The song lyrics come direct from the heart. They are often poetic, reflective and brutally honest, as seen in the lyrics of Bob Dylan and PJ Harvey. Juju's vocals can range from aggressive and powerful, similar to Deborah Anne Dyer (aka Skin of Skunk Anansie), as well as Patti Smith. She is also very comfortable with her bluesy Janis Joplin voice. On other tracks Juju's voice haunts and memorises, like Beth Orton with Sinéad O'Connor's conviction.
Original drummer Neil Greenaway left the band in 2011, and the live line-up now includes Elisa Zoot from Black Casino and the Ghost (vocals / percussion) and Mike Monaghan (drums / percussion).
Unlike many musicians, Juju spent all her childhood without listening to, or playing music. Throughout her youth and teenage years she dedicated herself to sport. As an athlete, she competed in many sporting events around the world, playing basketball at National League Level (Oxford Devils) and sporting a stint in the England U16s. She also trained with the Oxford United Football team, came first in many National and County Judo Competitions, competed in a number of County Cross Country Competitions and Bi-athlons (running and swimming).
It was only in her final years at school that she started to discover and explore music and writing.
"I used to find the intensity of music was something deeper than I could handle. But there was a part of me that was very attracted to that intensity and I realised that I could express myself with it. So eventually, I borrowed an old guitar, got a chord book and wrote a song."
Song had up until then been sleeping in her veins as both her French mother and grandfather were accomplished writers. But from then on, she endlessly wrote songs and busked them around Europe.
Juju has now overcome many hurdles for her trade: the likes of depression, drugs, and a career threatening throat condition. Two years without a voice, half a year with a chopped finger after cutting it on a luthier apprenticeship, are experiences that have made her music a result of her survival.
The name Little Fish is the result of Juju's daydream: "Feel free, I wake up in a head spin. I am me. I am just a Little Fish. I see what I see."
Little Fish often collaborate with Albanian artist and designer Bekim Mala (www.myspace.com/squarepictures) on their artwork and set design. There is no end to this creative and imaginative journey as only the Little Fish hold the eyes to the see.
Sites: Discogs, YouTube and LittleFishMusic.com (official)
Whiplash
Little Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is sleeping
And the people
They are waking
I'm fine with that
Said "I'm fine with that"
Protect me from the people
I'm so lonely
I'm fine with that
Said "I'm fine with that"
Life is naked without you
My life is naked without you
You give me whiplash
I got whiplash
You give me heart attack
I got kickback
You give me whiplash
I got whiplash
You give me kickback
And I love it when
You paint your eyes black
Est-ce-que j't'ai dit que j't'aime?
Skinny fingers
Make me nervous
Call me over
And break faith
I'm fine with that
Said "I'm fine with that"
The floor
You will find me
All my pleasures
They serve me pain
I'm fine with that
Said "I'm fine with that"
Life is naked without you
My life is naked without you
You give me whiplash…
Little Fish's song Whiplash is a mysterious and intriguing piece that depicts some of the paradoxes in human relationships. The opening lines of the song lend to the overall eeriness of the piece, as the night is asleep, and the people are waking. The singer is "fine with that," indicating a certain level of detachment or dispassion. The singer then goes on to request protection from the people, whom they describe as strangers and a source of loneliness. It's almost as though the singer wants to be left alone, except for the presence of one person, to whom they address the rest of the song.
The refrain of the song centers around the idea of the singer's lover "giving them whiplash" and causing a "heart attack," but also delivering a "kickback" that they love. This suggests a tumultuous and even possibly dangerous dynamic between the singer and their lover, but one that they are drawn to nonetheless. The lines "my life is naked without you" reiterates the idea that the lover is central to the singer's life, even if the relationship is painful.
The song also touches on themes of trust, or the lack thereof, as the singer describes how "skinny fingers" make them nervous, and how their "pleasures" serve them "pain." All in all, Whiplash is a complex and thoughtful examination of the contradictions that drive human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
The night
It is nighttime
Is sleeping
The world is quiet and still
And the people
Everyone else
They are waking
They are starting to be active
I'm fine with that
It doesn't bother me
Said "I'm fine with that"
I stated that I am okay with it
Protect me from the people
I need to be shielded from others
They are strangers
I do not know them well
I'm so lonely
I feel isolated
Life is naked without you
My existence is incomplete without your presence
My life is naked without you
I need you to feel whole
You give me whiplash
Your actions surprise me
I got whiplash
I am taken aback
You give me heart attack
You excite me
I got kickback
I feel a positive reaction
You give me kickback
Your behavior makes me feel good
And I love it when
It pleases me greatly when
You paint your eyes black
You wear dark eye makeup
Est-ce-que j't'ai dit que j't'aime?
Have I told you that I love you?
Skinny fingers
Thin hands
Make me nervous
They make me anxious
Call me over
Ask me to come closer
And break faith
And betray my trust
The floor
I will be lying down
You will find me
I will be there
All my pleasures
Everything that brings me joy
They serve me pain
They end up hurting me
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Parvenu Ghost
Saw them live 2010 and its an experience that cant be compared, they had such energy and conviction i will never forget it
Nayzapela
Awesome!!! Love it!
Karen Gom
Great song!!
antony sargerson
i first seen her perform this in glastonbury in the banyan tree cafe. she was fucking amazin that tent has stuck in my memory
joel sandoval
I would love to be in that band =)
Blue Lopez
this band rocks that girl was so fuckin lucky she got signed on by linda perry shes a fuckin legend
karayv
Great video! Thank you!!
Ela Baysak
LOVE
Richard Elkington
this is more like it...gritty, edgy, a little dark too, Dahli would have been proud of it
Jacek Ha
super