They are best known for the songs "Never Say Never" (1982) and "A Girl in Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)" (1984), which were minor hits, with the latter becoming a Top 40 pop single. Their popularity was primarily in alternative and college radio, and as a dynamic performing act. They recorded for 415/Columbia Records. The original band members met at the San Francisco Art Institute. Most of the band members were also visual artists and did their own album art.
The band wrote and recorded four demo tracks in October 1993 (If I Was Your Cat, Stormy Eyes, Two Rivers, and Safe Place), which were sent to Sony Music but never released.
After the demise of Romeo Void, Debora Iyall, the lead singer and lyricist, put together and sang in the groups Knife in Water and Lower East Venus. John Haines played drums for Pearl Harbour and the Explosions.
The band was reunited briefly in 2003 for a one-off concert by VH-1's Bands Reunited, although Benjamin Bossi was unable to perform due to hearing loss.
Talk Dirty to Me
Romeo Void Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Streetlight moonlight bathes me right
I kiss my victim, I′m feeling awkward
I'm kneeling down, it was a sign of respect
My life is drained into your body
Will it be stupid to love you?
I can make use of your body
And deceive everyone who knew me
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual, casual tease
You′re a casual tease
Talk dirty to me, talk dirty to me
Lookin' around your neighborhood
I was lookin' for you, I was lookin′ good
Leave the light on then the moths come
One night only in the hallway
I won′t ask for help from above or anyplace else
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual, casual tease
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual tease
Casual, casual, casual tease
You're a casual tease
Talk dirty to me, talk dirty to me
Talk, talk, talk
Talk, talk, talk
Talk to me, talk to me
I say talk, talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me
Talk dirty to me, talk dirty to me
Oh, talk
Oh, talk, talk, talk
Oh, talk, talk
Talk dirty to me, talk
Talk, talk dirty to me
The lyrics to "Talk Dirty to Me" by Romeo Void are about the singer's innermost desires and risqué behavior. The concrete being wet and slick with night, along with the streetlights and moonlight creating the perfect bathing ambiance, sets the scene for the singer's brash actions. The singer kisses their victim, feeling awkward yet still adhering to a sign of respect by kneeling down. The singer then proceeds to imbue their life into their victim's body, unsure if it's stupid to love them. The singer also physically uses their victim's body and deceives everyone they previously knew.
The phrase "Casual, casual tease" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the casual nature and teasing associated with the singer's behavior. The line "I won’t ask for help from above or anyplace else" showcases the singer’s self-sufficiency and somewhat subverts them as an authority figure. Finally, the repetition of the line "Talk dirty to me" suggests that the singer and their victim engage in erotic talk during their encounters.
In terms of facts surrounding the song, "Talk Dirty to Me" was a hit for Romeo Void in 1982, reaching number 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was initially part of the album "It's a Condition" before being re-released on Romeo Void's most successful album "Benefactor." The band's lead singer, Debora Iyall, is known for her distinctive and powerful vocal range. The bassline in "Talk Dirty to Me" is sometimes noted as being similar to the bassline in Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." The song has been covered by several artists, including Poison, who released their own version in 1986. The song's controversial lyrics and mature themes have made it a popular choice for soundtracks and television shows.
Chords:
The chords in the song are:
Verse: F#m, G, F#m, E
Chorus: A, D, A, D, A, D, A, E.
The bridge: A, F#m, D, E, D, E.
Line by Line Meaning
Concrete wet and slick with night
The streets are dark and damp.
Streetlight moonlight bathes me right
The light from the moon and the streetlights illuminate me.
I kiss my victim, I'm feeling awkward
I'm hesitant to make a move on my partner.
I'm kneeling down, it was a sign of respect
I am showing respect to my partner by kneeling down.
My life is drained into your body
I feel like I am losing myself in this relationship.
Will it be stupid to love you?
I'm unsure if it's foolish to love you.
I can make use of your body
I'm only interested in using you for physical pleasure.
And deceive everyone who knew me
I am willing to deceive those who know me in order to continue this relationship.
You're a casual tease
You lead me on without any intention of anything serious.
Talk dirty to me, talk dirty to me
I want you to speak in a sexually suggestive way to me.
Lookin' around your neighborhood
I'm searching for you in your neighborhood.
I was lookin' for you, I was lookin' good
I am trying to impress you as I search for you.
Leave the light on then the moths come
By keeping the light on, insects become attracted to it.
One night only in the hallway
We will only have one chance to be intimate in this location.
I won't ask for help from above or anyplace else
I'm not seeking guidance or assistance from a higher power or anyone else.
Talk, talk, talk
I want you to keep talking to me in a suggestive manner.
Talk to me, talk to me
I want you to communicate with me.
I say talk, talk to me
I am urging you to continue speaking to me in a suggestive way.
Talk dirty to me, talk dirty to me
I want you to speak to me in a sexually suggestive way.
Writer(s): Debora Iyall, Frank Zincavage, Peter Woods
Contributed by Amelia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tony Estrada
Sooo New Wave and COOL!!
Sam B
The song that got me hooked on Romeo Void.
Sam B
There’s really no filler on this album!
marluxe duval
Too Good! She sings to all us whores so well!!!!
alex fernando Huenten
Diva
Anna Schaeler
Writing Adventure
SHUTTHEFUCKUPBEOTCH
dark souls theme song