From their third album (Neon Ballroom) onward, the band have tried to experiment with slightly more complex song structures, pop influences, and the usage of orchestral backing on a few songs, most notably on their fourth album Diorama with composer Van Dyke Parks contributing to three of the tracks. This change is shown on their performance in their only live album "Live At Faraway Stables" where the band plays two sets - the first comprising newer material where they are backed by two keyboardists to simulate orchestral arrangements, and the second containing their earlier material.
2007 saw the release of the band's latest album Young Modern, featuring the lead single Straight Lines; the song reached number one on the ARIA singles charts. The album was supported by a full tour of North America (their first since 1999), and an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand with fellow Aussie post-grunge rockers Powderfinger, entitled "Across the Great Divide."
To quote Daniel Johns, "I've been thinking a lot since we finished [[album artist=Silverchair]Young Modern] about where this fits into the other stuff we've done. The way I see it, the first album was naivete, the second one was anger, the third one was depression and the last one was escapism. Young Modern is all about acceptance."
The band announced an indefinite hiatus in May 2011:
"We formed Silverchair nearly 20 years ago when we were just 12 years old. Today we stand by the same rules now as we did back then ... if the band stops being fun and if it's no longer fulfilling creatively, then we need to stop. [...] Despite our best efforts over the last year or so, it's become increasingly clear that the spark simply isn't there between the three of us at the moment. Therefore after much soul searching we wanted to let you know that we're putting Silverchair into "indefinite hibernation" and we've decided to each do our own thing for the foreseeable future".
—Daniel, Ben and Chris, chairpage.com (Silverchair Official Website), 25 May 2011.
Members:
* Daniel Johns (vocals, guitar)
* Chris Joannou (bass)
* Ben Gillies (drums)
Albums:
* Tomorrow (EP) (1994)
* Frogstomp (1995)
* Freak Show (1997)
* Neon Ballroom (1999)
* The Best Of - Volume One (2000)
* Diorama (2002)
* Rarities 1994-1999 (2002)
* Live From Faraway Stables (2CD & DVD) (2003)
* Young Modern (2007)
Paint Pastel Princess
Silverchair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a mean left
Cold carbon copied coping
And it's mean theft
That's been left behind
Paint pastel princess
Bo and arapax the shelves when they're broken
Waste life when youth is sweeter
Neater content with contents
Cultures cringing at accents
And it's too tense camp out
She tastes the candy sugarless cancerous
Crave cocaine cop shows
I'll beg you, beg you
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same to me
But it's all the same
Paint pastel princess
Bo and arapax the shelves when they're broken
I'll beg you, beg you
The lyrics to Silverchair's song Paint Pastel Princess touch on themes of self-rejection, coping mechanisms, and societal pressures. The first verse states "It's only self-rejection with a mean left, cold carbon copied coping, and it's mean theft that's been left behind." The singer is dealing with feelings of self-rejection and using coping mechanisms that are not healthy or productive, leading to a sense of loss.
The chorus has the repeated line "Paint pastel princess, Bo and Arapax the shelves when they're broken, I'll beg you, beg you." The phrase "paint pastel princess" could be interpreted in a few ways - perhaps as a metaphor for creating something delicate and beautiful while feeling fragile, or as an indictment of the societal pressure to appear flawless and put-together. "Bo and Arapax the shelves when they're broken" could refer to a retail job where the singer is responsible for tidying up the shelves, even when they're in disarray. The repeated begging could be a plea for help or a desperate attempt to keep up appearances.
The second verse furthers the themes of societal pressures and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The line "Waste life when youth is sweeter" speaks to the idea of feeling as though one is not living up to their potential or not taking advantage of their youth. "Neater content with contents" could refer to feeling as though material possessions can bring happiness or contentment, even if that feeling is fleeting. "Cultures cringing at accents, and it's too tense camp out" could refer to the struggles of those who don't fit into societal norms, who find themselves living on the fringes of societal acceptance.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the difficulties of fitting into societal expectations and the toll that it takes on individuals who don't fit the mold. The repeated refrain of "but it's all the same to me" could show a sense of resignation to the way things are, even when they're not healthy or productive.
Line by Line Meaning
It's only self rejection
The singer believes that their problems are caused by their own lack of self-worth.
With a mean left
The singer feels hurt and rejected.
Cold carbon copied coping
The singer is using the same negative coping mechanisms over and over again.
And it's mean theft
The artist feels like they are being robbed of happiness and positivity.
That's been left behind
The artist is dwelling on past negative experiences.
Paint pastel princess
The singer is encouraging someone to express themselves through art.
Bo and arapax the shelves when they're broken
The singer is suggesting using a specific brand of adhesive to fix broken shelves.
I'll beg you beg you
The artist is desperate for the listener to take this advice and improve their life.
Waste life when youth is sweeter
The artist regrets wasting their youth and not enjoying it to the fullest.
Neater content with contents
The artist feels like they have a better understanding of themselves and their personal values.
Cultures cringing at accents
The singer is describing feeling out of place and like an outsider in certain cultural contexts.
And it's too tense camp out
The artist feels uncomfortable and anxious in social situations.
She tastes the candy sugarless cancerous
The singer is warning someone about the dangers of consuming unhealthy substances like candy and sugar.
Crave cocaine cop shows
The singer is criticizing the glorification of drug use and crime in popular media.
But it's all the same to me
The singer feels indifferent and apathetic towards their current situation.
Paint pastel princess
The artist is once again encouraging someone to express themselves through art.
Bo and arapax the shelves when they're broken
The artist is repeating their advice on fixing broken shelves.
I'll beg you, beg you
The singer is still pleading with the listener to take their advice.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL JOHNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind