The year 2002 proved to be crucial for the band: as the first Danish band ever, Raunchy signs a contract with one of the world biggest metal labels, Nuclear Blast, releasing Velvet Noise in Europe. Raunchy played at the German festival Summerbreeze. They recorded a cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and a new song called "Decemberklar" for Denmark's National radio, produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios. The songs proved to be extremely popular. In 2003 Velvet Noise was released in North America, and in the summer the second album, Confusion Bay, is recorded, again with producer Jacob Hansen.
The year 2004 started off with singer Lars Vognstrup leaving the band. Kasper Thomsen was recruited as the new lead singer to replace Lars. In February Confusion Bay was released. An animated video for the track "Watch Out" is made by the critically acclaimed director Anders Morgenthaler and the video received airplay on channels like VIVA+ and MTV2. The band performed a whole concert live on Danish National Radio, and in August the band performed at the Wacken Open Air in front of 4000 fans.
In 2005 Raunchy signed to a new label, Lifeforce Records and began recording of Death Pop Romance in summer 2005. At the end of the year the band performed at the Danish Metal Awards. The show was broadcast live on the Danish radio and marks the band's third radio appearance. Death Pop Romance was released in early 2006, where it received good reviews among critics. Raunchy supported American heavy metal band Soulfly on all German tour dates. The band also played at the popular With Full Force festival in Leipzig in front of 10,000 fans. In 2006, the band continued to tour to promote Death Pop Romance along with support gigs such as Ill Niño and Hatebreed. The band embarked on a full-length European tour called Danish Dynamite Tour, together with Hatesphere and Volbeat, and played at 2008's Roskilde Festival.
In summer 2008 Raunchy released their fourth album Wasteland Discotheque. The album was generally well received among the press. In late 2008 Raunchy went on a small tour with Volbeat in Germany. In April 2009, almost a year after Wasteland Discotheque was released, Raunchy did a music video for the track "Warriors", directed by Andreas Krohn, after that they went on a tour called "Weekend Warriors Tour", in Denmark and Sweden, and in July and August the band played at the big metal festivals With Full Force and Summer Breeze Open Air.
Their fifth album, A Discord Electric, was released on September 20, 2010.
On March 14, 2013, Kasper Thomsen left the band; both parties stated that the split was amicable. At the same time, it was announced that their new vocalist was Mike Semesky (formerly of The HAARP Machine, Intervals). The band also stated that they would be entering the studio later on in the year and would be touring in July and October 2013. Mike Semesky later commented saying that it was "a dream come true" to have been given the opportunity to sing for the band.
In late September, 2014, Raunchy announced their sixth studio album, Vices. Virtues. Visions.,and in October Raunchy was one of the first bands to be announced for the 2015 Copenhell lineup.
Current members
Mike Semesky - Vocals (2013-Current)
Lars Christensen - Guitar (1994-Current)
Jesper Andreas Tilsted - Guitar, Keyboards (1994-Current)
Jesper Kvist - Bass (1994-Current)
Jeppe Christensen - Keyboards, Vocals (2001-Current)
Morten Toft Hansen - Drums (1994-Current)
Former members
Lars Vognstrup - Vocals (1994–2004)
Kasper Thomsen - Vocals (2004 - 2013)
Tour members
Victor-Ray Salomonsen Ronander - Guitar (2010)
Niels Kofod - Synth, Vocals (2010)
Lasse Sivertsen - Vocals (summer 2013)
Flemming C. Lund - Guitar (fall 2013)
Discography
Studio Albums
Velvet Noise - 2001
Confusion Bay - 2004
Death Pop Romance - 2006
Wasteland Discotheque - 2008
A Discord Electric - 2010
Vices. Virtues. Visions. - 2014
Re-releases
Velvet Noise Extended - 2007
Drive
Raunchy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't feel this
I can't eat this even touch this
I can't smoke this so face this
I can't play this
I want you to take it away
Grrr move it I don't want it
Could I choose
What I'd choose
This is how I want it to be
You can't smell me
You can't feel me
You can't taste me even see me
You can't hear me so tell me how I fake it
I want you to take it away
Grrr move it I don't want it
Could I choose
What I'd choose
This is how I want it to be
I can't write this
I can't drive this even feel this
I don't need this
The opening lines of Raunchy's song Drive are a series of negative affirmations that describe an inability to engage in sensory experiences or activities. The singer can't smell, feel, eat, touch or smoke, nor can they play a certain something. These lines read like a self-imposed constraint- as though the singer is afraid to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life. This negativity is reaffirmed in the next verse where the singer starts describing how others can't perceive them. No one can smell, feel, taste or even hear them. In a way, it’s like he is trapped in his own negative world and is pushing people away out of fear or lack of self-confidence.
The chorus of the song contains the repeated line, "I want you to take it away/Grrr move it I don't want it." This is where we can start to see that the singer's aversion to sensory experiences might be more than a simple dislike. They seem to be actively rejecting these things, wanting them to be gone. This could be interpreted as a form of control- an attempt to limit their environment to only those things that won't cause discomfort or uncertainty. It’s almost like they are trying to put up a barrier to the world to stay safe.
In the final verse, the singer states, "I can't write this/I can't drive this even feel this/I don't need this." This suggests that their aversion to the sensory experiences that they've been describing is less about a fear of the world and more about a disdain for the ordinary. They don't want to write, to drive or even to feel – they actively reject these things. The song ends with the same line that has been repeated throughout the chorus, reinforcing the idea that the singer wants everything that is associated with the sensory world to be taken away.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't smell this
I am unable to detect any odor from this object or substance.
I can't feel this
I am lacking any physical sensation from coming into contact with this object or substance.
I can't eat this even touch this
I am unable to consume or physically feel this object or substance through touch.
I can't smoke this so face this
I am incapable of inhaling the smoke produced by this object or substance, thus tell others to confront or deal with it.
I can't play this
I am unable to participate or engage with this particular activity or game.
I want you to take it away
Grrr move it I don't want it
I request that somebody else removes or takes possession of this object or substance that I do not desire.
Could I choose
What I'd choose
This is how I want it to be
I am suggesting that if given the choice, I would choose to live my life or face certain situations exactly as I am experiencing them now.
You can't smell me
You can't feel me
You can't taste me even see me
You can't hear me so tell me how I fake it
You are incapable of utilizing the senses normally used to detect my presence, so explain to me how I am pretending or deceiving in any way.
I can't write this
I can't drive this even feel this
I don't need this
I am unable to create or form this written text, operate this vehicle, or experience any sensory perception from it, ultimately stating that I do not desire it or require it in any way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ric Ocasek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind