With their debut, Yerself Is Steam, the band gained an underground following, particularly in the UK. 1993's Boces was critically acclaimed for its alternative sound, and the band's next album, See You on the Other Side, begins a shift away from the extremes of sonic experimentalism towards the elaborately-orchestrated classic rock blueprint of their later work.
With their early records, Mercury Rev offered experimental, psychedelic rock, which gradually shifted to a melodic, ornate sound. Mercury Rev is often compared to The Flaming Lips, and in fact share close ties: soon after the band's formation, Donahue also joined the Flaming Lips as second guitarist and appeared on two of their albums; and since the 1990 album In a Priest Driven Ambulance, Dave Fridmann has co-produced every Flaming Lips studio album to date except 1993's Transmissions from the Satellite Heart.
Despite considerable critical acclaim, their early releases never gave Mercury Rev more than cult popularity, though they appeared on the smaller second stage at some 1993 Lollapalooza stops. Baker left after their second record, Boces (1993), citing musical and personal disputes; he later recorded an album as Shady. With his departure, the darker, more experimental and less accessible features of their music began to disappear.
The band's first post-Baker album, See You on the Other Side (1995), found them in transition, and the 1998 release of the acclaimed Deserter's Songs (which featured appearances by Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band) made Mercury Rev unexpected pop stars. In the UK, NME Magazine made Deserter's Songs their Album of the Year. Donahue's earnest, high-pitched vocals and concentration on relatively concise, melodic songs gave the band's material an entirely new feel and much increased popularity (Deserter's Songs spawned three UK top 40 singles).
All Is Dream was issued in 2001. It managed a UK top 20 single, "The Dark is Rising," which reached #16 in the UK Top 40.
Mercury Rev's much-anticipated The Secret Migration was released on January 24, 2005. This was followed up in 2006 by a compilation album called The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006 and the film soundtrack album Hello Blackbird. More recently, the band released a pair of albums on September 29, 2008: Snowflake Midnight, and a free MP3 album of instrumentals, Strange Attractor.
In 2011 the band performed Deserter's Songs in it's complete form live at several festivals in the UK.
Snowflake In A Hot World
Mercury Rev Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let them get to you
Don't let them tell you
You're all the same
Snowflake in a hot world
Light inside the dark
You lonely little spark
So fleeting and so real
Melting into something... bigger than you
Melting into someone... someone new
Snowflake in a hot world
Look around you
At all you've done
And all you've become
You're where you should be
You're where you should be
You're where you should be
Melting into something... bigger than you
Melting into someone... someone new
Snowflake in a hot world
Don't let them get to you
Don't let them tell you
You're all the same
You're not all the same
You're where you should be
You're where you should be
Nothing to hold on to
And it's a long way... down
Floating, drifting, changing... shifting
The lyrics to Mercury Rev's Snowflake In A Hot World speak to the feelings of loneliness and alienation that many people experience as they try to navigate through a world that feels hostile and unforgiving. The metaphor of a snowflake in a hot world is a powerful one, as it underscores the sense of vulnerability and fragility that many people feel in the face of forces that seem much larger and more powerful than they are.
The first verse of the song encourages listeners to resist the pressure to conform and to remain true to their unique and individual selves. The second verse speaks to the idea that while we may feel small and insignificant in comparison to the world around us, each of us has a light inside us that can help us find our way through the darkness. The final verse reaffirms this message of hope and resilience, reminding us that we are all special and unique, and that we have the power to achieve great things if we believe in ourselves and our abilities.
Overall, Snowflake In A Hot World is a powerful anthem of self-affirmation and empowerment, and a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming adversity, we can find strength and persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
Snowflake in a hot world
You are unique in this world filled with chaos and struggle.
Don't let them get to you
Don't let anyone affect your true self and change who you are.
Don't let them tell you
Don't be influenced by society's expectations and norms.
You're all the same
Don't let anyone convince you that you're ordinary and mundane.
Light inside the dark
Even in the midst of bleakness, you have a bright light that shines within.
You lonely little spark
Your individuality might make you feel alone, but it's still a spark of brilliance.
Too frozen to feel
You might be numb from the cold, but you're still unique and essential.
So fleeting and so real
Your uniqueness is fleeting, but it is still as real and important as anything else in the world.
Melting into something... bigger than you
Your individuality is melting into something greater than you, contributing to the diversity and richness of the world.
Melting into someone... someone new
Your uniqueness is transforming you into someone new, expanding your perspectives and experiences.
Look around you
Take a moment to reflect on your surroundings and appreciate what you've accomplished.
At all you've done
Acknowledge and celebrate all of your accomplishments and experiences.
And all you've become
Recognize and appreciate the person you have become and all the growth you've undergone.
You're where you should be
You are meant to be where you find yourself at this moment in time, through all your accomplishments and experiences.
You're not all the same
Embrace your individuality, recognizing that no two people are alike.
Nothing to hold on to
There is no need to cling onto conformity, embrace the fleeting nature of life and the ever-changing world.
And it's a long way... down
Life can be difficult, but you must be strong and hold onto your individuality.
Floating, drifting, changing... shifting
Your individuality is always changing and evolving, contributing to the ever-changing nature of the world.
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.