Coin-Operated Boy
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| "Coin-Operated Boy" | ||||
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| Single by The Dresden Dolls | ||||
| from the album The Dresden Dolls | ||||
| Released | December 13, 2004 | |||
| Genre | Dark cabaret | |||
| Length | 4:46 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Writer(s) | Amanda Palmer | |||
| The Dresden Dolls singles chronology | ||||
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"Coin-Operated Boy" is a single by The Dresden Dolls duo, taken from the self-titled debut album The Dresden Dolls. It was produced by Martin Bisi and released on December 13, 2004 by Roadrunner Records. "Coin-Operated Boy" was written by Amanda Palmer. The song makes heavy use of staccato, and includes instruments such as a toy piano.
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[edit] Interpretation
Palmer expounds on the many advantages an artificial partner has over real ones in a tick-tock rhythm reminiscent of automata. The song has broad overtones of loneliness and a desire for a relationship with idealized physical affection but no personal sacrifice or chance of getting emotionally hurt.[1]
[edit] Music video
The music video was shot, cut and directed by Michael Pope; it features Amanda Palmer as the protagonist of the song who turns to a man who is literally coin-operated (Brian Viglione) after being disappointed with other relationships. The video has a strong focus on her disillusionment with the coin operated man.
[edit] Cultural impact
In Australia, the song was ranked #12 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.
In July 2005, the Internet Sketch Comedy Show Moron Life released their parody of "Coin-Operated Boy" entitled "Beer-Activated Girl"[2][3] to the delight of both Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione. The song was also parodied by Voltaire in his version "Coin-Operated Goy".[4]
In January 2007 and 2011, "Coin-Operated Boy" was used in a commercial for the Austrian jam brand Darbo.[5]
In 2009, the song was used in an Italian television commercial for the backpack Double.
It was also featured in The Dresden Dolls Companion.
[edit] Track listing
- German CD single
- "Coin-Operated Boy" - 3:33
- "Coin-Operated Boy" (Live) - 5:44 (This is the same version as the one found on A Is for Accident.)
- "Baby One More Time" (Live) - 3:20
[edit] Personnel
- Amanda Palmer - piano, vocals, lyricist, composer, songwriter
- Brian Viglione - drums, guitar
- Martin Bisi - Memory Man
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Contact Booking". The Dresden Dolls. 2006-01-15. http://www.dresdendolls.com/contact_theband.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ Moron Life. "Beer-Activated Girl on MoronLife.com". http://www.moronlife.com/2005/07/beer-activated-girl/. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
- ^ Moron Life. "Beer Activated Girl on YouTube". http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1815208739769797657#. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
- ^ Meld je aan of registreer je om een reactie te plaatsen!. "Voltaire sings his version of ''Coin Operated Boy''". Youtube.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTD4jRTeIBY. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ "Darbo Homepage: Description of commercial". Darbo.at. http://www.darbo.at/en/uebersicht/werbung/fruchtikus-werbung.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
[edit] External links
- The Dresden Dolls official site including lyrics and downloads
- Music Video Director's site including music video
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