Karkwa is a Canadian indie rock group from Montreal, Canada.

Formed … Read Full Bio ↴Karkwa is a Canadian indie rock group from Montreal, Canada.

Formed in 1998, the group consists of vocalist and guitarist Louis-Jean Cormier, keyboardist François Lafontaine, bass guitarist Martin Lamontagne, percussionist Julien Sagot and drummer Stéphane Bergeron.

After reaching the final stages of the Francouvertes contest in 2001, the band released its debut album, Le pensionnat des établis, in 2003. The album's single "Poisson cru" reached the top of Quebec's campus radio charts, and was named the best album of the year by two critics for Montreal's alternative weekly Voir.

The band's second album, Les tremblements s’immobilisent, won three Félix Awards in 2006. In 2007, they were featured, along with The Stills, The Besnard Lakes and Mahjor Bidet, on the bill of Quebec Scene, a concert in Ottawa sponsored by CBC Radio 3.

Their album, Le volume du vent, came out in 2008 and reached more mainstream success across Québec.

In 2010, Karkwa released their latest album Les chemins de verre, which won them the 2010 Polaris Music Prize annually held in Canada.

Karkwa is opening for Arcade Fire for the second time on September 22 2011 for a free concert in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

karkwa.com

Alaska
Karkwa Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Caler sans cesse l'essence
brûler l'air ambiant
Rouler l'herbe et l'asphalte
jusqu'au néant
Néant dans les yeux
dans nos faces de boeuf
Le moteur exalte
tous nos tourments

Les jeux de hasard
passent le temps long
Rêver aux guitares
penser aux chansons
Avoir peur que ma muse dégringole
Décembre sur mon calvaire
Qu'on m'console en me disant
que je suis pas le seul
qui a besoin de changer d'air
Pogner le 5 étoiles béni
se taper le lit de camp
Plonger dans le jacuzzi
ou dans le troublant
C'est que je suis trop souvent maudit
et bien mauvais perdant
J'assume le fait d'être gâté-pourri
Autrement
Mais j'ai peur que ma muse dégringole
j'veux descendre de mon calvaire
Qu'on m'console en me disant

que je suis pas le seul
qui a besoin de changer d'air

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Karkwa's song "Alaska" talks about the constant use of gas and burning the ambient air, while rolling over pavement and grass until nothingness appears. The repetition of "néant" or nothingness in the song, paints a bleak picture of a society that has lost its way. The next verse speaks about the impact of the constant pursuit of material pleasures on the human spirit. With "néant dans les yeux, dans nos faces de boeuf" or nothingness in our eyes, in our beef-like faces, the song seems to be pointing at the idea that consumerism has made us empty, soulless beings.

The chorus shifts the mood into a self-reflective space as the singer admits that he too, falls into the trap of consumerism and materialism. He talks about the fear of losing his muse or inspiration, and his need for change. The third verse is marked by contrasts between indulgence and the struggle to transcend petty desires. The singer wants to escape from his situation and find solace in a five-star hotel room, while also feeling the guilt of being spoiled or "gâté-pourri".

Overall, "Alaska" is a reflective commentary on the human condition and our relentless pursuit of materialism and pleasure. It suggests that perhaps, in our pursuit of these things, we have lost ourselves, our souls, and our connection with what really matters in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Caler sans cesse l'essence
Continuously burn fuel

brûler l'air ambiant
Burn the surrounding air

Rouler l'herbe et l'asphalte
Drive over the grass and asphalt

jusqu'au néant
Until nothingness

Néant dans les yeux
Nothingness in our eyes

dans nos faces de boeuf
In our stubborn faces

Le moteur exalte
The engine excites

tous nos tourments
All our troubles

Les jeux de hasard
Games of chance

passent le temps long
Pass the long time

Rêver aux guitares
Dream of guitars