Gonzalez and Fromageau parted ways shortly after touring their second album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Gonzalez records primarily on his own, with other artists as guest musicians. The band is signed to Mute Records and found international success in 2011 with the single "Midnight City". Their most recent album Fantasy was released on 17 March 2023.
Anthony Gerard Gonzalez (born March 13, 1980) grew up in Antibes, France together with his brother Yann. His family had a great interest in football and Gonzalez had trials with AS Cannes, while his maternal grandfather is the French international Laurent Robuschi. At the age of 14 he got injured and turned to music instead after his parents bought him a guitar. Gonzalez developed his interest in music and American culture while at secondary school. Together with Fromageau he formed a post-rock outfit called My Violent Wish.
At the age of 17, Gonzalez bought a synth to record a demo, which he sent to a number of French labels. When the Paris-based Gooom Records appeared interested, he recruited Fromageau to "help me because I didn't feel like I had the shoulders to carry the project on my own". The band is named after the galaxy of the same name.
The band's musical aesthetic is characterized by extensive use of reverb effects and lyrics spoken softly over loud instruments. Gonzalez has been inspired by aspects of the American Dream and his songs have been outlined as themed around "adult-scripted teen dreams". Inspiration for the 1980s style found in much of Gonzalez’s music includes bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Pink Floyd, and Tangerine Dream. Between various electronic music properties and album artwork, M83’s style includes a mix of both contemporary pop and 1980s dream pop.
Up !
M83 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I clean my rocket
We'll go flying today
And we'll hit the pockets
Of warm and crispy air
Oh you lovely boy you smell so sweet
We ride so well
My razor wings
Up to the planets, up to the bodies of the galaxy
We fly, we feed, we suck, we bleed, we need...
[Repeat 2X]
If I clean my rocket
We'll go flying today
And we'll hit the pockets
Of warm and crispy air
Oh we flee the scene of our little crime
We feel so free
But the hounds of law they bite our heels
As we retreat
Up to the planets, up to the bodies of the galaxy
Of the galaxy we fly, we feed, we suck, we bleed, we need...
[Repeat 4X]
If I clean my rocket (clean your rocket)
And we'll hit the pockets
"Up!" by M83 is a song that can be interpreted as a metaphor for escapism. The lyrics suggest that the singer is fantasizing about leaving their troubles behind and going on an adventure. "If I clean my rocket, we'll go flying today," indicates a sense of preparation and readiness for this adventure. The pockets of warm and crispy air that they will hit could represent the pleasure that can be found in new experiences. The repeated line "we fly, we feed, we suck, we bleed, we need" encapsulates the idea that experiencing new things can be both invigorating and painful.
The singer addresses a character named "you lovely boy" in the second verse. This could be interpreted as addressing a part of themselves, perhaps their inner child or a repressed aspect of their personality. The image of loading pistols and perching upon razor wings suggests a sense of danger and recklessness, as well as a desire to feel powerful and in control. The reference to fleeing the scene of a crime and being chased by the "hounds of law" further emphasizes the theme of escapism.
Overall, "Up!" is an evocative exploration of the human desire to escape reality, and the potential joys and consequences of doing so.
Line by Line Meaning
If I clean my rocket
If I prepare myself and put in some effort
We'll go flying today
We'll be able to soar into the unknown and explore
And we'll hit the pockets
And we'll find pockets of opportunity and excitement
Of warm and crispy air
In a unique and thrilling environment
Oh you lovely boy you smell so sweet
Oh how wonderful and captivating
We ride so well
We work together in harmony
And we load our pistols as we perch upon
And we ready ourselves for potential danger
My razor wings
With my sharp and efficient wings
Up to the planets, up to the bodies of the galaxy
We ascend to explore the vast reaches of space
We fly, we feed, we suck, we bleed, we need...
We explore, we consume, we endure, we crave...
Oh we flee the scene of our little crime
Oh how we run away from our minor mistakes
We feel so free
We experience a sense of liberation
But the hounds of law they bite our heels
But the consequences of our actions are quickly catching up to us
As we retreat
As we escape from the situation
Of the galaxy we fly, we feed, we suck, we bleed, we need...
Through the vastness of space, we journey, we consume, we endure, we desire...
If I clean my rocket (clean your rocket)
If I prepare myself and put in some effort (take care of myself)
And we'll hit the pockets
And we'll find pockets of opportunity and excitement
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY GONZALEZ, MORGAN KIBBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Taylor
THIS ALBUM WILL NEVER GET OLD <3 <3
Maurice
First heard this song at the Dior spring 2010 show. Been obsessed since
Ida, I'm a woman traps inside a man's body
Lily D, Magdalena, Tanya, Heloise, Ksenia
Larissa Santos
Yes!
Vale Gae
Galliano ♥️
Nick 2000
Me too!😆 I only recently discovered it again yesterday!
Carmen Gisele
yesss ksenia was closing the show with the pink dress
Ronald Green
She has such an angelic voice. The music is mezmerizing!!1
mandaloolu X
Love this song... So pretty. Reminds me of autumn in the airy crisp mountains when all the colors burst out.
Raymundo sanchez
M83 es algo de lo mejor que e escuchado en toda mi vida.