After mk Ultra broke up in 1999, Vanderslice wasted little time building a solo reputation. In 2000, he gained national media attention over his single Bill Gates Must Die after concocting an elaborate hoax in which Microsoft supposedly threatened legal action over supposed trademark violations (the disc had a similar etching to a Windows installation disc).
Subsequent albums, Time Travel is Lonely, Life and Death of an American Fourtracker, Cellar Door, Pixel Revolt and Emerald City have gained critical acclaim for their melodic quality and sophisticated narrative lyrical content. Vanderslice has spent much of the last few years on tour across North America, Europe, and Japan.
Vanderslice also founded a recording studio in 1997 called Tiny Telephone. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Tiny Telephone has carved out a niche as the last all-analog recording studio in the Bay Area, and has a policy of setting recording rates under market prices. Bands who have used Vanderslice's studio include Beulah, Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River and Spoon.
Vanderslice is a proponent of using analog instruments and recording equipment to produce a richer, more raw sound which he has sometimes called "dirty hi-fi". He has collaborated closely with Scott Solter in the production of his recent albums, with Pixel Revolt being notably shaped by Solter.
Vanderslice was a contributing producer on the Spoon album, Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats. He is strongly influenced by film and is a fan of David Lynch, whose work is referenced in his song "Promising Actress". His declared musical influences are diverse, ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to Public Enemy. He is an avid photography hobbyist. He has incorporated the poetry of William Blake and Robert Lowell into his music.
Several songs on the album Pixel Revolt referenced the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent global political situation. This is also true of Vanderslice's most recent album, Emerald City.
Romanian Names
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to teach you a craft
to make you compete
when you fell off the balance beam
you couldn't win but you jumped up again
and still wide-eyed you
still wide-eyed you
we met in the tunnel of the stadium
immediately was too fast and free
i asked you to stay with me
don't return to that satellite tomb
and still wide-eyed you
still wide-eyed you
still wide-eyed you go
The lyrics of John Vanderslice's Romanian Names paint the picture of a person who was taken away at a young age to learn a particular skill and forced to compete. The opening lines describe a childhood that was cut short as the person was taken at the age of three to learn a particular craft, which was made into a competitive effort. The imagery of the song culminates with the person falling off the balance beam but getting back up again, which metaphorically represents a life of constant struggle and perseverance.
The second half of the song takes a more romantic turn when the singer meets someone in a stadium tunnel. They are immediately drawn to each other, and the singer asks the other person to stay with them and not return to their old life. The song ends on a hopeful note as the singer describes the other person as "still wide-eyed" despite everything that has happened.
Overall, the lyrics of Romanian Names speak to the human desire to overcome adversity and find love even in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
They took you away at three
At the young age of three, you were removed from your comfort zone and placed in a structured environment.
to teach you a craft
Your new environment was designed to teach you a specific skill or trade.
to make you compete
You were taught this skill with the intention of using it to compete against others in the same field.
when you fell off the balance beam
Despite your training, you experienced failure along the way.
you couldn't win but you jumped up again
You didn't let your failure defeat you; instead, you persisted and tried again.
and still wide-eyed you
Despite the challenges you faced, you remained optimistic and hopeful.
still wide-eyed you
Your positive attitude and outlook on life remained unchanged.
still wide-eyed you go
You continue to face life with the same unwavering hope and optimism.
we met in the tunnel of the stadium
Our first meeting occurred in a relatively dark and isolated space.
immediately was too fast and free
Our relationship quickly progressed and took on a life of its own.
i asked you to stay with me
I recognized the value of our connection and wanted it to continue.
don't return to that satellite tomb
I urged you to break free from the restrictive and suffocating environment you were once a part of.
and still wide-eyed you
Throughout all these experiences, your positive outlook and hopeful spirit remained intact.
still wide-eyed you
You continued to face life with an open mind and an unwavering sense of optimism.
still wide-eyed you go
You continue to move forward with boundless energy and hope for the future.
Contributed by Carter A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.