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The Devo are one of those historical groups, but for some reason, they are often, if not forgotten, relegated to the background among music enthusiasts. Yet at least their wonderful debut, "Q:Are we not men?...“ is an album that, in my opinion, has nothing to envy from the masterpieces of more renowned bands in the genre, such as Joy Division or Talking Heads (this latter band, incidentally, had many points of contact with our group).
Perhaps, however, remaining too faithful to their motto of de-evolution*, they gradually began to soften, as often happens with the waning of youthful fervor, their sound in search of a greater audience response. Not that in their early days they were at the level of the complexity of Pop Group or Pere Ubu, but their new-wave was a nifty energy mix, a neurotic, lively, and in some ways cold and robotic rock (krafwerkian inspirations, indeed, are not lacking).
The second album, even though partly abandoning the punk neuroses to move more towards synthesizers, is a worthy successor, albeit inferior to the first. But it is the third album that marks the most profound shift, pushing even more towards pop, and for one last time, melody and sophistication will still manage to coexist in a precarious balance. Still, from the next one, Devo will increasingly aim to become a ridiculous synth-pop band, where they were once avant-garde and fiercely satirical.
Now, despite these perhaps excessively harsh criticisms suggesting otherwise, the album in question is not at all bad; rather, it remains very enjoyable in its intelligent disengagement; for many, it is even the band's best album (even though this is probably mostly among casual music listeners, not hardcore enthusiasts like us DeBaserioti), and moreover, the one capable of giving the group their first and only real great hit with the general public, namely "Whip it“ (which indeed led to their drift into the treacherous waters of commercial music, in an attempt to replicate its success), and in the end, all the elements remain, albeit slightly diluted, that made "Are we not men?“ great. It's a shame it didn't last; but instead of losing ourselves in the regret of what might have been, but wasn't, let's rediscover and enjoy instead the first masterpiece, as well as the two excellent subsequent records from this great, though inconsistent, formation.
*Well, the term explains itself quite well, but for those who don't know, I'll specify: Devo claimed that the world, contrary to what is commonly stated, was going backwards and gradually devolving, hence the whole deal with costumes, synchronized and robotic movements, social critique, alienation, reification, homogenization, etc., etc.; yes, more or less always the usual stuff claimed by those who criticize the system, but with a more intriguing and choreographed concept.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Girl U Want (02:58)
She sings from somewhere you can't see
she sits in the top of the greenest tree
she sends out an aroma of undefined love
it drips on down in a mist from above
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
you hear her calling everywhere you turn
you know you're headed for the pleasure burn
but the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
she's the real thing but you knew it all along
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
look at you with your mouth watering
look at you with your mind spining
why don't we just admit it's all over
just the girl u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she sings from somewhere you can't see
she sits in the top of the greenest tree
she sends out an aroma of undefined lust
it drips on down in a mist from above
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
look at you with your mouth watering
look at you with your mind spinnin'
why don't we just admit it's all over
just the girl u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
that u want
she's just the girl, just the girl
02 It's Not Right (02:22)
baby baby baby hurt me bad
baby baby
baby baby made me cry
baby
i wanna die
somebody tell me where she's hiding out
i gotta find that cheatin' gal
can't go can't go can't go sleep at night
can't sleep can't sleep
it's not right
sunlight sunlight in my eyes
sunlight
makes me rise
i can't sleep until my baby says it's over
i gotta hear it face to face
i love you darlin' it's a cryin' shame
the way you run around like you're in a big game
i'm so unhappy i could cry every time i think about you
boo hoo
baby baby baby please come back
baby baby
sunlight sunlight in my eyes
sunlight
makes me rise
i can't sleep until my baby says it's over
i gotta hear it face to face
i love you darlin' it's a cryin' shame
the way you run around like you're in a big game
i shoot around in a trance all day and think about you
all the time
i love you darlin' it's a cryin' shame
the way you run around like you're in a big game
it's so unfair that you're so happy when i'm hurtin' inside
i love you darlin' it's a cryin' shame
the way you run around like you're in a big game
i'm so unhappy i could cry every time i think about you
boo hoo
03 Whip It (02:38)
Crack that whip,
give the past the slip,
step on a crack,
break your momma's back.
When a problem comes along, (you must whip it)
before the cream sits out too long, (you must whip it)
when something's going wrong (you must whip it)
Now whip it,
into shape,
shape it up,
get straight,
go forward,
move ahead,
try to detect it,
it's not too late,
to whip it,
whip it good!
When a good time turns around, (you must whip it)
you will never live it down, (unless you whip it)
no one gets their way, (until they whip it)
i say whip it
whip it good!
i say whip it
whip it good!
Crack that whip,
give the past the slip,
step on a crack,
break your momma's back.
When a problem comes along, (you must whip it)
before the cream sits out too long, (you must whip it)
when something's going wrong (you must whip it)
Now whip it,
into shape,
shape it up,
get straight,
go forward,
move ahead,
try to detect it,
it's not too late,
to whip it,
into shape,
shape it up,
get straight,
go forward,
move ahead,
try to detect it,
it's not too late,
to whip it,
whip it good!
04 Snowball (02:29)
My baby took our love
And then she rolled it up
Rolled it up a hill
Like a ball of snow
Like a snowball grows
Until it gets too big
Until she lost control
And it rolled back down
And it rolled back down
And it rolled back down
And it rolled back down
She took a tiny bit
And rolled it up again
Slower than before
She went a step too far
She had to let it go
I saw it go straight down
My baby turned around
Started up again
Started up again
Started up again
Started up again
Eyes were made for looking�
Hands were made for holdin�
Hearts were made for lovin�
Lips were made for kissin�
Legs were made for walkin�
Tracks were made to follow
That's what I'm gonna do
Two tracks
In the snow
Two tracks
Up that hill
My heart broke
When my baby left
Two tracks behind
06 Freedom of Choice (03:28)
A victim of collision on the open sea
Nobody ever said that life was free
Sank, swam, go down with the ship
But use your freedom of choice
I'll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Your freedom of choice
In ancient Rome
There was a poem
About a dog
Who found two bones
He picked at one
He licked the other
He went in circles
He dropped dead
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice!
is what you want!
Then if you got it you don't want it
Seems to be the rule of thumb
Don't be tricked by what you see
You got two ways to go
I'll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Freedom of choice
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice!
In ancient Rome
There was a poem
About a dog
Who found two bones
He picked at one
He licked the other
He went in circles
He dropped dead
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
(repeat)
07 Gates of Steel (03:28)
twist away the gates of steel
unlock the secret voice
give in to ancient noise
take a chance a brand new dance
twist away the gates of steel
twist away
now twist and shout
the earth it moves too slow
but the earth is all we know
we pay to play the human way
twist away the gates of steel
a man is real
not made of steel
but the earth is all we know
we pay to play the human way
twist away the gates of steel
the beginning was the end
of everything now
the ape regards his tail
he's stuck on it
repeats until he fails
half a goon and half a god
a man's not made of steel
twist away
now twist and shout
the earth it moves too slow
but the earth is all we know
we pay to play the human way
twist away the gates of steel
a man is real that's how he feels
08 Cold War (02:31)
i -i owe-owe you
absolutely nothing
i-i know-know you
positively disagree
i've heard it said that all is fair
in love and war so what's life for
you watch it go out the window
stop and go back for more
more!
go-go fight-fight punch
your way to happiness
go-go light-light or
you'll never be a big success
i heard it said that all is fair
in love and war so what's life for
the boy and girl
two separate worlds
the endless tug of war
uh!
go-go fight-fight punch
your way to happiness
go-go light-light or
you'll never be a big success
i've heard it said that all is fair
in love and war so what's life for
i heard it said that all is fair
in love and war so what's life for
the boy and girl
two separate worlds
the endless tug of war
i -i owe-owe you
absolutely nothing
09 Don't You Know (02:15)
every move i make
every rule i break
makes me want it more
every step i take
every new mistake
each revolving door
keeps me searching for you
there's nowhere for you to hide
'cause a feelin's got me reelin'
and i'm twisted up inside
don't you know i got a thing that looks for you
don't you know the way you make me feel about you
don't you know i got a place that waits for you
don't you know that i'm always thinking of you
i got a rocket in my pocket
but i don't know what to do
like a plug without a socket
i'm just waitin' 'round for you
don't you know i got a thing for you
don't you know the way you make me feel about you
don't you know i got a thing that looks for you
don't you know that i'm always thinking of you
i got a rocket in my pocket
i don't know what to do
like a plug without a socket
i'm just waitin' 'round for you
12 Planet Earth (02:46)
i heard a girl in a dress
say her face was a mess
i heard there's no reason why
i heard that now's the time to buy
on planet earth
i'll probably stay
on planet earth
it's a place to live your life
where pleasure follows pain
people go insane
fly around in planes
pray that it won't rain
drive around in cars
get drunk in local bars
dream of being stars
well i lived all my life on planet earth
i saw a girl lose all control
when she lost her new mink stole
i saw her try to catch a man
things i couldn't understand
on planet earth
i'll probably stay
on planet earth
it's a place to live your life
where pleasure follows pain
people go insane
fly around in planes
pray that it won't rain
drive around in cars
get drunk in local bars
dream of being stars
well i lived all my life on planet earth
i saw a man on a stage
scream "put me back in my cage"
i saw him hang by his tie
i saw enough to make me cry
on planet earth
on planet earth
i lived all my life on planet earth
i lived all my life on planet earth
on planet earth
(repeat)
13 Turn Around (02:13)
take a step outside yourself
then you turn around
take a look at who you are
it's pretty scary
you're so silly
well it's revolting
you're not much
if you're anything
take a step outside the city
and you turn around
take a look at what you are
well it's revolting
you're really nowhere
you're so wasteful
so foolish
no big deal
who said don't look back
don't you believe 'em
you go for that corner seat in the restaurant
'cause they're gonna try and get behind ya
don't you let 'em do it
you know what i'm talkin' about?
you hear me talking?
it's pretty scary
it's so revolting
take a step outside the country
then you turn around
take a look at where you are
well it's amazing
take a good look
you're no big deal
you're so petty
it's a laugh
take a step outside the planet
you turn around and round
now take a look at where you are
it's pretty scary
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