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.
FEMALE DOCTOR
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now I can't sleep. She's got a pill for that too
My life's a nightmare, yours is a masterpiece
She's got her arms around me; we've got a history
Love how you love to keep me wrapped around your finger 'til it's time to operate
And when you touch me, I go to another place
You only want to keep me under for a minute then it's back to outer space
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
She's got a magic wand; she's gonna set me free
She don't believe in god; only believes in me
She's got a memory that I could never undo
So what's your fantasy? Can I make you come true?
Oh, oh
Love how you love to keep me wrapped around your finger 'til it's time to operate
And when you touch me, I go to another place
You only want to keep me under for a minute then it's back to outer space
Where we celebrate always; you looked into my eyes, saw the strange little person I was inside
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Love how you love to keep me wrapped around your finger 'til it's time to operate
And when you touch me, I go to another place
Love how you love to keep me wrapped around your finger 'til it's time to operate
And when you touch me, I go to another place
You only want to keep me under for a minute then it's back to outer space
Where we celebrate always; you looked into my eyes, saw the strange little person I was inside
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
The lyrics of Miniature Tigers' song "Female Doctor" are open to interpretation, but they seem to describe a complicated relationship between the singer and his female doctor. The singer has a sense of dependency on their doctor, relying on her not just for physical health but for emotional comfort as well. He references having a bad dream in which she was cruel, portraying her as a source of fear but also safety. The doctor is described as having a magic wand that will set the singer free, suggesting that she has a power he can't find elsewhere. The chorus talks about how the singer loves how the doctor keeps him wrapped around her finger until it's time to "operate," indicating that she is both a controlling figure and a source of pleasure for him.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a bad dream that you were so cruel
The singer had a terrible dream where their partner was being harsh towards them.
And now I can't sleep. She's got a pill for that too
The singer is having trouble sleeping and their doctor prescribed medication to help them with that.
My life's a nightmare, yours is a masterpiece
The singer's life is a mess compared to their partner's seemingly perfect life.
She's got her arms around me; we've got a history
The artist's doctor has a comforting presence, and they have a long-standing relationship.
Love how you love to keep me wrapped around your finger 'til it's time to operate
The artist loves the way their doctor has control over them until they need to undergo a medical procedure.
And when you touch me, I go to another place
The singer finds comfort in their doctor's physical touch.
You only want to keep me under for a minute then it's back to outer space
The singer's medical procedures are brief, but they feel like they are in another world during them.
Where we celebrate always; you looked into my eyes, saw the strange little person I was inside
During their medical procedures, the artist feels like they are celebrating life with their doctor, who sees them for who they truly are.
She's got a magic wand; she's gonna set me free
The artist sees their doctor as a magical person who can cure them.
She don't believe in god; only believes in me
The artist's doctor puts their full faith in the artist and their ability to heal.
She's got a memory that I could never undo
The singer's doctor has a good memory and remembers everything about the singer's medical history.
So what's your fantasy? Can I make you come true?
The artist feels like their doctor can make anything happen and fulfill their desires.
Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
zqhyland
such an underrated band
Kwame Kilpatrick
Great song, love the opening keyboard.
Andres Perez
Keep it up guys, I'm loving the sound.
petunia h
love this song
DrRotwang
Very 80s. I approve.
olympus10001
lol this brings me back to highschool
Angelo Caravelli
Esta cancion hizo mi noche :)
Pontius888
Perfect length 4:20
giselle jimenez
Almost 30,000 views yet there's only 200 likes common on guys
Nikki Ortega
💞