Another Sunday, another lyric. Where does the time go?
Last week, the discussion about feminism was hot and heavy and I promised you a lyric by a woman. The discussion has mostly moved on, but feminism is always timely, so let's look at a female musician.
In terms of pop music, women are relatively rare. Of course, there are the divas and pop princesses, but rock, rap, and hip-hop are dominated by men. In some respects, it's like comics. Indeed, all of the songs we've profiled thus far have been by men. The closest we've come to a song by a female artist is the Arcade Fire song we did a few weeks ago -- Win Butler is the driving force behind that band, but his wife Régine Chassagne is an important and integral part of the band.
But there are women making good music out there. Patti Smith (not to be confused with Patty Smyth) is a favorite of mine. So are the Muffs, the Excessories, the Chubbies, and the Donnas, all of which are either all-girl or girl-driven bands.
Today, we're going to talk about Candypants, a pop punk band led by Lisa Jenio. Jenio has been kicking around the L.A. music scene for more than a decade. Interestingly, she also had a two-year stint as an editor for Larry Flynt Publications, which ties into the whole "what if I told you that pornographic image was created by a woman!?" discusion.
Jenio is the lead singer and songwriter of Candypants, and she's one of the most clever songwriters I've ever heard. That cleverness is definitely front and center on songs like "Sweet Judy Blume Eyes" (about dispelling adolescent notions of romance) and "Attila the Honey" (written from the perspective of a Roman victim of the pillaging hordes). But it permeates every song on the band's one and only album. Click though to this link to get to Candypants' myspace page where you can listen to four of their tracks. But before you do that, here are the lyrics to one of their songs:
Nerdy Boys
Candypants
He goes 40 on the freeway
He plans his day 'round eBay
He'd rather watch Discovery Channel than an instant replay
Steve Jobs is his swami
He folds like origami
I want to bite his pencil neck and make him cry for mommy
Just four little eyes and I'm weak in the knees
I want to live his junior high fantasies
Just one giant brain and I'm his unopened toy
I'm just a sucker for a nerdy boy
He thinks DNA is pretty
CGI makes him giddy
He'll only listen to the mono version of Surf City
He smells like Hai Karate
Says Mulder wasn't dotty
I want to rip the clothes right off his ectomorphic body
Just four little eyes and I'm weak in the knees
I want to live his junior high fantasies
Just one giant brain and I'm his unopened toy
I'm just a sucker for a nerdy boy
His high water pants
The way he can't dance
If he wants romance
I say beam me up
You're suave and attaching,
Your socks are always matching
If you want me, better hope myopia is catching
'Cause I don't want an athlete
I tingle for a mathlete
He can count on me to give his head the loving that it needs
Just four little eyes and I'm weak in the knees
I want to live his junior high fantasies
Just one giant brain I'm his collectable toy
I am a sucker for a nerdy boy
For a nerdy boy
I want a nerdy boy
A dirty nerdy boy
(spoken)
Why don't you take off those tighty-whities?
No, I don't think your butt looks pasty.
It reminds me of the sands of Tattooine
These sheets are very unusual -- is any part of you bionic?
Ooh!
Oh!
(pant)
(pant)
(pant)
(pant)
(cough)
(cough)
I think I need to borrow your inhaler!
Posted by Jason Fliegel at May 27, 2007 11:23 AM
Wow, another Candypants fan! Small world! Lisa's actually going to be guesting on my band (The National Pep)'s next EP... I've never laughed so much as I did when I first heard the second verse of Nerdy Boys, although it helps to know the song Proto-Pretty by the Wondermints, which she's referencing...
When I posted this lyric, I did wonder if anyone would speak up as a Cadypants fan -- like you said, it's a small world! Any other Candypants fans (either established fans or new converts due to this thread) out there?
I've heard of the Wondermints, but I had never actually heard them. But your post made me curious about them, so I checked out their myspace page. They've got a great sound, and I've already ordered one of their albums.
Speaking of bands with great sounds, Andrew is apparently too modest to openly shill his band, but I will do it for him. Their webpage is here, and you can order their EP (and listen to sample MP3s) here or via the iTunes store. It's really quite good and I've ordered myself a copy. The sound reminds me a lot of the mellower stuff from the Beatles or the Stones in the 60s -- stuff like "Blackbird" or "Lady Jane" (how's that for setting high expectations?). Andrew, keep us up-to-date on the new EP and let us know how the session with Lisa goes.
Aw, thanks...
The Wondermints are great - they're the core both of Brian Wilson's band and of the LA powerpop scene. A bit of advice that's never steered me wrong is to buy any album with Probyn Gregory (the Mints' horn player on). Probyn was in The Negro Problem with Lisa from Candypants and Stew (the greatest songwriter of his generation), and is in The Now People, Cosmo Topper and the Mello Cads. (Most of these bands you can find linked through either our MySpace, the mints' or Candypants' - also, and I'll plug this since you've apparently given permission, my songwriting partner and I play them all on our podcast).
Unfortunately I won't be recording in the same studio as Lisa as we're on different continents - we'll get her recording via the net - but rest assured *everyone* who's expressed the slightest interest will be told when it's out.
(And before I get banned from commenting here ever again, to bring it on topic, some suggestions for comic related songs - Sgt Rock and That's Really Super, Supergirl by XTC, Captain America by The Kinks, Batman by Jan & Dean)
If they haven't banned me for posting song lyrics with marginal relation to comics, they're certainly not going to ban you for commenting on them!
You can't mention the two XTC songs without bringing up "Brainiac's Daughter" by their close personal friends the Dukes of Stratospheare. "Took me on a sleigh ride underwater / And I'm crazy for girls like that." This song has ruined my romantic expectations for years now. (Is it true that the Queen knighted a certain manhunter from Mars before he became the Dukes' frontman?)
Thanks for the various musical suggestions, Andrew. In the future if you're worried about being too forward, don't plug you material, just offer "recommendations."
It's worth pointing out that in terms of rock era song writing, standing with Brian Wilson, Lennon/McCartney and Bob Dylan is Carol King.
Thanks so much for posting the Nerdy Boy lyrics! I was struggling to catch a couple of them (CGI makes him giddy...) I burst out laughing when I caught the "it reminds me of the sands of Tatooine" line.
I ran across Candypants when I was making a Monkey (and ape, and by extension evolution) collection a while ago, and found Monkeyboy. I downloaded the album on I-Tunes. At first I though they were just fun and sweet, but then I noticed how clever the lyrics are, and how well crafted the music. Right now I'm absolutely addicted to Nerdy Boy and can't get it out of my head. I'm also extremely fond of Dishy, Sweet Judy Blume Eyes and I Want a Pony.
I especially love that there is a bright sound and humor mixed with a touch of sarcasm and cynicism. I often find my friends tend to associate intelligence with a really heavy and dark viewpoint. I've always enjoyed happy-sounding music, and I find cynicism goes down much better with humor!
I joined MySpace recently mostly in order to check out bands I am interested in. I asked to be added to Candypants' friend list right away, and commented on how much I love them. Lisa Jenio left me a couple of comments directly, so now I find her more amazing than ever!
Thanks for the other recommendations throughout the thread; I'll be checking them out. I'm off to listen to the national pepcast now :-)
Jennifer