Saturday, September 10, 2011

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks...

Have you guys heard that song? Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People? If not, here you go:


It's a catchy tune, I'll give them that. Very much my style, but the lyrics disturb me. It's basically about a boy who goes on a shooting spree, shooting all the kids with the "pumped up kicks" (or cool shoes) and his abusive father.

The reason I'm writing about this is because it's a hugely popular song here in the United States right now. It's all over our Top 40 radio stations (which I avoid like the plague usually). The interesting thing is it's so different from what is usually played on that station, because it actually seems good. It's nice to see an indie band making it big.

Not this song though. Do most people not listen to the lyrics? Why is it that all of the great indie bands, this song had to make it big, when it talks about shooting kids? I mean, I'll bet Mark Foster had some inspiration from the shootings we've had in the US, but really? What is this obsession that people have with songs that talk about drugs, sex and violence? Listen to the radio for 5 minutes and you'll hear for yourself.

7 comments:

  1. My sister just recommended this band to me yesterday. I haven't heard the song but you're right about song lyrics (mainly on popular songs) with that content.

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  2. Foster The People are pretty good, but yeah, those are quite disturbing. I fully agree with you about top 40 lyrics, it's ridiculous, what happened to the days when people made beautiful songs, with lyrics to match? And the worst thing is that the film clips are no better. :( *sigh*

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  3. This song is all over British radio and tv too!

    It's only successful because it's catchy, I don't think people really listen to lyrics anymore. Maybe only a minority of people do that whilst everyone else just listens to the beat lol

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  4. I agree, it's a catchy tune. I really like it. In fact, I almost wouldn't mind that it's about a kid going out on a shooting spree. It's not the first thing that comes to your attention I suppose.

    But I agree, it's kind of weird.

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  5. girl, i'm totally with you on this one!..i like the song but the lyrics make me cringe :(

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  6. Why would anyone make a song about shooting people? Creepy.

    Fickle Cattle
    ficklecattle.blogspot.com

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  7. I agree that it's a good song. Every once in awhile a good "indie" type band breaks into the mainstream. It happened a few years back with MGMT. But if history is any indicator they will soon get played out, or maybe I'll just become disenchanted with them simply because they're popular.

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