Miniature Tigers' sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Brand’s lyrics – a mix of deeply personal insights and playful references to the disparate cultural artifacts that have informed his existence – and effortlessly constructed indie-pop arrangements have made fans in his native Phoenix and beyond. The fans stretch to Los Angeles, where Brand reconnected with drummer, collaborator and fellow charter member of the band Rick Schaier while living in Hollywood, and far beyond thanks to the Internet, which it seems people are into these days.
Miniature Tigers’ debut album "Tell it to the Volcano" runs the lyrical gamut, taking inspiration from and referencing TV’s Lost (which rates a Dharma Initiative sticker on Brand’s acoustic) as easily as it probes the joy and heartbreak of Charlie’s own life, while managing not to take itself too seriously. Brand wrote the album while on the lam – not from the law, but rather from a relationship he described as "brutal." He left Phoenix to clear his head, landing in Los Angeles and collaborating with his friend Rick to complete the long-gestating album. It was his catharsis – with cannibals and volcanoes stepping in for the real-world problems that had both beset and inspired him. In the end the album represents Charlie’s effort to codify, examine, and ultimately move past a 2-year stretch of his life.
Charlie and Rick are joined in their live incarnation by friends and collaborators Lou Kummerer on bass and Lawrence Hearn on lead guitar and keyboards, for performances that seem to give equal time to playing songs and intra-band joking. They aim for a controlled chaos aesthetic that eschews "auto-pilot" at all costs.
In an effort to further confound the expectations of those around the band, they chose to have their video directed by someone who had never helmed one before…or at least never an authorized music video. The band tapped "Yacht Rock" creator JD Ryznar to direct their video for Cannibal Queen in the hopes he would recreate the magic of his wildly popular Internet video series. Ryznar quickly assimilated the band’s aesthetic and turned in a video equal parts "Weird Science" and "Frankenstein," to the band’s delight.
Cannibal Queen
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm no longer on a quest to get girls undressed
I search through their hearts and no treasure found
I'm so lucky this one lets dogs hang around
It's good having somebody good for a change
I thought that no good dirty cheats had drove me insane
I had finally given up on love and romance
If I laid down the sword, I'm giving my innocence
Comin' for your heart like a cannibal
Oh, she lets me right in and I fed 'til I'm full
If something goes wrong, I'm accountable
Oh, a life without her is no life at all
I la la la la la la la la love you, cannibal queen
If she ever left me, I would break down and die
Like Nikki and Paolo could bury me alive
Another pretty girl I would love to admire
From a distance, but she's here, so I'll jump in the fire
Comin' for your heart like a cannibal
Oh, she lets me right in and I fed 'til I'm full
If something goes wrong, I'm accountable
Oh, a life without her is no life at all
I la la la la la la la la love you, cannibal queen
Comin' for your heart like a cannibal
Oh, she lets me right in and I fed 'til I'm full
If something goes wrong, I'm accountable
Oh, a life without her is no life at all
I la la la la la la la la love you, cannibal queen.
In "Cannibal Queen" by Miniature Tigers, the singer sings about being done with seeking out girls solely for superficial reasons. He's tired of pursuing physical pleasure and wants something more meaningful. He's tried breaking down barriers and getting to know people, but has found no treasure in their hearts until he meets this amazing girl - the cannibal queen. She's different from anyone he's ever met, and she accepts him for who he is, even his dog. He thought all girls were no good cheats who only wanted to hurt him, but she's shown him a different side of love and life.
The singer is head over heels in love with the cannibal queen, and he knows that without her, life would be unbearable. He compares his love for her to a cannibal coming for someone's heart - it's intense and all-consuming. He's grateful that she's in his life, and is willing to take responsibility for any mistakes that might happen, as he doesn't want to risk losing her. The song ends with him declaring his love, repeating the line "I la la la la la la la la love you, cannibal queen" over and over.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not a test or an SOS
I'm not playing games or seeking help
I'm no longer on a quest to get girls undressed
I'm done with trying to hookup and looking for deeper connections
I search through their hearts and no treasure found
I've tried to find love, but it hasn't been successful
I'm so lucky this one lets dogs hang around
I'm lucky to have found someone who accepts me for who I am
It's good having somebody good for a change
It's nice to finally have a good partner instead of always choosing bad ones
I thought that no good dirty cheats had drove me insane
I used to think that all potential partners were unfaithful and it made me crazy
I had finally given up on love and romance
I had lost hope in finding love and romantic relationships
If I laid down the sword, I'm giving my innocence
If I give up my pursuit of love and relationships, I'm giving up my naivete
Comin' for your heart like a cannibal
I'm pursuing your love with passion and intensity
Oh, she lets me right in and I fed 'til I'm full
She's receptive to my love and I feel satisfied by her affection
If something goes wrong, I'm accountable
If things don't work out, it's my fault and I take responsibility
Oh, a life without her is no life at all
I can't imagine my life without her and she's become essential to my happiness and wellbeing
I la la la la la la la la love you, cannibal queen
I love you so much, my passionate and intense lover
If she ever left me, I would break down and die
I can't imagine my life without her and losing her would devastate me
Like Nikki and Paolo could bury me alive
Her departure would feel like a traumatic event, comparable to a scene from the TV show Lost
Another pretty girl I would love to admire
There are other attractive women out there, but none compare to her
From a distance, but she's here, so I'll jump in the fire
If she wasn't here, I would admire her from afar, but since she's available, I'm going to risk everything for her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE BRAND, RICK SCHAIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind