pornophonique consists of Kai Richter (guitar, vocals & c64) and Felix Heuser (gameboy), who are both german. Together, they're producing some kind of micromusic (electronic). While Kai is singing and playing the guitar, Felix Heuser "plays" Little Sound DJ on his Gameboy. Sometimes, Kai is playing the C64 (the game Music Machine), which is used as a live keyboard. They describe themselves as "gameboy meets lagerfeuer" (or in english: gameboy meets campfire).
on their website you can download their whole album called "8-bit lagerfeuer" for free or buy the cd in black vinyl-optics within a tintop with viewing window. Including variant-covers for each song, made by famous german comicartists.
and for all german guys: you can read an interview with pornophonique here.
I Want to Be a Machine
pornophonique Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep down inside
There's an error in my mind
I need, need one
I need someone to control the things inside
Oh, operator, I need an exit
Oh, operator get me out of here
Can't you see?
I don't wanna be controlled by fear
I want to be a machine
Checking all my systems on a 7-inch tft screen
Listen to me, listen to me, listen to me
Can't you see?
That I wanna be
I wanna, wanna be a machine
The lyrics to Pornophonique's song "I Want to Be a Machine" express a desire to escape the emotional and psychological turmoil of being human by transforming into a machine. The singer acknowledges that there is an error in their mind, indicating that they are experiencing some kind of mental distress or dissonance. They seek someone or something to control the things inside, suggesting a need for external regulation and discipline.
The operator is called upon to provide an exit from the singer's current state of being. The use of the term "operator" implies a technological element to this solution, as if the singer is seeking to manipulate their own mental programming like a circuit board. The singer expresses a refusal to be controlled by fear, a common human emotion that can override rational thought processes and lead to destructive behavior.
Ultimately, the singer declares that they want to be a machine, implying a longing for stability, reliability, and a simpler existence. The idea of checking their systems on a 7-inch TFT screen suggests that they want to be able to monitor their own performance and make necessary adjustments. The repetition of the phrase "listen to me" reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling with feeling heard or understood.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep, deep down
In the depths of my mind
Deep down inside
Even further within
There's an error in my mind
Something is wrong with my thoughts
I need, need one
I require someone
I need someone to control the things inside
I want someone to regulate my inner workings
Oh, operator, I need an exit
Operator, I require a way out
Oh, operator get me out of here
Please remove me from this place
Can't you see?
Don't you understand?
I don't want to be
I refuse to become
I don't wanna be controlled by fear
I don't want fear to dictate me
I want to be a machine
I desire to become an automated being
Checking all my systems on a 7-inch tft screen
Monitoring my processes on a small screen
Listen to me, listen to me, listen to me
Hear me, hear me, hear me
Can't you see?
Don't you understand?
That I wanna be
That I desire to become
I wanna, wanna be a machine
I want to become an automated being
Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
A fantastic Ultravox song.