{{more citations needed|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox song | name = Coin-Operated Boy | cover = coin_boy.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = The Dresden Dolls | album = The Dresden Dolls | released = December 13, 2004 | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Dark cabaret | length = 4:46 | label = Roadrunner | writer = Amanda Palmer | producer = | prev_title = Girl Anachronism | prev_year = 2003 | next_title = Sing | next_year = 2006 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|j4gPZPKJc0s|"Coin-Operated Boy"}}}} }}
"'''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.
==Interpretation== Palmer expounds on the many advantages of an artificial and subhuman partner, over real ones, in a tick-tock rhythm reminiscent of automata or clockwork. The song has broad overtones of lonely narcissism, and a desire for intimate loyalty and affection without personal sacrifice or vulnerability.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dresdendolls.com/contact_theband.htm |title=Contact Booking |publisher=The Dresden Dolls |date=2006-01-15 |access-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090705133018/http://www.dresdendolls.com/contact_theband.htm |archive-date=2009-07-05 }}</ref> Caroline Bologna of ''The Huffington Post'' writes that the song "suggests themes of masturbation as it explores the idea of the pleasure of love without the 'complications' of a real partner".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/22-sexy-songs-that-give-female-masturbation-the-love-it-deserves_us_55d767e6e4b08cd3359c009f|title=22 Sexy Songs That Give Female Masturbation The Love It Deserves|first=Caroline|last=Bologna|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 27, 2015|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref>
==Legacy== ===Reception=== In Australia, the song was ranked #12 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004. ===In popular culture=== It has been parodied and used in advertisements and products.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beer-Activated Girl on MoronLife.com|url=http://www.moronlife.com/2005/07/beer-activated-girl/|author=Moron Life| author-link=Moron Life|access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darbo.at/en#/en/adv/television-commercials/50,fruchtikus-2007-kiss.html |title=Darbo Homepage: Description of commercial |work=Darbo.at |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=GFDI Dave (The Ragesturbation Song) |url=https://genius.com/Broadway-karkat-gfdi-dave-lyrics |website=Genius (company)}}</ref> The song was featured in the third episode of the DC Studios animated series ''Creature Commandos'', titled "Cheers to the Tin Man".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/creature-commandos-soundtrack-songs/|work=Screen Rant|title=Creature Commandos Soundtrack Guide: Every Song In James Gunn DC Universe TV Show|first1=Richard|last1=Craig|first2=Brandon|last2=Howard|accessdate=December 13, 2024}}</ref>
==Track listing== ;German CD single #"Coin-Operated Boy" - 3:33 #"Coin-Operated Boy" (Live) - 5:44 (This is the same version as the one found on ''A Is for Accident''.) #"Baby One More Time" (Live) - 3:20
It is in ''The Dresden Dolls Companion''.
==Personnel== *Amanda Palmer - piano, vocals, lyricist, composer, songwriter *Brian Viglione - drums, guitar *Martin Bisi - Memory Man *Michael Pope - music video director
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080308195858/http://www.dresdendolls.com/downloads_n_lyrics/index.htm The Dresden Dolls official site] including lyrics and downloads * [http://popecinema.com Music Video Director's site] including music video
{{The Dresden Dolls}}
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Category:2004 singles Category:The Dresden Dolls songs Category:2003 songs Category:Songs written by Amanda Palmer Category:Roadrunner Records singles