Founded by Creager in 1992, they have long held true to their mission of enlightening the common man as to the power and versatility of the mighty cello. Historically influenced, and constantly costumed, Rasputina keeps a small legion of incredibly passionate admirers enthralled with their earnest musicianship. Considered to be quite a pioneer and visionary, Melora and her group have inspired countless young people to pick up the cello, and have re-inspired many uninspired string players. Rasputina considers this to be the finest payment for their work.
Professional involvements have included Nirvana, Ultra Vivid Scene, Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Belle and Sebastian,and Cheap Trick.
Former Members of Rasputina:
Julia Kent (89-99)
Kris Cowperthwaite (00-02)
Zoë Keating (02-06)
Sarah Bowman (06-08)
Jonathon TeBeest (00-08)
Choose Me For Champion
Rasputina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am possessing of a very righteous style
I understand what's happening
I have charisma and, of course, a winning smile
I stand accused of being an audacious redeemer
Not a charge I can deny
I have refused the way of the liar and the schemer
And I'm not afraid to die
Oh hark back to the mighty shipwreck
How ancestors of islanders are we
How the ship sank like a sinking thinktank
Our memories are gone and sunk at sea
We have allowed ourselves to be insulted by invaders
For the longest of years
I will employ all of my cunning and my patience
Then we shall persevere
I find I can get behind heretical ideas and make them real
You do what you want to do
I cannot tell you how to feel
But if the grievous deeds of the Floridian forces have not opened up your eyes
I will get down on my knees and the Pitcairnan Women's Chorus
Will shout up to the skies
Spoken: There's only 24 of us here on this island in the sea
And we know Queen Mary Todd has sent her army
And I can be the hero that you need me to be
Oh my visionary people, you don't need powerful binoculars to see
That we're descendants of the Bounty Mutineers
And I can liquidate your fears
And Pitcairn Island will be free
(Free in the air)
You don't want those blimps coming here
(Free in the sea)
A colonial offshoot - is that what you want us to be?
(Freedom is fine)
The responsibility of saving all our lives on Pitcairn Island should be mine!
Spoken: Consider Thursday October Christian.
He's a great rebel and I am exaggerating only very slightly.
He wore no clothes but a piece of cloth about his loins.
Heroism is no more than a chapter in a tale of submission.
"The walls of opression and humiliation cannot be demolished
Except in a rain of boomerangs," Christian said Monday
In response to Tuesday's balloon massacres.
In "Choose Me For Champion" by Rasputina, the singer is calling to be chosen as the champion of the people on Pitcairn Island. They claim to possess a "righteous style," understanding of what's happening, charisma, and a winning smile. They refuse the way of the liar and schemer and are not afraid to die. The song also references the island's history as descendants of the Bounty Mutineers who have been insulted by invaders for years. The singer promises to employ all their cunning and patience to ensure their people persevere, despite the Floridian forces. They also acknowledge their willingness to get behind heretical ideas and make them real.
The song is a plea for the people of Pitcairn Island to choose the singer as their champion to free themselves from their oppressors. The singer recognizes that they are not perfect, but they believe in their ability to lead their people to freedom. The reference to the Pitcairnan Women's Chorus suggests that uniting their voices in song can be a powerful tool in their battle for independence. The song ends with a quote from Thursday October Christian, a mutineer on the Bounty, who speaks of the need to fight oppression and humiliation through rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Choose me to be your champion,
Select me as your representative,
I am possessing of a very righteous style
I have a morally upright manner
I understand what's happening
I comprehend the situation
I have charisma and, of course, a winning smile
I possess charm and an attractive grin
I stand accused of being an audacious redeemer
I am charged with being a daring savior
Not a charge I can deny
I cannot refute the accusation
I have refused the way of the liar and the schemer
I have rejected the paths of deceit and trickery
And I'm not afraid to die
And I am unafraid of death
Oh hark back to the mighty shipwreck
Recall the grand marine disaster
How ancestors of islanders are we
We are the forebears of the island inhabitants
How the ship sank like a sinking thinktank
How the vessel sank like an intellectual failure
Our memories are gone and sunk at sea
Our recollections have perished in the ocean
We have allowed ourselves to be insulted by invaders
We have permitted trespassers to humiliate us
For the longest of years
For an extended duration
I will employ all of my cunning and my patience
I will utilize all my craftiness and endurance
Then we shall persevere
Then, we will persist
I find I can get behind heretical ideas and make them real
I ascertain I can support unorthodox concepts and realize them
You do what you want to do
You act as you desire
I cannot tell you how to feel
I cannot instruct you on how to sense
But if the grievous deeds of the Floridian forces have not opened up your eyes
But, if the atrocious actions of the Floridian army have not enlightened you
I will get down on my knees and the Pitcairnan Women's Chorus
I will kneel, and the Pitcairnan Women's Chorus
Will shout up to the skies
Will vociferate to the heavens
There's only 24 of us here on this island in the sea
There are solely 24 of us on this oceanic isle
And we know Queen Mary Todd has sent her army
And we are cognizant that Queen Mary Todd dispatched her troops
And I can be the hero that you need me to be
And I can be the role model that you require me to become
Oh my visionary people, you don't need powerful binoculars to see
Oh, my insightful people, you can perceive without formidable optic instruments
That we're descendants of the Bounty Mutineers
That we are offspring of the Bounty mutineers
And I can liquidate your fears
And I can eliminate your anxieties
And Pitcairn Island will be free
And Pitcairn Island will be liberated
You don't want those blimps coming here
You do not desire those airships to arrive here
A colonial offshoot - is that what you want us to be?
A product of colonization - is that what you want us to become?
The responsibility of saving all our lives on Pitcairn Island should be mine!
The duty of preserving all our existences on Pitcairn Island should be mine!
Consider Thursday October Christian.
Contemplate Thursday October Christian.
He's a great rebel and I am exaggerating only very slightly.
He is an excellent nonconformist, and I may be slightly overstating.
He wore no clothes but a piece of cloth about his loins.
He wore no garments other than a textile around his hips.
Heroism is no more than a chapter in a tale of submission.
Being a hero is merely a part of submitting to a narrative.
"The walls of oppression and humiliation cannot be demolished
"The obstacles of subjugation and debasement are impregnable
Except in a rain of boomerangs," Christian said Monday
Unless a barrage of returning boomerangs," Christian declared on Monday
In response to Tuesday's balloon massacres.
In reply to the Tuesday balloon slaughters.
Contributed by Keira W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.