The name, The Raveonettes, is a direct reference to The Ronettes, and Buddy Holly's song Rave On!.
Their songs juxtapose the structural and chordal simplicity of 50s and 60s rock with intense electric instrumentation, driving beats and often dark lyrical content, similar to another of the band's influences, The Velvet Underground. Altogether, they sound very much like a slightly more melodic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain.
http://www.theraveonettes.com
On April 4th, 2011, they released "Raven in the Grave", a nine-track studio album with Vice Records. It's their 5th studio album.
From their site bio:
“I think we have finally hit on something quite important and different for this album,” explains Sune. “This is the first Raveonettes album we've done which doesn't feature the signature Raveonettes surf drumbeat. None of the tunes have any real sunshine to them. It’s all very un-Rave.”
“It has a mood of ethereal defiance” Sharin adds. “It’s dark but not bleak, like the single minded determination caused by crisis that is not quite hope but just as powerful. It’s the perfect winter soundtrack just in time for spring”.
Sleepwalking
The Raveonettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty in black you got it down
I can't hold my breath so long
When you pass me by without a sound
You got something more to give
To girls who never thought they'd love
Love
I flicked my cig and looked at you
Feels like it's always been
Pretty in black knows what to do
Sleepwalking
Then came that beautiful day
When our collided in great sparks
I can't hold my breath so long
Something evil in our hearts
You gave all you had to give
Pretty in black is all you were
Were
The Raveonettes's song Sleepwalking is a hauntingly beautiful track that explores themes of love, attraction, and temptation. The opening lines of the song set the stage for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer describes their admiration for someone who looks stunning in black. They find it hard to hold their breath when this person passes them by, which suggests a powerful physical attraction. Despite the lack of sound or interaction between the two, the singer imagines that this person has "something more to give" to those who never thought they'd love - perhaps referring to those who have given up on love altogether.
As the song progresses, the singer describes a summer's night when they flicked their cigarette and looked at this person again. It feels like they've always been there, effortlessly knowing what to do and how to look - "Pretty in black knows what to do." There's a sense of admiration mixed with frustration, as the singer can't seem to shake the sense of longing they feel. They describe sleepwalking, which could be interpreted as going through the motions of life while being half-awake - perhaps a metaphor for the feeling of being caught up in a hopeless attraction.
Finally, the lyrics take a darker turn as the singer describes a "beautiful day" when their paths crossed and something evil stirred in their hearts. They can't hold their breath because the attraction is too strong, but it's clear that this power dynamic isn't healthy. The lyrics suggest that the object of their affection gave all they had to give, and that's all they were - "Pretty in black is all you were." This could be read as a commentary on superficial attraction, or a warning about the dangers of getting caught up in a dangerous relationship.
Overall, Sleepwalking is a powerful and evocative song that explores themes of love and temptation with a hauntingly beautiful melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Think you look good today
I believe that you look stunning today
Pretty in black you got it down
You have mastered the art of wearing black and you look gorgeous
I can't hold my breath so long
I cannot bear to have you pass me by without acknowledgement and just hold my breath
When you pass me by without a sound
When you ignore me and walk by in silence
You got something more to give
You possess more than what meets the eye
To girls who never thought they'd love
To people who had given up on love
Love
The feeling that brings us together
Upon a summer's night
On a summer evening
I flicked my cig and looked at you
I took a drag of my cigarette and turned to look at you
Feels like it's always been
It seems like we have known each other for eternity
Pretty in black knows what to do
You know exactly what needs to be done and you look beautiful doing it
Sleepwalking
Living life on autopilot, without a conscious effort
Then came that beautiful day
The day when our paths crossed and everything changed for the better
When our collided in great sparks
When our lives intersected with intense passion and fire
Something evil in our hearts
We struggled with dark emotions within us
You gave all you had to give
You gave your everything to make this work
Pretty in black is all you were
All that we need is each other, and everything else fades away
Were
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sune Rose Wagner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
luichi terrorificamente muerte
sin poder de parar de escucharlos desde el 2000
lemonkooler
So pretty! I love The Raveonettes SO MUCH!
oddity reviews
very underrated band
Argyro Petridou
oh that epicness... love it ..
Hot80s
great song i never heard thanks Little Steven.
Dilllon Jenkins
you guys are good
El Ritual De Lo VIRTUAL
sonambuleando
koldslaw
Jeg spiser når kvinden sover.
Jeff Taylor
Sharin......!
Blanca Villaseñor
Bn vudeo