After playing countless hometown shows, the Futureheads took the show on the road with a massive helping hand from Slampt Records' Milky Wimpshake. A tour of Squats and Youth Centres in Central Europe came in summer 2001, due to which the band switched out drummers. In place of Peter Brewis ambled a young pretender, Mr David Hyde (Drums, Vocals).
Several singles followed - the first, Nul Book Standard, can now be seen casually hanging out on eBay from time to time. A relationship with the lovely people at Fantastic Plastic briefly followed. 'The Futureheads' was released in summer 2004, on 679 Recordings, and then the band hit the road. Some highlights of 2005 include playing Glastonbury Festival on Baz's birthday, Hounds Of Love going Top Ten, meeting Dennis Hopper on Jimmy Kimmel's US TV Show, and getting that most infamous of Albatrosses, The Second Album under their belts.
‘News and Tributes’ was released in May 2006. It reached 11 in the album chart, and saw the band touring the world and continuing to win fans and supporters with their exhilarating live shows.
Fast forward to 2008, and The Futureheads are back, bolder and better than ever, exploding back onto the scene with their new album ‘This Is Not The World’. Embracing the punk-rock ethic like never before, Barry, Ross, Jaff and Dave are releasing their third album independently and taking control of their own destiny. It’s going to feel like the first time, all over again…
Annoyed and frustrated too many times by the bureaucratic nightmare that music had become, the band split with former label 679 in late 2006. A silently busy year followed which saw the band writing and recording, and launching their own label Nul Records, solely to release music by The Futureheads. Free of major label shackles, the band are taking back control and relishing being their own bosses.
‘This Is Not The World’ was recorded in 3 weeks in the summer with super-producer Youth at his studio ‘Space Mountain’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalusia. About as far away atmospherically as you can get from the bleak Scarborough farm in which they recorded ‘News And Tributes’, the band couldn’t help but be influenced by Youth’s enthusiasm, and describe the album as one of ‘defiance, optimism and joy.’
Keen to share the joy with fans, the band released 2 tracks as free downloads and played intimate shows in London and Sunderland at the end of 2007. They begin 2008 with a tour of uni venues and kick off the year with storming new single ‘The Beginning Of The Twist’, released March 10th.
Cabaret
The Futureheads Lyrics
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About as much use as a Pulitzer Prize photograph
Irony here is lost on you
What sells sells and we can never change that
I won't be your leading lady
You can't ask me to pose like that
Don't you think it's pretty scary
I can't understand you
If we can't talk then how can we express ourselves?
No one here cares if you lose
Everything, nevermind your clothes in those photographs
In the finest tradition, cabaret is back in fashion
No use for these guitars
About as much use as a risqué photograph, photograph, photograph, photograph
I won't be your leading lady
You can't ask me to pose like that
Don't you think it's pretty scary
When they ask her to pose like that?
The Futureheads’ song “Cabaret” is a commentary on the superficiality and commodification of art, particularly in the music industry. The first stanza of the song sets the tone for this theme, with the line “What sells sells and we can never change that.” The band seems to be criticizing the industry’s prioritization of profit over artistry and creativity, suggesting that the entertainment business is driven by financial gain rather than artistic merit. The title itself, “Cabaret,” invokes a sense of theatricality and showmanship, which serves as a metaphor for the idea that music has become more of a performance for the audience than a meaningful expression of the artist.
The lyrics also touch on the objectification of women in popular culture. The lines “Don’t you think it’s pretty scary when they ask her to pose like that?” and “You can’t ask me to pose like that” suggest that there is pressure on female artists to present themselves in a certain way, often in overtly sexualized positions. The band is pointing out the double standard that exists where women are expected to perform for and please the male-driven industry, while men are not held to the same standards.
Overall, “Cabaret” delivers a scathing critique of the entertainment industry, calling out its superficiality and its objectification of women. The use of metaphors such as “cabaret” and “photographs” underscores the larger image of the industry reducing art to mere spectacle and image, and speaks to the challenges artists face in staying true to their creative vision amidst the demands of the business.
Line by Line Meaning
Amnesty night the joke's on you
You think you're safe from punishment, but the situation is actually laughable and you don't realize it.
About as much use as a Pulitzer Prize photograph
You are useless, just like an award-winning photo that doesn't have practical value.
Irony here is lost on you
You can't grasp the irony in this situation.
What sells sells and we can never change that
We can't change the fact that people buy what's popular, even if it's not the best quality.
I won't be your leading lady
I won't play the role you want me to play.
You can't ask me to pose like that
You can't demand that I act a certain way or do something I'm not comfortable with.
Don't you think it's pretty scary
Isn't it frightening how people are willing to do anything for fame and fortune?
When they ask her to pose like that?
When women are objectified and asked to degrade themselves for the entertainment of others.
I can't understand you
I can't comprehend what you're saying or why you think the way you do.
If we can't talk then how can we express ourselves?
Communication is necessary in order for us to convey our thoughts and feelings to one another.
No one here cares if you lose
Nobody in this shallow world cares about you or your problems, they only care about themselves.
Everything, nevermind your clothes in those photographs
Everything is on display, including embarrassing pictures that expose your vulnerability.
In the finest tradition, cabaret is back in fashion
Cabaret is becoming popular again, in the same way that old traditions and styles often cycle back into fashion.
No use for these guitars
The traditional values of musical instruments, specifically guitars, don't have a place in the current entertainment industry.
About as much use as a risqué photograph, photograph, photograph, photograph
Just like a provocative photo without purpose, guitars have no real significance in this world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID CRAIG, BARRY HYDE, ROSS MILLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind