<… Read Full Bio ↴The Shins is an American indie rock band centered around James Mercer.
The band formed in 1997, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States as a side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner) and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who were both members of Flake Music. The band's original lineup was Mercer (vocals, guitar), Sandoval (drums), Marty Crandall (keyboards) and Dave Hernandez (bass). Neil Langford replaced Hernandez in 1998. Hernandez returned to the band in 2003, as Langford had left the band in 2001. Hernandez remained in the band until 2009. Fruit Bats keyboardist Eric Johnson joined the band in 2006.
Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was issued in 2001 and contained the singles "New Slang" and "Caring is Creepy", which were both featured in the 2004 film "Garden State". The band's next album, Chutes Too Narrow was released in 2003 and featured the single "So Says I". The band's third album Wincing The Night Away, was released in 2007 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts, the highest charting album in Sub Pop history until Arcade Fire's"The Suburbs" debuted at #1. After a short hiatus, Mercer announced in 2009 that the band was to record a new album and that Marty Crandall, and Jesse Sandoval were no longer members of The Shins. The band's new lineup included James Mercer, Eric Johnson, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer and Grand Archives keyboardist Ron Lewis.
Before the release of Port of Morrow, the band lineup changed once more with only Mercer and Plummer remaining from the previously announced lineup. The newly added members were announced as guitarist Jessica Dobson, bassist Yuuki Matthews (formerly of Crystal Skulls) and keyboardist Richard Swift.
The Simple Song Songfacts reports that "Simple Song." was the first single from the Port Of Morrow album, the band's debut release on James Mercer's Aural Apothecary record label. It was also the first offering to be heard from the band following the departure of Jesse Sandoval and Marty Crandall.
The current line-up for the live act is James Mercer (vocals, guitar), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Yuuki Matthews (bass), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums).
2017 - Fifth Album & World Tour
The band released their 5th studio album, "Heartworms" on March 10, 2017 on the Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records, together with a supporting world tour. "Heartworms" features Mercer's most diverse lyrical palette to date: From fictional character sketches ('Fantasy Island', 'Rubber Ballz'), autobiographical accounts ('Mildenhall'), to first single 'Name For You', a resounding call for female empowerment inspired by Mercer’s three daughters.
More information:
*http://www.theshins.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shins
intro
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
À vrai dire, ces conneries n'rentrent pas dans mes mœurs
Donc j'suis vraiment désolé d'être meilleur que vous tous
Sans n'jamais avoir bicrave ou vu une cellule de l'intérieur
Oui, mon garçon, tu peux dire c'que bon te semble
Dans la défaite, c'est chacun pour soi
Mais, dans la victoire, nous sommes tous ensemble
On s'découvre de nouveaux potes d'enfance
J'ai l'impression d'avancer, mais dans le mauvais sens
Et ça depuis l'adolescence, je crois que je vais finir par péter les plombs
Dadju, tu m'connais, toujours àl' quand faut s'y coller
Depuis qu'mes refrains sont connus, j'ai plus d'amies siliconées
Laisse-moi cogner l'beat, continue d'causer sur mes côtes, mais garde tes coraux
Quand on sera côte à côte, faudra pas côtoyer l'pavé nigga
J'bire à toute ta team, et j'suis ta pire hantise
En toute franchise, j'ai du style
Renié par les fils de putes qui disent qu'il faudrait plus d'dix piges
Pour jouir d'un succès d'estime
Vont-ils, un jour, comprendre que j'm'en beurre ?
D'leurs critiques, des gens cke-sti'
J'fais c'que j'ai à faire, et jusqu'ici
Ça marche, en toute modestie
Poto, poto, poto, j'crois qu'c'est mort (j'crois qu'c'est mort)
Qu'on m'le dise si j'ai tort (si j'ai tort)
Je suis la preuve que "rappeur talentueux" n'est pas une foutue oxymore (oxymore)
Oh, j'déconne! (Oh, j'déconne!)
Va pas tomber dans les pommes (Oh, j'déconne!)
MC, j'ai du mal à entendre ton avis émis depuis l'fond du décor (du décor)
Marginal à mon époque (à mon époque)
La reconnaissance ne me contente pas
T'as l'temps d'vivre et d'mourir trois fois si t'attends que j'te tende la patte
Fuck vos com', je ne veux pas de nouveaux potes
Tu peux parler, salope, je ne t'écoute pas
Je suis au top, je ne comprends pas
Comment tu pourrais avoir un meilleur point d'vue qu'moi
Tall
J'ai vu qu'le physique ne comptait pas depuis le tout petit Président
J'suis pas victime d'un faux départ, j'avais l'truc, c'était évident
J'rêve d'être ton pire cauchemar, chante donc qu'on se marre
"Tout style qui se marie, ils peuvent tout faire, y'en a marre"
Discret sans trop d'ce-vi', mais faut bien qu'parfois j'sévisse
La concu' va être servie, j'compte écourter toutes ses vies
Les gens s'demandent si j'suis devenu esclave du talent
Chez nous, pour marcher droit, on nous éduque aux coups d'talons
Peace!
These lyrics are from the song "Intro" by Dadju, a French artist who discusses his approach to music and his success in the industry. He starts by stating that he has never dreamt of being a successful rapper and that he doesn't involve himself in any criminal activity. He apologizes for being better than others without having to resort to these things. Dadju then addresses the idea that people may have negative comments about him, but he believes that in victory, everyone stands together. He reflects on how things have changed since his youth while expressing the sentiment that he might lose his mind from it all.
Dadju goes on to discuss the topic of success and how it can affect relationships with others. He mentions that since he gained fame, he no longer associates with women who have had breast augmentations. He seems to question the value of criticism and those who judge others' successes, saying that he doesn't care about them. Dadju asserts his place in the industry and his unique style, disregarding negativity from others. He finishes with the line about people questioning if he has become a slave to his talent, stating that he simply walks in his own path.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai jamais rêvé d'être un grand rappeur
I never dreamed of being a great rapper
À vrai dire, ces conneries n'rentrent pas dans mes mœurs
To be honest, this nonsense is not my thing
Donc j'suis vraiment désolé d'être meilleur que vous tous
So I'm really sorry for being better than all of you
Sans n'jamais avoir bicrave ou vu une cellule de l'intérieur
Without ever selling drugs or being in a cell
Oui, mon garçon, tu peux dire c'que bon te semble
Yes, my boy, you can say whatever you want
Dans la défaite, c'est chacun pour soi
In defeat, it's every man for himself
Mais, dans la victoire, nous sommes tous ensemble
But in victory, we're all together
On s'découvre de nouveaux potes d'enfance
We find new childhood friends
Rien n'sera jamais plus comme avant
Nothing will ever be the same again
J'ai l'impression d'avancer, mais dans le mauvais sens
I feel like I'm moving forward, but in the wrong direction
Et ça depuis l'adolescence, je crois que je vais finir par péter les plombs
And it's been like this since adolescence, I think I'm going to lose it
Dadju, tu m'connais, toujours àl' quand faut s'y coller
Dadju, you know me, always there when it's time to get going
Depuis qu'mes refrains sont connus, j'ai plus d'amies siliconées
Since my verses are known, I no longer have any silicone friends
Laisse-moi cogner l'beat, continue d'causer sur mes côtes, mais garde tes coraux
Let me hit the beat, keep talking behind my back, but keep your corals
Quand on sera côte à côte, faudra pas côtoyer l'pavé nigga
When we're side by side, we should not be on the streets, man
J'bire à toute ta team, et j'suis ta pire hantise
I bark at all your squad, and I'm your worst nightmare
En toute franchise, j'ai du style
Honestly, I've got style
Renié par les fils de putes qui disent qu'il faudrait plus d'dix piges
Disowned by sons of bitches who say it should take more than ten years
Pour jouir d'un succès d'estime
To enjoy a critical success
Vont-ils, un jour, comprendre que j'm'en beurre ?
Will they ever understand that I don't care?
D'leurs critiques, des gens cke-sti'
Of their criticisms, these people are crap
J'fais c'que j'ai à faire, et jusqu'ici
I do what I have to do, and so far
Ça marche, en toute modestie
It works, with all humility
Poto, poto, poto, j'crois qu'c'est mort (j'crois qu'c'est mort)
Dude, dude, dude, I think it's dead (I think it's dead)
Qu'on m'le dise si j'ai tort (si j'ai tort)
Tell me if I'm wrong (if I'm wrong)
Je suis la preuve que "rappeur talentueux" n'est pas une foutue oxymore (oxymore)
I'm the proof that "talented rapper" is not a fucking oxymoron (oxymoron)
Oh, j'déconne! (Oh, j'déconne!)
Oh, I'm kidding! (Oh, I'm kidding!)
Va pas tomber dans les pommes (Oh, j'déconne!)
Don't faint (Oh, I'm kidding!)
MC, j'ai du mal à entendre ton avis émis depuis l'fond du décor (du décor)
MC, I'm having a hard time hearing your opinion coming from behind the scenery (the scenery)
Marginal à mon époque (à mon époque)
A misfit in my time (in my time)
La reconnaissance ne me contente pas
Recognition doesn't satisfy me
T'as l'temps d'vivre et d'mourir trois fois si t'attends que j'te tende la patte
You have time to live and die three times if you wait for me to give you a hand
Fuck vos com', je ne veux pas de nouveaux potes
Fuck your comments, I don't want new friends
Tu peux parler, salope, je ne t'écoute pas
You can talk, bitch, I'm not listening to you
Je suis au top, je ne comprends pas
I'm at the top, I don't understand
Comment tu pourrais avoir un meilleur point d'vue qu'moi
How could you have a better point of view than me?
J'ai vu qu'le physique ne comptait pas depuis le tout petit Président
I've seen that physical appearance doesn't matter since the little President
J'suis pas victime d'un faux départ, j'avais l'truc, c'était évident
I'm not a victim of a false start, I had it, it was obvious
J'rêve d'être ton pire cauchemar, chante donc qu'on se marre
I dream of being your worst nightmare, sing so we can have a laugh
"Tout style qui se marie, ils peuvent tout faire, y'en a marre"
"Any style that matches, they can do anything, I'm sick of it"
Discret sans trop d'ce-vi', mais faut bien qu'parfois j'sévisse
Discreet with not too much fuss, but sometimes I have to take action
La concu' va être servie, j'compte écourter toutes ses vies
The competition will be served, I intend to shorten all their lives
Les gens s'demandent si j'suis devenu esclave du talent
People wonder if I've become a slave to talent
Chez nous, pour marcher droit, on nous éduque aux coups d'talons
In our place, to walk straight, we're taught to use our heels
Peace!
Peace!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ABOUBACAR TALL, DADJU NSUNGULA, ROBIN WAISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lya Cuéllar
This is one of the best intro song covers :D
AeroWing
<3 The Shins. I might be a little biased, but this is my favourite one.
ejmoye
This and the Regina Spektor version is my favorite.
IndependentPresident
How could you not realize? :D He has such a unique voice.
monie802
prolly one of the best covers...
Ian Sylvester
I love them all but this my favorite vocals for any of them.
CalebTheGuitarist
best version
BagofSunshine1001
good show. i like the original theme intro better (p.s. the shins are amazing)
Hootshot112
this song makes me sad... Everybody's the same.
dairylandbogurt
I found out about the shins from garden state, my sis had it on vhs when I was in gr. 5 and I couldn't be happier that I found them through such a lovely movie. That scene where natalie portman puts the head phones on whats his face and 'new slang' plays :) *sigh*.. How lovely