Steam Powered Giraffe has its own fictional mythology, with the band members portraying characters both on stage and on record; its fictional universe has been explored via several comic books mainly written and drawn by Isabella Bennett. Although the band underwent several line-up changes, it always focuses primarily on three robot characters (played by the Bennett siblings and a third performer, although the original line-up featured four robots), with several "humans" assisting and performing comedy, music and dancing on stage, and several smaller robots being performed via puppetry or voice acting. To date, they have released five studio albums, two live albums, several live concert films, provided the soundtrack for the 2015 video game SteamWorld Heist, and released an official single for the 2016 video game Battleborn.
The members of Steam Powered Giraffe met while taking Theatre Arts at Grossmont College. Afterwards, they became members of a local San Diego pantomime group called Troupe SD. Trained in pantomime by Seaport Village mime Jerry "Kazoo" Hager, and with collective backgrounds in clown, theater, music, and visual design, Jonathan Sprague, Erin Burke (a fellow pantomime artist) and the Bennett twins—Isabella and David—started street busking as quirky robotic characters in January 2008 at Balboa Park, California. For their first performance in public they called themselves Steam Powered Giraffe Presents: Peoplebots . Later that month they changed their name to just Steam Powered Giraffe). Erin Burke left the group in 2011 to pursue a career in acting.
Since their conception, the band has performed at venues including the San Diego County Fair, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Legoland California, Ontario Mills, Downtown Disney, and numerous science fiction, fantasy, anime, and steampunk conventions.
In October 2009, the band released their first album, Album One. It contained the previously released single from May 2009 titled "On Top of the Universe", in 2009. In early 2011 the band released a single, "Honeybee", announcing that it would be on an upcoming second album. In late 2011 the band announced the release of a "live" album entitled Live at the Globe of Yesterday's Tomorrow.
Their second studio album, entitled The 2¢ Show, was released in May 2012. That year, they were voted Best Live Comedy act (and runner up for Best Family Entertainment act) on San Diego A-List.
Besides their musical endeavors, the band publishes a web comic and has produced a card game based on characters in their backstory. In April 2012 they released a DVD entitled, Steam Powered Giraffe: The DVD (and the Quest For the Eternal Harp of Golden Dreams).
On 24 September 2012, the band announced on their Tumblr page that Jon Sprague would no longer be a part of the group. On 1 October it was announced that Sam Luke, the drummer for the band at the time, would become the new robot in the band, "Hatchworth". On 2 November 2012, Hatchworth made his stage debut with SPG at Youmacon in Detroit, Michigan with interim drummer Mike Buxbaum (of A City Serene). Later, Matt Smith was named SPG's new drummer.
During this time, SPG also introduced the characters of the Walter Girls into their shows. The Girls started out by manning the band's merchandise tables at performances, but have started figuring in to the SPG stage show and back story. Described as "blue matter engineers", the porcelian-white skinned and blue-haired Walter Girls (now called Walter Workers) are essentially the robot's caretakers on stage.
In June 2013, SPG released a cover of Rihanna's "Diamonds", essentially a solo performance by the Spine. The accompanying video, released to YouTube, introduced a new character to the SPG canon, a robotic giraffe puppet named GG (voiced by Bunny Bennett). GG appeared again in July when the band released a comedic video, "Walter Robotics Rap", to YouTube.
On 9 August 2013, Steam Powered Giraffe announced the title to their third album, MK III. The album was released on December 3. In September of that same year, the band released a cover of Icona Pop's "I Love It" on their YouTube channel.
On March 18, 2014, it was announced that Michael Reed and Matt Smith would no longer be performing members of Steam Powered Giraffe. The Bennett twins stated that the reasons for their departure was to focus more on the theatrical elements of the act and to reduce the cost of touring.
Early in 2014, Isabella Bennett began to transition the character of Rabbit from male to female, coinciding with her own status as a transgender woman. She legally changed her name to Isabella Bennett on 22 January 2016.
More videos have followed in the meantime. In May 2014, they released their third cover, a mostly acoustic version of Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". The video marked the first "official" appearance by the female Rabbit to the general public at large (although the band had played some dates prior and some photos and raw audience footage had been seen). The band then followed up with two new videos: "Fancy Shoes" in June and "I'll Rust With You" in July, with the latter featuring live footage recorded at Anime Midwest in Rosemont, Illinois.
In September 2014, Steam Powered Giraffe gave their first international performance, playing at the Grand Canadian Steampunk Exposition in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. They returned for the 2015 Exposition to do a collaboration show with Professor Elemental.
On September 1, 2015, SPG released The Vice Quadrant: A Space Opera, a 2-disc space opera concept album containing 28 tracks, although iTunes released it as two separate albums for download. The release followed a number of video releases to promote the work. This marked the band's first recorded work with Rabbit presenting as a woman, as well as the first full album recorded strictly as a trio. The album featured an appearance by Professor Elemental as well as vocals by Walter Worker Chelsea Penyak.
In December 2015, video game developer Image & Form released the game SteamWorld Heist for the Nintendo 3DS, and later released it in 2016 on other platforms. The game's soundtrack was composed and recorded by SPG, and they appear in-game.
The video game Battleborn by Gearbox Software released on May 3, 2016, and included an unlockable theme song created by Steam Powered Giraffe for the character of Montana; the same day, the band released it on digital platforms as a single.
On June 20, 2016, Steam Powered Giraffe announced on their website that their fifth studio album, Quintessential was available for pre-order. According to the article, a free downloadable digital copy of the twelve-track album would be included with the purchase of the CD.
On December 19, 2016, the band announced on social media that Samuel Luke would be leaving the group so he could focus more on his independent work as an artist and musician. He then announced that he would immediately be replaced by Bryan Barbarin and his character Zero. The next day, the Bennetts, Sam, and Bryan came together in David and Isabella's new podcast, The Bennettarium, to discuss the robot transition, among other things. Zero's first live show occurred on February 18, 2017, at The Center Theater at The California Center for the Arts in Escondido, California.
It was confirmed on March 12, 2017, following her appearance on The Bennettarium, that the 2009 original release of the band's Album One album, featuring a song and some vocals by past band member Erin Burke would be re-released. Both the 2009 and 2011 version now co-exist.
On July 20, 2017 the band performed a show during San Diego Comic Con with former member Michael Philip Reed joining them on stage. Since this show, Michael joined the band for most shows up until February 2020.
On January 27, 2018 Steam Powered Giraffe celebrated the band's 10th anniversary with a special concert featuring all members in the band's history, including all five former members: robots The Jon, Upgrade and Hatchworth, and humans Michael Philip Reed and Matthew Smith. It was later released as a live concert film on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital video.
On April 18, 2019 the band announced the production of their next album, the first to feature Bryan and the first since MK III to feature Michael Philip Reed. They also confirmed that they would be releasing two new songs every three to four months alongside music videos for each song.
On March 3, 2020 the band announced that backing musician Michael Philip Reed was suddenly leaving the band to move out of the country. Reed had provided some contributions to tracks on the band's 6th album 1896 prior to his departure.
On July 1, 2020 the band uploaded two re-edits of their music videos Shattered Stars and Latum Alterum which removed former band member Michael Reed. In the pinned comments of these videos and a public post on their Patreon, David Michael Bennett from the band explained that the edits were in response to evidence brought to the band in private from multiple fans about Michael Reed’s inappropriate interactions with them. The band states that Michael had denied everything when the band contacted him about it, but that the evidence was overwhelming and they could not turn a blind eye to the people who came forward privately about said actions. Then on July 10th, 2020, the band posted publicly on their Patreon that they were no longer working with their live show sound technician Steve Negrete, followed by a statement from him. In the statement Steve said he was resigning from the band due to having had relationships with fans and that he must take responsibility for his own actions after reflecting in light of the information about Michael Reed. He apologized for his actions and stated that he will not be working with the band any further. The music video for the band’s song Shattered Stars was re-uploaded with another re-edit, removing shots of Steve Negrete in addition to the previous removal of Michael Reed.
Malfunction
Steam Powered Giraffe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's causing this Malfunction
Mislabeled, unable, to repair this Mal-
Functioning just fine, I'm alive
At this junction of dysfunction, we arrive
What's your Malfunction?
What's your Malfunction?
Find its mirth, perfect's a bore for what it's worth
Gold, silver, copper, bronze
The dullest metal can still be strong
Well we might have our share of ticks
But honey that's how we get our kicks
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away
Malfunction! Malfunction! Malfunction!
My function's desire
Climb higher than a spider on the wire
You function in mirth
But that sector might need rebirth
I'm about to pick you up
get you back up on your feet
you don't need to worry love
Even if we're incomplete
Come on baby open up
Pull out the wires and trim the fluff
Be yourself sounds so cliche
But hey let's do it anyway
We're functioning just fine, we're alive
At this junction of dysfunction we are arrive
What's your Malfunction?
Don't be scare, it don't matter how you wear your hair
What's your Malfunction?
Bring it forth perfect's a bore for what it's worth
Curvy, skinny, or bizarre
The best shape is who you are
Raise your hand if you're not from a mold (yeah me)
Varied strings are worth more than gold
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away
Malfunction! Malfunction! Malfunction!
Feel the fires as they tickle your face
Watch and learn as they make you feel disgrace
Ones and zeroes left over, left out to haunt
Comb them in and let them want
I want more from this stupid life
Do you want more from this stupid life? (oh yeah)
Ones and zeroes, ones and zeroes, ones and zeroes
Add them up, take them up, show them
I'm functioning just fine I'm alive
At my junction of dysfunction we arrive
What's their Malfunction?
It's a start; Can we teach them not to fall apart?
Their Malfunction isn't us, it's all the clamor and the fuss
When I say that I love you, dammit Janet, take it as truth
Everything's a little broken
To be pristine well you must be jokin'
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl-function away
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl-function away
“Malfunction” by Steam Powered Giraffe is a song that explores identity and self-acceptance through the lens of robot malfunctioning. The song begins with the singer questioning their identity and what is causing their “Malfunction.” They are “unable to repair” themselves, but they are “functioning just fine” and are alive. Throughout the song, the singer encourages others to embrace their own unique “Malfunctions” and to not conform to societal pressures of perfection. The chorus repeats the phrase “Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away” which is a play on words of the phrase “malfunction.”
The song’s themes of self-acceptance and embracing individuality are important messages, especially for young people who may feel pressured to fit into a certain mold. The use of robots in the song allows for a metaphorical exploration of these themes.
The song also has a catchy and upbeat tune that keeps the listener engaged with the lyrics. The use of different instruments, such as the accordion and banjo, adds to the playful and unique sound of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Who am I? What am I? What's inside?
Questioning self-identity and internal struggles
That's causing this Malfunction
Acknowledgement of a malfunction due to internal struggles
Mislabeled, unable, to repair this Mal-
Feeling misunderstood and incapable of fixing oneself
Functioning just fine, I'm alive
Despite malfunctioning, still existing and functioning in life
At this junction of dysfunction, we arrive
Acceptance of current state of dysfunction
What's your Malfunction?
Questioning others' internal struggles
Don't be scare, It don't matter how you wear your hair
Assurance that one's appearance and flaws do not define them
Find its mirth, perfect's a bore for what it's worth
Encouragement to embrace one's flaws and find happiness in them
Gold, silver, copper, bronze
Listing different metals to imply variety and uniqueness
The dullest metal can still be strong
Even though something may seem dull or flawed, it can still be valuable or powerful
Well we might have our share of ticks
Acknowledgement of individual flaws or quirks
But honey that's how we get our kicks
Flaws or quirks can be enjoyable and add to individuality
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl function away
Encouragement to keep functioning, even if malfunctioning
My function's desire
Personal goal or ambition
Climb higher than a spider on the wire
Ambition to achieve something greater than expected
You function in mirth
Others find happiness in their own unique way
But that sector might need rebirth
Acknowledgement that others may need to change or grow in certain areas
I'm about to pick you up
Offering help or support
get you back up on your feet
Motivating or assisting others to stand on their own again
you don't need to worry love
Assurance that everything will be alright
Even if we're incomplete
Even with flaws or imperfections, we can still support and care for each other
Come on baby open up
Encouragement to be vulnerable and honest
Pull out the wires and trim the fluff
Metaphorically removing unnecessary parts of oneself to find truth or authenticity
Be yourself sounds so cliche
Acknowledgement that being oneself is often said but not always practiced
But hey let's do it anyway
Encouragement to be oneself despite cliches or potential judgement
Curvy, skinny, or bizarre
Listing different types of appearances to imply variety and uniqueness
The best shape is who you are
Encouragement to embrace one's appearance and individuality
Raise your hand if you're not from a mold (yeah me)
Questioning standard or normative expectations and implying that individuality is valuable
Varied strings are worth more than gold
Individual differences or uniqueness are more valuable than material possessions
Feel the fires as they tickle your face
Imagery of fire implies struggle or discomfort
Watch and learn as they make you feel disgrace
Imagery of fire implies a negative feeling, such as shame or humiliation
Ones and zeroes left over, left out to haunt
Metaphor for lingering or unresolved issues
Comb them in and let them want
Acknowledgement that unresolved issues may never fully go away, but can instead be managed
I want more from this stupid life
Desire for a more fulfilling or satisfying life
Do you want more from this stupid life? (oh yeah)
Rhetorical question implying that others may share this desire
Ones and zeroes, ones and zeroes, ones and zeroes
Repetition of binary numbers as a motif for technology or modernity
Add them up, take them up, show them
Metaphor for taking control and showing strength, implying that modernity or technology can be managed
What's their Malfunction?
Questioning the internal struggles of others
It's a start; Can we teach them not to fall apart?
Hopeful suggestion that one can learn to manage internal struggles
Their Malfunction isn't us, it's all the clamor and the fuss
Acknowledgement that external factors or societal pressures can contribute to internal struggles
When I say that I love you, dammit Janet, take it as truth
Affirmation of love and honesty
Everything's a little broken
Acknowledgement that everyone or everything has some form of flaw or imperfection
To be pristine well you must be jokin'
Impossibility of absolute perfection
Mah-ah-ah-ah-ahl-function away
Reiteration of encouragement to keep functioning even if malfunctioning
Contributed by Lucy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jay-ih9jp
This-
There's a lot of things that Steam Powered Giraffe has done that I loved, but this-
This is on par with "A Way Into Your Heart" in terms of being one of the sweetest, most touching gestures I've ever seen.
Including your fans in anything in general is a sweet gesture in it's own right, however doing it by wrapping their appearance in such an important and great message is just incredible.
I wasn't aware of this at all until the day I saw it, so it kind of caught me off-guard, but that made it even better.
Better still is that you guys actually included your own flaws in it, too, which just makes you seem all the more grounded and connected to your fans - two things which I very much appreciate about you.
And finally, I just love how you included people with disabilities or issues with their gender-identity, but also people with "Lesser" flaws, such as a short temper or fear of the dark. Those lesser flaws that people hate about themselves often get ignored in favor of paying attention to people with more serious issues, and while I'm not saying that those serious issues shouldn't be addressed, it was a nice breath of fresh air to see everyone get a chance to address their problem without inevitably and immediately being silenced because someone has it worse than them and they didn't happen to be born with a disability.
As for a sidenotes:
A. I'm impressed that people were not only able to be honest about small or big faults they saw in themselves, but were also able to keep it so short and sweet.
B. That said, if I were to write down my "malfunctions" the list would be way too long (And include everything from my fear of spiders to my unwillingness to try new things to my oh-so-infamous short temper to how condescending and patronizing I can be at times and much, much more.
Overall, this was amazing, not only is the song very catchy and just nice to listen to, the lyrics are touching and every detail of this amazing gesture is handled very well.
@mememachine1219
God, this band has to have one of the kindest, sweetest communities on the Internet. It's honestly jarring to come from all the hate and negativity to this little bundle of kindness, where everyone is proud of their little quirks, and open and accepting to everyone who's also not normal. I guess a weird band gets weird fans, in the best way possible <3
@kevinlittleton3983
Yes!! One of the main keys to continuous happiness is to absolutely give up on judging anyone. Forgiveness is key, and wishing (and bestowing) blessings on all you meet or even think about will powerfully create a positive response from The Law of Attraction. Easy? Nope. Just totally worth it. If you have enemies in any area of your life, create friendships instead, but if you can't- don't spend any emotional attention whatsoever to them. "Whatever you put your attention on, grows in your life." Accepting people as they are, flaws and all, makes the best sense. YOU hit the nail on the head with this post. Thank you!
@juster04
They need a show
@jrayproductions7790
Steampunk, in general, is pretty welcoming, to the weird. I mean, we're all weird, here, aren't we?
@jr540123
Been in and out for years with them. Just wanna say from when I first saw them tell now they have always been amazing! I love their music even if its not all the greatest they have bangers like this that remind us again and again we are all together. Love you all. You folks are amazing.
@catey62
Well if their fans are a weird bunch then I'll fit in just fine..normal is for boring people...lol
@MoonlitRose101
5 years late to listening to this, but I literally just broke down crying because of this. They were happy tears though. seeing so many people like me, messed up in some way or another made me feel less lonely and I just
I'm trans, I'm neurodivergent, and I'm not alone.
thanks SPG. yall are amazing.
@cryth2725
no such thing as too late, friend.
@rainetigress
Trans, neurodivergent but also diagnosed with schizophrenia. We are not alone, but we still keep going. You are strong just like the rest of us.
@limitless_93
you arent messed up. a real diamond is NEVER perfect.