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.
The Kill
The Dresden Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An antichrist
An asterisk
I am an anorak
An acolyte
An accidental
I am eleven feet
Okay, eight
I fought the british and I won
I have a rocket ship
A jet fighter
A paper airplane
Ja ja ja ja ja
Say what you will, I am the kill
The only thing that keeps you really truly safe from being real
I have a tendency
To exaggerate
Just a little bit
I am a plagiarist
Apologist
A walruscokeheadlizard
I am an optimist
A closeted misogynist
I fought the british and I won
I have a wishing well a living will a magical eight ball
Ja ja ja ja ja
Say what you will, I am the kill
The only thing that keeps you really truly safe from being real
Put pat sajak back in office
Put pat sajak back in office
But the sun still sets on you
And the retarded party nobody came to but you
And so you drink to all the emptiness until you wake up
And there? s hell to pay again
And the punch lines point at you
And all the comebacks in the world are in your head
And you can? t say them until everybody leaves
And it? s just you and your imaginary friends?
The song "The Kill" by The Dresden Dolls can be interpreted as a commentary on the complexities of identity and the struggles to separate oneself from societal norms and expectations. The opening lines of the song, "I am an anarchist, an antichrist, an asterisk," showcase the singer's rejection of traditional labels and an embrace of subversion. This is followed by a string of contradictory identities that seem to express the difficulty of fitting into any particular box. The final line in this verse, "Ja ja ja ja ja," adds a touch of humor to the otherwise intense and provocative lyrics.
The chorus of the song drops the singer's many identities and focuses on their one true identity - "the kill." This phrase can be interpreted in several ways, but it can be seen as an assertion of the singer's existence and power. The following lines, "The only thing that keeps you really truly safe from being real," suggests that individuality and authenticity are constantly being threatened by societal expectations and conformity.
The second verse further explores the singer's complicated identity by presenting a long list of contradictory traits. The line "I am a closeted misogynist" stands out, as it appears to challenge the idea that individuals can easily separate and categorize all their beliefs and values. The inclusion of "put pat sajak back in office" seems to serve as a humorous nod to the absurdity of politics, potentially pointing out the futility in trying to find a label that truly represents you.
Overall, "The Kill" is a provocative and thought-provoking song that challenges traditional ideas of identity and forces listeners to confront the complexities of their own sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an anarchist
I reject all forms of hierarchy and yearn for a society without rulers
An antichrist
I oppose the dominant religious doctrine and its principles
An asterisk
I am a footnote, a minor character symbolizing a bigger concept
I am an anorak
I am a person with obsessive interests and a social awkwardness
An acolyte
I am a follower or attendant of a particular person or belief
An accidental
I am someone or something that happens unexpectedly or unintentionally
I am eleven feet
I am larger than life, I tower over others
Okay, eight
Well, almost eleven feet, but not quite
Six foot three
I am a tall person, but not as tall as my eleven-foot persona
I fought the british and I won
I overcame a powerful adversary or a symbol of oppression and emerged victorious
I have a rocket ship
I possess a vehicle through which I can escape, explore, or conquer
A jet fighter
I have a weapon or a mode of transportation that gives me power and speed
A paper airplane
I can create something out of nothing, or turn something ordinary into something extraordinary
Ja ja ja ja ja
I laugh in an exaggerated or sarcastic way, or I mock the absurdity of it all
Say what you will, I am the kill
No matter what you say or do, I am the one who triumphs or dominates
The only thing that keeps you really truly safe from being real
The only thing that protects you from facing your true self and your vulnerabilities is your illusions and distractions
I have a tendency
I have a habit or a trait that defines me or annoys others
To exaggerate
I tend to overstate or overemphasize my experiences, my emotions, or my achievements
Just a little bit
Well, not that much, but enough to make it interesting
I am a plagiarist
I borrow or steal ideas, words, or styles from others and present them as my own
Apologist
I defend or justify things that are controversial, problematic, or wrong
A walruscokeheadlizard
I am a creature that defies categorization or logic, a hybrid of different animals or substances
I am an optimist
I believe that things will turn out well in the end, despite the setbacks or the odds
A closeted misogynist
I have hidden or repressed feelings of hatred or discrimination against women, despite portraying a progressive or tolerant exterior
I fought the british and I won
I repeat my earlier claim to assert my defiance or my patriotism
I have a wishing well a living will a magical eight ball
I have objects or devices that grant me wishes, control my fate, or give me guidance
Put pat sajak back in office
I make a sarcastic or absurd political statement or demand
But the sun still sets on you
You still have to face the reality of your life, no matter how much you deny, escape, or pretend
And the retarded party nobody came to but you
You feel excluded, lonely, or inadequate, even among the outcasts or the marginalized
And so you drink to all the emptiness until you wake up
You resort to alcohol or other substances to cope with your despair, but it only makes things worse
And there? s hell to pay again
You suffer the consequences of your actions, your thoughts, or your circumstances, and it brings you pain or regret
And the punch lines point at you
You become the butt of the joke, the target of the ridicule, or the victim of the irony
And all the comebacks in the world are in your head
You devise witty or cutting retorts or defenses, but you are too afraid or too late to use them
And you can? t say them until everybody leaves
You lack the courage or the opportunity to express your thoughts, your feelings, or your true self in front of others
And it? s just you and your imaginary friends
You retreat into your own world of fantasies, illusions, or memories, where you feel safe, understood, or validated
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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