Shamir is known for his androgynous countertenor voice. Radio.com wrote that his singing voice, "like Joplin's, stops you in your tracks." Shamir has said that he doesn't mind having his voice described as androgynous, but notes that 'countertenor' is the correct term: "It's not feminine, it's not masculine. It's a happy medium ... I feel like if the world was more like that, our problems would be gone."
Critic Jamieson Cox, writing for Pitchfork Media, wrote:
"With a piercing countertenor somewhere between Prince masquerading as Camille and the cracking adolescent soul of the teenage Michael Jackson, the 19-year-old North Las Vegas native dismantles the expectations maintained for vocalists based on their gender, demanding instead that the focus be placed on his agile, fluttering performance."
Shamir's style has been described as a distinctive mix of disco and funk with hints of pop "laced with old skool house". Life & Soul has described him as "a dynamic young artist who successfully adopts the craft of his musical heroes Michael Jackson and Prince."
Stain
Shamir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who wants to drill a hole in my head to make me think
And stares for me as I enter the facility
They all look dead but still breathing
But there′s a stain on the front lobe of my brain
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
But there's a side to me I hold back constantly
I downed a pill to kill all of my bad thoughts
But it got rid of all my really good ones, so i sit
Unimpressed like all the rest of all the zombies surrounding me
But there′s a stain on the front lobe of my brain
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
But there's a side to me I hold back constantly
And I try, I try, but itstill haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
But there's a stain on the front lobe of my brain
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
But there′s a side to me I hold back constantly
And I try, I try, but it still haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
Haunts my dreams
The song "Stain" by Shamir delves into the internal turmoil that one experiences when they feel like they are not living up to societal or personal expectations. The first few lines describe a situation where the singer is taken by his parents to a place where they want to "drill a hole in [his] head to make [him] think." This could be seen as a metaphor for societal pressures to conform or fit into a mold that doesn't allow for individuality or creativity. The people in the facility are also described as "dead but still breathing," which highlights the idea that they are merely going through the motions of life without any real passion or purpose.
The chorus itself speaks to the mental stain or weight that is on the singer's mind - the fact that they feel ashamed of who they are or how they are perceived. Despite trying to "hold back [their true self] constantly," they feel haunted by their inner desires or thoughts that they can't seem to shake. They try to self-medicate to get rid of these thoughts, but it ends up removing all of their good thoughts as well - leaving them feeling numb and disconnected from everyone else around them.
Overall, the song is a reflection of the struggles that come with trying to fit into a mold or to live up to expectations that are placed on us by society or ourselves. The singer recognizes their own internal struggle but is unsure of how to deal with it - leaving them feeling lost and ashamed.
Line by Line Meaning
Mom and dad took me to a man
The singer's parents took them to a person who is going to try and change how they think.
Who wants to drill a hole in my head to make me think
The person the singer's parents took them to wants to do a procedure that would change how the singer thinks.
And stares for me as I enter the facility
The people who work at the facility where the procedure is supposed to take place are looking at the singer as they enter.
They all look dead but still breathing
The people who work at the facility seem lifeless despite still being alive.
But there′s a stain on the front lobe of my brain
The artist feels like there is something 'bad' about themselves in their brain.
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
Despite the singer's efforts to rid themselves of this feeling of negativity, they still feel ashamed.
But there's a side to me I hold back constantly
The singer is hiding a part of themselves from the world.
And I try, I try, but it still haunts my dreams
Despite their efforts to hide their true self, the artist still thinks about it and is bothered by it in their dreams.
I downed a pill to kill all of my bad thoughts
The artist tried to use medication to get rid of their negative thoughts.
But it got rid of all my really good ones, so I sit
The medication the artist took got rid of all their 'good' thoughts, leaving them feeling unimpressed.
Unimpressed like all the rest of all the zombies surrounding me
The singer feels like the people around them are also 'lifeless' and lacking in emotion.
But there′s a stain on the front lobe of my brain
The artist is still struggling with the negative feeling they have about themselves.
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
The singer is still trying to overcome their feelings of shame.
But there's a side to me I hold back constantly
The singer is still hiding a part of themselves from others.
And I try, I try, but itstill haunts my dreams
The singer is still thinking about this hidden part of themselves even in their dreams.
Haunts my dreams
The feelings and thoughts that the artist is suppressing still bother them even in their dreams.
Haunts my dreams
The artist cannot escape their negative feelings even while asleep.
Haunts my dreams
The negative parts of the singer are a constant presence even in their subconscious.
But there's a stain on the front lobe of my brain
The singer is still fixated on this 'bad' part of themselves.
And I try, I try, but I still feel ashamed
The artist is still struggling to overcome their feelings of shame.
But there′s a side to me I hold back constantly
The artist is still hiding their true self from others.
And I try, I try, but it still haunts my dreams
The artist is still grappling with their negative feelings even in their dreams.
Haunts my dreams
The negative aspects of the singer continue to affect them even subconsciously.
Haunts my dreams
The artist is unable to escape the negativity they feel even while sleeping.
Haunts my dreams
The negative thoughts and emotions of the singer are ever present in their subconscious.
Writer(s): Shamir Bailey
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.