Their name was inspired by an awkward conversation with a U-Haul employee who was inspecting a van that the band had rented. The U-haul employee, attempting to make polite conversation, asked the three bespectacled band members if they were brothers. They said no. He asked if they were scientists, as they looked like they could be the kind of people who wear lab coats. They told him that they were musicians, not scientists. To this day, they regret telling the truth. They are not named after the Cap'n Jazz song which bears the name.
They are a franchise of Art Rock band, Art Brut. In fact, they are Art Brut 47.
The band formed while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Murray and Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College.
The band has released three self-made EPs (Bitching!, Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) and In Action). Their debut LP, With Love And Squalor was on Virgin Records, the first three singles of which were "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's A Hit". The album takes its name from the J.D. Salinger short story "For Esme - With Love and Squalor". They have since released LP Crap Attack, which is a collection of B-Sides, covers and other rarities, and their full follow-up album, Brain Thrust Mastery which debuted in the UK on March 17,2008 reached number 11 at the UK Album charts.
On the 1st November 2007, NME reported that Michael Tapper has left We Are Scientists under amicable circumstances, and on September 18, 2007, the band announced on their website that Max Hart, a keyboardist and guitarist who has played live with them before, has joined the band temporarily. As they put it: "There's no easy answer as to how long Max will stick around. Maybe we'll grow to hate his sanctimonious ways, which for now tickle us so. Maybe he'll grow to hate our open-minded, funny, refreshing, handsome ways, thus achieving what psychologists and bookies long ago labeled impossible."
And to make things even more exciting for the band, We Are Scientists is featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which Bishop Allen - at the time featuring former We Are Scientists drummer Michael Tapper - appears in a cameo.
According to Keith Murray's Wikipedia he was nominated for World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2007 and is predicted that he will be the new face of Louis Vuitton's spring/summer '09 collection.
The Band's 3rd effort, Barbara, was released in June of 2010 and features ex-Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows.
Chick Lit
We Are Scientists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the hot shot carrying on that you do
It's your only move
I wanna see you all buried alive
And I'll be up top carrying on over you
Only for you
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
If after all we still have high hopes and all is forgiven, if all is forgiven
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
You know that we've got some axes to grind
We've got some sharp tongue carrying on to do
It's your only move
I wanna see you all buried alive
And I'll be up top carrying on over you
Only for you
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
If after all we still have high hopes and all is forgiven, if all is forgiven
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
If after all we still have high hopes and all is forgiven, if all is forgiven
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again, again
The lyrics to "Chick Lit" by We Are Scientists seem to be referencing a personal vendetta against an individual or group of people. The opening lines, "I wouldn't be caught dead with your kind / And all the hot shot carrying on that you do / It's your only move," suggest a disdain for a certain type of person who is seen as arrogant and self-important. The singer seems to want to see this person or group "buried alive," indicating a desire for revenge or payback.
The repeated line, "I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again," seems to imply that there has been some sort of confrontation or disagreement in the past where the singer tried to be civil or polite, but was ultimately not heard or ignored. The tone of the lyrics is angry and aggressive, with the desire for revenge being emphasized throughout.
Overall, "Chick Lit" seems to be a cathartic release for the band, with the lyrics representing a personal vendetta against someone who has wronged them in the past. Despite the heavy themes of revenge and anger, the fast-paced and energetic music of the song keeps it from being too heavy or depressing.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't be caught dead with your kind
I refuse to associate with people like you
And all the hot shot carrying on that you do
Your arrogant attitude and behavior
It's your only move
It's the only way you know how to act
I wanna see you all buried alive
I wish for you to suffer and fail
And I'll be up top carrying on over you
I'll be successful and happy without you
Only for you
Doing well just to spite you
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again
I tried to be civil, but I won't bother anymore
If after all we still have high hopes and all is forgiven, if all is forgiven
If we can reconcile, forgive each other and move on
You know that we've got some axes to grind
We have things to settle between us
We've got some sharp tongue carrying on to do
We plan to insult and criticize each other
I asked you nicely once but I won't do that again, again
I will not try to be polite or civil with you again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CAIN, KEITH MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Smokin Cat
I've been jamming to this song since middle school! Love that you guys are still active making such great music!
Renée
This song deserves much more views gosh
AL- i
This was my fave album of 2008. Fuckin' brilliant!
Romy Sepúlveda
La amooooooo
ncf1
This is a rare occasion where a video fits absolutely perfectly to the song.
EffyRules
I love this band!!!! They sound like the killers!
Misanthrope
No
RadiantVII
I love this band's music videos!
Joe XKid
Masterpiece!
Vic Rattlehead
a great band and a great song ! wish they played Chicago or Milwaukee more often