Sleigh Bells is an electronic and noise pop duo formed in 2008 in Brooklyn,… Read Full Bio ↴Sleigh Bells is an electronic and noise pop duo formed in 2008 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The band members are Alexis Krauss (vocalist, lyricist) and Derek E. Miller (songwriter, guitarist, producer). Miller was formerly the guitarist for the hardcore band Poison the Well, and Krauss was a member of the teen pop group RubyBlue.

In 2008, Miller was waiting tables at a neighborhood Brazilian restaurant, Miss Favela, where he encountered Alexis and her mother. When he mentioned he was looking for a female vocalist to work with on a musical project, Krauss' mother immediately volunteered her. After steadily gaining popularity throughout 2009, Sleigh Bells signed to M.I.A.'s label N.E.E.T. in Spring 2010.

The duo released the 7-track EP Sleigh Bells. The EP received much attention and all but the last two tracks were re-recorded for their debut album.

Sleigh Bells issued the single "Tell 'Em" as a free download in April 2010. On 11 May 2010, they released their debut full-length album entitled Treats. Amidst blown-out drum beats, fuzzed guitars and synth-pop sensibilities, Krauss balances each song with a voice that is both forceful and elegant. Four other singles supported the album: "Crown on the Ground", "Infinity Guitars", "Rill Rill" and "Riot Rhythm".

Sleigh Bells began recording songs for their second studio album in June 2011. Describing the sound of the new album, Krauss said, "It sounds really huge, so there's going to still be tons of volume".

On 15 December 2011, the band released the single "Born to Lose", followed in January 2012 by "Comeback Kid". The second album, Reign of Terror, was released on 21 February 2012. They made their network television debut on the 18 February 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live, performing the songs "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line".

Only a few months after the release of Reign of Terror, Sleigh Bells began writing a third studio album for a possible 2013 release. Before the end of 2012, the album was said to feature more writing from Krauss and with a cleaner sound. The album, titled Bitter Rivals, was released on 8 October 2013, through Mom + Pop Music. According to Krauss, several tracks would feature dynamic acoustic riffs and R&B-ish vocals. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Krauss clarified the new style of the album, saying, "I was interested in doing something Beyoncé or Janet Jackson would do, these slow-winding, sparkling melodies."

On 7 December 2015, Sleigh Bells premiered a new song titled "Champions of Unrestricted Beauty", while announcing they were finishing up their fourth studio album. The duo released the single "Rule Number One" on 7 June 2016, followed by "Hyper Dark" on 19 July 2016. On 24 August 2016, Sleigh Bells released their fourth studio album Jessica Rabbit, marking the first release on the duo's own label, Torn Clean, in partnership with Sinderlyn. The mini-album Kid Kruschev followed on 10 November 2017.

Sleigh Bells released their sixth studio album, Texis, on 10 September 2021 through Mom + Pop Music. Music videos were released for album singles "Locust Laced" and "Justine Go Genesis".

Official site: https://tornclean.com/

Tell Em
Sleigh Bells Lyrics

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All the kids, all the kids these days
All the kids, all the kids these days
Do you really wanna be that way?
Do you really wanna be that way?

Let me say, let me say, let me say
Let me say, let me say, let me say
Does it really have to be that way?

Does it really have to be that way?

And, did you know you could make me scream?
And, did you know you could make me scream?

Like the kids in the neighborhood
Like the kids in the neighborhood

Tell me what to say, tell me what to say
Tell me what to say, tell me what to say

Did you do your best today?
Did you do your best today?

All the girls, all the girls these days
All the girls, all the girls these days
Did you do your best today?
Did you do your best today?

All the boys, all the boys these days
All the boys, all the boys these days
Look away, look away, look away
Look away, look away, look away

Champagne, cocaine, champagne, cocaine, champagne, cocaine, champagne
You better just manage your weight
You better just manage your weight

Let me say, let me say, let me say
Let me say, let me say, let me say

You could do your best today
You could do your best today

Overall Meaning

In "Tell 'Em," Sleigh Bells lead singer Alexis Krauss probes the mindset of modern youth culture, encouraging them to aspire to something better, something beyond the numbness and instant gratification of living in an instant society. The repetition of the phrases "all the kids these days" and "does it really have to be that way?" seem to suggest that Krauss is commenting on youth trends that she recognizes as harmful. "Did you do your best today?" she asks, indicating that that's all that can be asked of anyone in the end. The line "let me say, let me say, let me say" is a nod towards the power of her voice as an artist and her ability to address her fanbase.

The song's chorus "And did you know you could make me scream?" appears to be a reference to feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. Krauss uses the example of "the kids in the neighborhood" to show that kids can accomplish powerful things if they put their minds to it, but unfortunately some of them are choosing to waste their potential on drugs and other distractions.

Overall, "Tell 'Em" seems to be encouraging young people to wake up from their passive stupor and to try to do better, to reach for their aspirations and dreams, and to not let themselves be swallowed up by the less healthy aspects of today's modern culture.

Line by Line Meaning

All the kids, all the kids these days
The current youth generation

Do you really wanna be that way?
Do you want to conform to societal norms imposed on youth?

Let me say, let me say, let me say
Allow me to voice my opinion

Does it really have to be that way?
Does society have to impose rigid expectations?

And, did you know you could make me scream?
You have the power to shock me

Like the kids in the neighborhood
Like the young people in my community

Tell me what to say, tell me what to say
I am open to guidance on how to express myself

Did you do your best today?
Did you perform at your highest level today?

All the girls, all the girls these days
Females in the current youth generation

All the boys, all the boys these days
Males in the current youth generation

Look away, look away, look away
Ignore the conformity issues and gaze elsewhere