However, Ellison met bassist Ted Ansani while both were attending Columbia Music School in Chicago in 1986, and they soon hit it off. Drummer Mike Zelenko was recruited when the duo found him through an ad in the 'Illinois Entertainer' later that year. With the Material Issue lineup set, Ellison– with Ansani and Zelenko eager to join him and ready to follow– set his sights on conquering the pop/rock world.
In 1987, Material Issue released an EP on their own Big Block Label, so named for the big block engines of the 1970s muscle cars Ellison loved) which. That label operated out of Ellison's bedroom at his parents home in Addison, Illinois. In 1988, "Sixteen Tambourines" appeared on College Music Journal's compliation and CMJ glowingly referred to Material Issue's music as a "hooky brand of high-powered psycho-pop". In 1989, their buzz grew further with the release of the single "Renee Remains The Same" which got heavy airplay around Chicago and seemed poised to be an underground rock smash.
Over the next two years, the band toured extensively across the midwest and found time to record what would become their debut album. In early 1991, Material Issue broke on to the national scene with their debut album International Pop Overthrow (IPO) which sold over 300,000 copies for Polygram Records. Ironically enough, their debut video for the single "Diane" appeared on MTV's 120 Minutes in late December 1990 which was the episode of the final appearance of Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson of The Replacements in sort of a fitting segue between the lesser-known music genres of the two decades (Material Issue and The Replacements would share the stage at Taste of Chicago in 1991 which would prove to be the swansong for The Replacements). IPO spawned nationwide radio hits "Diane" and "Valerie Loves Me" which were just as popular in Chicago as they were in places such as Phoenix, Minneapolis and Dallas. 1992 saw the follow-up to IPO with Destination Universe which featured the searing powerpop gem "What Girls Want" and Material Issue continued to tour heavily across the country in support of both albums. 1994 saw the release of Freak City Soundtrack which featured the hit "Kim The Waitress" (a cover written by Jeff Kelly of Green Pajamas). However, by the time Freak City Soundtrack was released, the momentum they had generated in the previous five years began to subside. Freak City sold less than 50,000 copies as the Seattle scene and the emergence of ska dominated both mainstream and alternative music markets. Other Chicago acts to break national following Material Issue, such as Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill and Liz Phair, had music more fitting for the times and Material Issue, feeling left behind by their label, parted ways with Polygram in early 1995.
Material Issue continued to play live, sold out shows throughout the upper midwest and were one of the headline acts in the first Edgefest (so named for The Edge alternative radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the time which sponsored the event) in the summer of 1995 in Somerset, Wisconsin. Throughout the remainder of 1995 and in to 1996, Material Issue had recorded a new set of songs which they had hoped to shop to a new label. However, Material Issue came to a tragic end when Ellison committed suicide on June 20, 1996 by suffocating himself with carbon monoxide poisoning from his scooter in his garage. No one knows for sure what compelled Ellison to end his life, but two circumstances that seem to be the catalysts were the end of a relationship with a woman on his birthday on April 18, 1996 and the loss of his band's record deal from the previous year. A suicide note was found by police, but the contents of that note remain known only to Ellison's family. The recordings from the work done in 1995 and 1996 would be released posthumously on Telecommando Americano in 1997 by Rykodisc. Telecommando Americano would be the final Material Issue release, but also included the 6-song EP released back in 1987 as a bonus.
Li'l Christine
Material Issue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a leaf I fell from your tree again
But if I look real hard I can see again
That you'll never say you're sorry
I talked to [Incomprehensible] on your birthday
He says you got a million lovers
And you said you really don't need another
Well maybe, I shouldn't have sent you flowers
I should've waited a couple of hours
But, hey, it was your birthday
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
And from across the yard if I'll move the trees
And I'll kick away the stars
And I stay out all night and I try a real hard
Maybe I'll find my way to your mind
I talked to your very best friend
She tells me you're just a limping
And then I'll write this down if I only had a pen
And I'll skip the lonely path
Well maybe, I shouldn't have sent you flowers
I should've waited a couple of hours
But hey, it was your birthday
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
Well maybe, I shouldn't have sent you flowers
I should've waited a couple of hours
But hey, it was your birthday
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
The song "Li'l Christine" by Material Issue is a rock ballad about unrequited love and a failed relationship. The song begins with the singer confessing his feelings to the titular character, who seems indifferent and unapologetic about their past. Despite this, the singer tries to win her back, even going so far as to send her flowers on her birthday. However, he realizes that he may have made a mistake and should have waited, as it only reinforces her rejection of him.
The rest of the lyrics are an introspective reflection on the singer's attempts to win back Christine. He talks to a friend of hers who tells him that she is seeing other people and doesn't have any interest in getting back together. Despite this, the singer still tries to win Christine back, even resorting to desperate tactics like staying out all night to show his dedication.
Overall, the song is a sad and relatable portrayal of unrequited love and the pain of a failed relationship. It captures the feeling of wanting someone who doesn't want you back and the struggle to move on from that person.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, well, it's me again
I am speaking to you once more, as I have done in the past.
Like a leaf I fell from your tree again
I feel detached from you and our relationship, much like a leaf falling off a tree.
But if I look real hard I can see again
By focusing intently, I am able to regain some perspective on our situation.
That you'll never say you're sorry
I have come to accept that you will never apologize for the pain you have caused me.
I talked to [Incomprehensible] on your birthday
On the day of your birth, I conversed with someone whose name is not clear.
He says you got a million lovers
According to this person, you have many romantic partners.
And you said you really don't need another
You have told this person that you do not desire any additional relationships to complicate your emotions.
To complicate your heart
Adding more romantic entanglements would make things too complicated and difficult for you emotionally.
Well maybe, I shouldn't have sent you flowers
It is possible that sending you flowers was not the best choice.
I should've waited a couple of hours
Perhaps I should have waited slightly longer before taking action.
But, hey, it was your birthday
However, I thought it was appropriate to acknowledge your birthday in some way.
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
This is a repeated reference to you, Christine, as a kind of nickname or term of endearment.
And from across the yard if I'll move the trees
In my mind, I imagine myself moving trees in order to get a better view from far away.
And I'll kick away the stars
Metaphorically speaking, I will try to remove obstacles and challenges that stand between us.
And I stay out all night and I try a real hard
I will put forth great effort, even sacrificing sleep and time, to bridge the gap between us.
Maybe I'll find my way to your mind
If I work hard enough, I believe I can better understand your thoughts and feelings.
I talked to your very best friend
I reached out to your closest confidante and ally.
She tells me you're just a limping
This person informed me that you are struggling and in pain.
And then I'll write this down if I only had a pen
I would like to remember what I have learned and make note of it, if only I had a writing tool.
And I'll skip the lonely path
I will avoid feeling isolated and alone, despite the challenges I face.
Li'l Christine, li'l Christine
This is repeated again, perhaps as a reminder of my fondness or longing for you, Christine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM ELLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind