For more than twenty years he has been releasing, to only marginal commercial and critical success, playful and transgressive albums on labels in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In his lyrics and his other writing he makes seemingly random use of decontextualized pieces of continental (mostly French) philosophy, and has built up a personal world he says is "dominated by values like diversity, orientalism, and a respect for otherness." He is also known in certain circles outside the U.S. as a producer. He is fascinated by identity, Japan, the avant-garde, time travel and sex. Live Momus shows are rare but when he does perform he often sings the crowd favourite 'maf' from the Stars Forever LP.
He wears a patch over his right eye because he lost the use of it after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis from a contact lens case washed with Greek tap water.
Nick Currie currently resides in Osaka, Japan.
Adoration
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They cherish life in a special way
Just as you do and others they
Look up to someone in a special way
I knew a girl who would pray all day
Now she would kneel while he would say
Why adore something that you can't see
In the end they thought they found
A special idol to adore
Then they lost the cheaper kind
Just to watch him more and more
One of these days we'll build a home
There'll be a room we can be alone
And in a year maybe there will be
A higher life for you and me
Everyone is searching for
A brand new idol to adore
And in the time it takes to win
Adoration comes within
Seethe and turn a dozen times
Feel it just ends up in sighing
Patience is the highest virtue
Winning here is what we all do
Seethe and turn a dozen times...
The song Adoration by Momus is a wistful commentary on the human tendency to seek out and worship something or someone greater than ourselves. The first stanza introduces this idea, with the singer acknowledging that some individuals claim to hold life in a special regard because they look up to someone or something that embodies its worth. This theme is further developed through the second stanza which details the story of a girl who would dedicate herself to prayer, choosing to look up to a deity beyond the physical realm while being called back to earth by an unnamed male figure. The cost of falling too deeply in adoration is somberly conveyed in the third stanza, as the loss of "the cheaper kind" (potentially referring to a more affordable or less elevated idol of worship) resulted in a more obsessive fixation on the remaining object of worship.
The chorus, "Everyone is searching for a brand new idol to adore, and in the time it takes to win adoration comes within," drives home the message that idolisation is a human characteristic that persists despite the endless cycle of hoping for new idols to worship. The bridge further highlights the frustrations of this cycle, as hopelessly seething and turning leads only to regressive sighing, and patience is the only choice when success is measured by attaining adoration. The song encourages a more empathetic approach to our own and others' struggles with finding worth and meaning, acknowledging life's circular nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Seethe and turn a dozen times...
Expressing frustration and restlessness when trying to find a new idol to worship, only to end up feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.
Feel it just ends up in sighing...
Despite the search for a new idol, it often leads to a sense of dissatisfaction and disappointment.
Patience is the highest virtue...
Implying that having patience is key when searching for something worthwhile to idolize in life.
Winning here is what we all do.
Humans often strive for success and idolize those who achieve it, hoping to emulate their behavior and success in the hopes of finding their own sense of fulfillment.
There are people who always say
They cherish life in a special way
Just as you do and others they
Look up to someone in a special way
People often claim to hold life in high regard and find someone to admire or idolize, much like the artist and others.
I knew a girl who would pray all day
Now she would kneel while he would say
Why adore something that you can't see
Stay down here and talk to me
The singer references a girl who would pray often, to which someone responded by questioning the point in worshiping something invisible when one can stay grounded and talk to those around them.
In the end they thought they found
A special idol to adore
Then they lost the cheaper kind
Just to watch him more and more
Humans often search for something to idolize, but may end up losing sight of other aspects of their lives in order to focus solely on their newfound idol.
One of these days we'll build a home
There'll be a room we can be alone
And in a year maybe there will be
A higher life for you and me
The artist imagines a future where they can build a life together, with a space where they can be alone, and the possibility of achieving a more fulfilling life.
Everyone is searching for
A brand new idol to adore
And in the time it takes to win
Adoration comes within
Humans are always searching for something to idolize, and may become consumed by the pursuit of success and admiration, leading them to find adoration within themselves.
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cmarl88
I've listened to this cover a million times and I still love it. By the way have you seen the videos on youtube of Foucault's analysis of The Trial? It also compares Orwell's misinterpretation with David Hugh Jones' take.
Schizopantheist
This is wonderful
Jeff Bandy
@momasu Your cutely oblique reference to the movie sent me right to it, by the way. That, and the name of the band you so wonderfully covered. Duh.
dylanthomas00
recuerden que el procedimiento es infinito, y la sentencia condenatoria no se pronuncia de una sola vez, comprendan que es imposible comprender las ordenes de la direccion, ACCEDER A DIOS ES IMPOSIBLE, ES UNA TAREA INFINITA. MUERA MOMUS por cerrarnos las puertas, aguanten BOWIE y ANTHONY... GENIOS
Jeff Bandy
What movies are these? Great cover,
alertonoff 4
they dubbed him "the english mossissey" gawd blessum
djugel
reminds me of Hang Low.
Maximum Joy
nice
Jeff Bandy
@momasu Looks like it's time for an Anthony Perkins imdb search. Love you anyway Nick.
Rui Carvalho
like