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
So Many Nights
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems I'm going to have to change my look for you cos
I've got two shoes but they've been walked too far
And I thing that we could float from evening to the stars
When I see you in the distance with your friends
I look around and then I look down at my threads
It's inappropriate that I should present like a
So many nights I'm still thinking about you
And so many nights you step in and I walk through
So he doesn't care except he still combs his hair
So what am I supposed to do?
I bought a suit and I bought a top hat
And I put a red stripe down the side of my slacks
Went to the barber got my hair cut high
And I bought a ticket for the opera tonight
But when I see you your bodice and your pride
It's nice to greet you with an interrupted stride, besides
you say 'Good Evening' you don't say 'Goodnight'
And I can't deny
So many nights I'm still thinking about you
And so many nights until I change my suit
And when I'm bare don't need to comb my hair
Cause I found what to do
Put your waistcoat on
Put your waistcoat on
So many nights I'm still thinking about you
And so many nights you step in and I walk through
So he doesn't care except he still combs his hair
So what am I supposed to do?
So many nights I'm still thinking about you
And so many nights until I change my suit
And when I'm bare don't need to comb my hair
Cause I found what to do
Put your waistcoat on
Put your waistcoat on
Put your waistcoat on
Put your waistcoat on
The lyrics of "So Many Nights" by The Cat Empire are about the singer's desire to impress someone they are interested in. The first verses suggest that the singer is aware of their appearance not being up to par and that they feel like they need to change their look to impress the person they like. They describe how they have shoes that are worn out, so they need to change them, and how they feel out of place next to the person they like and their friends.
The second verse describes how the singer went to great lengths to improve their appearance, buying a suit, a top hat, and putting a red stripe on their slacks. They even got a new haircut and bought a ticket to the opera to impress the person they like. The sense of disappointment is palpable in the line "but when I see you, your bodice and your pride, it's nice to greet you with an interrupted stride."
Despite their efforts, the singer still thinks about the person they like and continues to explore new ways to impress them. The chorus repeats the last line "Put your waistcoat on" as a sign that they found a way to be confident and comfortable in their own skin, without having to pretend to be someone else.
The song conveys the relatable feeling of wanting to impress someone you like and the vulnerability that comes with it. It also emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't matter what I say
No matter what I say or do, it doesn't seem to make a difference.
It seems I'm going to have to change my look for you cos
In order to impress you, I believe I must alter my appearance.
I've got two shoes but they've been walked too far
Although I have shoes, they are old and have been worn many times.
And I think that we could float from evening to the stars
I feel that we could have a wonderful time together, enjoying the night with each other.
It's inappropriate that I should present like a
It is not suitable for me to dress like a
Retired Matador with unpaid rent
an old bullfighter who can't afford their living expenses.
So many nights I'm still thinking about you
I am constantly thinking about you every night.
And so many nights you step in and I walk through
You enter my mind, and I simply go with the flow.
So he doesn't care except he still combs his hair
I am trying to impress you, although you may not care.
So what am I supposed to do?
I am unsure of how I should proceed or what actions to take.
I bought a suit and I bought a top hat
I purchased formal attire to try and impress you.
And I put a red stripe down the side of my slacks
I added a design to my pants to make them unique and noticeable.
Went to the barber got my hair cut high
I went to get my hair styled to look good for you.
And I bought a ticket for the opera tonight
I purchased a ticket to the opera with the hopes that you may come along.
It's nice to greet you with an interrupted stride, besides
It is pleasant to see you, even if it interrupts my walk.
you say 'Good Evening' you don't say 'Goodnight'
You greet me in a way that indicate you are not leaving for the night.
And I can't deny
I cannot hide or ignore my feelings for you.
And when I'm bare don't need to comb my hair
When I am with you, all my worries disappear and I am comfortable being myself.
Cause I found what to do
Because I have discovered that all I need to do is be myself around you.
Put your waistcoat on
Put your formal attire on, perhaps to go out and have a good time together.
Contributed by Jayce K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Narukashi666
I cannot stop laughing.
I just
You're awesome.
@Narukashi666
My mom and I like to sing this too loud and annoy my sister. Especially "PUUUUUT YOUR WAAAAIIISTCOOOOAAAT OOOONN"
@ecclesiastes5861
Underrated
@mechanizatorius
this one is really fun!
@azukar8
What happened to all your videos? Side note: you must have had so much fun making this video!
@mcleanedwards7748
Genius
@mcleanedwards7748
I CANT BELIEVE YOU HAD THIS UP YOUR SLEEVE
@mcleanedwards7748
Genius
@stefanpopovici1804
come to romania!!! you are the best!
@TheSicamu
Hasta Colombia llegan!!