Debaser
Encyclopedia
"Debaser" is a song by the American
alternative rock
band Pixies, and is the first song on their 1989 album Doolittle
. The song was written and sung by frontman Black Francis and was produced by Gil Norton
during Doolittle' s recording sessions.
The "Head On" single includes a live version of the song recorded in Chicago on August 9, 1989, and a recording from Debaser December 16, 2004, in New York City appears on "Hey" – Live Pixies 2004–2005. "Debaser" was later released as a single in 1997 to promote the Death to the Pixies
compilation. The single appeared in three forms: live, studio and demo.
film by Luis Buñuel
and Salvador Dalí
called Un chien andalou
. The film notoriously opens with a scene in which a woman's eye is slit by a razor, which is referenced in the song lyric "Slicin' up eyeballs/I want you to know." According to Black Francis:
The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un chien andalou debases morality
and standards of art
, according to Black Francis.
In the earliest version of the song, the line "un chien andalusia" was originally "Shed, Appolonia!" – a reference to Apollonia Kotero
, the co-star in the Prince film Purple Rain
.
It is also rumored that "Debaser" is a reference to University of Massachusetts Amherst
film studies professor Don Eric Levine. When he attended UMass, Frank Black was enrolled in Levine's avant garde film class, where "Un Chien Andalou" was screened. Levine is alleged to be "the debaser" because he was well known among students for often spoiling the endings of films.
, remixed with The Prodigy
's song Invaders Must Die
; this mix is available as downloadable content for the game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Pixies, and is the first song on their 1989 album Doolittle
Doolittle (album)
Doolittle features an eclectic mix of musical styles. While tracks such as "Tame" and "Crackity Jones" are fast and aggressive, and incorporate the band's trademark loud–quiet dynamic, other songs such as "Silver", "I Bleed", and "Here Comes Your Man" reveal a quieter, slower and more melodic...
. The song was written and sung by frontman Black Francis and was produced by Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
during Doolittle
The "Head On" single includes a live version of the song recorded in Chicago on August 9, 1989, and a recording from Debaser December 16, 2004, in New York City appears on "Hey" – Live Pixies 2004–2005. "Debaser" was later released as a single in 1997 to promote the Death to the Pixies
Death to the Pixies
Death to the Pixies was the first Pixies best-of compilation, released by 4AD in the UK on October 6, 1997 and 4AD/Elektra the following day in the United States to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the band's debut. It covered the years 1987 to 1991. It is currently out of print, having been...
compilation. The single appeared in three forms: live, studio and demo.
Lyrics and meaning
The lyrics are based on a surrealistSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
film by Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
and Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
called Un chien andalou
Un chien andalou
Un Chien Andalou is a 1929 silent surrealist short film by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel and artist Salvador Dalí. It was Buñuel's first film and was initially released in 1929 to a limited showing in Paris, but became popular and ran for eight months....
. The film notoriously opens with a scene in which a woman's eye is slit by a razor, which is referenced in the song lyric "Slicin' up eyeballs/I want you to know." According to Black Francis:
- I wish Buñuel was still alive. He made this film about nothing in particular. The title itself is a nonsense. With my stupid, pseudo-scholar, naive, enthusiast, avant-garde-ish, amateurish way to watch Un chien andalou (twice), I thought: 'Yeah, I will make a song about it.' [He sings:] "Un chien andalou"... It sounds too French, so I will sing "un chien andalusia", it sounds good, no?'
The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un chien andalou debases morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
and standards of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, according to Black Francis.
In the earliest version of the song, the line "un chien andalusia" was originally "Shed, Appolonia!" – a reference to Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero, born Patricia Kotero on August 2, 1959, is an actress, singer, former model and talent manager. Kotero, born in Santa Monica, California, is of Mexican descent...
, the co-star in the Prince film Purple Rain
Purple Rain (film)
Purple Rain is a 1984 film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. Prince makes his film debut in this movie, which was developed to showcase his particular talents, hence, the film contains several extended concert sequences. The film grossed more than US$80 million at...
.
It is also rumored that "Debaser" is a reference to University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
film studies professor Don Eric Levine. When he attended UMass, Frank Black was enrolled in Levine's avant garde film class, where "Un Chien Andalou" was screened. Levine is alleged to be "the debaser" because he was well known among students for often spoiling the endings of films.
Debaser: Live
- "Debaser" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:44
- "Holiday Song" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:10
- "CactusCactus (song)"Cactus" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, and is the eighth track on their 1988 album Surfer Rosa. It was written and sung by the band's frontman Black Francis and produced by Steve Albini.-"Pixies":...
" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:27 - "Nimrod's Son" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 3:08
Debaser: Studio
- "Debaser" – 2:52
- "Bone Machine" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 3:03
- "GiganticGigantic (song)"Gigantic" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, co-written by bassist Kim Deal and lead vocalist/guitarist Black Francis . The song appeared on the band's first studio album, Surfer Rosa, released in 1988...
" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 3:24 - "Isla de Encanta" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 1:44
Other Versions
A version of this song was also used in the game DJ Hero 2DJ Hero 2
DJ Hero 2 is a rhythm video game and a sequel to DJ Hero, a spinoff of the Guitar Hero series. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller, the same as introduced in DJ Hero, to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously recorded songs using record...
, remixed with The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
's song Invaders Must Die
Invaders Must Die (song)
"Invaders Must Die" is the eighteenth single released by the British electronic band The Prodigy. It was released from the band's website as a free digital download on 26 November 2008. It was the first single from the album Invaders Must Die...
; this mix is available as downloadable content for the game.