Wanting to cut themselves off from their pasts, Mosshart and Hince considered their new project to be Year Zero in their careers, so they renamed themselves "VV" and "Hotel" respectively and began writing sparse, minimalist songs together with the aid of a drum machine. In 2001 they showcased their new songs on a well received demo tape. In true punk rock fashion, however, the pair shunned approaches from major record labels. Recording as VV and Hotel, they contributed the song "Restaurant Blouse" to the compilation If the Twenty-First Century Did Not Exist, It Would Be Necessary to Invent It. Shortly after this they recorded their debut release, the Black Rooster EP, which saw release on British indie label Domino Records and was picked up for distribution by Dim Mak Records in the United States.
Following international touring, they entered Toe Rag studios to record their debut album Keep on Your Mean Side, mostly on 8-track, in just 2 weeks.
Popular indie band, the xx, name The Kills as the major influence for having a male/female lead singer combo: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/05/xx.interview/index.html?iref=allsearch
Their second album, No Wow, was released by Domino records on February 21, 2005. Featuring an artier, less guitar rock sound, the record embraced New Wave and post punk influences and sounded even more stripped down than Keep on Your Mean Side. The first single, The Good Ones, was released on February 7, 2005 and reached number 23 in the UK singles charts.
VV sang the song Meds on Placebo's 2006 eponymous album.
Their third album Midnight Boom was released March 10, 2008. It was followed by 5 different singles since its release.
U.R.A Fever
The Kills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you got to offer
Pick you out a soda
Look at you forever
Walk you to the water
Eyes like a casino
You ain't born typical
Pretty as a diagram
Go down to the Rio
Put in my left hand
Put in a fruit machine
Everyone's a winner
Laughing like a seagull
You are a fever, you are a fever
You ain't born typical
You are a fever, you are a fever
You ain't born typical
Living in a suitcase
Meet a clown and fall in love
Been dying to have you over
Clown around and break up
Take you to a jukebox
That's the situation
Pick you out a number
That's our arrangement
Dancing on the legs of a new-born pony
Left right, left right, keep it up son
Go ahead and have her, go ahead and leave her
You only ever had her when you were a fever
I am a fever, I am a fever
I ain't born typical
I am a fever, I am a fever
I ain't born typical
[Repeat: 2X]
We are a fever, we are a fever
We ain't born typical
We are a fever, we are a fever
We ain't born typical
The Kills's song U.R.A. Fever has a mesmerizing and hypnotic effect that pulls the listeners into the world of the song. The lyrics talk about a typical night out with someone, where the singer offers to take their companion to the counter and buy them a soda. They keep looking at each other, and the intensity builds up as they move towards the water. The singer describes the companion's eyes as casino-like, which gives the feeling of a gamble, and that something is at stake.
As they move ahead, the singer finds a piece of silver that is pretty as a diagram. They go down to the Rio and puts it in their left hand to play the fruit machine. The singer describes everyone's a winner and is laughing like a seagull. The companion is then described as a fever, and the singer admits that they are a fever too. They both know that they are not born typical, and somehow their energy and passion for life have brought them together.
The lyrics also talk about the ups and downs of a relationship, where they meet a clown and fall in love, but later on, they clown around and break up. They dance on the legs of a newborn pony, and the singer encourages their companion to go ahead and leave if they want to because they only ever had each other when they were a fever. The song is a beautiful ode to living life without fear and embracing the passion that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk you to the counter
I will accompany you to the checkout counter
What you got to offer
What do you have to provide
Pick you out a soda
I will choose a soft drink for you
Look at you forever
I will gaze at you for an indefinite period of time
Walk you to the water
I will escort you to the nearest water source
Eyes like a casino
Your eyes are similar to a gambling hall
You ain't born typical
You are not an ordinary person
Find a piece of silver
Locate an item composed of silver
Pretty as a diagram
As aesthetically appealing as a graph
Go down to the Rio
Visit the Rio de Janeiro area
Put in my left hand
Place the object in my left hand
Put in a fruit machine
Deposit it into a slot machine
Everyone's a winner
Every person who gambles is successful
Laughing like a seagull
Expressing joy through cackling like a seagull
You are a fever, you are a fever
You are an intense and contagious feeling
You ain't born typical
You are not ordinary
Living in a suitcase
Residing in a portable container for belongings
Meet a clown and fall in love
Encounter a circus performer and develop romantic feelings
Been dying to have you over
I have been eager to invite you to my home
Clown around and break up
Engage in humorous antics and subsequently end the relationship
Take you to a jukebox
Escort you to a coin-operated music player
That's the situation
That is the current state of affairs
Pick you out a number
Select a song for you
That's our arrangement
That is the agreement we have come to
Dancing on the legs of a new-born pony
Dancing atop a young horse's legs
Left right, left right, keep it up son
Proceed with the left foot, right foot rhythm, continue doing so, son
Go ahead and have her, go ahead and leave her
Pursue the woman you desire, then abandon her
You only ever had her when you were a fever
The only time you possessed her was when you were experiencing intense feelings
I am a fever, I am a fever
I am afflicted with a highly contagious emotion
I ain't born typical
I am not an average person
We are a fever, we are a fever
We are both affected by a highly contagious feeling
We ain't born typical
Neither of us is a typical person
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stoneysenpaii
Boy, (Girl)
Walk you to the counter, (What you got to offer?)
Pick you out a solder, (Look at you forever.)
Walk you to the water, (Your eyes like a casino.)
We ain't born typical.
Find a piece of silver, (Pretty as a diagram.)
And go down to the Rio. (Put it in my left hand.)
Put it in a fruit machine, (Everyone's a winner.)
Laughin' like a seagull.
[Both]
You are a fever, you are a fever -- you ain't born typical.
You are a fever, you are a fever -- you ain't born typical.
Girl, (Boy)
Livin' in a suitcase, (Meet a clown, fall in love.)
Went down to have you over, (Going 'round a breakup.)
Take you to a jukebox, (That's the situation.)
Pick you out a number. (And that's our arrangement.)
[Both]
Dancing on the legs of a newborn pony,
Left-right, left-right -- keep it up, son.
Go ahead and have her, go ahead and leave her,
You only ever had her when you were a fever.
I am a fever, I am a fever -- I ain't born typical.
I am a fever, I am a fever -- I ain't born typical.
We are a fever, we are a fever -- we ain't born typical.
We are a fever, we are a fever -- we ain't born typical.
We are a fever, we are a fever -- we ain't born typical.
We are a fever, we are a fever -- we ain't born typical.
@stalk8r
This album is their masterpiece.
@deVon30241
I completely agree. It's so fucking unique. Its dark, primal, sexual, and so raw.
@fetusicide
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@caracola2109
absolutely, i was listening to it again today, and i tought that it's been almost ten years, but still listening and loving it!!!
@stevenspain9379
It’s definitely special
@eeeyooohoh
AGREED!!!
@Bigballs130
me and my mum used to dance around to this song. i have a soft spot for the kills, brooding, angsty and fun, perfect stomping music
@NormanEdwardVail
I'm 60 yrs. old/young and this is the bomb...Great song
@haydencriss7709
It's interesting how music can bring together people of all ages. I'm probably one of the youngest here (14 years old)
@NormanEdwardVail
you are so right, my young friend. P.S. stay young for as long as you can Norman Vail