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
Two Shoes
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"what do you to survive?"
he said "oh my dear listen here"
and this is what he cried
On my feet I wear two shoes for dancing
dancing to be free
my feet they're paying tribute to
My knees they've got some cuts and bruises
from skating all my days
when I'm skating with my friends
my troubles drift away
I say my legs they're wearing baggy pants
I like to move around
cos getting down and jumping up
these are some good things that I found
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak we making some lovin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
My waist it's got a slinky belt
with a clip that's quick to open
because loving is the sweetest thing
and from my waist it happen
And my stomachs got some tasty food
that's making me feel good
cos sharing some meals is something
I wish the world could do
And my chest it wears a singlet
ah my chest it beating proud
my chest suggest I am a man
that no institution can knock down
And around my neck is superstition
hanging from a chain
because I've got my gods but in the end
I make my own way
CHORUS
My mouth it's got a great big smile
that shows some great big teeth
to friends it brings a happiness
and to enemies it means defeat
And my eyes they've got some vision
that can see through many lies
ah my eyes they look for better things
the better things to see in life
And my ears are wearing head phones
that do play my favourite songs
not music I'm told to like
but the songs that make me dance along
Cos on my feet are shoes for dancing
dancing to be free
my feet they're paying tribute to
the bobby marley legacy
The song Two Shoes by The Cat Empire is a funky, upbeat track that celebrates dancing as a form of freedom and expression, and pays tribute to the legacy of Bob Marley. In the song, the singer is asked how he survives, and he responds by listing the many ways in which different parts of his body contribute to his joy and groundedness. He talks about his feet, which wear two shoes for dancing, and how they pay tribute to Bob Marley's revolutionary spirit. His knees bear bruises and cuts from skating, but the activity helps him forget his troubles. His legs wear baggy pants, which allow him to move around freely and dance, jump and groove. He wears a slinky belt around his waist, which reminds him that love is the greatest force in life. His stomach is filled with tasty food, reminding him of the importance of sharing meals and making the world a more just and equitable place. His chest wears a singlet, attesting to his pride in being a man who cannot be knocked down by any institution. His neck bears a chain with a superstition hanging on it, acknowledging his belief in gods and spirits, but also asserting his right to create his own path. His mouth bears a great big smile that can bring happiness to friends and defeat to enemies. His eyes have vision and can see through lies, and they look for better things in life. And his ears wear headphones that play his favorite songs, the ones that make him dance and groove.
The song celebrates the body as a site of resistance, resilience and creativity, and encourages listeners to embrace their bodies and use them for positive change. The lyrics honor Bob Marley's musical legacy and political activism, and inspire listeners to be true to themselves and to make their own paths in life. The song's catchy melody, groovy rhythm and spirited vocals make it a favorite among fans of fusion, reggae, funk and world music.
Line by Line Meaning
One day one woman asked him
At some point, a woman inquired from him
"what do you to survive?"
"What do you do to stay alive?"
he said "oh my dear listen here"
He responded, "Oh my dear, hear my response"
and this is what he cried
This is what he stated emotionally
On my feet I wear two shoes for dancing
I have two dancing shoes on my feet
dancing to be free
I dance to gain freedom and express myself
my feet they're paying tribute to
My feet are honoring the legacy of
the Bobby Marley legacy
Bob Marley's musical heritage
My knees they've got some cuts and bruises
My knees are injured and marked
from skating all my days
Due to skating every day of my life
when I'm skating with my friends
Whenever I'm skating in the company of my pals
my troubles drift away
My problems vanish
I say my legs they're wearing baggy pants
My legs have loose-fitting trousers on
I like to move around
I enjoy changing my position
cos getting down and jumping up
Because crouching or leaping
these are some good things that I found
Are some of the positive things that I've discovered
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
An expression of excitement and joy
boom shak the empire be rising
The Cat Empire's dominance is escalating
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
An expression of excitement and joy
boom shak we making some lovin'
We're spreading love and good vibes
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
An expression of excitement and joy
boom shak the greedy men running
The rapacious individuals are fleeing
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
An expression of excitement and joy
boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
I've got two dancing shoes
My waist it's got a slinky belt
My midsection is adorned with a fashionable belt
with a clip that's quick to open
That opens fast when unfastened
because loving is the sweetest thing
Because love is the most delightful experience
and from my waist it happen
And that's where love materializes
And my stomachs got some tasty food
My belly contains some delicious cuisine
that's making me feel good
That provides me with pleasure and satisfaction
cos sharing some meals is something
Since sharing meals is an activity
I wish the world could do
That I desire humanity to embrace
And my chest it wears a singlet
I have a vest on my torso
ah my chest it beating proud
And it's pulsating with pride
my chest suggest I am a man
My chest indicates that I am male
that no institution can knock down
That no establishment can subdue
And around my neck is superstition
I have a superstitious item on my neck
hanging from a chain
Dangling from a necklace
because I've got my gods but in the end
Because I have my deities, but ultimately
I make my own way
I follow my path
My mouth it's got a great big smile
I have a massive grin on my face
that shows some great big teeth
Revealing my big set of teeth
to friends it brings a happiness
Friends feel jovial in my presence
and to enemies it means defeat
And to adversaries, it signifies failure
And my eyes they've got some vision
My eyesight is quite sharp
that can see through many lies
That can detect falsehoods easily
ah my eyes they look for better things
And they search for superior things
the better things to see in life
Better aspects of life that exist
And my ears are wearing head phones
I have headphones on my ears
that do play my favourite songs
That play the tracks I adore
not music I'm told to like
And not music that I'm instructed to enjoy
but the songs that make me dance along
But those that make me move my body
Cos on my feet are shoes for dancing
Because I'm donning dancing footwear
dancing to be free
So that I can express my freedom through dance
my feet they're paying tribute to
My feet are honoring
the bobby marley legacy
Bob Marley's musical heritage
Contributed by Levi C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
helo3d69
Sem dúvidas que esta é uma música sensacional. It's a masterpiece.
Ariely Klein
Opaa. Achei um BR hahahah. Som massa!!
Marcos Aguiar da Costa
HU3HU3HU3
Abraão Felipe Lopes Pacheco
@Ariely Klein Aquele vídeo de Mountain Bike me trouxe ate aqui
Ariely Klein
@wanganeiro qual vídeo??
Abraão Felipe Lopes Pacheco
@Ariely Klein Mtb freeride downhill,nostalgia pura ele,lembro que vi a uns 10 ou 11 anos atrás o vídeo original.
Cranky Rooster
Phenomenal, thank you for your music Cat Empire !
Christian Rodgers
Been listening to this album for over a decade. This is the first time I've found the random LimeWire version I used to listen to. Brings be back to the good old days. Love you lads to bits, you made my teenage years ❤️
Pete Gowland
This will always be Whistler in Seasons for me. Such a great bit of music to the right bit of film.
Michael DiMarzio
I aways think of Whistler DH