Category Archives: Noir Music

May 31, 2012 · 3:09 pm

Noir Music | “Bang, Bang.” by Nancy Sinatra

You may remember this gloomy ballad of betrayal from the opening of Kill Bill. It’s a piece of noir music that’s born from the idea that those you love most can cause you the most pain. Originally written and performed by Cher, it wasn’t made famous until covered by Nancy Sinatra.

Here are the lyrics:

I was five and he was six
We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight

Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down.

Seasons came and changed the time
When I grew up, I called him mine
He would always laugh and say
“Remember when we used to play?”

Bang bang, I shot you down
Bang bang, you hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down.

Music played and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang.

Now he’s gone, I don’t know why
And ’till this day, sometimes I cry
He didn’t even say goodbye
He didn’t take the time to lie.

Bang bang, he shot me down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down

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May 1, 2012 · 6:25 pm

Noir Music | “Revolution” by Dr. John

Noir Music Dr John Revolution

Dr. John, “Locked Down” –My Copy Arrived Today

I first saw “Revolution” performed by Dr. John on Jimmy Fallon and needless to say I was seduced. Sexy horns, skanky guitar licks, Dan Auerbach, a top hat and a cane; the elements of amazing noir music.

“Let’s all just pray on it, right now.”


here are the lyrics (COMPLETE):

Blind eyes of justice,
Deaf ears of power.
Dumb moves of money
Left us in a desperate hour.
Economy
Connin’ me out of my sanity.

CHORUS:
Rebellious revolution.
Is this the final solution?

Hands in surrender,
Killed in they tracks.
Babies, women raped,
Leaders on they backs.
Religious delusions,
Stone confusion.

CHORUS:
Rebellious revolution.
Is this the final solution?

The proof of man’s insanity.
The truth of war’s inhumanity.

Let’s all just pray on it right now…

Guerilla warfare.
Lady liberty.
Propaganda.
Hypocrisy.
Did we lose our Constitution?

CHORUS:
Rebellious revolution.
Is this the final solution?

And if you want to be literally floored, here is the link to Dr. John’s performance on Jimmy Fallon:

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/dr-john-featuring-dan-auerbach-revolution/1394636

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April 4, 2012 · 4:41 pm

Noir Music | “Asilos Magdalena” by The Mars Volta

Noir Music The Mars Volta Omar Rodríguez-López Cedric Bixler-Zavala

Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (via antiquiet.com)

“Asilos Magdalena” by The Mars Volta is a haunting piece of noir music. I’ve included the original Spanish lyrics as well as a close English translation. Possibly my favorite song from them.

SPANISH:

Enfermo llegué
y para componerme ando de vago
No me des tu obediencia
por que te enseño mi cuerpo de lodo
de donde la piel estuvo debil
con una hambre que no me deje cantar

En mi vida
el oscuro me mantiene
cuando yo te vi
en la lluvia me prometistes tu sangre

Yo no me quedo en mi vida
el oscuro me mantiene
cuando yo te vi
en la lluvia me prometistes tu sangre
yo no me quedo

Y ya que caiste de este mundo
cargo una navaja
dios mio para ti
Cuantas veces me mordiste
y cuantas veces yo me fui

Y ya no estoy enamorado
con tus mentiras
el infierno me duermo
por que el infierno es la unica verdad

En mi vida
el oscuro me mantiene
cuando yo te vi
en la lluvia me prometistes tu sangre

Yo no me quedo en mi vida
el oscuro me mantine
cuando yo te vi
en la lluvia me prometistes tu sangre
yo no me quedo

(X5)
Estrella de la mañana
Samael te persigo a ti
y si me quema sin alas
ademas me muero por ti

ENGLISH:

I arrived sick
And to feel better, I’m always in the streets
Because I showed you my body of mud
Of where the skin was weak
With a hunger that won’t let me sing

In my life
The darkness mantains me
When I saw you
In the rain you promised me your blood
I don’t stay in my life

The darkness maintains me
When I saw you
In the rain you promised me your blodd
I don’t stay…

Now that you’ve fallen from this world
carried the blade, my God, for you
How many times did you bite me?
And how many times did I leave?
I am no longer in love
With your lies
In hell I sleep
Because hell is the only truth

In my life
The darkness mantains me
When I saw you
In the rain you promised me your blood
I don’t stay in my life

The darkness maintains me
When I saw you
In the rain you promised me your blodd
I don’t stay…

Morningstar
Samael, I follow you
And if I stay with nothing
I will die for you

Noir Music The Mars Volta

(via offthedial.ca)

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March 15, 2012 · 5:36 pm

Noir Music | “Yer Blues” by The Beatles

Noir Music John Lennon

John Lennon (via aurus.tumblr.com)

“Yer Blues” of The Beatles White Album is a surprisingly dark example of noir music. John Lennon’s vocal refrains are haunting, George Harrison’s licks are seductive, and the combination of the two effectively capture the bleakness of the noir genre. I would easily count this song in my top 3 from The Beatles.

Here are the lyrics:

Yes I’m lonely wanna die
Yes I’m lonely wanna die
If I ain’t dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

In the morning wanna die
In the evening wanna die
If I ain’t dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

My mother was of the sky
My father was of the earth
But I am of the universe
And you know what it’s worth
I’m lonely wanna die
If I ain’t dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

The eagle picks my eye
The worm he licks my bones
I feel so suicidal
Just like Dylan’s Mr. Jones
Lonely wanna die
If I ain’t dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

Black cloud crossed my mind
Blue mist round my soul
Feel so suicidal
Even hate my rock and roll
Wanna die yeah wanna die
If I ain’t dead already
Ooh girl you know the reason why.

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February 27, 2012 · 6:28 pm

Noir Music | “I Can’t Quit You Babe” by Led Zeppelin

Another noir music masterpiece from the greatest rock band of all time:

here are the lyrics:

I Can’t Quit You, Baby, so I’m gonna put you down for awhile. [X2]
Said you messed up my happy home, Made me mistreat my only child.

Said you know I love you, baby, my love for you I could never hide. [X2]
Oh, when I feel you near me little girl, I know you are my one desire.

When you hear me moaning and groaning,
you know it hurts me deep down inside. [X2]

Oh, when you hear me… You know you’re my one desire. Yes, you are.

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February 6, 2012 · 7:32 pm

Noir Music | “Joy Ride” by The Killers


“Joy Ride” off of The Killers album Day and Age is an excellent example of noir music. The presence of a femme fatale at a seedy hotel makes it all the sweeter.

here are the lyrics:

It’s getting close to sundown
Over the Sierra
Stranded on the heat wave
Burning with desire
She was on the sidewalk
Looking for a nightlife
Talked about the real thing
And drove into the fire
Headlights on the highway
The desert wind is howling
Rattlesnakes and romance
Are spilling with the rain
Candy apple red dress
Bleeding when she kissed me
Heaven in a ragtop
Takes away my pain

When your chips are down
When your highs are low
Joy ride
(Joy ride)
Move across the night like a separate wind
(Joy ride)

Pulled up to a motel
Vacancy was buzzing
Pink and dirty neon
Settled on the hood
Wrapped her arms around me
Come a little closer
Stumbled in the twilight
And fell onto the floor of the Mona Lisa
Dreaming of the free world
Lipstick on the nightstand
And demons at the door

When your chips are down
When your highs are low
Joy ride
(Joy ride)
Move across the night like a separate wind
(Joy ride)

When your hopes and dreams
Lose the will to go
Joy ride
Reaching for the light
More than we can win
And something in the distance
A glorious existence
A simple celebration
A place you never went before
(Why don’t you kiss me
And tell me that you want it?)
Reaching for the light
More than we can win
When your chips are down
(When your chips are down)
When your highs are low
Joy ride
(Joy ride)
All your hopes and dreams
All you need to know
Joy ride

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January 9, 2012 · 11:21 pm

Noir Music | “The Bed” by St. Vincent

St. Vincent is an exceptional band with the ability to create instant atmospheres of mood with their music. “The Bed” was recommended to me by my brother Aj (whose nose for tunes is undeniable), it’s a noir music piece that’s as chilling as it is seductive. Needs to be playing over a slow-mo gun-down in a film noir climax:

Here are the lyrics:

We’re sleeping underneath the bed
To scare the monsters out
With our dear daddy’s Smith and Wesson
We’ve gotta teach them all a lesson

Don’t move
Don’t scream
Or we will have to shoot

Stop, right where you stand
We need a chalk outline if you can
Put your hands where we can see them please

We’re holding up the lids of our eyes
And showing just the whites
“Mary, no one has such small hands
No, not the wind, not even that.”

Don’t move
Don’t scream
Or we will have to shoot

Stop, right where you stand
We need a chalk outline if you can
Put your hands where we can see them please

Stop, right where you stand
We need a chalk outline if you can
Put your hands where we can see them
Please

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December 5, 2011 · 9:59 pm

Noir Music | “Gold on the Ceiling” by The Black Keys

While enjoying my slick subscription to huluplus (streaming on xbox live is a game changer) I watched the Saturday Night Live Black Keys Performance from December 3rd and was floored. I know that my noir music category has basically become a Black Keys fan-site, but I don’t care. Blast your brains with bliss, listen to this:

here are the lyrics (80% Correct):

Down in the waves
She screams again
Roar at the door
My mind can’t take much more
I could never drown

They wanna get my…
They wanna GET my-
Gold on the ceiling
I ain’t high
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It’s alright
Aint no dog in my house

Clouds hovered low
Barbred wire fence
Strung up, Strung out
I just can’t go without
I could never drown

They wanna get my…
They wanna GET my-
Gold on the ceiling
I ain’t high
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It’s alright
Aint no dog in my house

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November 12, 2011 · 5:27 pm

Noir Music | “Ain’t Nothing Like You” (Hoochie Coo) by Blakroc

Can’t go wrong with noir music from the Black Keys. Blakroc is basically a blues-rap project that shook the foundations of the projects. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney team up with Mos Def and Jim Jones for “Aint Nothing Like You,” enjoy:

Intro: Mos Def – Pure heart
I love you

Chorus: Mos Def – Pure heart
You’re super cool
You’re live and elemental
You’re sweet and you’re true
Youre sooo true
Oo-ooo-oo-ooo
You’re plain and yet so special
Its nuttin’ like you
You’re so cool
You’re sweet and rude
You’re so plain that its special
Its nuttin’ like you
Well aww hoo
oo-oooo-oo-ooo
You make me stand up, and holla do the hoochie coo
You’re so cool

Verse 1: Jim Jones – They told me pain only shows you where you goin
You get to laugh then that shows you where you been
And when you get the cash that only shows you how to sin like when you gettin fast money and you blow it in the wind
Where we from success one in a million
We thought success was getting money in front the buildin
End of the summer we was countin up the killins, like they killed baby boy trynna run up in the buildin now
Love
I bouged one of her rose petals
She was from the concrete and came up out the cold ghetto
But so gentle
But it appears like, on a clear light it could thunderstorm
Want some more

Refrain: Mos Def – Oo-ooo-oo-ooo
Pure heart
I love ya, pure heart
Pure heart
Uh-ooo-oo-ooo
Ha, its nuttin’ like you
You’re soo
Do-doo-do-doo
You’re live and elemental
You’re sweet and you’re rude, so cool
And fiery too
You’re plain and elemental
You’re sweet and youre rude
You’re soo true

Verse 2: Jim Jones – Most say I’m politically incorrect
But most people scared they spit it so indirect
I been accused of, same thing as you but, I refused ta, follow rules of who
The complexion of politics done changed and the computer glitch put so many problems up in the game that uh
I prolly still be selllin ‘caine if I, didnt get a chance at the stardom or the fame
Bein humble is a hard quality to achieve when your ego is crazy with no modesty
We make good music just usin the black keys, and Im flyin through the hood in my newest of black Vs
Peace

Outro: Mos Def – Wahoo-oo-ooo
You’re plain and elemental
Aint nuttin’ like you
You’re pure heart

The video is insane right? Thought so.

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October 18, 2011 · 6:19 pm

Noir Music | “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin

An epic piece of noir music from the legendary Led Zeppelin. Pay attention to the femme fatale archetype as she rears her adulterous head. Here’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” :

Working from seven to eleven every night,
It really makes life a drag, I don’t think that’s right.
I’ve really, really been the best of fools, I did what I could.
‘Cause I love you, baby, How I love you, darling, How I love you, baby,
How I love you, girl, little girl.
But baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You. I’m about to lose my worried mind, oh, yeah.

Everybody trying to tell me that you didn’t mean me no good.
I’ve been trying, Lord, let me tell you, Let me tell you I really did the best I could.
I’ve been working from seven to eleven every night, I said It kinda makes my life a drag.
Lord, that ain’t right…
Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose my worried mind.

Said I’ve been crying, my tears they fell like rain,
Don’t you hear, Don’t you hear them falling,
Don’t you hear, Don’t you hear them falling.

Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door?
I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn’t want me no more, yeah
I open my front door, hear my back door slam,
You must have one of them new fangled back door man.

I’ve been working from seven, seven, seven, to eleven every night, It kinda makes my life a drag…
Baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose, I’m about lose to my worried mind.

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