The band formed in 1984 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Trevor Tanner, drummer Jan Kalicki, and bassist Nick Chown. (Tanner and Kalicki had previously played together in the short-lived punk band Moskow.) Early gigs supported the likes of The Cult, The March Violets, and Lords of the New Church. In 1985, the band released their debut single, "Sob Story", followed by the mini-LP, Giants. Word-of-mouth was such that the Bolshoi were able to sell out many of their early headlining performances.
The band migrated to London in 1985, and their lineup expanded to include Paul Clark on keyboards. In 1986, they released their first full-length LP, Friends, and expanded their touring schedule to U.S., South America, and Poland. Friends was followed in 1987 by the album Lindy's Party, on which the sound was more pop-oriented.
Stylistically, the Bolshoi were difficult to categorize. They have been described as a proto-goth band, similar in their live act to fellow Beggars Banquet signees, Bauhaus. Tanner was recognized for his dark, pensive lyrics that belied a social responsibility and awareness.
After the release of Lindy's Party, the band recorded a fourth album, but problems with their record label management impeded its release, and they disbanded as the 1980s drew to a close. The unreleased fourth album, apparently titled "Country Life", is reportedly still in the vaults at Beggars Banquet.
Giants
The Bolshoi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything looks red
Could the tide be turning
Voices in my head
Paranoia burning
Paranoia burning
Things do not feel roomy-oomy-oomy-oomy-oomy-oomy
I can't cede the waif
Giants they get to me-oomy-oomy
Oiyeah-uh
Turn another page
I take another ride
I don't need to act my age
Cause God is on my side
...But giants they get to me-oomy
Ooooh uhhhhh
Lock the door live in dread
Giants get you in your bed
Lock the door live in dread
Giants get you in your bed
The lyrics to The Bolshoi's "Giants" paint a picture of paranoia and fear. The song suggests that everything looks red, indicating that things are not going as they should be. This could be interpreted as a symbol of a figurative red flag, signifying danger or warning. The lyrics then speak of voices in the singer's head, which adds to the sense of paranoia burning. These feelings and fears are then heightened by the presence of "giants," who are the source of the singer's distress, anxiety, and discomfort. In some interpretations, the lyrics refer to these giants as a metaphor for a significant problem, obstacle, or dangerous force that is confronting the singer. The theme of the song is the feeling of being overwhelmed by fears and anxieties and how they can consume a person's life.
The song's chorus speaks to the fear that the singer feels, explaining that they don't feel safe (things do not feel roomy) and that they cannot let go of that feeling of danger (they can't cede the waif). The fear of the giants is palpable and all-encompassing, as seen in the repeated use of the word "oomy" in the chorus, which suggests the weight and pressure of the situation.
Overall, "Giants" has a very tense, haunting quality to its sound, with its dark, brooding music and ominous lyrics acting as a warning of danger and fear. It is a song that speaks to the human condition of being scared, unsure, and overwhelmed, with the idea that sometimes, even a person's faith in a higher power is not enough to protect them from the giants that come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything looks red
I'm feeling intense emotions that are overwhelming me
Could the tide be turning
Is my luck changing for the better or worse?
Voices in my head
I'm struggling with internal conflicts
Paranoia burning
I'm feeling extreme anxiety and fear
I don't feel safe
I'm sensing danger or a threat to my well-being
Things do not feel roomy-oomy-oomy-oomy-oomy-oomy
I'm feeling cramped or suffocated, and need more space
I can't cede the waif
I can't escape the feeling of being vulnerable or helpless
Giants they get to me-oomy-oomy
My fears and anxieties are too big, too overwhelming, too much to handle
Turn another page
I'm trying to move on or start fresh
I take another ride
I'm embarking on a new adventure or experience
I don't need to act my age
I'm rebelling against societal expectations or norms
Cause God is on my side
I have faith and trust that everything will work out
Lock the door live in dread
I'm taking precautions and being cautious to stay safe
Giants get you in your bed
Even in the safety of my own home, my fears and anxieties can consume me
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shanedangers
yep, i have "Friends", "Lindy's Party" and "Giants'' the 6 track EP...LOVE LOVE LOVE the Bolshoi
@robertschneiderjohn589
/bump. Primary goth classic. Go vinyl!
@darrenrosenberg525
Dark Wave brings me here
@catheadoff
almost an anxiety crisis described... sincere...without fear to talk about it...
@curtiscrush
outstanding !!!!!!
@SOHASDEAD
Great great song
@blacknganga
Forget about "Bauhaus feel", this great song "Giants" is obviously influenced by an even greater tune..."Come Inside" by the band Danse Society, which came out the previous year...
@ivorytower99
Funny, cos "Sliding Seagulls" has a total Gene Loves Jezebel feel to their Immigrant lp - which was released the same year as Giants. Though written by their lead singer Michael Aston (aka "the blonde twin"); probably why Trevor from Bolshoi and Jay's version of GLJ hooked-up and tour together a few years back.
@celioferreira1973
Great bass...
@mikeyozzy1
One of my favorite bands and songs of all time. Big influence on me, and I play hard rock/heavy metal in my band Dark Entries. We are tinged with some Goth too, hence the name derivative.