“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…’”
Magnolia
Jakalope Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
never let the sun set on your grave
Fade, fade away,
never let the sun set on your grave
There comes a time when everyone must chose a side,
oh you know eventually your time will come.
If you just set it free set your mind at ease
you will find that you can open every door.
never let the sun set on your grave.
I remember the rain and thunder would wash away our pain
Your world divides you're pulling in from the tide,
everything you know put it aside.
Just let it be, it doesn't come easy,
take a chance it's in your hands it's what you need.
Honestly, I just wanna let it out,
to finally know what it's all about.
Fade, fade away,
never let the sun set on your grave
I remember the rain and thunder would wash
away our pain, but it's time to move on and face the unknown.
The lyrics of Jakalope's song Magnolia are contemplative and thought-provoking. The song urges the listener to take control of their life and not let fear hold them back. The phrase "never let the sun set on your grave" implies that the listener should not let time pass them by and waste their life with regret. The line "set your mind at ease, you will find that you can open every door" encourages the listener to let go of their fears and trust in themselves, acknowledging that they have the power to overcome any obstacle in their way.
The song also speaks to the idea of change and growth. The line "Your world divides you're pulling in from the tide, everything you know put it aside" suggests that sometimes we need to let go of what we know and embrace the unknown in order to grow and develop as individuals. The repetition of "fade, fade away" throughout the song reinforces the idea that we must let go of our fears and embrace change in order to truly live.
Line by Line Meaning
Fade, fade away, never let the sun set on your grave
Don't let your problems consume you, keep pushing forward and don't let them bury you.
There comes a time when everyone must choose a side, oh you know eventually your time will come.
At some point in life, you will have to make a decision that will define who you are and what you stand for.
If you just set it free set your mind at ease you will find that you can open every door.
Let go of your worries and anxieties and you will have a greater sense of peace and be able to achieve anything you set your mind to.
I remember the rain and thunder would wash away our pain.
Sometimes nature can be therapeutic and help us cope with the emotional pain that we experience.
Your world divides you're pulling in from the tide, everything you know put it aside.
When life becomes overwhelming, it's important to take a step back and let go of everything that is pulling you down.
Just let it be, it doesn't come easy, take a chance it's in your hands it's what you need.
Acceptance is key to finding inner peace, even if it means taking a risk and stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Honestly, I just wanna let it out, to finally know what it's all about.
Being true to yourself and expressing your thoughts and emotions is the best way to gain clarity and understanding of your own life journey.
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MzBsg999
These sounds are on that fine line of mainstream
@IMissYouSideways
This song is very soothing, almost reminds me of a hymn. And I like that the video tells a story, which I don't think is that hard to follow.
@19Tamarao
i LOVE this song!!! im goin to turn tell my friends to hear it!
@xoxjesstownxox
Another amazing song by an amazing band! I love Jakalope <3
@CiPp35
very good harmony in this song that's also very soothing to listen to. good job Jakalope!
@desertdancer01
I'm such a huge fan of Jakalope! I love both this song and video. (:
@JennyB720
amazing band! amazing song! amazing video! <3 love this band!
@missylickedyourmom
Really good song!! <3
@fuchsiagrasshopper
i love this band! just found this video on much music tonight so i thought i'd listen to their other stuff and it rocks!
@DCismyguitarhero
Really cool song and beautiful video! You should all watch it! I love it! :)