Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
Male Model
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn away before you go
and turn me on
I cannot look away
I'm stunned
it's that Je ne sais quoi
uh huh
He talks to me in my sleep
Should I try to play just like him?
Kick it out, could you show me your riffs?
You always measure me by him
Don't get me wrong
I'm not opposed to something big
I'm so sick of tests
Go ahead and flunk my ass
You don't own the situation, honey
You don't own the stage
We're here to join the conversation
and we're here to raise the stakes
Now do you hear that sound
as the Model breaks
Take the stage!
Let the image of him fade away
Go back and tear the pictures from the page
It's time for a new rock n' roll age
History will have to find a different face
and if you're ready for more
I just might be what you're looking for
You don't own the situation, honey
You don't own the stage
We're here to join the conversation
and we're here to raise the stakes
Now do you hear that sound
as the Model breaks
Take the stage!
In the song Male Model, Sleater-Kinney discusses the pressures and influences that come with striving for success in a music industry dominated by men. The song begins by describing the allure of a male model with a "perfect face," and the desire to emulate his talent and style. The singer questions whether the model is responsible for her own success and contemplates trying to play like him. This obsession with the male model represents a larger issue of women being judged and compared to men in the music industry.
Furthermore, the song speaks to the idea of breaking free from these expectations and limitations. The singer is tired of being compared to the male model and is ready to take the stage on her own terms. She is not opposed to "something big," but wants to be recognized for her own talents and abilities. The lyrics "We're here to join the conversation / and we're here to raise the stakes" suggest a call to action for women to challenge the male-dominated industry and create a new rock n' roll age.
Overall, Male Model is a powerful anthem for women in music who are fighting to be recognized for their talents and not held back by societal expectations and comparisons to men.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got a perfect face
The subject of the song is a male model who is physically attractive.
Turn away before you go and turn me on
The singer is attracted to the male model but also feels conflicted about it.
I cannot look away, I'm stunned, it's that Je ne sais quoi, uh huh
The singer is mesmerized by the male model's charm and charisma.
He talks to me in my sleep, does he write my songs for me, should I try to play just like him? Kick it out, could you show me your riffs?
The singer is inspired by the male model and wonders if he has any influence on her creative process. She also wants to learn from him and improve her own skills.
You always measure me by him, don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to something big
The singer feels pressure to live up to the male model's standards and acknowledges the importance of success in the competitive music industry.
I'm so sick of tests, go ahead and flunk my ass
The singer is tired of being judged and evaluated, and invites her critics to criticize her openly.
You don't own the situation, honey, you don't own the stage, we're here to join the conversation, and we're here to raise the stakes
The singer asserts that she and her bandmates are equal to the male model and belong in the music industry, and that their goal is to push the boundaries and take risks.
Now do you hear that sound as the model breaks, take the stage!
The singer invites herself and her bandmates to challenge the male model's dominance and take control of their own careers and creative visions.
Let the image of him fade away, go back and tear the pictures from the page, it's time for a new rock n' roll age, history will have to find a different face, and if you're ready for more, I just might be what you're looking for
The singer rejects the male model's influence and calls for a new era of rock and roll that is defined by female empowerment and creative freedom. She also suggests that she herself is capable of achieving greatness and offers herself as an alternative to the male model.
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.