1) Placebo is… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four artists with the name Placebo:
1) Placebo is a British alternative rock band formed in London in 1994 by vocalist-guitarist Brian Molko and bassist-guitarist Stefan Olsdal. Drummer Robert Schultzberg joined in late 1994 but left in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko. He was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt. Molko was born in Belgium, and Olsdal and Schultzberg were born in Sweden. Remaining members Molko and Olsdal both grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and are both British citizens.
Following the release of a demo, a split single, and their eponymous debut album, Placebo gained exposure in 1997 after the single "Nancy Boy" became popular in the UK, a song notorious at the time for its gender-bending content. The band stood out among the Britpop scene they were associated with at the time for their androgynous appearance and musical content, as well as Molko's distinctive voice and lyrics which openly discussed sexuality, mental health, and drug use.
Hewitt left Placebo in 2007 due to personal and musical differences. He was replaced the following year by Steve Forrest. Placebo released two albums with Forrest, who left in 2015 to pursue his own musical career. Since 2015, Placebo has been officially a duo, though augmented with additional musicians.
Placebo has collaborated with various artists over the years, including David Bowie, Justin Warfield, Michael Stipe, and Alison Mosshart. To date, Placebo has released eight studio albums, all of which have reached the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, and have sold around 14 million records worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_(band)
Discography
Placebo (1996)
Without You I'm Nothing (1998)
Black Market Music (2000)
Sleeping with Ghosts (2003)
Meds (2006)
Battle for the Sun (2009)
Loud Like Love (2013)
Never Let Me Go (2022)
----------
2) Placebo is a Jazz Rock/Jazz fusion band from Belgium who released three LPs in the early '70s. Their members were performing with Aksak Maboul, Larry Coryell, Focus, Telex, and Cos.
----------
3) Placebo is a female-fronted British Post-Punk/New Wave band from the early '80s who had two LPs and two 45s out.
----------
4) Placebo is a four-piece rock band from Calgary, AB, Canada, fronted by Leslie Feist. Other members included Kieran McAuley on guitar, Elescia on bass, and Toby on drums. This information is based on the liner notes of their CD "Don't Drink the Bathwater," released in 1994 on Cry Baby Records. After discovering the UK Placebo, they renamed the band Placebo4 for the 1996 release of their 7-inch "Sailor Boy," also on Cry Baby Records. Dale Becker on drums.
Trigger Happy Hands
Placebo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the world is run by people that we don't understand
And so we're living in a culture made of death and fear
It doesn't seem the human race will make it through the year
The world is run by lying drunks and balding know it alls
But my mother told me pride would always come before a fall
And I remember in the day when we were young and green
The world's an unforgiving place, we've all heard this before
But we want hospitals and equal rights instead of bloody wars
We want the right to blow our minds, as crazy as it seems
The only place you're truly free is cozy in your dreams
I said, the only place you're truly free is cozy in your dreams
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
The world is run by clowns with trigger happy hands
But the world is run by people that we don't understand
And so we're living in a culture made of death and fear
It doesn't seem the human race will make it through the year
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck (come on, come on)
“Trigger Happy Hands” by Placebo is a commentary on the state of the world, highlighting the prevalence of violence, fear, and misunderstanding. The opening verse sets the tone by describing the world as being run by “clowns with trigger happy hands” and “people that we don’t understand”. This can be interpreted as a criticism of those in power who seem to lack empathy and make decisions without recognizing their impact on those who are marginalized.
The second verse touches on themes of pride and youthful innocence being lost as one grows older. The phrase “we were squeaky clean” indicates a sense of naivety and idealism that has been lost over time, adding to the overall sense of disillusionment present in the song.
The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, urges the listener to “wave their hands” and be proactive in their desire for change. Despite the grim nature of the verses, the chorus provides a sense of hope and energy, promoting the idea that change is possible if people are willing to take action.
Overall, “Trigger Happy Hands” can be seen as a call to action for individuals to recognize the issues facing the world and actively work towards positive change, while also acknowledging the emotional toll that living in a culture of fear and violence can take.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is run by clowns with trigger happy hands
The people in power are reckless and dangerous, causing harm to others
But the world is run by people that we don't understand
Those who hold power are often not relatable, making it hard to comprehend their actions
And so we're living in a culture made of death and fear
Society is built on a foundation of mortality and anxiety
It doesn't seem the human race will make it through the year
The future of humanity is uncertain, with little hope of survival
Put your hands in the air, wave them like you give a fuck
A call to action for people to show that they care about making a change
Contributed by Liam R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rutuja Sankhe
Deserves to be one of the Best Placebo Songs but this song is undoubtedly so Underated. :(
The Feeling Lion
Rutuja Sankhe LEGIT. It’s not even on Spotify 😕
jeff roberts
Brian has to be up there with the all time great lyricists. This song is more relevant now than when he wrote it considering what the powers are trying to do to us now.
Valerio Simoncini
👌
Richard
I wish this song was available for me on spotify D:
rossmorris
in my eyes Placebo can do NO wrong. i LOVE this track. its not their best but its by no means their worst!
Tang Daisy
Like many fans, I prefer the live version. It's probably because we all got an excellent FIRST IMPRESSION from their gigs. Brian's live performanceS always offer so much passion and energy. But I am sure after listening to the studio version a few more times, we will fall deeply in love with it!
Tired Frog
I wish that this song was on Spotify in Australia — it’s timeless!
Tired Frog
Hello, me from the past. Sadly this song is still not on Spotify. ):
Narco Karma
There's no "old" or "new" Placebo but there is THE PLACEBO the ever wonderful placebo!!!