| "Coin-Operated Boy" | ||||
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| Single by The Dresden Dolls | ||||
| from the album The Dresden Dolls | ||||
| Released | December 13, 2004 | |||
| Genre | Dark cabaret | |||
| Length | 4:46 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Writer(s) | Amanda Palmer | |||
| The Dresden Dolls singles chronology | ||||
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"Coin-Operated Boy" is a single by The Dresden Dolls duo, taken from the self-titled debut album The Dresden Dolls. It was produced by Martin Bisi and released on December 13, 2004 by Roadrunner Records. "Coin-Operated Boy" was written by Amanda Palmer. The song makes heavy use of staccato, and includes instruments such as a toy piano.
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Palmer expounds on the many advantages an artificial partner has over real ones in a tick-tock rhythm reminiscent of automata. The song has broad overtones of loneliness and a desire for a relationship with idealized physical affection but no personal sacrifice or chance of getting emotionally hurt.[1]
The music video was shot, cut and directed by Michael Pope; it features Amanda Palmer as the protagonist of the song who turns to a man who is literally coin-operated (Brian Viglione) after being disappointed with other relationships. The video has a strong focus on her disillusionment with the coin operated man.
In Australia, the song was ranked #12 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.
In July 2005, the Internet Sketch Comedy Show Moron Life released their parody of "Coin-Operated Boy" entitled "Beer-Activated Girl"[2][3] to the delight of both Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione. The song was also parodied by Voltaire in his version "Coin-Operated Goy".[4]
In January 2007 and 2011, "Coin-Operated Boy" was used in a commercial for the Austrian jam brand Darbo.[5]
In 2009, the song was used in an Italian television commercial for the backpack Double.
It was also featured in The Dresden Dolls Companion.
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