Pencils down: Deciphering Phoenix's historical rock songs

Do European history and rock 'n' roll mix? There is Iron Maiden's "Alexander The Great," Herman's Hermits' "I'm Henry The VIII, I Am," and the fact that Anne Frank's The Diary Of A Young Girl influenced Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, so the answer seems to be a resounding yes. The latest bullet point in this theory is French alt-rock quartet Phoenix, who play a sold-out show at Park West on Saturday in support of their latest record, appropriately titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

The title isn’t the only historical reference in Phoenix’s catalog. That’s understandable, seeing as the band’s home studio is located in the Paris suburb of Versailles, where a significant world event or two took place. Since Decider is first and foremost about education, we cracked some textbooks and flipped through Phoenix's catalog, making some well-intentioned guesses as to what the songs are actually about. (Yes, there will be a quiz afterwards.)

Song: “Lisztomania” 
Sample lyrics: “Lisztomania / think less but see it grow / like a riot, like a riot, oh! / I'm not easily offended / it's not hard to let it go / from a mess to the masses.”
A reference to: The hysteria surrounding 19th-century Hungarian composer/virtuoso Franz Liszt, whose dramatic performance style and compelling stage presence put women in a blissful, crazed state—truly making him a forerunner to Beatlemania, the '90s "boy band" craze, and, presumably, the upcoming Elton John and Billy Joel show at Wrigley Field.
Historical lesson: Liszt’s good looks and flair brought him limitless wealth and adoring crowds, but it's his music that makes him timeless. Will we still be talking about 'N Sync singer JC Chasez 150 years from now?

Song’s actually about: The euphoria of playing in front of a crowd going bat-shit crazy for your music, an experience shared by both Liszt and Phoenix.

Song: “Napoleon Says”

Sample lyrics: “Napoleon says to take off your coat / take off your long johns too” and later, “Right hand in a trench coat.”
A reference to: Napoleon Bonaparte, France’s adorably pint-sized egomaniacal emperor, who insisted on being depicted with his right hand tucked into his trench coat. The ruthless warmonger was well on his way to conquering Europe until he invaded Russia on the basis of “what else is left?” (The brutal Russian winter would be the French’s undoing). The “Napoleon says to strip” motif also has some Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes undertones.
Historical lesson: As Napoleon (and Adolf Hitler) would learn, invading a country is a tad difficult when it’s freaking 12 below zero outside. War is more of a spring activity. 
Song’s actually about: The proper etiquette in dealing with an overzealous Francophile: Give them bizarre, authoritarian orders.

Song: “1901”

Sample lyrics: “Girlfriend, oh your girlfriend is drifting away / past and present, 1855-1901 / watch them build up a meteor tower / think it's not gonna stay anyway / think it's overrated.”

A reference to: A time period in French history that included the famous Exposition Universelle of 1900 and the Art Nouveau movement. The “tower” most likely refers to the Eiffel Tower, completed as an entrance to 1889's Exposition Universelle and loathed at the time by many Parisians.
Historical lesson: Memorable World's Fairs demand timeless symbols. The Eiffel Tower was one of many iconic structures built for a World's Fair, like the Crystal Palace in London, the Unisphere in New York, and the Space Needle in Seattle. This means we can expect Knoxville’s Sunsphere from the 1982 World’s Fair to become a global monument and the undisputed symbol of America any year now, right?
Song’s actually about: A nostalgic look at Paris at the turn of the 20th century, when Jules Verne’s sci-fi tales were regarded as the approaching future. Lead singer Thomas Mars calls the Exposition Universelle of 1900 the "most futuristic moment" for Paris, so when the fair is over, all of Paris is stuck “counting all different ideas drifting away.” In the spirit of Verne, somebody should’ve built an idea-catching machine.