They describe their heavily art-damaged and theatrical style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word 'gothic'," and are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 1990s.
Palmer accompanies her confessional story-songs with a thunderous and shimmering piano style that rests on the shoulders of Jerry Lee Lewis and Nina Simone. Viglione's jazz and hardcore-influenced drumming and creative percussion are the perfect foil, providing in turns a delicate cradle of rhythm and a piercing bed of nails onto which Palmer lays her raw, tragicomic lyrics.
The release of their debut album The Dresden Dolls, produced by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth), has won the band accolades from both mainstream and underground media, and it appears that the Dolls are poised to transcend cult status and smash all commonly held ideas about what a rock band is supposed to be. Their awe-striking live energy and singular look has earned them opening slots for Nine Inch Nails, Beck, the B-52s, Jane's Addiction, OK Go and Panic! At the Disco, a tour with the Legendary Pink Dots, and a victory in the 2003 WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble.
Their second album Yes, Virginia was released in 2006, eventually followed by a companion record No, Virginia in 2008, which features b-sides and out-takes from the "Yes, Virginia" sessions, as well as a smattering of new tracks.
At the end of summer 2008 they announced a hiatus. The band has made further announcements saying they will reunite when the time is right for both of them, and have stressed they have not broken up.
In September 2008, rumors began to circulate about the future of the whole band. Viglione confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus but emphasized that he and Palmer are on good terms and that they will get together again when it feels right for both of them. In late July and early August 2009, a rumor began to spread that the band was "reuniting for performances in 2010" but Palmer clarified in her blog on August 7: "There's been a ton of press lately re-printing an old quote from an old interview that's now blown up into a full-fledged press rumour that Brian and I have planned Dresden Dolls' shows for 2010. Not true. We aren't planning any shows. Sorry about that, blame the gossip whores."
In 2010, a reunion tour to selected venues in the United States occurred. It started on Halloween in New York City and ended in San Francisco on New Years Eve.
The Dresden Dolls played a show in Mexico City on 9 December 2011. They had a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 2012, supported by The Jane Austen Argument and The Bedroom Philosopher.
Mandy Goes to Med School
The Dresden Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty as a picture of a patient on a fresh IV
Giddy as a gang banger with a set of sutures
Where his Magic Johnson ought to be
Yes, I'll tell you just the thing
You need to be the next big thing
Let's start in with a test of your intelligence
Up and down, and round about, and out the back
And keep your mouth shut tight
The lights are staying out but no sweat
I've got aim like a mack truck
Guess how many fingers? Okay
Guess how many more I can fit there
Guess right get the toaster but you know
Miss, guessing gets you nowhere
I've been baking cakes for the enemy
I've been dying to find out the hard way
I've been taking friends to the alleyway
Two down now but who's counting anyway?
Yes, I can do everything
You need from out of my new SUV
All my work is guaranteed
To last the length of your recovery
Put away those pliers, honey
Trust me 'cause I know the options
How about a nine month long vacation
And a two foot coffin
I've been getting up, close and intimate
Some close calls but I'm getting into it
In some states they say, you can burn for it
But I'll burn that bridge when I get to it
It's not a bad thing
To get professional
It's got a nice ring
Mandy goes to med school
And I've been taking tips from the government
I've been getting damn good at hiding it
Fifty bucks a month ought to cover it
Two down now but who's gonna notice it?
And if you show up and I am unavailable
My partner Brian, would love to take care of you
He is a nice man
Thoroughly reliable
He's in a rock band
And he goes to med school
Oh, he goes to med school
Oh, oh, he goes to med school
The Dresden Dolls’ “Mandy Goes to Med School” is a song that delves into the manipulation and exploitation of societal expectations on young women. The first verse, “I’ve been feeling dull as a coat hanger, pretty as a picture of a patient on a fresh IV,” highlights the singer's feelings of dissatisfaction with their current state of being. The singer then describes themselves as “Giddy as a gang banger with a set of sutures, where his Magic Johnson ought to be,” implying that they are excited about partaking in activities that are considered taboo or dangerous.
The chorus features the singer telling an individual that they have the potential to be the next big thing and starts testing their intelligence and willingness to participate in counterproductive activities. The following verses describe the singer's willingness to bake cakes for their enemy and take friends to the alleyway. The line, “Two down now but who’s counting anyway?” implies that the singer may have already killed two people without batting an eye.
The song then goes on to describe how the singer has been taking tips from the government and is getting good at hiding it, insinuating that they are involved in something illegal. However, the chorus repeats that it's not a bad thing to go professional and Mandy goes to med school. The song ends on a sinister note, with the singer stating that if they are unavailable, their partner Brian, who goes to med school, would be available to take care of whoever needs it.
Overall, the song explores themes of dissatisfaction, societal pressure, and manipulation, with Mandy using med school as a facade to cover up their illegal activities. The lyricism is dark and biting, and the melody is haunting and foreboding, adding to the overall message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been feeling dull as a coat hanger
I've been feeling unimportant and useless
Pretty as a picture of a patient on a fresh IV
Looking good, but only because of your current situation
Giddy as a gang banger with a set of sutures. Where his Magic Johnson ought to be
Feeling excited about something you shouldn't be
Yes, I'll tell you just the thing. You need to be the next big thing
I'm going to give you some advice that will make you famous
Let's start in with a test of your intelligence. And zest for the counter productive
First, let's test your intelligence and see if you're willing to do things in a way that won't actually benefit you
Up and down, and round about, and out the back. And keep your mouth shut tight
I'm going to test you in a difficult way and you need to keep quiet while doing it
The lights are staying out but no sweat. I've got aim like a mack truck
It's dark in here but I can still hit my target with precision
Guess how many fingers? Okay. Guess how many more I can fit there. Guess right get the toaster but you know. Miss, guessing gets you nowhere
I'm going to ask you some difficult questions and if you answer correctly, you get a reward. If you don't, tough luck
I've been baking cakes for the enemy
I've been doing things that are harmful to myself
I've been dying to find out the hard way
I want to experience something difficult despite it potentially hurting me
I've been taking friends to the alleyway. Two down now but who's counting anyway?
I've been causing harm to my friends and it doesn't matter how many are hurt
Yes, I can do everything. You need from out of my new SUV
I have the tools to help you with anything you need
All my work is guaranteed. To last the length of your recovery
My services will be effective for as long as you need to recover from your issues
Put away those pliers, honey. Trust me 'cause I know the options
Don't try to fix your problems yourself, listen to my advice because I know what's best
How about a nine month long vacation. And a two foot coffin
I have a solution for your issues that will both give you a break and unfortunately result in your death
I've been getting up, close and intimate. Some close calls but I'm getting into it
I've been doing something dangerous and risky, but I'm enjoying it
In some states they say, you can burn for it. But I'll burn that bridge when I get to it
Some may say I'm doing something wrong and dangerous, but I don't care about the consequences yet
It's not a bad thing. To get professional. It's got a nice ring
Getting professional help for your issues isn't a bad thing and can be beneficial
Mandy goes to med school
The song is about someone named Mandy who goes to medical school
And if you show up and I am unavailable. My partner Brian, would love to take care of you
If I'm not available to help you, my partner Brian can help you instead
He is a nice man. Thoroughly reliable. He's in a rock band. And he goes to med school
Brian is a trustworthy person who is also in a rock band and goes to medical school
Oh, he goes to med school. Oh, oh, he goes to med school
Repeating that Brian goes to medical school
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VAMP
on My Alcoholic Friends
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