The band formed in 1995, Svenonius, Canty and Gamboa having previously been in Nation of Ulysses and the short-lived Cupid Car Club. They combined garage rock, soul and self-styled ‘liberation theology’ to make a new genre they called Gospel Yeh-Yeh. They released three studio LPs, two live LPs and a compilation of singles and B-sides. They split in 2000.
Svenonius and Mae are now part of Weird War and Svenonius has released a solo album under the pseudonym David Candy.
“Make-Up” also refers to a Japanese hard rock band formed by Nobuo Yamada (vocals), Hiroaki Matsuzawa (guitar), Yougo Kouno (keyboards), Yasuyoshi Ikeda (bass) and Yoshihiro Toyokawa (drums). They’re popular for many songs which accompanied the Saint Seiya anime series (especially the opening, Pegasus Fantasy).
The band now is no longer together, Nobuo and Yougo achieved moderate success playing with the JAM Project.
Save Yourself
The Make-up Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was frozen, baby
Cold to the touch
Limbs from other bodies
I didn't look like much
I was nothing, baby
'Til you put your mouth to me
Blew right up my nose
I was just a body
Until you gave my life
And now I walk the earth
Sprung from your doctor's knife
You're my Doctor Frankenstein
Oh, yeah
My lungs were feeling the kisses
My tongue could taste the wine
Blood was flowing freely
Through those limbs of mine
You're my Doctor Frankenstein
Oh, yeah
Oh, baby, yeah
You crank me to the sky
You opened up the lids
That covered up my eyes
Baby, you sewed my limbs up all through the night
Yeah, you're my Doctor Frankenstein
The Make-up’s song “Save Yourself” is an electrifying rock and roll sensation that features lyrics that are dark and somewhat mysterious. The central theme of this song is about a person who has been saved by their doctor. It shows the life of the person they were before, how they were saved, and the transformation they have undergone.
The song begins with the line “Are you that doctor of mine?” This line is undoubtedly directed towards the doctor who saved the person who is singing the song. They continue by describing themselves before they were cured. They were frozen, cold to the touch, and didn’t look like much because they had limbs from other bodies. They were nothing while their blood was cold. However, the life began to seep back into them when the doctor put his mouth on them and blew right up their nose. The person was transformed by this act.
Eventually, the person transforms into something that they never thought was possible. They become functional, and the doctor becomes their hero. They declare that the doctor is their Doctor Frankenstein, who saved them from something they themselves couldn't do. The person is now walking the earth, and their new limbs, lungs, and blood are working properly. The song is an excellent representation of human nature's desire to be saved and transformed from our state of being into a new creation.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you that doctor of mine?
Asking if their lover is the one who brought them back to life.
I was frozen, baby
Referring to being dead before being resurrected.
Cold to the touch
Body being lifeless before being resurrected.
Limbs from other bodies
Referring to having had a transplant.
I didn't look like much
Appearing lifeless and lifeless.
I was nothing, baby
Being dead can make you feel like you are nothing.
And my blood was cold
Referencing the coldness of a lifeless body.
'Til you put your mouth to me
The moment of resuscitation.
Blew right up my nose
The air entering the body again.
I was just a body
Referencing the body without a soul.
Until you gave my life
The doctor gave the patient a new life.
And now I walk the earth
The patient is alive and well, walking around like normal.
Sprung from your doctor's knife
Referencing the surgeon's handiwork.
You're my Doctor Frankenstein
The resuscitator is being compared to Dr. Frankenstein, who also brought a creature back to life.
My lungs were feeling the kisses
The patient is breathing again.
My tongue could taste the wine
The patient's sense of taste is functioning again.
Blood was flowing freely
The patient's blood circulation is healthy again.
Through those limbs of mine
Referencing the limbs which were once cold and lifeless.
You crank me to the sky
The resuscitator literally brought the patient back to life.
You opened up the lids
The resuscitator opened the patient's open eyelids.
That covered up my eyes
Thus allowing the patient to see once again.
Baby, you sewed my limbs up all through the night
The reference is to the long hours of surgery required to bring the patient back to life.
Yeah, you're my Doctor Frankenstein
Reiterating the title that the resuscitator has been given.
Contributed by Victoria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.