Cruel Sexuality

Album: Trouble in Paradise (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Elly Jackson tends to be elusive when questioned about her sexuality, and her response to various reviews of this track betrays the exhaustion of it all. The androgynous La Roux leader told The Observer: "Of course, because people see the word 'sexuality' and think: 'Oh my God you're gay! But sexuality just means you are a sexual person, and that song's not about me being: 'Oh no, I'm a lesbian!' or anything like that."

    She added that this song is about "10 different subjects linked together."
  • Elly Jackson explained the song's meaning to NME: "It's melancholic in a sexual way, but it's not necessarily about having sex," she said. "It's that yearning melancholy, but not the kind you find in a Neil Young song. It's something I hear in old soul music and Motown."

    "I listened to The Isley Brothers' 'This Old Heart Of Mine ' and the backing vocals in that second verse are the most sexual thing you've ever heard," Jackson added. "But it's kind of vulnerable... that kind of emotional frustration that has a kind of sexual overtone to it. It's constant and it keeps your adrenaline up."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.