The three original members first played together in 1989, but didn't come together as an established act until 2000. Perhaps to make up for lost time, they proceeded to record their first album, a self-titled effort released on Fresh Sound, after playing only three gigs together. In 2002, after playing a show at the Village Vanguard which was heard by Columbia Records representative Yves Beauvais, the band was signed to Columbia. They released their major label debut, These Are the Vistas, in 2003, and followed it up with Give in 2004 and Suspicious Activity? in 2005. Also in 2005, a live disc - Blunt Object: Live in Tokyo - was released. The band went into the studio again in September 2006 to record Prog, released in May 2007.
The trio's music combines elements of traditional and free jazz with rock and pop influences; These Are the Vistas included a version of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and "Flim" by Aphex Twin. Give contains covers of tunes by the Pixies and Black Sabbath, while Suspicious Activity contains a cover of the theme from Chariots of Fire. Prog contains a cover of Rush's "Tom Sawyer".
Velouria
The Bad Plus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll trampoline
Finally through the roof
On to somewhere near
And far in time
Velouria
Her covering
Traveling career
Oh velveteen!
My Velouria, my Velouria
Even I'll adore you
My Velouria
Say to me
Where have you been
Finally through the roof
And how does lemur skin
Reflect the sea?
We will wade in the shine of the ever
We will wade in the shine of the ever
We will wade in the tides of the summer
Every summer
Every summer
Every
My Velouria
My Velouria
Forever green
I know she's here
In California
I can see the tears
Of shastasheen
My Velouria, my Velouria
Even I'll adore your
My Velouria
The lyrics in The Bad Plus's song Velouria create a dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere, as they depict someone holding onto someone else's head and trampolining into a place that's both near and far in time. The repetition of the name Velouria throughout the song adds to the surreal atmosphere, as if it were the name of the destination they're trying to reach. The mention of her "traveling career" and "California" contribute to the idea of a journey, while the line "She can really move, oh velveteen!" seems to describe Velouria herself, perhaps as a dancer or performer.
The second verse brings up the lemur and its skin, and asks how it reflects the sea, which adds another layer to the surreal imagery of the song. The repeated phrase "We will wade in the shine of the ever / We will wade in the tides of the summer" reinforces the idea of travel and the journey towards Velouria. The final verse is a bit more grounded, as it mentions the tears of a flower called shastasheen in California, which could evoke a sense of nostalgia or longing. The lyrics overall create a mysterious and otherworldly picture, one that leaves much open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold my head
I want you to support me and help me feel stable.
We'll trampoline
Together we'll jump and soar, leaving our worries behind.
Finally through the roof
We're breaking through boundaries and reaching new heights.
On to somewhere near
We're heading towards a destination that's close, but not quite here yet.
And far in time
And we'll continue on towards our destination for a long time.
Velouria
A metaphorical representation of the journey we're on together, covered in velvet.
Her covering
The journey's metaphorical covering continues to keep us safe and comfortable on our journey.
Traveling career
Our journey is like a career, always moving forward and developing.
She can really move
Our journey is fast-paced and we're making quick progress.
Oh velveteen!
The journey is soft and comforting, like a velvet fabric.
My Velouria, my Velouria
A repeated mantra, reminding ourselves of the journey we're on together.
Even I'll adore you
Even though we're both on this journey, I'll still admire and cherish you.
Say to me
Communicate with me and tell me your thoughts.
Where have you been
Where were you before this journey? What's your backstory?
And how does lemur skin
A non sequitur, indicating the unpredictability and surprise of our journey.
Reflect the sea?
A rhetorical question, indicating a connection between the lemur skin and the journey we're on.
We will wade in the shine of the ever
We'll embrace the beauty and light of the world as we move forward on our journey.
We will wade in the tides of the summer
We'll embrace the ups and downs of life, even as the seasons change.
Every summer
Our journey will continue through every summer and every season of life.
Forever green
Just like nature is resilient and always renews itself, our journey will keep going and stay fresh.
I know she's here
I feel that the journey is real and present with me.
In California
A specific location, setting the scene for the journey.
I can see the tears
A metaphorical reference to the beauty of the scenery or the emotions we're experiencing on this journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind