1. No.9 is Joe Takayuk… Read Full Bio ↴There are three artists under the name "No.9"
1. No.9 is Joe Takayuki's solo project. A sound designer who uses various media to express electro and contemporary music through the use of jazz and pop sensitivity.
2. No.9 is the short-lived name of a space rock band consisting of Mark Holmes, David Barrett and Sascha. With two of their members as former members of Platinum Blonde, their self-titled album was their only release before they changed their name to Platinum Blonde '99 and toured in support of their self-titled debut and Platinum Blonde's best-of compilation "Seven Year Itch"
3. No. 9 is the one time alias of Naoki Maeda for the song "End of the Century" (based on Beethoven's Ode To Joy)
Listening
No.9 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To give those folks a piece of your mind
You get out your guitar and sing your own songs
About how the world is so unkind
"Bush is an asshole, this oil tastes like blood
My McGenocide comes with extra large fries"
You come on so strong in every single song
Your rhetoric's so thick, it's hard to care about who dies
To a word that you say
They just tune you out
And go about their day-to-day
'Cause you're not Truth's prophet
We all know what you're gonna say
There's no choir to preach to
And no one else here to sway
I sing in a nightclub, my silly little songs
About girls I've liked and being thirteen
If I mention the Thundercats or the Garbage Pail Kids
I might get a laugh, but what does it mean?
Sure, I care about the world, or maybe I don't
I need to open up my ways of seeing
And then the next guy comes on, does my exact same act
It's hard to justify my reasons for being
Yes, nobody's listening
I got nothing to say
I might give you a chuckle
But so can Youtube everyday
I'm just a commodity
I'm a passage of time
I'm a lightweight soufflé
I'm a nonsense rhyme
The lyrics of No.9's song "Listening" explore the frustration and futility of trying to make a meaningful impact on the world through music and art. The song contrasts two different perspectives: the singer who passionately sings about social and political issues, and the singer who admits to singing trivial songs about personal experiences. Both characters feel unnoticed and unheard in their respective attempts to communicate their messages.
The first verse depicts the singer as an activist singer, using their guitar and lyrics to criticize issues such as political leaders and fast food culture. However, despite their strong rhetoric, they feel that nobody is truly paying attention or taking their words seriously. People simply tune them out and continue with their daily lives, unaffected by their message or cause. The line "You're not Truth's prophet" suggests that the singer's words are not seen as profound or groundbreaking by others. They have no audience or following to influence or sway.
In the second verse, the singer shifts the focus to themselves, revealing their own doubts and insecurities. They sing in a nightclub, performing silly songs about trivial matters like childhood cartoons or pop culture references. Although they acknowledge that they also care about the world, they question the significance and impact of their own music. They feel that their songs are easily replaceable, as any other performer could come along and replicate their act. The singer recognizes their own role as a fleeting entertainer, a commodity that exists solely within a passing moment in time.
Overall, "Listening" presents a commentary on the struggle to be heard and make a difference through music. It highlights the frustration of feeling overlooked and the uncertainty of one's own artistic worth in a world that is seemingly indifferent.
Line by Line Meaning
You get up in the morning, head down to the subway
You start your day by going to the subway
To give those folks a piece of your mind
To express your opinions forcefully to those people
You get out your guitar and sing your own songs
You play your guitar and perform your original songs
About how the world is so unkind
About the unkindness and cruelty present in the world
"Bush is an asshole, this oil tastes like blood
"Bush is a terrible person, this oil has a terrible impact like blood
My McGenocide comes with extra large fries"
My criticism of the fast food industry's negative consequences
You come on so strong in every single song
You deliver your message with great intensity in each song
Your rhetoric's so thick, it's hard to care about who dies
Your persuasive language is overwhelming, making it difficult to empathize with the victims
Yes, nobody's listening
Yes, no one is paying attention to you
To a word that you say
To any of the things you are saying
They just tune you out
They simply ignore you
And go about their day-to-day
And continue with their daily routine
'Cause you're not Truth's prophet
Because you are not a divine messenger of truth
We all know what you're gonna say
We already know what your message will be
There's no choir to preach to
There is no receptive audience to deliver your message to
And no one else here to sway
And no other person to persuade or influence
I sing in a nightclub, my silly little songs
I perform my light-hearted songs in a nightclub
About girls I've liked and being thirteen
About my experiences with girls I have liked and reminiscing about my teenage years
If I mention the Thundercats or the Garbage Pail Kids
If I reference popular culture such as the Thundercats or the Garbage Pail Kids
I might get a laugh, but what does it mean?
I might evoke laughter, but is there a deeper significance?
Sure, I care about the world, or maybe I don't
Perhaps I have concern for the world, or maybe I do not
I need to open up my ways of seeing
I should expand my perspectives and outlook
And then the next guy comes on, does my exact same act
And then another performer comes and imitates my style and content
It's hard to justify my reasons for being
It becomes difficult to rationalize my existence
I got nothing to say
I have no important message to convey
I might give you a chuckle
I might provide some amusement or entertainment
But so can Youtube everyday
But anyone can find similar content on YouTube every day
I'm just a commodity
I am merely a product or item for consumption
I'm a passage of time
I am an ephemeral moment in the passing of time
I'm a lightweight soufflé
I am a frivolous and insignificant creation
I'm a nonsense rhyme
I am a meaningless and absurd rhyme
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Justin Remer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind