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Sia — Academia
Album: Some People Have Real Problems
Avg rating:
6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 385









Released: 2008
Length: 3:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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You can be my alphabet and I will be your calculator
And together we'll work out on the escalator
I will time you as you run up the down
And you'll measure my footsteps as I blow through this town
The mean of our heights is divided by the nights
Which is times'd by the daggers and the route of all our fights
The pass of your poem is to swathe me in your knowing
And the beauty of the word is that you don't have to show it

Oh, academia you can't pick me up
Soothe me with your words when I need your love

I am a dash and you are a dot
When will you see that I am all that you've got?
I'm a binary code that you cracked long ago
But to you I'm just a novel that you wish you'd never wrote
I'm greater than x and lesser than y
So why is it that I still can't catch your eye?
You're a cryptic crossword, a song I've never heard
While I sit here drawing circles I'm afraid of being hurt

Oh, academia you can't pick me up
Soothe me with your words when I need your love

You're a difficult equation with a knack for heart evasion
Will you listen to my proof or will you add another page on
It appears to me the graph has come and stolen all the laughs
It appears to me the pen has over-analysed again
And if I am a number I'm infinity plus one
And if you are five words you are afraid to be the one
And if you are a number you're infinity plus one
And if I am four words then I am needing of your love

Oh, academia you can't pick me up
Soothe me with your words when I need your love

Oh, academia, academia, academia
Oh, academia, academia, academia
Comments (118)add comment
 Seems smart and fun to me - chock full 'o geeky goodness. 7 

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
This is trying very hard to seem smart, but just comes off as both pretentious and incredibly irritating.


Couldn't agree more! The annoyance meter is off the charts on this one!!! {#Headache}
Posted 14 years ago by Walrus_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
School house rock?
Posted 14 years ago by papaman    [ Reply ]
Put her with Zero 7 and we've got something, this is uhhh, ok
Posted 15 years ago by OlafofIceland    [ Reply ]
Sorry, but no thanks.  {#Wall}
Posted 15 years ago by kallistok    [ Reply ]
The cadence of her vocals in this one really bugs me.
Posted 15 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
sorry, I love Sia but this is one of her weaker numbers.
Posted 15 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
This is trying very hard to seem smart, but just comes off as both pretentious and incredibly irritating.

Posted 15 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
 jyoull wrote:
I have a nerdy crush on this song, but I'm too geek-shy to ever say it.
 

Hehehe, that's an awesome post.
Posted 15 years ago by membeth    [ Reply ]
Please.....just.....stop......singing.
Posted 15 years ago by Whirlpool    [ Reply ]
Arrrgh, this is growing on me. 3 -> 6
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Karma police, arrest this girl, she talks in math!
Posted 15 years ago by spaceman    [ Reply ]
First time hearing this. I think I'm gonna' like this song 3 or 4 times, then I'll want to rip my own head off. We'll see!
Posted 15 years ago by tompoll    [ Reply ]
Clever lyrics as anyone who has either studied or worked at a University will know.
Posted 16 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
 jyoull wrote:
I have a nerdy crush on this song, but I'm too geek-shy to ever say it.
 

Same here.  I'm such a dork, I love it.  Hey, I can't help it.  I'm an actuary.

It's a 7 —> 8 for me.

Posted 16 years ago by joeychick    [ Reply ]
Yipes! The sing-song melody sounds like a children's song. Then the cover just drives it home.
Posted 16 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]


DAH dah dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah dah
etc etc, ad nauseum...
 
Posted 16 years ago by Alafia    [ Reply ]
I have a nerdy crush on this song, but I'm too geek-shy to ever say it.
Posted 16 years ago by jyoull    [ Reply ]
Very quirky.... I like it simply because it's so different. 
Posted 16 years ago by avidfan    [ Reply ]
...all this time i thought this was the pierces...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Yergh... I enjoyed her collaborations with Zero 7, but alone, she's not my cup of tea.


Posted 16 years ago by auburntigerrich    [ Reply ]
Yick. "Infinity plus one"? Isn't she precious.

Posted 16 years ago by vivakitty    [ Reply ]
{#Propeller}
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
 Excelsior wrote:

Don't complain about overplaying, or the RP police will come after you and tell you that your comments are not welcome.

 
Actually if you can back it up with hard numbers then I'll leave you to your complaints in all happiness. But most of the time you (Excelsior to be specific) just say that this song or that song is played "every day for months" or something like that with no facts to back you up. And when the playlist gets checked it turns out that you're just making s**t up. Actual "comments" are welcome. Unsubstantiated BS? Not so much.
Posted 16 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]

    You can be my victim and I will be your torturer
     And together we'll frazzle your every aural nerve
    I will torment you as you listen to me sing
     And you'll measure my cruelty as your ears begin to ring

      


Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
The_Enemy wrote:
y'know, there's so much music in the RP database and this got played yesterday and again today.

May I suggest that things be set up such that any song not be played more than once a week? Is that unreasonable? Do-able?

Don't complain about overplaying, or the RP police will come after you and tell you that your comments are not welcome.

Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
y'know, there's so much music in the RP database and this got played yesterday and again today.

May I suggest that things be set up such that any song not be played more than once a week? Is that unreasonable? Do-able?
Posted 16 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
Plato is rolling over in his grave....
6 -> 5 -> 4 as I listen...
Posted 16 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]

You know, I'm all for geek rock, but this gets annoying really fast.


Posted 16 years ago by bugleboy624    [ Reply ]
This song sounds like it is sung by a girl who would mark all over her face with kid's markers.

Oh. 
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
The_Enemy wrote:
For some reason, she reminds me of Brian Wilson's attempt to elevate rap to the level of "real music". A lot of nursery rhymes about eating your vegetables set to music. But he's supposed to be a genius. I don't get Sia either.


Yeah, the text of "vegetables" isn't hot.
But making "someone biting a cookie" being the rythm section was (is that correct english? mesa no natif).
And that was waaaayyyyyy before there was rap. Or samplers. Or 16-track recording.

Posted 16 years ago by TanteJensen    [ Reply ]
ack!
Posted 16 years ago by dctrpunda    [ Reply ]
I was going to rate this a 4, but now I see she's kind of cute so 5. What can I say, I'm shallow.
Posted 16 years ago by lsherida    [ Reply ]
God this tune bugs me.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
Sounds like the theme to Mr. Show is buried underneath.
Posted 16 years ago by Koan    [ Reply ]
She blinds me with brilliance!

You're a difficult equation with a knack for heart evasion
Will you listen to my proof or will you add another page on
It appears to me the graph has come and stolen all the laughs
It appears to me the pen has over analysed again
And if I am a number I'm infinity plus one

Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
If you are a number you're infinityplusone. I wish I could type that as awkwardly as it sounds.
Posted 16 years ago by supremo    [ Reply ]
This may be what Alannis would sound like if she were happy.
Posted 16 years ago by reason06    [ Reply ]
how to differentiate Sia and Feist? coupla wacky quirky cutesy creepy indie poppy chicks who are getting lost in the shuffle
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
RadioDoc wrote:
That certainly seems to be the case with you.
Touché.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Or maybe there's just less humour and wit going on than you think there is.
That certainly seems to be the case with you.
Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
sfListener wrote:
feisty
Dead on! Good call!
Posted 16 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
just annoying, that's all.
Quite.
Posted 16 years ago by bugleboy624    [ Reply ]
girl music
Posted 16 years ago by reason06    [ Reply ]
Seems like it's trying too hard to be clever a la Laurie Anderson, or Tom Lehrer, or They Might Be Giants.
Posted 16 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
just annoying, that's all.
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
I'm in academia. And, yes, I have real problems.
Posted 16 years ago by rtb    [ Reply ]
RadioDoc wrote:
Wow. Given the negative comments I guess humor and wit are just lost on this crowd. Your loss.
Or maybe there's just less humour and wit going on than you think there is.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
i like Sia but this song isn't very good, but she shows her nice vocals any way
Posted 16 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
Wow. Given the negative comments I guess humor and wit are just lost on this crowd. Your loss.
Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
This reminds me of the parking lot scene in Jackie Brown where Bridget Fonda is following Robert De Niro around in a parking lot carping at him and he finally gets fed up and gut-shoots her.
Posted 16 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
rcurrier wrote:
OK, I've given it a chance. This is really annoying.
Same here. I hate the forced rhymes and that really irritating way her voice never pronounces the words at each couplet. Uggh.
Posted 16 years ago by Atlantis    [ Reply ]
I just have to say: I love the title of this album! lol The song is pretty good. It doesn't grab me like "Breathe Me", obviously, but it's good. Love the lyrics.
Posted 16 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Pretty cool. Not nearly as bad as some here make it seem.
Posted 16 years ago by lixy    [ Reply ]
OK, I've given it a chance. This is really annoying. Not quite Cake annoying, but getting there. (And apparently the cover photo is very hot if you have an oral/lipstick fetish, something I didn't even know existed until I just had it described to me. Squick.)
Posted 16 years ago by rcurrier    [ Reply ]
wferrier wrote:
She blinds me with brilliance! You're a difficult equation with a knack for heart evasion Will you listen to my proof or will you add another page on It appears to me the graph has come and stolen all the laughs It appears to me the pen has over analysed again And if I am a number I'm infinity plus one
I agree..plus I love "Breath Me"....brilliant
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
For some reason, she reminds me of Brian Wilson's attempt to elevate rap to the level of "real music". A lot of nursery rhymes about eating your vegetables set to music. But he's supposed to be a genius. I don't get Sia either.
Posted 16 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
She fit so perfectly with Zero 7, but suffers as a solo artist.
Posted 16 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
5 -> 2
Posted 16 years ago by Zweiblumen    [ Reply ]
timc wrote:
Is it just me, or is this song getting way too much RP airtime?
You're spot on.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
Is it just me, or is this song getting way too much RP airtime?
Posted 16 years ago by timc    [ Reply ]
I liked it until the break. slurry background vocals not doing it for me, they dilute the interest that her vocals and the style of song provide.
Posted 16 years ago by TheFriendlyCat    [ Reply ]
A Solid HO-Hum 3
Posted 16 years ago by d00kie    [ Reply ]
She blinds me with brilliance! You're a difficult equation with a knack for heart evasion Will you listen to my proof or will you add another page on It appears to me the graph has come and stolen all the laughs It appears to me the pen has over analysed again And if I am a number I'm infinity plus one
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
Great. Another crazy girl for me to fall in love with.
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
if you think she looks a fool on the album cover, you should see her video for "Buttons" (click here)
Posted 16 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
I find that the marker smeared over her face, combined with her hanging jaw makes her look like a fool. If you're into that kind of thing in your women, more power to you. It's not really a great album cover, and it's affecting my opinion of the music. Not rating it, because of the cover.
Acid trip gone real bad. Definitely looks doofus-like. I saw this cover before I heard the song and thought WTF? That's lame album art. The music makes up for it a bit, I guess.
Posted 16 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
I find that the marker smeared over her face, combined with her hanging jaw makes her look like a fool. If you're into that kind of thing in your women, more power to you. It's not really a great album cover, and it's affecting my opinion of the music. Not rating it, because of the cover.
Truer words have never been spoken...
Posted 16 years ago by Vandy005    [ Reply ]
She blinds me with brilliance!
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
nigelr wrote:
I'm a straight male, and I find the beauty shines from this young lady's eyes. And that beauty is the finest beauty of all. Interesting song also, great bass lines.
I find that the marker smeared over her face, combined with her hanging jaw makes her look like a fool. If you're into that kind of thing in your women, more power to you. It's not really a great album cover, and it's affecting my opinion of the music. Not rating it, because of the cover.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
HOly christ, this chick's nuts. Awesome!
Posted 16 years ago by out_to_lunch    [ Reply ]
feisty
Posted 16 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
the female beck?
Posted 16 years ago by sstepak    [ Reply ]
Sia, you were so great with Zero 7. What the hell happened?
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
Frater_Kork wrote:
Quirky, I dig. The album title answers most of the song comments in general on RP. =)
Agreed on all points. c.
Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
This song is a complete mess. I like it.
Posted 16 years ago by coldatlantic    [ Reply ]
5 for the song, + 1 for the title of the cd.
Posted 16 years ago by rickhoran    [ Reply ]
This girl has some serious talent.Pretty diverse styles for each album.
Posted 16 years ago by Boston_Ed    [ Reply ]
WTF is this?
Posted 16 years ago by asymptotic_lar    [ Reply ]
Frater_Kork wrote:
Quirky, I dig. The album title answers most of the song comments in general on RP. =)
Agreed, and the cover is really nice IMHO, mmm i like :)
Posted 16 years ago by CJNE    [ Reply ]
Quirky, I dig. The album title answers most of the song comments in general on RP. =)
Posted 16 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Ain't many things that can make switch from RP, but this track is one.
Posted 16 years ago by BubbaGoose    [ Reply ]
radiomao wrote:
I kinda like the song, but she looks horrible on that album cover! I would not want to own it just because I wouldn't want that piece of art in my home. I realize not everyone should be required to be visually attractive, but c'mon! I'm a straight female and I don't even want to look at that picture! I guess it's good download material.
I'm a straight male, and I find the beauty shines from this young lady's eyes. And that beauty is the finest beauty of all. Interesting song also, great bass lines.
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
lathyris wrote:
This is so dumb. But I kind of like it.
I agree with the first part.
Posted 16 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
bobringer wrote:
Seen her 3 times in the past six months. I can assure you, they are some of the most fun shows you'll ever see. What a potty mouth she is! She goes from goofy pop stuff to these incredibly deep and introspective songs with ease.
Absolutely. Saw her at Park West (Chicago) on Feb 29. One of the best shows I've been to in years.
Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
radiomao wrote:
I kinda like the song, but she looks horrible on that album cover! I would not want to own it just because I wouldn't want that piece of art in my home. I realize not everyone should be required to be visually attractive, but c'mon! I'm a straight female and I don't even want to look at that picture! I guess it's good download material.
I kinda don't like the song and agree with the rest.
Posted 16 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
ziggytrix wrote:
Sia is great! I heard her interviewed on the radio and she seemed so affable. I bet her concerts are a blast.
Seen her 3 times in the past six months. I can assure you, they are some of the most fun shows you'll ever see. What a potty mouth she is! She goes from goofy pop stuff to these incredibly deep and introspective songs with ease. I've been to over 400 shows and I don't think I've seen anyone who has more respect for her fans than Sia. It's a wonderful relationship between artist/audience. She monitors her messageboards and tries to work in songs that people want to hear from different cities. At times she almost seems embarrassed by the reaction of the crowd because she honestly just feels like one of "us". She's on tour now... go see her. Expect to get a good amount from the new album, a few tracks from her last album, and a few Zero 7 tracks.
Posted 16 years ago by bobringer    [ Reply ]
I kinda like the song, but she looks horrible on that album cover! I would not want to own it just because I wouldn't want that piece of art in my home. I realize not everyone should be required to be visually attractive, but c'mon! I'm a straight female and I don't even want to look at that picture! I guess it's good download material.
Posted 16 years ago by radiomao    [ Reply ]
Trying to sound Tori Amos-like in the second verse IMO. And it rankles me that she said "timesed by" (even though I know lyrically "multiplied by" wouldn't fit. I just hate when people say that.)
Posted 16 years ago by pdhski    [ Reply ]
Sia is great! I heard her interviewed on the radio and she seemed so affable. I bet her concerts are a blast.
Posted 16 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
sweet sweet
Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver    [ Reply ]
I like this!
Posted 16 years ago by Roy_Orbison    [ Reply ]
lol.. its a decent song. I just find it "curious" (as Hillary would say) that whenever I check in on RP this song is playing
Posted 16 years ago by uwnav    [ Reply ]
THANK YOU!!!! xkcd has gotta be one of the best things i've gotten from radio paradise....besides the good music ;) Notelrac wrote:
Catchy tune, I can dance to it. For more math humor, (click here)
Posted 16 years ago by techer2    [ Reply ]
vandal wrote:
please, please make this stop. . .
I'll second that.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
This is so dumb. But I kind of like it.
Posted 16 years ago by lathyris    [ Reply ]
Year's best Album cover.
Posted 16 years ago by Tailypoe    [ Reply ]
Jedzz wrote:
I hope Sia's record company fired well and good whoever thought up that bizarre album cover.
Really? I love the album cover! It's funny.
Posted 16 years ago by QueenLucia    [ Reply ]
Jedzz wrote:
I hope Sia's record company fired well and good whoever thought up that bizarre album cover.
heh.
Posted 16 years ago by Sweetshark    [ Reply ]
This is the most profound thing I ever heard.
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
please, please make this stop. . .
Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I hope Sia's record company fired well and good whoever thought up that bizarre album cover.
Posted 16 years ago by Jedzz    [ Reply ]
I like it OK now, but I sure can picture it getting real old, real fast.
Posted 16 years ago by CafeRacer    [ Reply ]
Catchy tune, I can dance to it. For more math humor, (click here)
Posted 16 years ago by Notelrac    [ Reply ]
rocco1207 wrote:
i rate it an infinity plus 1
And here I thought it was one divided by infinity.
Posted 16 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
Wow... great song!
Posted 16 years ago by bcqc    [ Reply ]
The local music rag in town gave this release a 1 star review out of 4.....I can see and hear their reason why...
Posted 16 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
michaelgmitchell wrote:
You'd want to bring her home to meet Mom?
Maybe to mommy, if you were four. She still colors on her face!
Posted 16 years ago by queenjill    [ Reply ]
You'd want to bring her home to meet Mom?
Posted 16 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
Arithma- tech is so cool
Posted 16 years ago by ppak    [ Reply ]
i rate it an infinity plus 1
Posted 16 years ago by rocco1207    [ Reply ]
I just heard this song on a recent Paste Magazine sampler CD -- a strange alignment of the stars. A great song as I sit in my office grading Winter Term finals...
Posted 16 years ago by rvontha    [ Reply ]
not bad . . . funny cover
Posted 16 years ago by spraehbuer    [ Reply ]
Really nice to hear Sia on RP. I love her on the Zero 7 stuff.
Posted 16 years ago by jojopodo    [ Reply ]
inindian wrote:
I like it OK...so far
Yup... easy to listen to.
Posted 16 years ago by Masoud    [ Reply ]
Funny, my first thought was that some of the verses of this have the sing-songy rhythm of a nursery rhyme, then I see the album cover. Hm...
Posted 16 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
Yeah, it kinda slides doesn't it. Catchy
Posted 16 years ago by gatsby169    [ Reply ]
I like it OK...so far
Posted 16 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]