Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK)… Read Full Bio ↴Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK), more popularly known under the artist name Momus (after the Greek god of mockery), is a songwriter, writer, blogger and artist. Most of his songs are self-referential or postmodern.

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.

Girlie Action
Momus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at Dawn, she's strapped on
A pair of inflatable David Cassidy knees

And another hundred bands just got off of the plane
Seeking attention, hungry for fame

My brother Benjamin he's a physician
But I was the conventional one... I'm a musician

I could have been the model I saw in the lift
If I hadn't been born with this terrible gift

Here in New York I'm just a drop in the ocean
What I need now is some incredible press promotion

Girlie Action
Satisfaction

Well Heidi does national, she crosses the zones
Felice is always wearing earphones

Vicky's got an office above Lafayette
And on a clear day you can see Tibet

Here's a cassette you'll love our sound
We're playing tonight at the Mercury Lounge in the round

Look at Dawn, she's strapped on
An extra-long Stephin Merrit nose (see how it glows)

Girlie Action
Satisfaction

And the man from the Voice doesn't want to know
Doesn't he dig thrash zydeco?

And another hundred bands just got off of the plane
Seeking attention, hungry for fame

Girlie Action, Girlie Action

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Momus's song "Girlie Action" explore the idea of celebrity culture and the pursuit of fame. The opening lines describe Dawn, who has inflated David Cassidy knees, suggesting that she has altered her appearance in order to conform to societal beauty standards and gain attention. The following lines mention other bands seeking fame and attention, highlighting the competitive nature of the music industry. The singer mentions his brother, who is a physician, but he himself has chosen to pursue music as a career. He laments the fact that he was not born with the same opportunities as other models or musicians, but rather has to work tirelessly to gain recognition.

The second half of the song introduces three women - Heidi, Felice, and Vicky - who are also presumably involved in the music industry. They are described by their unique qualities - Heidi does national, Felice always wears earphones, and Vicky has an office above Lafayette. The singer offers a cassette tape of their sound and invites the listener to their show at the Mercury Lounge. The closing lines repeat the opening lines, emphasizing the endless cycle of bands seeking fame and attention.

Overall, this song critiques the superficiality of celebrity culture and the difficulty of standing out in a highly competitive industry. The singer reflects on his own struggles and recognizes the challenges faced by others in the same pursuit.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at Dawn, she's strapped on
Observing Dawn who has equipped an inflatable accessory for her knees

A pair of inflatable David Cassidy knees
Describing the specific type of inflatable accessory that Dawn is wearing

And another hundred bands just got off of the plane
Noticing that many musical groups have arrived and landed

Seeking attention, hungry for fame
Speculating why these bands may have arrived in New York

My brother Benjamin he's a physician
Stating that the artist's sibling is a doctor

But I was the conventional one... I'm a musician
Differentiating the singer's chosen career path as an artist

I could have been the model I saw in the lift
Wondering what life could have been like as a model

If I hadn't been born with this terrible gift
Regretting innate talent for creating or performing music

Here in New York I'm just a drop in the ocean
Feeling insignificant in a bustling city of creatives and entertainers

What I need now is some incredible press promotion
Admitting that additional coverage could help distinguish the artist from others

Girlie Action
Title of song

Satisfaction
Repeated phrase that might represent the desire to feel more fulfilled or accomplished

Well Heidi does national, she crosses the zones
Offering an example of someone who can reach diverse audiences

Felice is always wearing earphones
Noticing a specific trait about someone named Felice

Vicky's got an office above Lafayette
Naming the location of Vicky's workspace

And on a clear day you can see Tibet
Making a jest that Tibet can be seen from Vicky's office on the far side of the world

Here's a cassette you'll love our sound
Offering a sample of the artist's work

We're playing tonight at the Mercury Lounge in the round
Announcing a specific venue and performance time

An extra-long Stephin Merrit nose (see how it glows)
Pointing out another specific inflatable piece that someone is wearing and giving it a colorful description

And the man from the Voice doesn't want to know
Referencing someone who may be a music critic or journalist

Doesn't he dig thrash zydeco?
Hypothetically questioning what type of music the aforementioned man might prefer

Girlie Action
Title of song

Girlie Action
Repeated phrase that could represent the struggle for recognition

Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS