In 1998, The Section Quartet emerged in Los Angeles as a recording entity with a dual purpose: to function as a string “section” on other artists’ records, and to take the rock string quartet to the highest level. Unlike other cross-genre groups, TSQ remains dedicated to original interpretations of the enduring rock compositions.
The Section Quartet’s rock & pop sensibilities have led to studio and stage collaborations with music’s top artists and producers—from Wilco and Christina Aguilera to A Perfect Circle and David Bowie. The quartet has also recorded/performed with Jon Brion, Kelly Clarkson, Grant-Lee Phillips, Sam Phillips, Tenacious D with Dave Grohl, Fiona Apple, James Blunt, Pink, Wes Borland, Rick Springfield, Finch, Tesla, Al Stewart, Ryan Adams, Enrique Iglesias, Greg Dulli, The Zombies and Peter Case.
Producers such as Linda Perry,Jon Brion, Bill Bottrell, Tony Berg, Danny Lohner, David Bianco, Tom Rothrock, T Bone Burnett, Trina Shoemaker and Nick Launay regularly call on TSQ to add strings to their productions.
Individually established classical players in their own right, members of The Section Quartet have distinguished themselves with hard-driving rock & pop credentials. Before founding TSQ, string arranger/violinist Eric Gorfain performed with Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on their "Unledded Tour"; Gorfain has also recorded with Live and Eric Clapton. Violinist/arranger Daphne Chen has toured as a member of Quetzal, soloed with Los Lobos and Little Feat and recorded with Better Than Ezra and Ray Charles. Richard Dodd has played cello onstage and in the studio with The Bangles, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins. And Leah Katz has contributed her viola expertise to Eve 6, Dishwalla, Destiny’s Child and Stevie Wonder.
Having built a reputation for their innovative, self-arranged renditions of Radiohead’s OK Computer and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, The Section Quartet were coaxed on to the live stage in 2002. Minutes after seeing TSQ perform at the renowned LA club Largo, Goldenvoice’s festival mastermind Paul Tollett offered them two spots in the 2004 Coachella Music Festival lineup.
In concert, The Section Quartet plugs in and delivers their infectiously dynamic ensemble and rock solid rhythm. On more than one occasion, audience members have been spotted playing along on “air violin”.
TSQ is constantly adding new material to their live show and discography: songs by Led Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley, Tool, The Clash, Green Day, KISS, Ima Robot, Muse and dozens of others. In 2004, TSQ independently released No Electricity Required to rave reviews.
Paranoid Android
The Section Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head?
Huh what's that?
When I am king you will be first against the wall
With your opinions which are of no consequence at all
Huh what's that?
Ambition makes you look very ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
You don't remember
You don't remember
Why don't you remember my name?
Off with his head, off with his head
Why won't he remember my name
I guess he does
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height, from a great height
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height, from a great height
That's it sir you're leaving
The crackle of pig skin
The dust and the screaming
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit
The panic, the vomit
God loves his children
God loves his children, yeah!
The Section Quartet's song "Paranoid Android" features dense, stream-of-consciousness lyrics that paint a picture of a disturbed, paranoid mind. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer pleading for quiet to silence the endless chatter in their head. The mention of "unborn chicken voices" suggests a surreal and unsettling world where the boundaries of reality are blurred. This is reinforced by the threat of violence in the next line- the singer plans to execute those who hold opinions they disagree with.
The tone of the song then shifts to a different character who is struggling to be remembered by someone else. The call for the other person's head to be cut off is possibly a metaphor for the lack of attention and recognition this character is receiving. The final lines of the song are a chaotic jumble of images that suggest an apocalyptic scenario- "crackle of pig skin," "dust and screaming," "panic, vomit." Despite this, the idea that "God loves his children" adds an element of hope to the bleak picture. Overall, the song portrays a fractured world where the line between reality and delusion is blurred, and the characters are struggling for recognition and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Please could you stop the noise I'm trying to get some rest?
The singer is asking for peace and quiet in his mind to rest
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head?
The singer is hearing so many voices in his head that he can't even differentiate them, and they're distracting him from his rest
Huh what's that?
The singer is confused at the chaos going on inside his mind
When I am king you will be first against the wall
The singer feels powerful and threatens those who stand in his way
With your opinions which are of no consequence at all
The singer belittles the opinions of those who oppose him
Ambition makes you look very ugly
The singer comments on the negative effects of ambition on people's personalities
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
The singer refers to the wealthy as powerless and insignificant
You don't remember
The singer is reminding someone of their past actions
You don't remember
The singer is repeating the previous line for emphasis
Why don't you remember my name?
The singer is upset that the person they're addressing has forgotten them
Off with his head, off with his head
The singer uses a reference from 'Alice in Wonderland' to further threaten the person they're addressing
Why won't he remember my name?
The singer is confused and upset that they're being ignored
I guess he does
The singer is frustrated that the person they're addressing is purposefully ignoring them
Rain down, rain down
The singer is calling for a release of emotions from the heavens
Come on rain down on me
The singer is asking for a personal release of emotions
From a great height, from a great height
The singer is calling for a grand, powerful release of emotions
Rain down, rain down
The singer is repeating the previous lines but with more urgency and passion
Come on rain down on me
The singer is still desperately calling for a release of emotions
From a great height, from a great height
The singer repeats this line for emphasis
That's it, sir, you're leaving
The singer is addressing someone who has been kicked out, kicked to the curb, or dismissed in some way
The crackle of pig skin
The singer uses this imagery to describe the chaos and noise left behind after the person's departure
The dust and the screaming
The chaos and mayhem left behind after the person leaves continues
The yuppies networking
The singer is commenting on the shallow and unimportant activities of people in the business world
The panic, the vomit
The image becomes more and more disgusting and extreme, emphasizing the chaos left behind by the person's departure
God loves his children
The singer provides a stark contrast to the harshness and chaos of the previous lines
God loves his children, yeah!
The singer repeats the previous line with more emphasis, offering a message of hope and comfort after the turmoil
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP SELWAY, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind