The band made a breakthrough appearance at the 1999 Noorderslagfestival in Groningen, resulting in lots of record deal offers. Contracted by Sony's S.M.A.R.T. label, they released their first album Till Monkeys Fly in January 2000. Produced by Michael Schoots, former Urban Dance Squad drummer, the album hit the charts receiving nationwide airplay. Both the first single Feel Like Flying and the second one, Blue Days, became a 3FM megahit. Their festival appearances on Parkpop and Lowlands confirmed their image as a live-act.
Summer 2001 Here We Go, Stereo! was released as their second full-length record. Widely acclaimed, this record was their ticket to play at the Netherlands's largest festival: Pinkpop.
While working on their third album, Sony ended the record deal. With help from Dutch radio station 3FM and the producer of their first album, they signed a contract with PIAS, to release their 3rd album early 2005. The fresh and mature sound, combined with a more serious approach on songwriting got Another Day a slow start with Happy Family. The second single Love You More hits hard: they claimed 3rd spot on the Dutch Top 40; the album skyrocketed to 6th position in the Album Charts. A succesful club tour during autumn and winter 2005 resulted in the release of their first live DVD called Another Night. And the fans really found their true love back, voting Racoon to be Pinkpop's Gouden Tip ("Viewers Choice") for 2006, claiming a spot on the mainstage.
After this clubtour they decided to fulfill a long-lasting dream for the bands vocalist (Bart van der Weide) and went on a theatertour all across Holland, with the adition of a keyboardplayer (Manu van Os) and a re-write of most of the songs to slim them down a bit. They blew away most fans with the awsome sounding back to basics tour filled with emotions and a new track called Close Your Eyes.
After the theatertour Manu went on to join Di-rect for their theatertour. Currently the band is recording a new album
Members
- Bart van der Weide (vocals)
- Dennis Huige (guitar)
- Stefan de Kroon (bass)
- Paul Bukkens (drums)
Links
www.racoon.nl
Official fansite
PIAS Nederland
3FM
Feel Like Flying
Racoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm walking home after drinking all my pennies.
So now I've got a beatbox in my head.
Probably seems funny to you honey, bunny.
Well it ain't and when I'm home I'm going straight to bed. WOW
Walking home and I haven't got a planny.
Because of all the pennies in my head.
Pretty fly but I'm all right. I don't need a cigarette, 'cause I
Feel like flying. Woow, damn right! I feel like flying.
I've got a rotor on my head.
And I feel like flying. Yep
Oh I feel like flying
I told a girl her name was pretty silly.
She spit me in the face and stole my chair.
Hell I just grinned and I said my name was silly looking Billy.
And after that my memory kinda stopped right there.
Soulful feeling feels like smiling. Soulful smiling feels like...
Feel like flying. woow I feel like flying.
I've got a rotor on my head.
And I feel like flying. Yeah I feel like flying
I'll fly, I'll fly
Falling back in zero conversation.
Because besides me there's no one else around.
Me, myself and I were on a holiday probation.
A dazzle sound awakes me as I walk straight out of town.
Walking home as the words role down my tongue straight to below.
I just catch them right before they hit the ground.
Well I was walking home as the words rolled down my tongue straight to below.
I just catch them right before they hit the ground you know you know
Soulful feeling feels like smiling. Soulful smiling feels like...
I feel like flying. Yeah
I feel like flying, I've got a rotor on my head.
And I feel like flying. Yeah
Still feel like flying
So I'll fly ...
The song "Feel Like Flying" by Racoon initially presents as a whimsical, upbeat tune, featuring a protagonist who is walking home after a night of drinking and has a "beatbox in [his] head." As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the singer is struggling with some internal conflicts, and the beatbox can be seen as a metaphor for the constant noise in his head. The lyrics suggest that the singer is feeling lost and unmoored, with no clear trajectory in life ("Walking home and I haven't got a plan"). Despite this, he still feels an urge to break free and fly, which is emphasized in the repeated lines of the chorus: "I feel like flying. Yeah, I feel like flying. I've got a rotor on my head, and I feel like flying."
The second half of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer reminiscing about an encounter with a woman who "spit [him] in the face and stole [his] chair" after he insulted her name. This memory seems to jolt the singer out of his reverie and back to reality, as he becomes aware that he is alone ("besides me there's no one else around") and on a "holiday probation." Despite the lack of company, he still experiences moments of joy and connection, as evidenced by the line "Soulful feeling feels like smiling." In the end, the singer chooses to embrace the feeling of flying and the uncertainty that comes with it, concluding with the triumphant line "So I'll fly."
Overall, "Feel Like Flying" is a poignant depiction of a person struggling to find their place in the world, with moments of levity and darkness interspersed throughout. The repeated motif of flying can be seen as a symbol for the freedom and release that the singer seeks.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and readiness to share the story
I'm walking home after drinking all my pennies.
Walking home without a plan due to being drunk and therefore unable to think straight
So now I've got a beatbox in my head.
Feeling the music beats resonating in the head, causing a groovy feeling
Probably seems funny to you honey, bunny.
Admitting that one's state might seem humorous to others, but not to oneself
Well it ain't and when I'm home I'm going straight to bed. WOW
Feeling exhausted and wanting to go to bed immediately to rest
Walking home and I haven't got a planny.
Still walking home without a plan or idea of what to do next
Because of all the pennies in my head.
Feeling dizzy or confused because of the alcohol consumed
Well I'm pretty flip; and I'm losing grip rocksteady, Betty.
Feeling a bit disoriented but trying to keep steady and not fall
Pretty fly but I'm all right. I don't need a cigarette, 'cause I
Feeling cool and composed. Not needing anything to make one feel better or more relaxed
Feel like flying. Woow, damn right! I feel like flying.
Feeling a strong desire to be free and rise above the current state of being
I've got a rotor on my head.
Having a feeling of lightness and excitement in the head
And I feel like flying. Yep
Reiterating the strong desire to be free and fly away
Oh I feel like flying
Experiencing an overwhelming feeling of wanting to escape and be free
I told a girl her name was pretty silly.
Making a lighthearted joke or comment without intending to offend the other person
She spit me in the face and stole my chair.
Receiving a negative response from the other person, resulting in losing a seat
Hell I just grinned and I said my name was silly looking Billy.
Reacting in a positive and humorous way in response to the negative reaction, without taking it seriously
And after that my memory kinda stopped right there.
Blackout or losing memory due to too much alcohol
Soulful feeling feels like smiling. Soulful smiling feels like...
Experiencing a happy and contented feeling that makes one smile from the soul and radiate positivity
Falling back in zero conversation.
Not having anyone to talk to or share the experience with
Because besides me there's no one else around.
Being alone in the situation, without anyone else to talk or share the experience with
Me, myself and I were on a holiday probation.
Being on vacation but still feeling restricted or limited in some way
A dazzle sound awakes me as I walk straight out of town.
Hearing a sudden and loud sound that brings one out of the daze or confusion
Walking home as the words role down my tongue straight to below.
Talking to oneself and feeling the words resonating in the body
I just catch them right before they hit the ground.
Managing to pay attention and catch the words before losing track or blacking out
You know you know
Reassuring oneself and reminding that everything is okay and under control
Still feel like flying
Confirming that the desire to be free and fly away is still there
So I'll fly ...
Expressing the intention and determination to be free and fly away, despite the challenges or obstacles
Contributed by Mackenzie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
slint69
Yeah
I'm walking home after drinking all my pennies
So now I've got a beatbox in my head
Probably seems funny to you honey, bunny
Well it ain't and when I'm home I'm going straight to bed. WOW
Walking home and I haven't got a planny
Because of all the pennies in my head
Well I'm pretty flip; and I'm losing grip rocksteady, Betty
Pretty fly but I'm all right. I don't need a cigarette, 'cause I
Feel like flying. Woow, damn right! I feel like flying
I've got a rotor on my head
And I feel like flying. Yep
Oh I feel like flying
I told a girl her name was pretty silly
She spit me in the face and stole my chair
Hell I just grinned and I said my name was silly looking Billy
And after that my memory kinda stopped right there
Soulful feeling feels like smiling. Soulful smiling feels like...
Feel like flying. woow I feel like flying
I've got a rotor on my head
And I feel like flying. Yeah I feel like flying
I'll fly, I'll fly
Falling back in zero conversation
Because besides me there's no one else around
Me, myself and I were on a holiday probation
A dazzle sound awakes me as I walk straight out of town
Walking home as the words role down my tongue straight to below
I just catch them right before they hit the ground
Well I was walking home as the words rolled down my tongue straight to below
I just catch them right before they hit the ground you know you know
Soulful feeling feels like smiling. Soulful smiling feels like...
I feel like flying. Yeah
I feel like flying, I've got a rotor on my head
And I feel like flying. Yeah
Still feel like flying
So I'll fly ...
Bobby sausage fingers
Just found this βΉοΈ great song . This band deserves more exposure
Bobby sausage fingers
Used to work in the Netherlands years ago when I came across their track no mercy
Dennis de Ruiter
'Anouk' is also a great Dutch artist
Ties
Racoon boys, jullie zijn de beste band ooit. Zoveel respect naar jullie, ik heb de cd ook al. Echt zoveel respect <3
Edzo Froma
This song is such a mood. I feel so fulfilled at peace when I listen to this song.
HolandaChiquita
Ik heb dit nummer als ringtone. Elke keer als mn telefoon afgaat wordt ik weer vrolijk!!!
Enige probleem is als ik het nummer gewoon hoor, ik altijd naar mn telefoon loop te zoeken ;p
Jessewou
Als ik dat doe neem ik al helemaal niet meer op
: )
Suzanne
haha!
DirkjeA
First time I heard this song, was totally swept of my feet. Made me happ and wanna dance at once. Then I heard they came from a town in The Netherlands I used to go dancing and lived not to far from. Knowing that, I am super proud of them. Nowadays they also make songs with Dutch lyrics, and they are even more beautiful.
Baby blue
I found this great song, and I think it's a cool song π