The band consists of: Jess (Jeremy de Tolly) on vocals, guitar and programming, Sumo (David Moffatt) on guitar and vocals, Passion (Maurice Paliaga) on Bass, and Markie D (Mark De Menezes) on drums mixing up a combination acoustic / electronic kit.
Up till now
The Dirty Skirts have continued to deliver inspired performances in and around South Africa, fuelling their reputation as a top live act to follow. Stage magazine dubbed their performances as "explosive" and referenced The Cure, Bauhaus and Kraftwerk in the eclectic montage of guitars and beats.
Amongst other, The Dirty Skirts have:
- Been featured Cape Town artists at the Cell C Sound of the City along with Arno Carstens, Ready D, Freshlyground, and Louise Carver
- Performed at the Obs Festival with Bed on Bricks, Waddy Jones and Roswell Kings
- Headlined capacity shows at Mercury Live, Roxy's, The Independent Armchair Theatre, Joburg Bar, Club + (188 Bree Street) and the Mercury Lounge in Cape Town
- Played as a featured artist with The Most Amazing Show's Culture Klap at the Grahamstown Festival
- Played at the Oppikopi Festival in August 2005.
- Opened for one of South Africa's most well known rock bands (Arno Carstens) at Mercury Live.
- Performed in Austin, Texas as part of the SXSW festival.
- Gained a record deal with SonyBMG.
- And released three albums including On A Stellar Bender, Daddy Don't Disco, and their debut mini-album, called The Dirty Skirts.
In the media:
Despite their relatively brief tenure (first live performance was November 2004) they had their profile propelled to national status by the radio friendly single "Little Tsunami," which received intermittent spins on the primary national broadcaster (5FM) for several months. The silky but bruised sound, and uplifting lyrics of Little Tsunami won Blunt Magazine's Doc Martens Demo Competition, and has also featured on Cell C's radio promotion to uncover local talent on three separate occasions.
Media exposure has been accelerated by the launch of their debut EP in June 2005. The EP was launched at Vegas Room, where they put on scorching live performance to a packed house. The event attracted media attention form the likes of Blunt Magazine, SL and a camera crew from ETV who covered the show for Nicky Greenwall's "The Showbiz Report" (broadcast in late June 2005). The EP has recently been playlisted on 5FM, TUKS FM, East Coast Radio and various University radio stations. The track "Set Me Alight" climbed to number one on Mweb's SA MP3 chart, where it resided for five weeks. It has also climbed to #4 on UCT Radio's local & international charts. Another driven rock track, "Feeling the Pressure" recently reached number one on the SA chart at TuksFM, and soared to #2 on their top 40.
Sound of the City, a showcase concert designed to highlight the influential sounds of each of South Africa's major cities, featured The Dirty Skirts in November 2005. The performance was then broadcast to millions of South Africans on SABC 2.
Their first full length debut album On A Stellar Bender was released in 2007, with the barnstorming single “Homewrecker” reaching #1 on a number of national radio charts. The Dirty Skirts made a music video for this song, it was directed by Christoff Vermeulen. Another single "Is This It?" from this album made its way onto national radio charts.
In June 2008, The Dirty Skirts released their second studio album named Daddy Don't Disco. Its first single "Cant Remember Your Name" hit national radio playlists after a while of silence from The Skirts. A music video was produced for this song. The band embarked on an SA album launch Tour from June to July and will depart for their UK Tour in August.
Hot stuff
The Dirty Skirts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're dressed all in black and satin
With a flick of your hands
You take control
Oh oh oh oh, you're so confident
Wherever you go, I want to follow
'Cause you're hot stuff
'Cause you're hot stuff
'Cause you're hot stuff
Hot stuff
If you could see them now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
I got an assignment I need to read
But you saw me fumbling with the photocopier
Oh oh oh oh, you're so competent
I'm haunted by the ghost of your perfume
'Cause you're hot stuff
'Cause you're hot stuff
'Cause you're hot stuff
'Cause you're hot stuff
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
I said, oh-ah, I'm standing in the afterward bar
While the chairwoman's chambers are working, working it
Oh-ah, I'm standing against the counter trying look the part
Looks up, a sure part I should know, pressured
Said, oh-ah, orders some parts I need to take
And I'm feeling it, feeling it, yes, I'm feeling it
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
Hot stuff
If you could to see me now
Hot stuff
If you could see me now
The Dirty Skirts's song Hot Stuff is a catchy, upbeat track that is seemingly about a woman who oozes confidence and sex appeal. In the first verse, the lyrics describe a woman who is dressed in black and satin, exuding confidence with a mere flick of her hands. The singer professes a desire to follow this woman wherever she goes, highlighting the allure of the confidence and power she exudes. The chorus repeats the phrase "cause you're hot stuff" several times, emphasizing the irresistibility of this woman's charms.
The singer then has a moment of self-doubt when he is struggling with a work assignment and the woman steps in to help. He is drawn to her competence and is "haunted by the ghost of her perfume," suggesting that her allure extends beyond her physical appearance. The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing that this woman truly is "hot stuff."
The final verse is a bit more difficult to interpret. The singer is in a bar, potentially after a work event, and is trying to fit in and "look the part." He orders some parts and seems to be feeling pressure to conform to some sort of expectation. However, he also seems to be feeling good and confident, as he repeats "feeling it" several times.
Overall, the song seems to be celebrating confidence and sex appeal, particularly in women. While some of the details of the lyrics are a bit difficult to decipher, the overall theme is clear - this woman is "hot stuff" and impossible to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
In the media room
The singer is observing the subject in a space dedicated for media-related activities.
You're dressed all in black and satin
The subject is wearing black and shiny fabric that gives them a sophisticated and elegant appearance.
With a flick of your hands
The subject uses subtle hand movements to express confidence and control.
You take control
The subject exerts their influence and takes charge of the situation.
Oh oh oh oh, you're so confident
The subject exudes self-assurance and poise in everything they do.
Wherever you go, I want to follow
The singer is highly attracted to the subject and wishes to be in their presence at all times.
'Cause you're hot stuff
The singer considers the subject to be highly attractive and desirable.
If you could see them now
The artist imagines showing the subject to someone else to impress them with the subject's allure.
If you could see me now
The artist imagines how they would appear in the subject's eyes if they could see them in the present moment.
I got an assignment I need to read
The artist has a task they have to complete, but their attention is diverted by the subject's presence.
But you saw me fumbling with the photocopier
The subject noticed the singer struggling with a piece of office equipment, which made the singer feel self-conscious.
Oh oh oh oh, you're so competent
The subject's abilities and skills impress the artist, who perceives the subject as highly capable.
I'm haunted by the ghost of your perfume
The lingering scent of the subject's perfume is a persistent reminder of their presence and impact on the singer.
I said, oh-ah, I'm standing in the afterward bar
The singer is in a post-event venue or location, possibly reflecting on the subject's performance or behavior.
While the chairwoman's chambers are working, working it
The singer notices other people (possibly female) who are confident and effective in their roles, much like the subject.
Oh-ah, I'm standing against the counter trying look the part
The artist tries to mimic the subject's behavior and appearance to fit in and impress others.
Looks up, a sure part I should know, pressured
The artist is under pressure to perform or succeed in a situation where they feel they lack knowledge or expertise.
Said, oh-ah, orders some parts I need to take
The singer makes a request for something they require to complete their duties or tasks.
And I'm feeling it, feeling it, yes, I'm feeling it
The singer experiences a strong emotion or sensation, possibly due to the subject's influence or impact.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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