Monday, April 19, 2010
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
Happy Marathon Monday and Happy Patriots Day. If you aren't in Massachusetts...happy monday? If you are just stuck celebrating Monday don't worry this is a fun song, with marathon related lyrics (kind of): "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, faster than my bullet." Foster the People's song is oddly intriguing. I came across it on another blog and the author said he thought that it was a perfect summer tune and really liked it. When I first listened to it, I had no idea what that guy was talking about except that the chorus is pretty catchy. It could be perfect for a morbid shoe commercial (I have the marathon on my mind). Who wouldn't want to run faster than a bullet? They don't even have an EP yet, just this catchy little tune for free out on the world wide web. While the lo-fi verses lack any sort of pizzaz, the chorus makes up for it. It also features some fun whistling and solid beats that might make you think of Miike Snow's "Song for No One" and Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks". You can download it for free from their website: http://www.fosterthepeople.com/ or listen and download it here. Enjoy.
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um its not perfect for a shoe commercial, because if you really understood it you'd know its about a guy going insane..
ReplyDeletethe chorus is about him telling all the popular kids with their fancy "kicks" to run, and see if they can outrun the bullet he is going to shoot them with,, may wanna rethink this blog,,
Thanks for the comment anonymous. I'm glad you took the time to understand the song. However, I don't want to rethink the blog post. I meant what I said.
ReplyDeleteA commercial is just 30 seconds, pretty sure you can incorporate this song into a commercial without the word bullet ever entering into the equation. Maybe just the whistling and "all the other kids with the pumped up kids you better run better run" and then cut it. If I took this song seriously it wouldn't be fun for me anymore. That is what is so great about music everyone can have their own way of thinking about it. Thanks for sharing yours anon, next time share your name.
I've still been confused about "pumped up kicks" sure it could mean "fancy kicks" like you said, but all I can think of are the reebok air pump shoes that we all had back in the 90s.
What does everyone else think the song means? Now I'm curious.
In the first part of the song, he finds his Dad's gun and maybe some drugs ("other fun stuff"). Second versus also includes information that he might be neglected ("dinner's in the kitchen packed in ice"). You know he's snapped because he's talking to his cigarette at the end, telling it that it's hair is on fire ("I reason with my cigarette, now your hair's on fire, must have lost your wits") "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks" are all of the other kids with everything he doesn't have...loving family, nice clothes, whatever. And he's planning a killing spree..."better run, faster than my gun, outrun my bullet".
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with the post dated Oct 18, 2010. I guess I was hoping that I was wrong, but I think he/she hit it pretty close. The words seem to describe a marginalized kid who's ignored and feels left out. He spends a lot of time alone at home, and it's a shame such a catchy song went down this road, because the song is Very addicting. Just wish it was about something a little happier than a loner apparently planning his own Columbine :(
ReplyDeleteThis song sounds like its commenting on the downward plunge of the teen genre currently, what with all the medication they're put on because of whatever made-up disorder they're told they have, despite all the "suicide/homicide" warnings on the labels. Add to that the usual teen-angst involved with the pressures of growing up, getting laid, being accepted, living with parents who don't understand... a kid who snaps these days (pumped up on medication) could decide to blow anyone away with a numb attitude.
ReplyDeleteI get what the songs about, I just don't know what "pumped up kicks" means!
ReplyDeletePumped up kicks probably means an adrenaline boost. I would get pumped up (read: scared shitless) if there's a guy waving a gun around.
ReplyDeleteThough, this song can definitely work as a marathon thing. Some marathon or track events starts the race with the shot of a gun.
Pumped up kicks refers to those shoes you used to pump up and fill an air bladder int he tongue of the shoe... it was a pointless gimmick but it sold many shoes.
ReplyDeleteThe song is about a school shooting it refers to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erfurt_massacre
"Robert has a quick hand"
I listen to the song. But cannot get actual meaning "Pumped Up Kicks"..Still trying..
ReplyDeleteIts not about the Erfurt massacre. In the Erfurt massacre Robert the shooter went after teachers and instructors not "kids with pumped up kicks". Two students did die when he shot through a locked door, but he wasn't aiming for them. He was going after adults.
ReplyDeletePumped up kicks means the shoes are the more expensive, top of the line tennis shoes as opposed to just basic, servicable shoes. It's meant to call attention to the fact that teens are often ostricized by their peers based solely on such superficial trivialities. Try getting into the head of a troubled teen with this song-- in his own mind he hasn't snapped. The gun now gives him a position of authority, i.e., power. Daddy now has his own surprise coming and if the kids at school thought they were all that, then let's see if their pumped up kicks are hot sh** enough to outrun a bullet. If you think about it, the initial stanza intoduces us to how Robert thinks and then we're given his actual thoughts (or at least those of all the generic Roberts out there) for the rest of the song. I also don't think it's strange that such a disturbing song is set to such upbeat lyrics. It underscores that this kids life has made isolation, brutality, and "might makes
ReplyDeleteright" part of what's normal in his world view. I think we're meant to be given a glimpse into why the Roberts of the world do what they do. They don't "snap", they were brought up to feel dead inside for so long that when the chance comes to retaliate, they don't feel consciously angry or cold. Violence dished out in such a matter-of-fact, almost nonchalant manner gives us insight to understand that the rage is obviously there but now we have to think about how long this kid must have been exposed to the cause of it in order for it to be so pushed down inside of him that he doesn't even know it's there anymore. Music is a medium that is very short compared to something like a novel. Good music can convey a lot of complex ideas or feelings or both in just a few minutes.
Wow, just enjoy the damn song. Debbie downers
ReplyDeleteI don't get this song...but I'm sure it's just like the song 'your women' it's meant to have many perspectives. So just enjoy this song, it doesn't have a real meaning. And I'm sure the artist would have told someone by now. So get over it and get back to your drab lives where you try to figure out who Taylor Swift is singing about now.
ReplyDeleteMadison, are you stupid? The meaning of the song is pretty universal. It's right there in the lyrics…
DeleteI agree that you will never see this song in a shoe commercial. Even if you just cut out the part that you wanted, its still to contraversial to put in a mainstream ad. That being said its in my Ipod and I had it playing during Sunday's Cleveland marathon. I think "Hip Hop Police" has a great line at the beginning as well..."Keep running honey...they're on the trail....keep running homey...they're on the trail..." That would be great for a shoe commercial as well, but we won't be seeing that either.
ReplyDeleteThis song is about the Columbine shooting. It shouldn't be a shoe commercial.
ReplyDeleteFrom lead singer Mark Foster (who also wrote the song) in an interview with Spinner: "'Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. It's kind of an epidemic. Instead of writing about victims and some tragedy, I wanted to get into the killer's mind, like Truman Capote did in 'In Cold Blood.' I love to write about characters. That's my style. I really like to get inside the heads of other people and try to walk in their shoes."
ReplyDeleteWOW...you were really right when you said you have no idea what the song is about, because for you wonder if they made it with a sneakers comercial in mind- you really don't have a fucking clue. The song is about an insane kid going on a killing spree. It' s fairly coded, but not that difficult to understand once you read the lyrics. It is catchy however and that really is the only intriguing thing about it- the nice summer beat to a s ong about a kid on a killing spree.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a pretty good song. Whatever way you take it. The real meaning behind it is kind of dark, but who said music was always supposed to be happy.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer
I think it's a fun song and I enjoy listening to it. There's a strange nostalgic feel to it that I can't quite put my finger on though. Is there a song from the '80s with a similar tune? I'll have to check out those other songs you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThe phrase "pumped up kicks" reminds me of the Reebok pumps that came out in the '90s with the little button you could push to pump up your shoes. Do they still make those? You weren't cool unless you had pumps...in my neighborhood at least.
Maybe this song would be good for a gangster line of shoes?
ReplyDeleteI might be going out of my wits...but I seem to remember that hook from some other song long before this foster character ever dreamed of writing lyrics about troubled youth. Can't find anything about it though. Does it ring a bell with anyone else? Why would this kid even know about the pump, he was probably in diapers when Reebok was making those, and therefore it wouldn't represent something that kids would envy today unless it's now cool to have antique kicks. Sounds like it was bitten to me! I guess if the song was about "Robert" Steinhauser (Erfurt Massacre '02)it's a little bit inaccurate, but a six shooter gun does work better in the song than a 9mm Glock 17 and a busted 12 gauge. Or it could be about columbine too...all I know is I'm gonna shoot somebody if they decide to criticize this comment, instead of helping me figure out where Mark Foster stole his hook from!
ReplyDeleteI have heard this song many times on the radio with my girls, and none of us really liked it initially.It has a catchy tune, but now that i actually know what it is about and have read the lyrics I personally can't believe they produced a song of that subject knowing there have been many times over the past years that it has actually happened. Think about the families of the people left behind after the shootings. How do you think they feel about this song. I know freedom of speech everyone has a right to it but seriously to put that statement in an upbeat song. I feel it is morbid to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI love this song. I love that it has the upbeat music with a "morbid" meaning. I think it makes people think, and makes people go out there and talk about it! I don't think any of us are really talking about "Moves like Jagger" or whatever that song is. This one gets people on edge and that is what good art really does. It makes us think. Also I got a step further in that when he says "dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice" I was thinking of either a head or a body part stashed in the freezer... now that's morbid.
ReplyDeletethe still make reebok pumps.
ReplyDeletesame song as jeremy?
ReplyDeleteI heard that it was about the Columbine shooting. So the comment about it referencing a kid who's going crazy and shoots up his school would be more than accurate. Keeping that in mind, I don't think it's appropriate for a commercial. Even with the word bullet or gun cut out.
ReplyDeleteThe song is super catchy but I don't think it should be used in a commercial. I looked at the lyrics and if you knew what it was about, I don't think you would find it "fun" at all.
ReplyDeleteI still like to listen to it but the lyrics are depressing and not very summery.
its about columbine.
ReplyDeleteI love this song and am glad they wrote something about the troubled kid. Behind every troubled youth is a REASON! Maybe a child in your community could use an ear or a kind word. Should invoke some consciousness when dealing with the youth in your community. There is no such thing as a bad kid... just misunderstood. Take the time to get to know your youth!
ReplyDeleteLook a little deeper--the song isn't just about a kid on a killing spree because his Dad is an irresponsible jerk and likely an alcoholic that considers a cold beer his dinner. It's about a kid in a loser situation that identifies with glorified media violence--and the irony is that message is played out with a catchy tune to complete the circle.
ReplyDeleteits crazy u guys knew about this song more than a year ago!!! try "miss you" by foster the people!! its catchy!!! <3
ReplyDeleteWhen I actually read the lyrics, it is quite disturbing. I'll never listen to this song again. It's not about any particular incident (you proud to say it's about Columbine?!) NO, it's about a kid that's thinking about or going to go on a shooting rampage. Quite dark, startling and chilling, while all wrapped up in an upbeat tempo…
ReplyDeleteDisturbing? Perhaps. It should be. It is also brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWith only a few words the many wounds of a neglected boy are laid bare.
The upbeat tempo is like the landscape that this fictional kid lives in. All around him the World spins in happy, consumerist orbits--love, warmth, nurturing and plenty seem to be available to all of the other
kids but for him, these are all out of his reach.
Maybe a bullet might catch him up, put him ahead, slow the 'others' down...
It is simple, strong imagery.
At the risk of revealing my more than adolescent age, it reminds me of the Boomtown Rats mega hit, "I don't like Mondays' which in like manner reminds us that violence does not have a good reason.
Here are the lyrics to 'I don't like Mondays'
ReplyDeleteto a perky tune and playful tempo...
The silicon chip inside her head
Gets switched to overload
And nobody’s gonna go to school today
She’s gonna make them stay at home
And daddy doesn’t understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be show-ow-ow-ow-own?
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-woo-woo-woo-oot the whole day down
The Telex machine is kept so clean
And it types to a waiting world
And mother feels so shocked
Father’s world is rocked
And their thoughts turn to their own little girl
Sweet 16 ain’t that peachy keen
Now that ain’t so neat to admit defeat
They can see no reasons
'Cuz there are no reasons
What reasons do you need?
Oh Oh oh whoa whoa
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-woo-woo-oot
The whole day down, down, down, shoot it all down
And all the playing's stopped in the playground now
She wants to play with the toys a while
And school's out early and soon we'll be learning
And the lesson today is how to die
And then the bullhorn crackles
And the captain tackles
(With the problems of the how's and why's)
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to die, die?
Oh Oh Oh
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-woo-woo-woot the whole day down
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