as a "mystery ball." They also liken themselves to a billboard sign, advertising themselves to their partner.
The final lines of the song indicate that the singer is aware of their behavior, and that they know right from wrong. However, they are still drawn to their partner and are willing to "circle the light" with them night after night.
Line by Line Meaning
It's wonderful
I find comfort in discomfort.
When I am uncomfortable
I enjoy the thrill of the emotional ups and downs.
This rollercoaster of mine
My life is a constant ride of emotions.
My one track ride
I have a single focus in life.
Tell me you'll lie
Promise to keep my secret.
With placing my alibi
Provide me with a reason for my actions.
I'm a poster girl
I am a symbol for a certain lifestyle.
And you're the one take guy
You're the one capturing this moment on film.
Dance with me
Join me in this moment of euphoria.
All the way
Fully commit to this experience.
I want you to
I desire you to do this for me.
Get me high
Provide me with a rush of adrenaline.
Satisfy
Fulfill my desires.
I'm hanging off of a cliff
I'm in a precarious situation.
Can't feel my insides are swift
I feel disconnected and numb.
And while I live for the fall
I live for the exhilarating moments.
You're my mystery ball
You are my unpredictable delight.
Can't wait to catch that train
I can't wait to follow you on this journey.
The one who's going your way
The one who shares your perspective and lifestyle.
I'm a billboard sign
I'm a clear and concise message on display.
Here's the number to call
Here's how to contact me if interested.
So
Thus begins a new thought.
Here it goes
I'm about to do something.
I don't listen
I stubbornly follow my own way.
And so
Continuing with my actions.
Here I've gone missing
The effects of my choices have made me lose myself.
I know which is wrong from right
I am aware of the consequences of my actions.
I love how you make me fight
I enjoy our passionate interactions.
And I'll circle the light
I'll keep coming back to you.
Night after night
Repeatedly, without end.
I want you to
I desire you to do this for me.
Get me high
Provide me with a rush of adrenaline.
Dance with me
Join me in this moment of euphoria.
Satisfy
Fulfill my desires.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind