There are more than one musical act that use the name Monkey.

1. A '… Read Full Bio ↴There are more than one musical act that use the name Monkey.

1. A 'third wave ska' band from San Francisco, CA., United States
2. A collaboration of Chinese actor and director Chen Shi-Zheng (陈士铮) and Gorillaz artists, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett
3. A rapper from 67

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1. Monkey is a third wave ska band from the San Francisco Bay Area of California, formed in summ/er 1996. Current band members include Curtis Meacham (guitar, vocals), Donelle Cory (bass), Micah Turney (drums), Dustin James (keyboard, trombone), Dan Root (tenor and baritone saxophone), and Brian Lockrem (trumpet, backup vocals).

Musical influences include Skatalites, Toots & The Maytals, Desmond Dekker, and Elvis Costello. Rocksteady and ska dominate their sound, while elements of rock, rockabilly, Latin, and soul music are also present. As of 2007, the band was signed with Asian Man Records, also based in the Bay Area.

Monkey has released four albums as of 2009. The first two were independently released, and the others were released by Asian Man Records. Their debut album ¡Changito! has sold over 6,000 copies, without any record label support or distribution, and was listed as San Jose's Best Independent Release for 1998. The band has had songs on over 20 international compilation releases, has had music on a PlayStation soundtrack, and has had songs added to independent film soundtracks, including the Russ Meyer tribute “Pervert the Movie” on Stag Films.

Monkey has toured the United States over 10 times, as well as touring Canada and parts of Mexico, bringing the band's big beat, horn-driven, dancehall sound to people all over the continent. The band has typically performed between 150 and 200 concerts per year. As of 2007, Monkey was performing concerts in several parts of California, namely its home, the Bay Area.

Monkey has earned several nominations and awards, including the California Music Award (Bammie 1999). Monkey continued touring internationally and releasing records on labels like Deluxe Entertainment and Asian Man Records long after the fall of third wave ska. They have recently finished their first overseas tour, which took place in the United Kingdom. It is believed that there have been at least 30 different members since the band was initially formed.

2. 'Monkey: Journey to the West' is a 2008 stage adaptation of a 16th century Chinese novel by Wu Cheng'en. The stage adaptation, an 'opera' of sorts, was conceived and created by the Chinese actor and director Chen Shi-Zheng (陈士铮) together with the British musician Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz fame) and British artist Jamie Hewlett (also of Gorillaz).

An album based on the opera score and sung in Mandarin was released on XL records in the UK on August 18, 2008. Although the album was not officially credited to an artist named Monkey, and its creators didn't use Monkey as a 'band name', it has become common practice to refer to the album as Journey to the West by Monkey.

Heavenly Peach Banquet
Monkey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The Queen Mother of Heaven
Has grown a Peach Garden
Charming, full of buds
Rosy, blossoming, intoxicating
Each peach
Looks like a little beauty
Should you eat a peach
A long life you'll lead and The Way you'll understand

Your limbs will grow strong, your body light
Should you eat one of the ripest ones, you can fly

And eternal youth and immortality you'll enjoy
La la la la la

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Monkey's song Heavenly Peach Banquet convey the splendor and enchantment of the Peach Garden in the eyes of the singer. The Queen Mother of Heaven has grown this magical peach garden that is filled with charming peaches that are rosy, blossoming, and intoxicating. Each peach looks like a little beauty, and the consumption of one would grant the consumer a long life and the ability to understand "The Way."

Furthermore, the song suggests that eating the ripest peach would allow the person to fly and enjoy eternal youth and immortality. The lyrics hint towards the mystical and mythical qualities of the garden and the peaches, which allow for the singer to experience something unforgettable.

The song appears to represent the beauty of life and immortality through the concept of the Heavenly Peach Garden. It also subtly encourages the listener to seek immortality and the path to enlightenment through good deeds and humbleness.

Line by Line Meaning

The Queen Mother of Heaven
The magical goddess ruling over the heavens

Has grown a Peach Garden
She has created a beautiful orchard of peaches

Charming, full of buds
The garden is lovely and abundant with promising fruit

Rosy, blossoming, intoxicating
The peaches are ripe, fragrant, and tempting

Each peach
Every individual fruit

Looks like a little beauty
Each peach is a small, beautiful thing

Should you eat a peach
If you were to eat one of these peaches

A long life you'll lead and The Way you'll understand
You'll enjoy a lengthy and fulfilling existence, and comprehend the secrets of the universe

Your limbs will grow strong, your body light
Your physical health will improve, and you'll feel nimble and free

Should you eat one of the ripest ones, you can fly
Should you consume one of the fully ripened peaches, you'll gain the ability to fly

And eternal youth and immortality you'll enjoy
Furthermore, you'll have eternal youth and never die