The Cat Empire began as a trio with McGill, Riebl, and Monro in late 1999, and started playing a wide variety of gigs in Melbourne. The band soon expanded in 2001, adding Angus, Hull-Brown, and Khadiwala.
THE Cat Empire's message, on stage and in the studio, has always been about breaking down borders: musical, geographic, lingual. But they have never done it so powerfully as they do on their new album, Cinema. The album serves up a set which captures the inexorable force - and sheer joy - of their live performances, delivered in a format perfect for lounge-rooms, backyards, BBQ’s, cafes, road trips and parties all over the world.
Cinema, the band's fourth studio album, is a dazzling statement of a band at a peak of its powers, music designed to move the body and the mind. Right from the opening track, Waiting, this is music that leaps from the speakers.
All the elements that people love about The Cat Empire are there but the result is brighter, bolder. And yes, more cinematic. What grabs the ear immediately is that this is not a band playing with genres. In the past, The Cat Empire dived in to any musical style which took their fancy, from reggae to salsa, Latin to hip-hop. Cinema reveals a band that has developed an emphatic voice that is all their own.
``That's a sound that has emerged out of nearly 10 years of playing on stage together,'' says singer and percussionist Felix Riebl. ”The result is an album that's much more integrated than anything we've done before, with a Cat Empire sound that runs consistently through it. The lyrics are perhaps darker, but they are accompanied by music that is uplifting which gives it a strange but powerful feeling.''
Riebl adds: “At times the album is thoughtful, at times it makes you just forget and dance. But it is an album that has more sonic depth than we've ever had before, experimental in parts but with really direct choruses. It's going to be a great album to play live, especially on big stages and at festivals.''
Of course, the stage is never far from the thoughts of this band. In an age when so much of selling music seems to be about celebrity and fashion, The Cat Empire have risen to be one of Australia and indeed the worlds favourite live acts through sheer musicality and the power of their interaction on stage. The band - Riebl, Vocalist and trumpeter Harry Angus, keys player Ollie McGill, bassist Ryan Monro, drummer Will Hull-Brown and Jamshid Khadiwala (aka ‘Jumps’) on decks - played their 700th show in Amsterdam last year, and will hit the 800 mark in 2010. While it is not well known in Australia, The Cat Empire are one of the country's most successful musical exports, doubling their audience numbers at every return stop.
They have headlined some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Summersonic (Japan), Rock am Ring (Germany) and V Fest (UK), playing Bonnaroo (US) as well as to an audience of 300,000 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. They have also played on some of world's highest rating entertainment shows, including Dave Letterman and Jay Leno. This year their worldwide tour in support of the international release of Cinema will see them return to Canada, US, Europe, Japan and the UK, where they will play to a full house at London's Brixton Academy.
The knowledge that they would be playing songs from the new album on so many big stages focused the song writing sessions for Cinema. The album was recorded close to home at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne with producer Steve Schram, and he encouraged them to make an album that was their most collaborative song writing effort yet.
``That was a deliberate decision from all of us,'' says the lion of the live show - Vocalist and Trumpeter Harry Angus. ``With six people in the band sometimes there will be a song on an album that not everyone wants to play live. This album certainly gets around that problem. And I think that after so many years playing together the guys are much more confident about contributing to the writing. Steve encouraged us to do that. That's been great for us.''
Of working with The Cat Empire, Schram says “it was the perfect studio scenario; amazing players open to trying anything and willing to take a back seat when required. Egos were left at the door.” He adds “In terms of musicianship, it's no secret that they don't come much better than The Cat Empire. Yet Cinema shows that simplicity and one well placed note packs more of a punch and serves the song far more than musical chops alone. We set out to explore in depth the mood and character of each song while maintaining a focus on performance rather than studio trickery. “
After taking their longest break from studio recording after the release of 2007's So Many Nights, the band reconvened feeling refreshed. ``In 2008 we took a break from touring for 8 months. Then in 2009 we released our (live album) Live on Earth” Riebl says. ``When we came back to the band, and then into the studio we all rediscovered what we loved about The Cat Empire in the first place; that it is a band that can do the unexpected, that we have great energy and make music that is always a lot of fun to play on stage. The feeling right now is just like when we were starting out. We're all very excited about that.''
Cinema will be released ...
JUNE 25, AUSTRALIA
JUNE 29, CANADA
JULY 6, USA
AUGUST 2010, EUROPE & JAPAN
See www.thecatempire.com for tours and information
Protons Neutrons Electrons
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And not enough of others
Just like whole life lovers
I've changed and changed
And changed and changed
From one thing to another
With complicated feelings
And I've cut and bruised and torn
I made blinds
On the windows of my mind
With the time that my back once wore
I'm a single person in this universe
And I am here to say to you
On the day that I die
I'll just give a smile
And fly into the blue
'Cause we're all just
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
That rest on a Sunday
Work on a Monday
And someday soon
We'll be singing the old tunes
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
Into the blue
Some night I see the world
With its winds and its whirls
And I feel undefeated
But every day I see the girl
With the strawberry curl
And I'm too shy to meet her
Some nights I go to bed
There's a ghost in the air above my head
And I tremble
Sometimes I eat KFC
Other times I give up meat
And I just eat lentils
I'm a single soul on this big blue ball
And I am here to sing a song
About the day that I was born
'Til the day that I'll be gone
And the song won't last for long
'Cause we're all just
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
That rest on a Sunday
Work on a Monday
And someday soon
We'll be singing the old tunes
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
Into the blue
And enemy is a remedy
To a malady in your melody
If you're strong not brittle
When a friend is a friend
Is a friend to the end
And it's AH so simple
A man is a man
And a woman is a woman
But the times we are living in demand
That a man can change
From a man to a woman
And a woman can demand to be a man
We're just flesh with socks and locks and frocks
And I am here to say to you
On the day that I die
I'll just give a smile
And fly into the blue
'Cause we're all just
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
That rest on a Sunday
Work on a Monday
And someday soon
We'll be singing the old tunes
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
Into the blue
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
That rest on a Sunday
Work on a Monday
And someday soon
We'll be singing the old tunes
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
Into the blue
The Cat Empire's "Protons Neutrons Electrons" is a song that contemplates the complexities of life and the inevitability of death. The lyrics express the struggles of the singer in trying to balance various aspects of their life, from relationships to personal choices, and how we are all made up of the same basic elements. The phrase "protons, neutrons, electrons" serves as a reminder that we are all connected, no matter how diverse our experiences may be. The song offers a philosophical outlook on living, concluding that death is a natural part of life, and like all living things, we too will eventually leave the world behind.
The opening lines of the song acknowledge the singer's mixed experiences in life, where they have done too much of some things and not enough of others. They have changed from one thing to another and had complicated feelings and dealings. The song also touches on the challenges of unrequited love and shyness in meeting someone new, and the everyday struggles of living in a modern world, such as dietary choices. Despite these struggles, the song takes a positive turn, insisting that life is worth living, and that even in death, there is beauty.
The repetition of the line "protons, neutrons, electrons" is the central theme of this song. It's an attempt to strip down, on a molecular level, what people are made of, thus highlighting how we are all connected, no matter how diverse our experiences or backgrounds may be. This insight is a poignant one, and the song's ultimate message is that we should enjoy life, regardless of our circumstances, because in the end, we are all just protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Line by Line Meaning
I've done too much of some things
I have realized that I have spent too much time on certain things in my life and not enough time on others.
And not enough of others
As a result, my life has been unbalanced, and I have neglected certain areas that are equally important.
Just like whole life lovers
This is similar to someone who has devoted themselves entirely to one aspect of their life and neglected the others.
I've changed and changed
Throughout my life, I have gone through many changes and transformations.
And changed and changed
These changes have been numerous and constant, leading me from one path to another.
From one thing to another
As a result of all these changes, I have lived a varied and multifaceted life.
I've had complicated dealings
Over the course of my life, I have experienced many difficult and complex situations.
With complicated feelings
These situations have brought up intense and complicated emotions that have been hard to navigate.
And I've cut and bruised and torn
As a result of all this, I have been scarred and wounded both physically and emotionally.
I made blinds
I have put up barriers in my mind to protect myself from harm and pain.
On the windows of my mind
These barriers are like blinds on a window, blocking out certain thoughts and emotions.
With the time that my back once wore
These barriers were created over time as a result of the hardships I have experienced in life.
I'm a single person in this universe
I am just one individual in a vast and complex world.
And I am here to say to you
Despite my smallness, I have something important to say.
On the day that I die
When I pass away, on that final day of my life...
I'll just give a smile
I will be content and happy, having lived my life to the fullest.
And fly into the blue
I will leave this earthly existence behind and enter into a new realm.
'Cause we're all just
Because ultimately, we are all the same...
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
...made up of the same fundamental building blocks of atoms.
That rest on a Sunday
Even though we are complex beings, we all need rest and rejuvenation.
Work on a Monday
And we all have to work hard to achieve our goals and dreams.
And someday soon
And one day, in the not-too-distant future...
We'll be singing the old tunes
...we will find ourselves returning to the well-worn classics that have stood the test of time.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
We will find joy and happiness in the simple things in life.
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
And we will enjoy the company of our loved ones in the peaceful moments of life.
Some night I see the world
Sometimes, I am able to look out at the world...
With its winds and its whirls
...and see all of the chaos and turmoil that exists within it.
And I feel undefeated
Despite all of this, I feel strong and unbroken.
But every day I see the girl
However, in my daily life...
With the strawberry curl
...there is a girl who catches my eye with her unique features.
And I'm too shy to meet her
Despite my confidence in other areas, I struggle with shyness when it comes to romantic relationships.
Some nights I go to bed
At the end of a long day...
There's a ghost in the air above my head
...I sometimes feel haunted by the specter of my past.
And I tremble
This can cause me to feel uncertain and fearful about the future.
Sometimes I eat KFC
As far as my dietary choices go...
Other times I give up meat
...I switch back and forth between eating meat and abstaining from it for personal reasons.
And I just eat lentils
Sometimes, I choose to eat plant-based meals instead of animal products.
I'm a single soul on this big blue ball
In the grand scheme of things, I am just one individual in a massive and complex world.
And I am here to sing a song
Despite this, I still have a voice and a message that I want to share with the world.
About the day that I was born
This message starts with my own personal story and journey, beginning with the day of my birth.
'Til the day that I'll be gone
And it continues all the way until my final days on this earth.
And the song won't last for long
Despite the importance of this story, it is ultimately just one small part of the larger narrative of life.
'Cause we're all just
Because in the end, we are all just...
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
...made up of the same atoms and fundamental particles.
That rest on a Sunday
Despite our differences, we all need rest and rejuvenation.
Work on a Monday
And we all have to work hard to achieve our goals and dreams.
And someday soon
And one day, in the not-too-distant future...
We'll be singing the old tunes
...we will find ourselves returning to the well-worn classics that have stood the test of time.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
We will find joy and happiness in the simple things in life.
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
And we will enjoy the company of our loved ones in the peaceful moments of life.
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
And when it is all said and done...
Into the blue
...I will leave this life behind and enter into a new realm.
And enemy is a remedy
Sometimes our enemies can actually help us heal from difficult situations...
To a malady in your melody
...by revealing the faults and weaknesses in our own thought patterns and actions.
If you're strong not brittle
However, this can only happen if we are strong and resilient enough to handle the challenge of facing our enemies.
When a friend is a friend
Meanwhile, true friendships are ones that last throughout the ups and downs of life...
Is a friend to the end
...and are there for us no matter what happens.
And it's AH so simple
The beauty of friendship is that it is a simple and straightforward concept that can bring so much joy and comfort to our lives.
A man is a man
Although society has historically placed rigid boundaries between categories of people...
And a woman is a woman
...we are all just people, and gender is just one aspect of our complex identities.
But the times we are living in demand
However, there are certain moments in history when social norms and expectations are being challenged and redefined.
That a man can change
In our current cultural moment, many people are realizing that gender can be more fluid and changeable than we previously thought.
From a man to a woman
This means that it is possible for a person to live part or all of their life as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth.
And a woman can demand to be a man
It is also possible for someone to identify and live as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth, even if it defies societal norms.
We're just flesh with socks and locks and frocks
Ultimately, regardless of our gender, we are all still just human beings with physical bodies and the accoutrements that we use to express ourselves.
And I am here to say to you
As someone who has lived a varied and complex life...
On the day that I die
...I have a message that I want to share with the world...
I'll just give a smile
...which is that despite all of the difficulties and complexities that life throws at us, it is still possible to be content and happy.
And fly into the blue
And when it is time to leave this physical existence behind, we can do so with grace and acceptance, moving on to the next chapter of our journey.
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
Because ultimately, we are all made up of the same basic particles and building blocks.
That rest on a Sunday
And yet, despite our differences, we all need rest and rejuvenation.
Work on a Monday
And we all have to work hard to achieve our goals and dreams.
And someday soon
However, one day in the not-too-distant future...
We'll be singing the old tunes
...we will find ourselves returning to the timeless classics that have brought us joy and comfort throughout our lives.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo
...finding joy and happiness in the simple things in life.
I'll be sitting on the porch with you
And we will find joy in the company of our loved ones, enjoying the peaceful moments that life has to offer.
Then I'll die and I'll fly off
And when it is all said and done...
Into the blue
...we will leave this world behind, entering into a new realm with grace and acceptance.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Henry James Angus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jaster6056
Saw them at the Commodore in Vancouver. Unforgettable and wildly fun night!
@theresasteinbuechel3723
Great,elegant song.push me throug really bad times. My favourite to play it at my burial
@rulax8608
I absolutely love that piano solo, so good.
@dalesmithers5883
Protons neutrons electrons. Cat empire
@kathieSunflower
This song really has some sort of magical power which rescues me every time I am in a bad place. :D LOVE IT GUYSSSSSSSS
@kathieSunflower
Plus I still listen to it when I am in a good mood. That's pretty cool.
@stickminwillofficial36
We’ll be singing the old tunes zipping do da zippidy DU
XDXD
@AB-lo1ec
What you're doing is awesome. Thanks guys.
@MrNorte
The kings❤Push me through 2020😷
@drunkenviking_official
This song is so funky. The lyrics are so deep n dope. A top tenner for me.