I thought of WWII as well. Paris was burned in WWII. I know a lot of her songs have that sort of "old" feel (the old style of music from that time), but I think it is even more pronounced in this song and it sort of sounds like it is over a radio in the part where it is like "give us news of the fall/Paris is burning after all/open rejoice revolting/is burning after all"--radio, as you may know, was the most important communication technology. The trumpets at the beginning also give it that feel of the WWII era. There were revolts and a lot of secrets. The secrets would be by telegram occasionally--the French Resistance. And no one really knew who was on who's side with all of the secret agents, and people turned against each other--poison. That could be the WWII take on it. But I definitly think there is probably much more to it than that, and I am not even too sure that this is the meaning. It is objective, but since it was brought up I thought I would give some support to it. I agree that everything that has been posted is valid though. Beautiful song, St. Vincent sure does have her ways.
I thought of WWII as well. Paris was burned in WWII. I know a lot of her songs have that sort of "old" feel (the old style of music from that time), but I think it is even more pronounced in this song and it sort of sounds like it is over a radio in the part where it is like "give us news of the fall/Paris is burning after all/open rejoice revolting/is burning after all"--radio, as you may know, was the most important communication technology. The trumpets at the beginning also give it that feel of the WWII era. There were revolts and a lot of secrets. The secrets would be by telegram occasionally--the French Resistance. And no one really knew who was on who's side with all of the secret agents, and people turned against each other--poison. That could be the WWII take on it. But I definitly think there is probably much more to it than that, and I am not even too sure that this is the meaning. It is objective, but since it was brought up I thought I would give some support to it. I agree that everything that has been posted is valid though. Beautiful song, St. Vincent sure does have her ways.