The Avalanches are an electronic music collective from Melbourne, Australia… Read Full Bio ↴The Avalanches are an electronic music collective from Melbourne, Australia. They are well known for their use of eclectic sampling, having created their debut album, Since I Left You (2000), entirely out of over 3,500 samples of obscure records, movies, and television shows. This is famously demonstrated on their hit single "Frontier Psychiatrist".

Before this, they were a hip-hop group with the single album Rock City and the EPy El Producto. After a 16 year hiatus, they released their sophomore album Wildflower (2016), which was followed by We Will Always Love You (2020).

2. A defunct American surf rock group
NOTE: The former band actually got their name from the latter, as The Avalanches' " Ski Surfin''" album was known to be their favorite album.
The Avalanches was an instrumental surf rock studio group, active in the 1960s, which included Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, David Gates (later of Bread) and Hal Blaine. In 1963 they recorded an LP Ski Surfin', which was re-released in 2007.

Close To You
The Avalanches Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here we come, we got funk, [Repeat: x2]
Somebody, somewhere, sex with me,
Here, here we come, we got funk [Repeat: x2]

Next to me [Repeat: x6]

The disco, the disco, the disco, that's gotta be right, [Repeat: x4]
That's gotta be right, down to the midnight, to start

Down to the disco, the disco, the disco,
Down to the midnight, the start to the midnight, start to the midnight,
That's gotta be right

There's a tense young man that's goin' round, turnin' the joint, outside down, [Repeat: x2]
Down to the disco

Start to the midnight, down to the disco
Down to the disco

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Avalanches's song "Close to You" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The repeated line "Here we come, we got funk" suggests a group of people arriving at a place with a lively and energetic vibe, possibly a club or party. The line "Somebody, somewhere, sex with me" could be interpreted as a call to sexual freedom and liberation, encouraging listeners to let loose and enjoy themselves. The repeated line "Next to me" could be seen as a sense of camaraderie and togetherness, a celebration of being in the moment and experiencing life together.

The next part of the song speaks directly to the disco culture of the 1970s, mentioning the importance of getting things "right" and the excitement of going out to dance at midnight. The reference to a "tense young man" suggests a sense of danger or risk associated with the culture, perhaps reflecting the underground and rebellious nature of disco at the time.

Overall, "Close to You" is a celebration of the energy, passion, and excitement of nightlife, with a nod to the rich cultural history of disco.

Line by Line Meaning

Here we come, we got funk, [Repeat: x2]
We are arriving with a funky sound and attitude.

Somebody, somewhere, sex with me,
A confident request for someone to engage in sexual activity.

Here, here we come, we got funk [Repeat: x2]
Reasserting the arrival of the funk with added emphasis.

Next to me [Repeat: x6]
Repeatedly highlighting the closeness of the artist and another person.

The disco, the disco, the disco, that's gotta be right, [Repeat: x4]
Emphasizing that the disco is the place to be and it needs to be perfect.

That's gotta be right, down to the midnight, to start
The disco needs to be perfect down to the timing of its start at midnight.

Down to the disco, the disco, the disco,
Continuing to promote the disco as the ideal destination.

Down to the midnight, the start to the midnight, start to the midnight,
Reiterating the importance of getting the timing exactly right for the start of the event.

That's gotta be right
The overall message is that the disco needs to be perfect in every detail.

There's a tense young man that's goin' round, turnin' the joint, outside down, [Repeat: x2]
Describing a young man who is changing the vibe of the place and causing excitement.

Down to the disco
Once again highlighting the importance and appeal of the disco.

Start to the midnight, down to the disco
Recalling the need for perfect timing and the choice of location to get things started right.

Down to the disco
Final emphasis on the greatness of the disco.

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AUGUST DARNELL, CHRISTOPHER JASPER, ERNIE ISLEY, GORDON MCQUILTEN, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, ROBERT CHATER, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY

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