Random Thinking

Here is this week’s song off my iPod. I only have two songs from this group on my iPod, this one and a song they did for the SpongeBob Movie called, “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy”.

The Flaming Lips are an extremely odd alternative/psychedelic band from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma formed in 1983. The current members of the group are Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitar), Michael Ivins(bass), Steven Drozd(guitar), and Kliph Scurlock(drums). Kliph (pronounced Cliff) is the newest member of the band, having been only 10 years old when the group formed. Kliph’s mother was in the first all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Estrella. She died in 1981 in the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in Kansas City, where she was performing.

The group is noted for their multi-layered psychedelic sounds with bizarre lyrics and titles. Album titles over the years have included, “Telepathic Surgery”, “In a Priest Driven Ambulance”, “Hit to Death in the Future Head”, “Transmissions from the Satellite Heart” and “Clouds Taste Metallic”. They are acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, puppets, complex light shows, giant hands, confetti dumped on the audience from giant exploding baloons, and lead singer Wayne Coyne’s man-sized plastic bubble that he uses to go out into the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die”. The group continues to perform and release albums.

In the 27 years the group has been around they have had only one Billboard hit although they have been more successful in Britain and Europe. They have won three Grammy Awards including one in 2003 for the Best Rock Instrumental Performance for their song “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)”. Last year, the group’s song, “Do You Realize??” was announced as the official rock song of Oklahoma. GOP Reps. Mike Reynolds and Corey Holland attacked the choice because of the group’s “offensive language” and because Michael Ivins wore a hammer and sickle t-shirt to the announcement ceremony. Governor Brad Henry ignored them and signed an executive order saying the Flaming Lips are, “a truly iconic rock n’ roll band” and “proud ambassadors of their home state.”

The single hit song by the Flaming Lips was, “She Don’t Use Jelly” released in 1993. The song became popular after being featured on the MTV show Beavis and Butt-head. The group performed the song on the TV show, Beverly Hills, 90210 at the Peach Pit, the hang out of the main characters. The song is noted for it’s musical breaks and odd lyrics.

She Don’t Use Jelly
I know a girl who thinks of ghosts
She’ll make ya breakfast
She’ll make ya toast
She don’t use butter
She don’t use cheese
She don’t use jelly
Or any of these
She uses vaseline

I know a guy who goes to shows
When he’s at home and he blows his nose
He don’t use tissues or his sleeve
He don’t use napkins or any of these
He uses magazines

I know a girl who reminds me of Cher
She’s always changing
The color of her hair
She don’t use nothing
That ya buy at the store
She likes her hair to be real orange
She uses tangerines