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.
Lolitapop Dollhouse
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the Velvet Underground
Tell me I'm allowed to hammer on a drumkit
Crazy for the love of sound
I'm gonna tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
In a babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
And bad girls see exactly who they want to see
Bad girls are allowed because they're just too proud
To care what people say, they do it anyway
I'm gonna tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
In a babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
I'm sick of being Alice in Wonderland
Sick of living in Victorian England
I'm sick of being a porcelain girl in a porcelain world
Is that all you ever wanted me to be?
If you want me I'll be shooting with the junkies
If you want me I'll be swinging with the monkeys
If you really love me smash the walls around me
If you really want me take me how you found me
Tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
In a babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
Tell me I'm allowed to be
(Baby you're allowed to be)
Tell me I'm allowed to see
(Baby you're allowed to see)
Tell me I'm allowed to touch the world around me
(Baby you're allowed to touch the world around you)
Tell me I can make love to anyone anywhere
(Baby you can make love to anyone anywhere)
Jump into the crowd
When I'm wet with sweat and the music is loud
(Baby you're allowed to jump into the crowd
When you're wet with sweat and the music is loud)
(Baby you're allowed to jump into the crowd
When you're wet with sweat and the music is loud)
That's great!
That's great!
That's so great!
Tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
Babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
The song "Lolitapop Dollhouse" by Momus is a rebellious anthem about breaking free from societal norms and expectations. The first stanza speaks to the desire to be allowed to indulge in music and drumming reminiscent of The Velvet Underground, without judgment. The lyrics suggest a longing to break down the limitations imposed by cultural expectations that limit individual expression. The chorus reveals a desire to cast off the shackles of porcelain doll-like femininity, and rather jump into the noise and energy of the music, tearing down the constructed playhouse in the process. The bridge is a call to action for a lover, eschewing normative expectations of monogamy and societal constraints on sexuality, indicating a need for liberation and freedom of expression.
One interesting fact about the song is that Momus has stated that it was inspired by a request from a Japanese record company executive who had requested that he write a song about Lolita culture. Another fascinating aspect of the track is the use of the "wall of sound" production technique popularized by Phil Spector, which is referenced in the chorus. The song has been performed live by Momus with a modified "tronica" (based on an iPod and a Korg Entrancer) backing track, alongside the addition of live percussion.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me I'm allowed to play the Fender Jaguar
Like the Velvet Underground
As a musician, I want to play an instrument and follow in the footsteps of the Velvet Underground.
Tell me I'm allowed to hammer on a drumkit
Crazy for the love of sound
As a musician, I want to play the drums with passion and enthusiasm.
I'm gonna tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
In a babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
I am going to break away from my childish and restrictive environment and create a new, vibrant sound.
Bad girls are exactly who they want to be
And bad girls see exactly who they want to see
Bad girls are allowed because they're just too proud
To care what people say, they do it anyway
Non-conforming girls act in ways that make them happy, not what society expects of them, they are fearless and ignore detractors.
I'm sick of being Alice in Wonderland
Sick of living in Victorian England
I'm sick of being a porcelain girl in a porcelain world
Is that all you ever wanted me to be?
I am done pretending to be someone I am not and I refuse to live in a world that doesn't allow me to express myself.
If you want me I'll be shooting with the junkies
If you want me I'll be swinging with the monkeys
If you really love me smash the walls around me
If you really want me take me how you found me
I am willing to experiment and live my life how I want, forget social norms and expectations.
Tell me I'm allowed to be
(Baby you're allowed to be)
Tell me I'm allowed to see
(Baby you're allowed to see)
Tell me I'm allowed to touch the world around me
(Baby you're allowed to touch the world around you)
Tell me I can make love to anyone anywhere
(Baby you can make love to anyone anywhere)
Jump into the crowd
When I'm wet with sweat and the music is loud
(Baby you're allowed to jump into the crowd
When you're wet with sweat and the music is loud)
(Baby you're allowed to jump into the crowd
When you're wet with sweat and the music is loud)
That's great!
That's great!
That's so great!
Express yourself and enjoy life without worrying about societal restrictions. Push past boundaries and have fun.
Tear my playhouse down (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
Babypop wall of sound (Lolitapop Dollhouse)
Reinvent and rebuild yourself as the person you want to be by creating a dynamic and powerful sound.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICHOLAS JOHN CURRIE, NICK CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.