The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway (b. 1951 - d. 2021), all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens' books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The album i (2004, Nonesuch Records) continues Merritt's fixation on the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".
The album Distortion, was released through Nonesuch on the 15th January 2008 and introduced noise pop to the array of styles utilized in their music. The album's release was followed by a sold-out U.S. tour starting in February. Additional albums followed in 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2020.
Stephin Merritt is involved in several other musical projects: The 6ths (featuring different guest performers on every track), The Gothic Archies (songs dealing humorously with dark themes) and Future Bible Heroes (with music written by Chris Ewen)
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Strange Powers
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking out on Coney Island
Under more stars than
There are prostitutes in Thailand
Our hair in the air
Our lips blue from cotton candy
When we kiss, it feels
Like a flying saucer landing
And I can't sleep
'Cause you got strange powers
You're in my dreams
Strange powers
In Las Vegas where
The electric bills are staggering
The decor hog wild
And the entertainment saccharin
What a golden age
What a time of right and reason
The consumer's king
And unhappiness is treason
And I can't sleep
'Cause you got strange powers
You're in my dreams
Strange powers
The Sun falls down like honey
The Moon pours down like mercury
The stars fall down like money
And you come back to me
And I can't sleep
'Cause you got strange powers
You're in my dreams
Strange powers
And I can't sleep
'Cause you got strange powers
You're in my dreams
Strange powers
The Magnetic Fields' song "Strange Powers" has a nostalgic feel, as the lyrics take the listener to two different locations that are both faded from their golden age. The first is Coney Island, where the couple is on a Ferris wheel, looking out at the stars. The beauty of the moment is contrasted with the seedy surroundings, as the singer notes there are more stars in the sky than there are prostitutes in Thailand. The physical sensations of the moment are palpable - hair flying, lips blue from cotton candy, and a kiss that feels like a flying saucer landing. The imagery is both romantic and humorous, as the starry sky becomes a backdrop for a kiss that's out of this world.
The second location is Las Vegas, where the electric bills are staggering, the decor is hog wild and the entertainment is saccharin. While Las Vegas is known for its glitz and glamour, the singer again notes that the city's golden age has faded. The consumer may be king, but the unhappiness of the people is akin to treason. The illusion of happiness that these locations offer is juxtaposed against the strange powers that the singer's lover possesses. The powers he speaks of are not clarified, but they are strong enough to keep him awake at night and invade his dreams.
The lyrics of "Strange Powers" seem to celebrate the fleeting moments of beauty and joy that can be found in spaces that are past their prime. They contrast the surface-level happiness of these locations with the depth of emotion that the singer feels for his lover. The words are memorable and the melody is catchy, offering a portrait of love in all its strangeness.
Line by Line Meaning
On the Ferris wheel
We are riding the Ferris wheel in Coney Island.
Looking out on Coney Island
We are looking out at the sights of Coney Island.
Under more stars than There are prostitutes in Thailand
There are an abundance of stars in the night sky.
Our hair in the air
The wind is blowing our hair around.
Our lips blue from cotton candy
We are eating cotton candy, which has turned our lips blue.
When we kiss, it feels Like a flying saucer landing
Our kiss is so powerful and intense that it feels like an extraterrestrial experience.
And I can't sleep 'Cause you got strange powers
I am unable to sleep because you have a mysterious, powerful effect on me.
You're in my dreams Strange powers
You continue to affect me even in my dreams.
In Las Vegas where The electric bills are staggering
We are now in Las Vegas, where the cost of electricity is very high.
The decor hog wild And the entertainment saccharin
The decorations are eccentric and the entertainment is overly sweet.
What a golden age What a time of right and reason
This is a time of prosperity and logical decision-making.
The consumer's king And unhappiness is treason
Commercialism is at its height and being unhappy is looked down upon.
The Sun falls down like honey The Moon pours down like mercury The stars fall down like money And you come back to me
The world seems to revolve around money and the natural elements, but you are still the most important thing to me.
And I can't sleep 'Cause you got strange powers You're in my dreams Strange powers
Once again, your mysterious powers are preventing me from getting a good night's rest and you continue to haunt my dreams.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind