The Parlotones’ three studio albums —2005’s Radiocontrolledrobot, 2007’s A World Next Door To Yours, and 2009’s Stardust Galaxies, have racked up numerous platinum and gold certifications and South African Music Awards, while their three live CD/DVD packages (culminating in 2010’s Live Design) have cemented their reputation as a fiery force to be reckoned with onstage. Confronted with the sight of powerfully expressive frontman Kahn Morbee leading the band — which also includes guitarist Paul Hodgson, bassist Glen Hodgson, and drummer Neil Pauw — to soaring emotional heights during their Fall 2011 club tour of the U.S., the Boston Herald predicted that “The Parlotones could become huge here. Killers huge, Muse huge, Coldplay huge.” Filter magazine reckoned that “their earnestness, work ethic, and charm may be their biggest weapons.”
Those qualities will serve The Parlotones well in 2012 as they prepare to expand their loyal fanbase beyond South Africa and Europe (where they also have a devoted following) to the United States with the release of their new album Journey Through the Shadows, via their own Sovereign Entertainment label, on May 8th. “America dictates trends around the world,” Morbee says. “If you’re big there, the rest of the world listens. It has a ripple effect. We would be very proud to achieve success in the U.S. because very few artists from our country have managed it. I think for a long time, South Africans have had an inferiority complex in terms of our place in the world and our relative insignificance compared to the super powers. It would be nice to have a success story, especially in a nation that needs uplifting, and instill in folks back home that ‘can do’ belief.”
To achieve their goal, The Parlotones have crafted the kind of melody-minded arena-filling songs that transcend language and culture barriers on Journey Through The Shadows. First single “Save Your Best Bits,” with its theme of not allowing negative things from the past to affect the good parts of your soul, and the celebratory “I Am Alive” are about catharsis. They chase those moments of universal human experience when everyone in the room is uplifted by a shared emotion. “My goal is to connect with people across the world, and I think the human condition is very similar regardless of where you are,” Morbee says. “I think the theme of these songs is hope and that life is worth living regardless of its ups and downs.”
That theme informs the album’s title, Journey Through The Shadows, which, Morbee explains, is a metaphor for the human experience. “You’re not given a guidebook or map at birth that guarantees the smoothest path,” he says. “Ultimately, we all walk through with a candle that only allows us to see so far in front of ourselves. You never know what’s around the corner, so it’s an analogy for life.”
In keeping with The Parlotones’ big themes are big ideals. Ever since these four school friends formed the band in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort in the late ’90s they have always aspired not only to have fun making music, but also to give back to their community. Over the years, they have raised funds and awareness for a variety of social and environmental organizations, lending their high profile to initiatives such as Live Earth, Earth Hour, The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Carbon Free campaign, Nelson Mandela’s 46664, and Live Earth’s Run for Water, among others. They are also ambassadors for the anti-poaching organization Rhino Force, United Against Malaria, and several other non-profits that combat problems that acutely affect South Africa. In March 2012, they will join with Africa Unites for a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise global awareness about ending violence against women and girls in Africa. The band sees the music and the activism, as well as their other creative business endeavors (the band has its own boutique wine label, which has released three highly successful blends) as one and the same: methods of expression, communication, and connection.
“People in the public eye have the ability to spread a message very quickly and effectively,” Morbee says. “So we try to do so when it concerns issues we feel strongly about. But we never want to come across as a band that's preaching. All we're really doing is drawing attention to causes that we support. South Africa is our home and home to our families and our friends. We certainly want to make sure they have a bright future. If we can get involved and encourage people to get involved, it can only have positive effects.”
The Parlotones are excited to be representing their homeland and shining a spotlight on it in the process. “Every band dreams of making a living, touring, and having a large fan base around the world,” Morbee says. “Those were our aspirations from the beginning, but because the music market in South Africa wasn’t developed, they were very difficult to achieve. We had to pave our own way. For me the success is not in what we may eventually achieve but in actually taking the journey. Yes there's a lot of risk associated, but we’ve soaked up such a wealth of experiences that it makes it all worthwhile.”
Funny Face
The Parlotones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Funny face, if you look real close my eyes have died
Funny face, it's him you want but I'll do in his place
Funny face, it's a slap slap slap in the face
Is this the hand I've been dealt - where's my negotiator
Is this the hand I've been dealt - where's my negotiator
Is this the hand I've been dealt - where's my negotiator
Funny face, your lips may lie but feelings don't hide
Funny face, lovers entwined but where is your mind
Funny face, looks as though I need a lovers guide
Funny face, do you know what it's like being second prize
You're all I've ever wanted but I wanted more of you,
All of you, more than you were willing to offer
Even the parts you chose to hide, more of you,
All of you, more than you could ever imagine.
The Parlotones's song Funny Face is a heartbreaking ballad about unrequited love and the pain of feeling like second best. The lyrics tell the story of a person who is deeply unhappy inside, but puts on a "funny face" to hide their true emotions. Despite being aware that the person they love is with someone else ( "funny face, it's him you want but I'll do in his place" ), they can't help but feel drawn to them. They are left feeling like they are living a lie, as they try to hide their true feelings and pretend that everything is okay.
The repeated line "Is this the hand I've been dealt - where's my negotiator" speaks to a sense of helplessness and frustration, as they feel like they have no control over their situation. They are searching for someone to help them navigate the complexities of their emotions and find a way out of the despair they are experiencing.
Overall, the lyrics of Funny Face are a poignant and relatable portrayal of the pain of unrequited love, and the internal struggle of trying to hide one's true emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny face, funny 'cause I'm not happy inside
My outward appearance may seem humorous, but inside I'm actually quite unhappy.
Funny face, if you look real close my eyes have died
A closer look would show that my eyes betray my facade of happiness and are dead inside.
Funny face, it's him you want but I'll do in his place
Although you desire him, I'm willing to be a substitute for him.
Funny face, it's a slap slap slap in the face
Despite my willingness to be a substitute, it still hurts to know that I'm not the one you truly desire.
Is this the hand I've been dealt - where's my negotiator
I feel like life has dealt me a bad hand and I wish I had someone to help me negotiate and improve my situation.
Funny face, your lips may lie but feelings don't hide
Although your words may deceive, your true feelings can't be hidden.
Funny face, lovers entwined but where is your mind
You may be physically close with your lover, but mentally you're not fully present.
Funny face, looks as though I need a lovers guide
Based on what I see, it seems like I could use some guidance in navigating love and relationships.
Funny face, do you know what it's like being second prize
It's painful to be aware that I'm not your first choice and am instead a consolation prize.
You're all I've ever wanted but I wanted more of you,
Although you are everything I've ever wanted, I craved more of you and couldn't be satisfied with what you were willing to offer.
All of you, more than you were willing to offer
I wanted all of you and more than you were willing to give.
Even the parts you chose to hide, more of you,
I wanted the parts of you that you kept hidden from me as well, and still wanted more.
All of you, more than you could ever imagine.
I wanted all of you and even more than you could possibly imagine, but it wasn't enough.
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Petit Emmanuel
Love these guys❤️... Hope to go to one of your shows...
Bicha Má
Amo mais que tudo
George Flack-Davison
There were only some bands / people I ever wanted to see performing live. Queen, Michael Jackson, Elvis, & Beetles. I have seen Parlotones live, they are the only band at the moment I identify with pure soul and the only entertainers I am willing to attend live. Feel the passion in the music. Thanks lads.
YLaraY
<3 love it!!!!
Teri Murphy
Profound and so on point.
Vanessa Bruwer
This is song that spawned my love for the Parlotones
Rika S
This band is absolutely brilliant! I will marry whomever wrote these songs...
Nasreenthirteen
Long live The Parlotones in 2018!
Mary Nkosi
most artistic creative band I knw...
Stacy L. Steele
I love this band so much it's ridiculous.