There are more than one artist named Rough Trade:

1. Rough Trade is… Read Full Bio ↴There are more than one artist named Rough Trade:

1. Rough Trade is a Canadian group, lead by singer Carole Pope and multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples, which gained success in the 70s and 80s. Their music is filled with themes of catastropic power and dimestore novel smut, entertainingly delivered by Pope's powerful voice.

2. Rough Trade is a punk band from Ålesund, Norway. They released a 7" in 1980, and have been featured on compilations such as "Anarki & kaos" and "Bloodstains Across Norway".

3. Rough Trade is a spoken word artist from Australia that focuses on homoerotic content.

Fashion Victim
Rough Trade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You say I'm lacking in passion
I say I'm true to you
In my fashion
You say I'm a narcissist
I say I'm image conscious
I'm a victim of fashion
Fashion and accessories
Fashion, fashion and accessories

You hate my avant-garde friends
They understand and appreciate me
We're all victims of fashion and accessories

Subliminal seduction from the glare of my TV
You say you want to be seduced by me
If I take off my clothes
My carefully contrived image goes
I'm so afraid to show the real me
I'm a victim of Fashion
Fashion and accessories
Fashion, fashion and accessories

Montana, Fendi, Lagerfeld
Mugler, Kenzo, Chloé
I'm a victim of fashion and accessories

Maud Frizon, Jap, Yamamoto, Rykiel
Daily, Blue, Zapata, Kamali, Dorthy Biś
Yaki, Torii, Pinky and Diane
Fashion and accessories
I'm a victim of fashion
Fashion and accessories
Fashion, fashion and accessories

You hate my avant-garde friends
They understand and appreciate me
We're all victims of fashion and accessories

I'm always true to you in my fashion
In my fashion
I'm always true to you in my fashion
In my fashion, in my fashion

Yes I'm always true to you in my fashion
In my fashion, in my fashion

Overall Meaning

The song "Fashion Victim" by Rough Trade is a satirical take on the obsession people have with fashion and their image. The lyrics speak about the singer's unrequited love, as the object of their affection accuses them of being a narcissist and lacking passion. However, the singer defends themselves by saying that they are "true to you in [their] fashion", implying that they show their love in their own unique way that may not necessarily conform to societal norms.

The chorus emphasizes the singer's obsession with fashion, as they repeatedly declare themselves as a "victim of fashion and accessories". The second verse adds another layer to the complexity of the singer's relationship, with the mention of subliminal seduction and fear of showing their real selves. The bridge of the song lists various fashion house names and designers, further emphasizing the singer's infatuation with fashion and their self-professed status as a "victim".

Overall, "Fashion Victim" critiques society's obsession with fashion and beauty. It highlights the pressures people face to conform and maintain a certain image, as well as the fear of revealing one's true self. The song encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and reject societal standards of beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

You say I'm lacking in passion
You accuse me of not being passionate enough

I say I'm true to you In my fashion
I argue that I express my uniqueness through my fashion choices and that should be enough for you

You say I'm a narcissist
You accuse me of being excessively self-centered

I say I'm image conscious
I argue that I value my appearance and the messages it conveys

I'm a victim of fashion
I feel compelled to conform to the trends in order to be accepted

Fashion and accessories Fashion, fashion and accessories
Fashion and accessories are the dominant themes in my life and identity

You hate my avant-garde friends They understand and appreciate me We're all victims of fashion and accessories
You dislike my creative and unconventional friends because they share my obsession with fashion and identity

Subliminal seduction from the glare of my TV You say you want to be seduced by me If I take off my clothes My carefully contrived image goes I'm so afraid to show the real me
I rely on media to reinforce and propagate certain images of beauty and identity, and I fear that without it I would lose my sense of self

Montana, Fendi, Lagerfeld Mugler, Kenzo, Chloé I'm a victim of fashion and accessories
I am indoctrinated by the branding and marketing of luxury fashion brands and feel compelled to wear their products in order to fit in

Maud Frizon, Jap, Yamamoto, Rykiel Daily, Blue, Zapata, Kamali, Dorthy Biś Yaki, Torii, Pinky and Diane Fashion and accessories I'm a victim of fashion Fashion and accessories Fashion, fashion and accessories
I am a slave to the constantly changing and expanding world of fashion brands and designers, and willingly participate in the endless cycle of consumerism and identity-formation

I'm always true to you in my fashion In my fashion I'm always true to you in my fashion In my fashion, in my fashion Yes I'm always true to you in my fashion In my fashion, in my fashion
Despite our differences and disagreements, I will always maintain my sense of identity and self-expression through fashion, even if it means being misunderstood by others

Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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