A flash tattoo is a tattoo that someone chose from the wall of the tattoo shop, instead of doing research or creating a custom design. Generally it's something generic like a star, butterfly, "chinese proverb" or whatever. People who are serious about tattoos tend to look down on flash because it is seen as shallow and without individuality.
I heart TVotR, and I think this song is a really fun takedown of yuppies and conformists that is also kind of ironic and doesn't take itself seriously. I think the "keep your dancing shoes off mine" lyric shows that in the end they're on the same dance floor, participating in the same system, even if some of us are more aware of it than others.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
The primary subject character, newspaper man, is probably a music critic (like from Rolling Stone), or just one of those citizens who likes to agitate with letters to the editor on any subject. ["Full gloss bleed" is publishing terminology, "drop the news" in this context means write a review.] I hear these words as a backlash at music reviewers. This may even be the same character as the angry American mannequin. He's still to the rhythm, not dancing. His choice.
The whole thing feels like a scene at an after concert press party for the band.
And the Hologram character seems like a big name personality, maybe a record label executive. You just had to be there.
It's the title that pulls it altogether for me. The part "...used to be a nut, now you need three bumps before you cut" I also initially thought was a coke reference, but now I think it primarily means our character has to be pushed hard, (or maybe snort) to let loose and dance, because he's become a jaded, ivory tower inhabiting 'expert', and has lost touch with things not fueled by fashion.
And then there's the chorus: a smoother sounding, internal monologue about the artist accepting that dreams are often eclipsed by reality. Dreams will be shattered, but the process continues. This is the solace the artist can retreat to when confronted by jealous or angry reviews.
The song deliberately closes with the declaration "keep your dancing shoes off mine". This is telling our would-be critic if he doesn't want to dance or otherwise try to understand the depths of TVotR's creative works, don't be dissing us! Brilliant.
A flash tattoo is a tattoo that someone chose from the wall of the tattoo shop, instead of doing research or creating a custom design. Generally it's something generic like a star, butterfly, "chinese proverb" or whatever. People who are serious about tattoos tend to look down on flash because it is seen as shallow and without individuality.
I heart TVotR, and I think this song is a really fun takedown of yuppies and conformists that is also kind of ironic and doesn't take itself seriously. I think the "keep your dancing shoes off mine" lyric shows that in the end they're on the same dance floor, participating in the same system, even if some of us are more aware of it than others.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
In the video about making the video for this song, the boys say that these lyrics are a sort of 'stream of consciousness', and it's hard to deny it has that quality. But the song is high dance energy directed at two or three characters.
The primary subject character, newspaper man, is probably a music critic (like from Rolling Stone), or just one of those citizens who likes to agitate with letters to the editor on any subject. ["Full gloss bleed" is publishing terminology, "drop the news" in this context means write a review.] I hear these words as a backlash at music reviewers. This may even be the same character as the angry American mannequin. He's still to the rhythm, not dancing. His choice.
The whole thing feels like a scene at an after concert press party for the band. And the Hologram character seems like a big name personality, maybe a record label executive. You just had to be there.
It's the title that pulls it altogether for me. The part "...used to be a nut, now you need three bumps before you cut" I also initially thought was a coke reference, but now I think it primarily means our character has to be pushed hard, (or maybe snort) to let loose and dance, because he's become a jaded, ivory tower inhabiting 'expert', and has lost touch with things not fueled by fashion.
And then there's the chorus: a smoother sounding, internal monologue about the artist accepting that dreams are often eclipsed by reality. Dreams will be shattered, but the process continues. This is the solace the artist can retreat to when confronted by jealous or angry reviews.
The song deliberately closes with the declaration "keep your dancing shoes off mine". This is telling our would-be critic if he doesn't want to dance or otherwise try to understand the depths of TVotR's creative works, don't be dissing us! Brilliant.