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.
Oblivious
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One look in the mirror, and I know the partys over
And yeah, I want a big house with a swimming pool, oh, oh,
Fuck it, baby, I got you! (Fuck it, baby, I got you)
Im so lost in my head
Its way too real out there.
Im lost in a daydream, I dont care!
Im oblivious, yeah
The music drowns you out, I didnt care
Oh yeah, I didnt care!
I know you want a quiet house with a lemon tree
Im sorry, baby, youre stuck with me!
Im so lost in my head, its way too real out there
Im lost in a daydream, I dont care!
Im oblivious, yeah,
Im oblivious, oh,
Im oblivious, yeah,
Im oblivious, oh, oh, oh!
Your love, girl, aint no dungeon
So tell me why do I run, then?
Tomorrow you can scold me
Tonight, can you just hold me
As if you didnt know
Im oblivious, yeah
Im oblivious, oh
Im oblivious, yeah
Im oblivious, oh, oh, oh!
The song "Oblivious" by Miniature Tigers tells the story of a person who feels lost and disconnected from reality. The first verse describes the feeling of being burnt out, as if a birthday candle has been blown out. Looking in the mirror, the person realizes that the party is over and reality hits them. However, they choose to escape from reality by getting lost in a daydream and being oblivious to the world around them. They don't care about anything else because they have someone they love and they are happy with that.
The chorus repeats the theme of the person's obliviousness and describes how they are spaced out and lost in their head. They drown out the world with music and don't care about anything else. They apologize to their partner for not being able to provide everything they want, but assure them that they are happy together. The second verse expands on their partner's desires for a quiet home with a lemon tree and their own frustration with being unable to provide that.
The bridge expresses the person's confusion over their tendency to run away from love, and their willingness to be vulnerable and hope to be held by their partner. The song ends with the repeated assertion that they are oblivious, but this time the "oh" at the end sounds more like a plea for understanding or help.
Overall, "Oblivious" portrays the singer as being stuck between wanting to escape reality and needing someone to ground them in it. They are happy with their love, but also struggling with their own detachment from the world. The upbeat tempo and catchy tune contrast with the more melancholy lyrics, making the song a complex exploration of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately I feel like a blown out birthday candle
I'm feeling old and like my best days are behind me
One look in the mirror, and I know the partys over
I can see in my reflection that I'm not as young or attractive as I used to be - the good times are gone
And yeah, I want a big house with a swimming pool, oh, oh,
I have materialistic desires such as wanting a big house with a pool
Fuck it, baby, I got you! (Fuck it, baby, I got you)
But ultimately, my love for my partner is more important than any material possession
Im so lost in my head
I'm stuck in my own thoughts and worries
Its way too real out there.
I find reality too harsh and prefer to escape into my own mind
Im lost in a daydream, I dont care!
I'm happy living in my own head and ignoring reality
Im oblivious, yeah
I'm unaware of what's going on around me
Spaced out in the days I couldnt hear you
There were times when I didn't pay attention to my partner and ignored them
The music drowns you out, I didnt care
I let other distractions, like music, take priority over my relationship
Oh yeah, I didnt care!
I was apathetic and didn't put in the effort for my relationship
I know you want a quiet house with a lemon tree
My partner wants a peaceful home with simple pleasures
Im sorry, baby, youre stuck with me!
But I know I'm not perfect and may not be exactly what my partner wants, and I'm sorry for that
Your love, girl, aint no dungeon
My partner's love is not a prison that I need to escape from
So tell me why do I run, then?
So I'm confused as to why I sometimes feel the need to distance myself from my partner
Tomorrow you can scold me
I know I may have made mistakes and will be ready to accept criticism tomorrow
Tonight, can you just hold me
But tonight, I just want my partner's comfort and love
As if you didnt know
As if my partner isn't already aware of the mixed feelings I have
Im oblivious, yeah
Overall, I'm still unaware of what's going on around me and a little lost in my own world
Im oblivious, oh
Continuing on with the concept of being oblivious
Im oblivious, yeah
Still, I'm unaware of my surroundings
Im oblivious, oh, oh, oh!
And the song ends repeating the sentiment that I'm oblivious
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dernvader2023
This is their best song. I'm not one of those people who like their earlier stuff more... I'm a metalhead but I love pop shit like this... So who's here from 'Sleeping with other People'? Looks like I'm going to buy the album for this one song, because I need it LOSSLESS!!!!!!!!!!
@neilclarencebucad8433
same here man, SEPULTURA! 🤘
@marinchiestella5342
I am
@sumyoungguy101
Flashback back to 80's and 90's!!! Thanks guys, awesome music!
@hansolzy
Why aren't they more popular? Heard from the movie "Sleeping With Other People". I love me some good indie rock.
@AaronStrange
Hansol great film and amazing song
@shaym4306
first off, the movie sleeping with other people made my day and then i heard this song at the end and just got all hyped up :') sees a whole new world
@Echolyris212
my thoughts exactly.
@shaym4306
+roxy bear thanks for bringing me back to this🌼if it weren't for ur comment i wouldn't be jamming out rn🙌
@vivianmathew8281
I just love the cords in this song