The Pipettes was a British indie pop girl group formed in 2003 in Brighton.… Read Full Bio ↴The Pipettes was a British indie pop girl group formed in 2003 in Brighton. The band ceased in 2011.

Gwenno and Ani Saunders were singers in the group with Gwenno occasionally taking to the keyboard.

The Pipettes, at that time consisting of Julia Clark-Lowes, Rose Elinor Dougall, and Becki Stephens and their backing band, The Cassette, formed at a seaside party in Brighton in 2003 and entertained audiences with their trademark polka dot dresses, doowop anthems and choreographed hand movements.

Their first major single, Dirty Mind, reached #61 in the UK singles charts with the follow-up, Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me, reaching #35 in April 2006. Their album, We Are the Pipettes, was released on 17th July including the new single, Pull Shapes which reached #26 in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, after being released on 3rd July. We Are the Pipettes reached #41 in the album charts after its first week of release. Judy was the 4th single to be released from We Are the Pipettes; it failed to reach the UK Top 40, coming in at #46. However, it did reach #1 on the Indie Chart.

In 2005, The Pipettes completed successful headline tours in the UK and Europe, as well as high-profile support slots with The Magic Numbers, Graham Coxon, British Sea Power and The Go! Team, that has won them fans in high places including Radio One DJ Huw Stephens, and Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe.

A very small tour of America took place in early 2007; every show played was sold-out, culminating in six successful showcases at SXSW 2007. A tour of the UK and Europe in April and May 2007 was followed by a tour across north america, coinciding with the release of the EP Your Kisses are Wasted on Me in the US which reached #5. Through summer 2007 they played a number of festivals in Europe and Japan. October saw a tour of North America, although delayed by visa difficulties, along with the US launch of We Are The Pipettes, including two new songs. A Japanese launch followed with a Japanese tour in December, and 2008 was seen in by the band with a mini-tour in Australia.

In February 2008, Gwenno and Becki appeared at several events without Rose, namely a DJ set in Glasgow and three gigs with Mark Ronson in Brighton and London, leading to speculation that he would be producing their second album.

On April 18th 2008, The Pipettes announced the departure of Rose and Becki, meaning that the group now featured none of the original singers. They were replaced with Ani (Gwenno's sister) and a BRIT School graduate, Anna McDonald. They also reported they were currently demoing twenty to twenty-five new songs with a view to recording their second album in the summer of 2008.

The new lineup made its debut at Corsa Presents Bandstand with Mark Ronson on May 3rd 2008. The band performed Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling).

On November 12th 2008, the band announced another departure; this time of Anna, who had only been in the band for seven months. Anna's unexpected decision to leave and concentrate on her songwriting meant the band had to cancel their appearance at Sŵn Festival.

On February 11th 2009, the band posted a video blog on their website to introduce the newest Pipette, Beth Mburu-Bowie. With Beth, they are currently finishing work on their second album.

Previous members of the band include Julia Clark-Lowes (now of The Indelicates), Rose Elinor Dougall, Becki Stephens, Joe van Moyland (now of Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong) and Anna McDonald.

http://www.thepipettes.co.uk

School Uniform
The Pipettes Lyrics

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I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)
I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)
I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)
I like a boy in (school uniform)

Well I walked past him and I give him a wink
He must think I am sexually impertinent
And we're always colliding like the elements

But does he really know me, do I really know him?

I should have noticed it before
(we also noticed it before)
My girlfriends said they saw before
Him looking at the boys, looking at the boys

He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform)
He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform)
He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform)
He likes a boy in (school uniform)

Well I'm so sad cos I loved him so
But I think it's better that we go with the flow
And now I find my outlook isn't so narrow
In lessons I am dreaming about the girls that I know

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform)
I like a girl in uniform (school uniform)
I like a girl in uniform (school uniform)
I like a girl in (school uniform)

And now I know about all of this
There's plenty more that I can kiss
And when I think about the bliss
Of looking at the girls, looking at the girls, looking at the girls

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform)
I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)
Cos not everything is uniform (school uniform)
I wanna kiss everyone in uniform

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform)
I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)

Cos not everything is uniform (school uniform)
I wanna kiss everyone in uniform

Overall Meaning

The Pipettes' "School Uniform" is a catchy, upbeat song that, at first listen, appears to be about a girl crushing on a boy in school uniform. However, a deeper look at the lyrics reveals a more complex exploration of sexuality, gender norms, and societal expectations. The song's protagonist likes a boy in uniform, but eventually discovers that he himself likes boys in uniform. This prompts her to expand her own understanding of what she finds attractive - she now likes girls in uniform too - and reject the idea that everything has to conform to a rigid uniformity.

The use of the word "uniform" throughout the song is a clear nod to the strict dress codes that are often imposed in traditional schools. The idea that everyone must look the same is a way of imposing conformity and suppressing individual expression. By singing about wanting to kiss everyone in uniform - boys and girls alike - The Pipettes are celebrating difference and rejecting the narrow expectations that society has placed upon them.

The line "He must think I am sexually impertinent" is particularly interesting, as it highlights the stigma that still exists around young women expressing their desires. The singer is aware that her advances may be seen as inappropriate, even though she is doing nothing wrong. By acknowledging this, the song confronts head-on the double standards that exist around gender and sexuality.

Overall, "School Uniform" is a fun, playful song with a deeper message about the importance of accepting oneself and others for who they are. It encourages listeners to reject societal norms and embrace their own unique preferences and desires.

Line by Line Meaning

I like a boy in uniform (school uniform)
The singer is attracted to boys who wear school uniforms.

Well I walked past him and I give him a wink He must think I am sexually impertinent And we're always colliding like the elements But does he really know me, do I really know him?
The singer has flirted with the boy in uniform, but wonders if they truly know each other or if their interactions are just superficial.

I should have noticed it before (we also noticed it before) My girlfriends said they saw before Him looking at the boys, looking at the boys
The singer's friends have noticed that the boy in uniform is attracted to other boys.

He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform) He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform) He likes a boy in uniform (school uniform) He likes a boy in (school uniform)
The boy in uniform is attracted to other boys who wear school uniforms.

Well I'm so sad cos I loved him so But I think it's better that we go with the flow And now I find my outlook isn't so narrow In lessons I am dreaming about the girls that I know
Although the artist is sad about the situation with the boy in uniform, they realize that they have a broader perspective on love and attraction and are also now fantasizing about girls they know.

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform) I like a girl in uniform (school uniform) I like a girl in uniform (school uniform) I like a girl in (school uniform)
The singer is attracted to girls who wear school uniforms.

And now I know about all of this There's plenty more that I can kiss And when I think about the bliss Of looking at the girls, looking at the girls, looking at the girls
The singer realizes there are many more people they can potentially be attracted to and is now thinking about kissing girls instead of just boys.

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform) I like a boy in uniform (school uniform) Cos not everything is uniform (school uniform) I wanna kiss everyone in uniform
The artist is attracted to people of any gender who wear a uniform, and wants to kiss everyone who fits that description.

I like a girl in uniform (school uniform) I like a boy in uniform (school uniform) Cos not everything is uniform (school uniform) I wanna kiss everyone in uniform
The artist reiterates their attraction to people who wear uniforms, regardless of gender, and wants to kiss as many uniform-wearing people as possible.

Contributed by Jordyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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