While at art college in Reading, Liam met David Westlake and Joe Wilson, who would both contribute to the first three albums and join the band on tour. When F.R.I.S.K. performed a gig with this line-up they later recorded some demos with Chris singing - these were considered the next stage in the evolution of Chis and Liam's professional partnership; another in an ever-improving set of smaller projects intended for a few thousand records at most. Drafting in Ian Pickering in 1995 to help with lyrics, they recruited Kelli Dayton for vocal duties after seeing her singing in a pub in Reading. The name 'Sneaker Pimps' itself was taken from a Beastie Boys article about a man they hired to track down classic shoes.
The first single Roll On preceded the first album, followed by Spin Spin Sugar, Post-Modern Sleaze, 6 Underground and Tesko Suicide. The album contains a myriad of 90s pop-culture references (such as film Thelma and Louise) coupled to dark double entendres and puns on drug taking and suicide. It was wildly successful everywhere: in America it remains their only real hit. In 2005, the song "Post-Modern Sleaze" (from the Becoming X album) was used as the theme song for Matroesjka's, an acclaimed Flemish drama series about Eastern European prostitutes and Belgians involved in the related sex trade.
Becoming X was "toured to death" over two years, particularly in America where the toll on Chris led to mental instability chronicled in the song Low Five. Depending on who you believe, Kelli Dayton left the band in 1998 or was sacked, going on to a solo career as Kelli Ali. The band trialled new vocallists, demoing some new songs with Icelandic chanteuse EmilΓana Torrini, but coupled with the feeling that these demos fit Corner's voice better, and the fear of being identified with the fad for trip-hop acts, Corner became the singer. The Line of Flight studio was moved from Hartlepool to London and production on the next album started immediately.
1999's Splinter features the back of Chris' head, symbolizing the break with Kelli and his not feeling up to the responsibility of being a 'front man'. Dayton's departure, while lamented by many, was positively received by some critics who felt that it gave the band a more honest, emotional timbre and a more uniquely identifiable sound, especially with regard to the rawer and more personal quality of the lyrics. The album's production retains the sampled style of Becoming X while being edgier, less beat-driven, and at times more psychedelic. Due to wrangles with Virgin Records, the album was self-released on their own Clean Up label and not released in the US. Without significant promotion, and the lack of obvious singles that Becoming X had shown, the album was not as successful, but the favourable critical response led the band to set up their own club night in London. Called 'Home Taping' and hosted at the [venue]ICA[/venue], it invited celebrities and musicians to submit their own cassette mixes for the night's entertainment, and the odd live set by the band. Allegedly, one was even received by Madonna.
For 2002's Bloodsport, the band decamped to France and Germany, recording in a farmhouse while capturing the trans-European essence of Berlinesque "new-wave punk". Liam Howe was unavailable, so long-term associate and friend Chris Tate was brought in for synthesizer duties. The album was a glossier affair than before and included Flood on production duties rather than the band. On Bloodsport's release (including this time the US via Tommy Boy Records) the album was a comparative flop, but made the Austrian top twenty. Its singles were more successful in both the UK and Europe.
Sneaker Pimps recorded demos, previewed live in Russia and on European radio in 2003 for an unknown movie soundtrack and a fourth album tentatively titled 'Recall' or 'Songs of Imaginary Beings'. The album was never released; Chris and Liam purportedly shelved the tracks as a Sneaker Pimps album for several reasons. One, they contained some very emotional songs penned by Corner that were felt to be more suitable for a solo project, and two, in some cases were simply not being good enough to be released. The band eventually drifted apart during protracted sessions for the 4th album: many of the 'SP4' demos leaked and have been rereleased by Chris Corner's solo project IAMX on 2004's Kiss and Swallow and 2006's The Alternative. Another solo project, not including Corner or Howe, was the nu-rave and Madchester influenced Trash Money.
In late 2006, it emerged that seven new demos had been found and leaked from a portable music player left in a Russian bar. The demos, including "Rush", "Samaritan", "Sun Ate The Moon", "The Shutdown" and "Satellite" all sung by a new female singer believed to be Paris Hampton and referred to by fans as 'SP5. The band did not comment on the leaking of this material until 2015 when Liam Howe confirmed that "the Magnificent 7" had been recorded by Sneaker Pimps exploring a new, poppier sound.
Joe and David left the band to work in film production and academia. Liam Howe went on to have a successful career in music production, while Chris moved to Berlin and later Los Angeles as IAMX enjoyed a sustained alternative career, releasing Kingdom of Welcome Addiction in 2009, Dogmatic Infidel Comedown Ok in 2010, Volatile Times in 2011, The Unified Field in 2013, Metanoia in 2016, Everything is Burning in 2017, Unfall in 2018, Alive in New Light in 2019 and Echo, Echo in 2020. Ian Pickering launched his new project The Noise who Runs in 2020.
Chris and Liam continued to tease working together on new projects throughout various IAMX eras, including a session initially planned as Sneaker Pimps material becoming the Liam-produced IAMX mini-album "Everything is Burning".
In 2019, singer Simonne Jones was confirmed as the new featured singer of Sneaker Pimps which then began recording their new album together in earnest. Finally in May 2021, 18 years after their last album was released, the Squaring the Circle era was announced with two new singles, "Fighter" and "Squaring The Circle," which were released in July.
A remix album 'Rework Collection 1' was released in August, and their fourth full studio record 'Squaring The Circle' was released on September 10th, 2021 on Chris Corner's label UNFALL Productions. 'Squaring The Circle' features material recorded with both Simonne and Chris on lead vocals.
More remix albums and a re-release of the band's older records is also planned, with the band regaining copy and distribution rights of 'Becoming X' and 'Splinter' via One Little Independent Records and the ongoing negotiations of a re-release of 'Bloodsport' with Tommy Boy Records.
Tesko Suicide
Sneaker Pimps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick and tired of being bubble gum chewed up
Dark lane, bleak house shrinking rose, you're over and out
Tie a cherry bootstring, put your candy teeth in
Feeling up the sweetheart, hang up, hang up, hang up
Go on girls solo,
Go on girls take a chance,
Go on girls the truth is
Cut your hair wear a chip on your shoulder
Get ahead, get laid, get it over
Cheap show, back seat martyr's pose, you're over and out
I'm checking out of my senses, buying best defenses
Putting on the trousers, hang up, hang up, hang up
Go on girls solo,
Go on girls take a chance,
Go on girls trust it,
Go on girls the truth is
So so single so low the truth is
You want the day to fit to a soundtrack
Get a story get a life and get back
You've got nothing to shout about
You're over and out
I'm checking out of my senses, buying best defenses
Fired up on free-will, hang up, hang up, hang up
Go on girls solo,
Go on girls take a chance,
Go on girls trust it,
Go on girls the truth is
So so single so low the truth is
So so single so low the truth is
Sneaker Pimps's song "Tesko Suicide" appears to be about rebellion, breaking free of expectations, and finding freedom in individualism. The song suggests that people are tired of the mundane, unfulfilling life that society expects them to live. The lyrics "sick and tired of being bubble gum chewed up" convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment. The idea of being "over and out" implies a feeling of resignation, with people feeling like they are done with conforming to society's norms. The lines "go on girls solo, go on girls take a chance, go on girls trust it, go on girls the truth is" could be interpreted as a message of empowerment, urging women in particular to break out of traditional roles and find their own way.
The song also conveys a sense of self-discovery, pushing people to experiment and find their own path. The lines "cut your hair wear a chip on your shoulder, get ahead, get laid, get it over" suggest a desire to take risks and live life on one's own terms. The idea of "checking out of my senses, buying best defenses" could be interpreted as a warning to be careful, but also suggests a desire for freedom from the strictures of daily life.
Overall, the song seems to be urging listeners to reject the conventional paths of life that have been laid out for them, and instead find their own way, even if it is difficult and uncertain. The idea of being "so so single so low" suggests that people may feel lonely or unsure at times, but that it is ultimately better to be true to oneself rather than living a life that feels inauthentic.
Line by Line Meaning
Phone me and I'll hang up
If you call me, I will refuse to talk to you because I am tired of being taken for granted and not valued in the way that I deserve.
Sick and tired of being bubble gum chewed up
I am exhausted of being treated like just another chewed up piece of gum that someone uses and discards without a second thought.
Dark lane, bleak house shrinking rose, you're over and out
You are in a dark and hopeless place in life which is slowly but surely taking away your beauty and vitality until you are completely defeated and done for.
Tie a cherry bootstring, put your candy teeth in
Try to make yourself look appealing and attractive on the surface, like an artificially sweet cherry flavor or a sugary smile that hides the bitterness inside.
Feeling up the sweetheart, hang up, hang up, hang up
You are trying to act sweet and innocent, but I see through your game and I will not tolerate your manipulations any longer.
Go on girls solo,
Women should have the courage and confidence to go it alone, to pursue their goals and dreams on their own terms without relying on anyone else to validate their worth.
Go on girls take a chance,
Don't be afraid to take risks, to step outside of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown, because that's where real growth and transformation can occur.
Go on girls trust it,
Believe in yourself and your abilities, even if others doubt you or try to bring you down, because your inner strength and wisdom will guide you towards success.
Go on girls the truth is
The truth is that you are capable of achieving great things, of creating the life that you want and deserve, but it all starts with believing in yourself and taking that first step forward.
Cut your hair wear a chip on your shoulder
Change your appearance and attitude in order to show the world that you are not to be underestimated or taken advantage of anymore.
Get ahead, get laid, get it over
Focus on achieving your goals and fulfilling your desires, whether they be professional or personal, and don't let anyone stand in your way or hold you back.
Cheap show, back seat martyr's pose, you're over and out
You are putting on a fake display of martyrdom and selflessness in order to gain sympathy and attention, but your true intentions and character are transparent and everyone can see through your facade.
I'm checking out of my senses, buying best defenses
I am becoming numb to the difficulties and chaos of life, and I am actively protecting myself with whatever means necessary in order to survive and thrive in this harsh world.
Putting on the trousers, hang up, hang up, hang up
I am taking charge of my life and my future, and I will not allow anyone or anything to hold me back or control me anymore.
So so single so low the truth is
The truth is that sometimes being single and independent can feel lonely and isolating, but it is also empowering and liberating to be able to rely on oneself and make one's own choices.
You want the day to fit to a soundtrack
You are trying to make your life and your experiences fit into a predetermined or idealized narrative, rather than embracing the messy, unpredictable reality of existence.
Get a story get a life and get back
Stop obsessing over crafting the perfect story or image of yourself, and start living a more authentic and fulfilling life that is true to who you really are.
You've got nothing to shout about
You have not accomplished anything significant or meaningful with your life, and you are struggling to find your voice or your purpose in the world.
Fired up on free-will, hang up, hang up, hang up
I am energized and motivated by my sense of freedom and agency, knowing that I have the power and the choice to create my own destiny and shape my own life.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CORNER, IAN PICKERING, LIAM COVERDALE-HOWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@petersharps3923
Nice to meet such a music lover here. It's great that knowing so much music and having such a large collection, you singled out Becoming X. Especially since you're from the USA where SP was practically unknown and even inappropriate for this part of the world. I know Hooverphonic (favorite eutracks are 2Wicky and Barabas)
Trip-hop is an elite music genre and one of the most rare, unheard of. I'll give you some trip-hop gems that will make a big impression on you.. Most of them are a niche, a great niche, but worth exploring, and I'm curious what you think about them. (if you still like this kind of music) (be sure to use good headphones or speakers)
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKNJCVruRLc
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s023wtJJW5A
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-sSqMscggM
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKQe8xeQpB4
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R__z2XV0wik
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2dsB7Gs_0
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdsHcoUPoUU
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJf1fxHvW0o
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr9Vc6ADgaI
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9YB63-83DI
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLXrESLWaQQ
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCqe_NwEaDo
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVC6eEP6BiM
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A25b63AWbJI
@003MB
No one could do it like Kelli Ali could back then, so unique.
@good4gaby
π―
@miked3168
but her solo stuff sucked
@003MB
@@miked3168 most of it yeah...
@nova68cutie
β@@miked3168true. However so did all of snicker pimps sh!t after she was gone.
@tsiiphsycoii
She can sing but she sure as hell cannot write @@miked3168
@Mew-zxn
words cant describe how happy i am that i live in the universe where iamx and sneaker pimps are both active projects
@bluegold21
I would have just said Sneaker Pimps are properly cool. Watevs.
@MrHumanracin
The debut album is still amazing, I canβt believe that they sacked Kelli Aliβ¦ their biggest asset?! They could have done amazing things together.
@joshjohnson634
Exactly!