This song is a satire in its entirety with a completely sarcastic, mocking tone; the Narrator does NOT literally want to chop the "california girls" to pieces. come on people. Plus, when sung by a woman, it becomes much easier to see the very obvious feminist tone of the song: the california girls are complete and total frauds, and by using hyperbole (the image of the cali girl being chopped up on a sidewalk) and irony (the cali girls "ain't broke so they put on airs, faux folks sans derrieres"), the narrator provides his reason and means to eliminate the illusion presented about these girls in the media. Again, no one is literally going to take a battle axe to the cali girls; this image represents his feeling that this cultural idea of "beauty" needs to be killed. in addition, the cali girls have plenty of money, but want to appear as though they are just like everyone else, just "gifted" with natural talent and beauty. "faux folks sans derrieres." they are skinny supermodel frauds that the media portrays as being just like everyone else ("square"), when in reality they "breath coke for air" and bang every rapper that walks on by. its quite hilarious actually.
Actually, I think it's quite literal. Obviously, it's songwriting, and thus a fiction; that doesn't mean it necessarily has to be "sarcastic." Stephin Merritt describes the song as coming from the viewpoint of a dowdy, deranged Midwestern woman.
Actually, I think it's quite literal. Obviously, it's songwriting, and thus a fiction; that doesn't mean it necessarily has to be "sarcastic." Stephin Merritt describes the song as coming from the viewpoint of a dowdy, deranged Midwestern woman.
This song is a satire in its entirety with a completely sarcastic, mocking tone; the Narrator does NOT literally want to chop the "california girls" to pieces. come on people. Plus, when sung by a woman, it becomes much easier to see the very obvious feminist tone of the song: the california girls are complete and total frauds, and by using hyperbole (the image of the cali girl being chopped up on a sidewalk) and irony (the cali girls "ain't broke so they put on airs, faux folks sans derrieres"), the narrator provides his reason and means to eliminate the illusion presented about these girls in the media. Again, no one is literally going to take a battle axe to the cali girls; this image represents his feeling that this cultural idea of "beauty" needs to be killed. in addition, the cali girls have plenty of money, but want to appear as though they are just like everyone else, just "gifted" with natural talent and beauty. "faux folks sans derrieres." they are skinny supermodel frauds that the media portrays as being just like everyone else ("square"), when in reality they "breath coke for air" and bang every rapper that walks on by. its quite hilarious actually.
Actually, I think it's quite literal. Obviously, it's songwriting, and thus a fiction; that doesn't mean it necessarily has to be "sarcastic." Stephin Merritt describes the song as coming from the viewpoint of a dowdy, deranged Midwestern woman.
Actually, I think it's quite literal. Obviously, it's songwriting, and thus a fiction; that doesn't mean it necessarily has to be "sarcastic." Stephin Merritt describes the song as coming from the viewpoint of a dowdy, deranged Midwestern woman.
@FireEatersWife 100% agree with what you have said! well done.
@FireEatersWife 100% agree with what you have said! well done.