Artist

Caesars

About the Band

We have chosen the song Jerk it Out by the Swedish indie rock and
garage rock band 'Caesars.' Originally recognised as the 'Caesars Palace',
they are now branded as the 'Twelve Caesars' across the rest of
Scandinavia, or otherwise as simply Caesars. In terms of style, the band
uses several different techniques in all of their songs. For example, they
use heavily distorted guitars, and, where appropriate, a synth organ is
used too and also large amounts of reverbon the vocals. This gives them
an "old-school" feel in comparison to their basslines.

How are They Famous?

Outside of their home country, Caesars are

best known for their song ''Jerk it Out' and
this song was originally featured in such
video games like Snowboard Super Cross 3
(SSX 3) and Fifa Football 2004. Moreover, it
has also been the background music of
television advertisements for certain
brands for example iPod (2005) and
Renault (2009).

Ideologies and Beliefs

One ideology of Caesars is hedonism. The band is portrayed rather differently
to conventional indie rock bands as they try to sell their hedonistic lifestyle.
They are not prepared to conform to mainstream values, representing a
counter cultural group. Due to their frantic and what appears to be restless
way of life, this contradicts the genre of indie rock's conventional ideologies
which as previously mentioned, denounces and disproves of this lifestyle.
Caesars also have depressing songs. By this, they talk about their past
experiences with relationships in one of their songs ''Over Fore it Started'' in
which the lyrics are 'But now that you're gone, I don't know if I can carry
on.So sorry 'bout the things that I've doneI know that it was over 'fore it
started.' Therefore, the mood of regret and heartbreak (common in indie
songs) are evident in this song.

Ideologies and Beliefs Continued

Caesars are aspirational because they make the audience want to live how they do,
with a carefree attitude and a party lifestyle. However, one interpretation meaning of
the song ''Jerk it Out'' can possibly be said to have a hidden meaning about doing drugs
so if the audience is strongly against the use of drugs, the band can be said to be
veryuninspiring and that the band are sending out an extremely negative 'message'.
This can also be said for another one of their song's called 'Sort it Out' where the first
two lines are 'I wanna smoke crack, cause you never coming back' followed by 'I wanna
sniff glue' four lines after. Their hedonistic ideology is reinforced here as it implies the
lead singer gets pleasure from drugs to alleviate his depression. Therefore, it appears
that Caesars talk about the use of drugs a lot in their songs. This again reinforces their
care free lifestyle.
However, the song ''Jerk it Out'' is mostly about letting yourself go, going crazy and
overall just having a good time. This again can be linked with their hedonistic values
and beliefs.Caesars are also unconventional. We get the impression during their 'Jerk it
Out' video that they are unconventional because they live an unusual lifestyle, in
addition to their lives being very individualistic.

Artist History
Initially recognized asCaesar's Palace and best
known in America for their single 'Jerk it Out',
Sweden's Caesars formed in 1995. The band
consists of Cesar Vidal,Joakim AhlundDavid
Lindqvist and Jens Orjeheim (later replaced by Nino
Keller) - conforming as the leader singer, guitarist,
bassist and drummerrespectively. Despite their lack
of music ability, they started recording demos
shortly after their birth in the mid-90's. Only three of
these various songs were released in the band's first
extended play, titled 'Shake It'; published by Dolores
Records in 1995. In addition to Shake It, the series of
7" disks and the mini-album which the band
released in 1996, reflected the utilization of raw,
garage-like inspirations seen in early the likes of the
Sonics and Billy Childish. Ahlund discovered a
vintage Farfifa organ. As a result, this had a
significant impact on Caesar's sound. This was
mirrored on their album Youth is Wasted on the
Young. This was released in the USA, under their
name at the time Twelve Caesars.

Artist History Continued

This album was relatively successful in their homeland Sweden and so was its
album which followed this, Cherry kicks. In 2002, the Caesars' had a breakthrough
year. Their 'Love for the Streets' album won the band a Swedish Grammy for Album
of the Year, the same time it went 'gold'. In the year that followed, their song ''Jerk
it Out' which first occurred on Love for the Streets, became one of the first digital
singles to achieve gold status. The band toured Europe and Japan, and also the US
that year. In 2003, the band recorded their fourth album and in 2004 and 2005,
their single ''Jerk it Out'' featured in Apple's iPod Tv commercials, helping the band
and their single gain widespread fame and popularity demonstrated by the song
appearing in the charts. Indie rock is undoubtedly the most common and popular
genre of music in Sweden, withseveral bands producing songs which have gone on
to be relatively successfulinternationally.

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