Originally called "Arabicus Pulp" (although they shortened it to Pulp within a year), the band achieved sudden success some thirteen years after their formation and became known during the Britpop era as much for their music as for frontman Cocker's antics (notably conducting a stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance of Earth Song at the 1996 BRIT Awards).
Achieving little success off the back of a Peel session in 1981, Pulp were finally able to release their debut album, It, in 1983. This album and its 1986 follow-up, Freaks, showcased a Pulp keen on Nick Drake (notably on the It single, My Lighthouse), with strong folk roots and little sign of the tendencies for storytelling and acid house music which would eventually bring forth success.
After the release and commercial flop of "Freaks", the band disbanded for a year, but reformed a year later to record a third album, Separations. Delayed for three years after its recording, Separations showed Cocker's increasing exposure to acid house, featuring multiple synths, and a hit single, My Legendary Girlfriend, which helped Pulp's career start to rocket.
Their next single, Babies, which would eventually feature on their 1994's commercial breakthrough His 'n' Hers, and it was the first example of the Pulp-sound most listeners associate with the band--cheap synths, rolling guitars, and Cocker's deadpan vocals telling a story. "His 'n' Hers" in sound, was lumped in with the Britpop movement of the time, receiving commercial and critical acclaim. However, it was the 1995 single Common People, which finally saw them become known, eventually charting at number 2 in the UK charts. Awash with Britpop guitars, catchy keyboard lines and that trademark Cocker vocal performance it has remained a favorite. A successful appearance at Glastonbury that summer cemented their fame, and their success was subsequently confirmed by the release of Different Class, which arrived at the peak of the Britpop movement and featured this song and other UK hits as Disco 2000 and Sorted for E's & Wizz.
Their last two albums, 1998's darker This Is Hardcore, -an album that marked the end of the Britpop era- and 2001's more downbeat We Love Life were commercial successes, but Pulp were no longer as famous or trendy as they had been in the height of Britpop. Following their curation of a music festival, Auto, in 2002, the band announced that they would be embarking on an "indefinite hiatus".
In 2003, Jarvis Cocker released an album as Relaxed Muscle and then two solo efforts, 2006's Jarvis and 2009's Further Complications.
On 8th November 2010, it was announced that the band with its most relevant lineup will reform to play a series of gigs in summer 2011.
Discography:
It 1983
Freaks 1986
Separations 1992
His 'n' Hers 1994
Different Class 1995
This Is Hardcore 1998
We Love Life 2001
Official website:
http://www.pulppeople.com
The Will To Power
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking from the scene of some romantic triumph feeling like God.
Walk towards the small town lights, felt brighter than the lot of them,
can have anything, can never fail.
The will to power, the force of destiny and efficiency.
Generations glimpse the high pitch, play it for real,
four billion spectators look on;
judging, analysing, losing; sinking, swimming, striving, longing, failing.
suck and sate, forces of fate.
A polemic, a sharp cutter, a fashion, a spirit, a simplicity.
The only choice, the only voice, in the darkness.
The only choice, the only voice.
1933, where are you now?
Where are the broken bottles?
Where's the toffs slumming it?
Where's the fanaticism?
Where's truth and beauty?
Walk towards the small town lights, felt brighter than the lot of them,
can have anything, can never fail.
The will to power, the force of destiny and efficiency.
Generations glimpse the high pitch, play it for real,
four billion spectators look on;
judging, analysing, losing; sinking, swimming, striving, longing, failing.
Weak flesh projected through Europe on speed of all the needs;
suck and sate, forces of fate.
A polemic, a sharp cutter, a fashion, a spirit, a simplicity.
The only choice, the only voice, in the darkness.
The only choice, the only voice.
1933, where are you now?
Where are the broken bottles?
Where's the fanaticism?
Where's truth and beauty?
Where's truth and beauty?
The lyrics of Pulp's "The Will to Power" contain a deep sense of contradiction, in which an individual's feelings of joy and shame are intertwined with the larger sociopolitical movements of the world. In the first verse, the singer walks away from both a "humiliation" and a "romantic triumph," feeling both like "a dog" and like "God." This sense of duality, in which both weakness and strength are intertwined, continues throughout the song. The singer walks toward "small town lights," feeling that they "can have anything" and "can never fail." This confidence is contrasted with the "weak flesh projected through Europe," alluding to the larger political crises of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking from the scene of some humiliation feeling like a dog.
Leaving a traumatic experience feeling like a worthless animal.
Walking from the scene of some romantic triumph feeling like God.
Exiting after experiencing a satisfying romantic victory feeling invincible and powerful.
Walk towards the small town lights, felt brighter than the lot of them, can have anything, can never fail.
Heading towards the small town, which seems more vibrant than the others, with a sense of confidence knowing success is a guarantee.
The will to power, the force of destiny and efficiency.
The inner drive to achieve greatness, the compelling sense of fate, and the ability to execute plans effectively.
Generations glimpse the high pitch, play it for real, four billion spectators look on; judging, analysing, losing; sinking, swimming, striving, longing, failing.
People observe and engage with intense experiences, facing both success and failure while being analyzed by others.
Weak flesh projected through Europe on speed of all the needs; suck and sate, forces of fate.
Humans are consumed by their desires, resulting in a lack of self-worth and the sense of inevitability.
A polemic, a sharp cutter, a fashion, a spirit, a simplicity.
A controversial argument, an edgy influence, a trendsetter, a powerful energy, and a straightforward approach.
The only choice, the only voice, in the darkness.
Being the sole decision-maker and only perspective in a difficult situation.
1933, where are you now?
Wondering where the same level of passion, intensity, and energy have disappeared to in the current time.
Where are the broken bottles?
Reflecting on the wild and reckless behavior from the past.
Where's the toffs slumming it?
Missing the excitement and danger of social class rebellion.
Where's the fanaticism?
Questioning where the intense devotion and fervor for something have gone.
Where's truth and beauty?
Reflecting on the lack of genuine qualities in society today.
Walk towards the small town lights, felt brighter than the lot of them, can have anything, can never fail.
Re-emphasizing the confidence and assurance of success while approaching the small town.
The will to power, the force of destiny and efficiency.
Reiterating the intensity of purpose, inescapability of fate, and the ability to execute plans well.
Generations glimpse the high pitch, play it for real, four billion spectators look on; judging, analysing, losing; sinking, swimming, striving, longing, failing.
Duplicating the prior theme of experiencing intense events and facing triumphs and failures while also being viewed and criticized by others.
Weak flesh projected through Europe on speed of all the needs; suck and sate, forces of fate.
Repeating the commentary about humans being slaves to their desires and henceforth, losing their self-worth, opening themselves up to destiny.
A polemic, a sharp cutter, a fashion, a spirit, a simplicity.
Recapping the qualities of being engaging, edgy, influential, energetic, and direct.
The only choice, the only voice, in the darkness.
Reiterating the need to make individual decisions in difficult situations with no external input.
1933, where are you now?
Emphasizing the absence of a similar level of zeal, energy, and fervor found in 1933.
Where are the broken bottles?
Re-emphasizing the destruction and wildness seen earlier.
Where's the fanaticism?
Reiterating the lack of passion and devotion seen today and questioning its absence.
Where's truth and beauty?
Re-emphasizing the lack of genuine and pleasant experiences within society.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, PETER D MANSELL, RUSSELL SENIOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind