The Dresden Dolls – Coin Operated Boy

• Activity types: vocabulary, crossword, gap fill, discussion.

• Time: 30 mins.

• Note: This is a single from The Dresden Doll’s self-titled debut album, released in 2004. The song 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 (from Wikipedia). The song was used in a 2009 Italian television commercial for Seven backpacks.

Worksheet written by Prof. Silvana Fazio, Sondrio

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