The bands initial line-up featured Pär Wiksten (vocals, guitars), Christina Bergmark (keyboards, vocals), Stefan Schönfeldt (guitars) and his younger brother Frederick Schönfeldt (bass) with Gunnar Karlsson (drums) and Björn Malmquist (violin). Karlsson was later replaced by Erik Dahlgren.
Early influences included Australian band The Go-Betweens as well as The Sisters Of Mercy.
The band released six studio albums in their 21 year career including the commercially successful Be A Girl (1994) and Bagsy Me (1997).
Part-way through recording their seventh studio album the band officially announced their split in April 2009 with Pär Wiksten going solo.
2020 the band returned together and released the single Can't Kill The Musikk and will tour during 2021.
Children Of The Revolution
The Wannadies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it is good for your mind
Well you can twist and shout
Let it all hang out
But you won't fool the Children of the Revolution
You can tell we're playing
In the falling rain
I drive a Rolls Royce
'cause it's good for my voice
The Wannadies's song Children of the Revolution is a song about the rebellion and free spirit of the youth in their time. The lyrics suggest that while there may be expectations or norms that exist in society, the younger generation sees through them and will not be tricked or misguided by them. The lines "You can bump and grind and it is good for your mind, you can twist and shout, let it all hang out" suggest that these acts of rebellion are necessary for personal growth and liberation. The repetition of "But you won't fool the Children of the Revolution" reinforces the idea that the youth see through the illusions that society may present.
The stanza "You can tell we're playing in the falling rain, I drive a Rolls Royce 'cause it's good for my voice" further supports the theme of rebelling against societal expectations. Driving a fancy car like a Rolls Royce goes against the typical image of a young and rebellious rocker. The sentiment expressed in this line is that the youth will not be boxed into preconceived notions of what is expected of them, and they will engage in activities that defy expectations.
Overall, Children of the Revolution is a call for the young to be liberated and reject conformity in their society.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you can bump and grind
It's okay to let loose and have fun
And it is good for your mind
Expressing yourself physically can help relieve stress
Well, you can twist and shout
Dancing and being energetic is good for the soul
Let it all hang out
Don't hold back or be self-conscious, just be yourself
But you won't fool the Children of the Revolution
The younger generation sees through disingenuous behavior
No, you won't fool the Children of the Revolution
They are wise beyond their years
You can tell we're playing
It's obvious we're having a good time
In the falling rain
Even the weather won't dampen our spirits
I drive a Rolls Royce
I indulge in luxuries that make me happy
'Cause it's good for my voice
It's a personal preference that brings me joy
Contributed by Elena O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.