Karen O is a pseudonym of Karen Lee Orzolek (b. 22 Nov 1978 in South Korea)… Read Full Bio ↴Karen O is a pseudonym of Karen Lee Orzolek (b. 22 Nov 1978 in South Korea), lead vocalist with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Karen O and the Kids.

Her mother is Korean and father is Polish. She grew up in New Jersey, went to Dwight-Englewood high school, and attended Oberlin College, but transferred to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Orzolek has been noted for her sense of fashion. All of her costumes are designed by fashion designer and friend Christian Joy. She is also well known for her outrageous antics during live shows. She is known to often spit water or beer, or sometimes grapes into the crowd. Her on-stage antics have been compared to punk legends like Iggy Pop and Patti Smith. In 2003 at The Metro, Sydney, Australia (prior to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' appearance at the Livid festival), she accidentally danced off the stage at a sideshow and reluctantly had to be taken to hospital - a few days later she appeared at the festival in a wheelchair, pushed by Angus Andrew.

She currently lives in Los Angeles, California, in the Silver Lake neighbourhood.

Beast
Karen O Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my only
I like the male
I love the beast
He knows me

Oh be decent
Could all these songs
Seem awesome

For a reason

Try, you find
You find
You find

Oh my passing
My heart was never interested
In lasting

Oh find
You find
You find
You find

Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough

Did you hear enough
Did you hear enough

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Karen O's song "Beast" seem to be somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. One possible reading is that the singer is drawn to a primal, animalistic quality in their partner ('the male', 'the beast'), perhaps even finding it more attractive than more human qualities. The lines "Oh be decent / Could all these songs / Seem awesome / For a reason" suggest a possible tension or contradiction between what society deems "decent" or appropriate behavior in relationships, and the raw, instinctual attraction that the singer feels. The repeated refrain of "you find" may imply a sense of searching or uncertainty in the singer's quest to understand and reconcile these conflicting desires.

Another interpretation might be that the singer is rejecting conventional ideas of romance or commitment, preferring instead to live in the moment and enjoy fleeting pleasures. The lines "Oh my passing / My heart was never interested / In lasting" could be read as indicating a sense of impermanence or transience, perhaps even a fear of getting too close to someone or being hurt. The repeated "Did you hear enough" at the end of the song could be interpreted as a challenge to the listener - do they really understand what the singer is saying, or are they content to accept surface-level interpretations?

Line by Line Meaning

Oh my only
Addressing a loved one, possibly the only one in her life.

I like the male
Referring to a romantic preference for men over women.

I love the beast
Expressing a strong attraction towards men with more primal instincts and urges.

He knows me
Feeling understood and seen by men who share similar desires and inclinations.

Oh be decent
Asking for basic human respect and propriety, especially from those who might judge or condemn her desires.

Could all these songs
Wondering if others can relate to her experiences and emotions as a woman attracted to more animalistic qualities in men.

Seem awesome
Finding inspiration and meaning in music and art that expresses similar themes and feelings.

For a reason
Believing that there is a deeper purpose or significance to her unconventional desires and passions.

Try, you find
Encouraging others to explore and embrace their own hidden desires and urges.

Oh my passing
Reflecting on her own mortality and the fleeting nature of human experiences and relationships.

My heart was never interested
Admitting that she was never keen on long-lasting romantic relationships or traditional forms of love.

In lasting
Rejecting the idea of settling down or conforming to societal norms and expectations regarding love and relationships.

Did you hear enough
Repeating the same phrase multiple times, possibly to convey a sense of urgency or insistence on being heard and understood by others.