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.
Streetlights
John Vanderslice Lyrics
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Walked past, out past the awning, a warm night in early September
And high above the city and all of its bad blood, the lights spreading out to the
Lake shore, what is the color, a yellowish decaying orange
It's like you dropped a chandelier in honey
And turned it on
Like a minor 6th, it's sad and hopeful mixed
I climbed back in the window and rode the glass elevator down
And walked out into the wild night, the lights oh what is the color
It's like you dropped a chandelier in honey
And turned it on
Like a minor 6th, it's sad and hopeful mixed
That color near, it's amber dear and so it goes, on and on
The lyrics of John Vanderslice's "Streetlights" conjure up the image of an individual in a hotel room, standing on the 31st floor and taking in the view of a warm, September night. The character is looking out at the city, observing the streetlights and their yellow-orange color - similar to a chandelier in honey. The constant repetition of the phrase "and so it goes, on and on" hints at a sense of resignation or acceptance of the world's continuous cycle.
The use of the musical reference "minor 6th" reflects the duality of the song's tone. The minor 6th chord, often used in melancholic music, produces a sound that is both sad and hopeful, which mirrors the feeling of the lyrics themselves. The character is experiencing a moment of detachment - high above the bad blood of the city - yet, the beauty of the lights and the peaceful mood of the night provide a glimmer of optimism.
Overall, "Streetlights" is a song that captures a moment of introspection in the midst of a bustling city. The lyrics provide vivid imagery and the music expresses the complexity of the character's emotional state. It's a beautiful piece of work that lingers long after it ends.
Line by Line Meaning
I booked a room up on the 31st and climbed out, onto the window ledge
I reserved a room on the 31st floor then went outside and stood on the window's edge
Walked past, out past the awning, a warm night in early September
I passed by the shelter and walked outside on a warm September night
And high above the city and all of its bad blood, the lights spreading out to the Lake shore, what is the color, a yellowish decaying orange
From high above, the city lights shining until they reach the lake were a decaying orange, signifying the city's troubles
It's like you dropped a chandelier in honey
And turned it on
Like a minor 6th, it's sad and hopeful mixed
That color near, it's amber dear and so it goes, on and on
The color of the city lights is like a chandelier in honey, giving off a bittersweet mixture of hope and sadness
I climbed back in the window and rode the glass elevator down
And walked out into the wild night, the lights oh what is the color
I went back inside and took the glass elevator to the ground floor, then walked out into the lively night, wondering once again what color the lights were
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.