Good Morning!
Today we’re listening to “Girl U Want” by Devo
I don’t go to movies that often. I never really have. I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve been in a theater in the last 10 years— and I might have a finger to spare.
I’m not against it; I just have a bunch of other stuff I’m more into.
The last time I went, it was to see “Knives Out.” Not the recent sequel, the original one. Three and half years ago—and I think it was a matinee.
My wife was determined to change that, and this past Friday, we went on something called a “date,” and to the movies. It’s Oscar season, and there is no shortage of good films on order. There were also at least a couple of premieres that night we could’ve gone to. So what did we see? What future classic finally dragged me back?
“Maverick?” “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once?” Nope.
Dear reader, we went to “Cocaine Bear.”
And it is everything I dreamed it would be. No spoilers, but part of the appeal was the soundtrack (surprising, I know). The movie is loosely based on a true story & takes place in the mid-80s, and the music is on point. Jefferson Starship…Depeche Mode…Berlin…even Jeffrey Osbourne.
But no Devo.
So what does this have to do with anything? The music supervisor for the movie is none other than Mark Mothersbaugh- lead singer of the band. He’s built a solid career scoring movies and TV shows, working on everything from “Rugrats” to “Regular Show” to “What We do in the Shadows.”
But before all that, there was Devo.
The band started at Kent State when Mothersbaugh met art students Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis. Devo is short for Devolution, with the band playing up the idea that mankind wasn’t moving forward but rather regressing.
Often derided as a joke band, they developed a serious cult following and had several minor hits (and one huge hit in “Whip It” off the same record as this). Like many things not taken too seriously, Devo turned out to be a great band with a long run of well-regarded records and decent success.
Mothersbaugh went on to have an arguably greater career as a composer for TV/Movies. Not bad for a guy that used to wear an “energy dome” while performing. We often underestimate things at our own risk.
Kind of like movies about bears strung out on cocaine.
P.S. Cocaine Bear will clean up at the next Oscars. You heard it hear first.
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More:
According to the band, “Girl U Want” was inspired by The Knack’s “My Sharona.” Only Devo could hear The Knack’s run of the mill lyrics about teenage lust and turn them into a song explicitly about the dehumanizing power of desire.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Listen:
“Girl U Want” by Devo | Freedom Of Choice, 1980
Click the record to listen on the platform of your choice.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this track!
Thanks for being here,
Kevin—
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Hahahahahahahahaha ok first thing: I’ve heard of this concept called a “date” and I hear it’s a good thing for couples to do. May look into that someday. Second: I **LOVE** that you saw Cocaine Bear. I didn’t even know the soundtrack was so good. Lastly: Devo rules.
I’m supposed to see Cocain Bear with my bestie! I love Elizabeth Banks (the director).