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Wikipedia / Debaser

"Debaser" is a song by American alternative rock band Pixies, released in April 1989 as the opening track on their album Doolittle and later as a promotional single following the dissolution of the band.

Releases

The band's 1991 "Head On" single includes a live version of "Debaser" recorded in Chicago on August 9, 1989. The album version of the song was later released as a single in 1997 to promote the Death to the Pixies compilation. A live recording from December 16, 2004 in New York City appears on "Hey" – Live Pixies 2004–2005.

A version of this song was also used in the game DJ Hero 2, remixed with The Prodigy's song "Invaders Must Die"; this mix is available as downloadable content for the game.

Lyrics and meaning

The lyrics of "Debaser" are based on Un Chien Andalou, a 1929 short film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí. The film includes a scene in which a woman's eye is apparently cut open by a razor, which is referenced in the lyric "slicin' up eyeballs." According to frontman and songwriter Black Francis:

The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un Chien Andalou "debases" contemporary morality and standards of art: "I guess it means: one who debases. A debaser. It was an attempt to introduce a new word into the lexicon, but I don’t think it’s been successful, else I would have heard about it."

In the earliest version of the song, the line "un chien andalusia" was originally "Shed, Apollonia!", a reference to a scene from Purple Rain.

Track listing

Debaser– Demo

  1. "Debaser" (Demo)– 2:59

  2. "No. 13 Baby" (Demo)– 3:10

Debaser– Live

  1. "Debaser" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989)– 2:44

  2. "Holiday Song" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989)– 2:10

  3. "Cactus" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989)– 2:27

  4. "Nimrod's Son" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989)– 3:08

Debaser– Studio

  1. "Debaser"– 2:52

  2. "Bone Machine" (Live in Netherlands, 1990)– 3:03

  3. "Gigantic" (Live in Netherlands, 1990)– 3:24

  4. "Isla de Encanta" (Live in Netherlands, 1990)– 1:44

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doolittle.

Charts

Certifications

References