Am I the only one who’s not OK with the song “Pumped Up Kicks”?
So I’m sure by now you’ve heard the song “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People on the radio. It’s catchy, and by all means, a great summer song. I’d probably be blasting it if it weren’t for the fact that the lyrics make me so horribly uncomfortable.
If you haven’t heard it, the chorus goes like this:
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You’d better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet
Uh…is it just me, or is this song about a school shooting? I read something in “Rolling Stone” where the lead singer said the song was supposed to be some sort of statement against school violence, but looking at the lyrics, there’s nothing to suggest that to me. The lyrics, combined with the upbeat, catchy tune, seem to me to be doing nothing but glorifying violence.
I graduated from Thurston High School, where, on May 21, 1998 Kip Kinkel walked into the cafeteria before school and opened fire. Kip Kinkel was bullied, and he sought revenge through mass violence, shooting “all the other kids with the pumped up kicks,” killing two of them. I wasn’t there then as I was only in 6th grade, but my older brother was, and that day lives on as the most terrifying day of my life so far.
Maybe I’m overreacting or being too sensitive, but this song just freaks me out. I’m sure Foster the People are a great band, and lyrics aside, it’s a great song, but I just can’t get behind it. For a song that ‘s supposed to be anti-violence, it’s awfully vague and open to interpretation, so if I’m hearing it this way, I’m sure others are as well. Maybe some young Kip Kinkels or Dylan Klebolds and Eric Harrises are hearing it and thinking it sounds like a great idea. I really hope not. We don’t need any more violence like what we saw at Thurston or Columbine or the more recent mass shooting in Norway. We need to be letting kids know that violence isn’t the solution to whatever inner turmoil they’re going through, and this song just isn’t doing that.
Filed under: Music, Musings, Pop Culture | 7 Comments
Tags: columbine, foster the people, high school, Music, pop, pumped up kicks, thurston, violence
I’m usually totally in-tune with lyrics, but I haven’t heard this song enough to even know the words. I can’t believe that’s why they’re singing about; it’s such a strange message cloaked in a catchy tune. Definitely not OK …
I didn’t notice the lyrics until I found myself singing it without music. It goes from third person (which seems more like an account of how someone else is feeling) to first person pretty quickly. Even if the intent is anti-violence, it’s hard to sing those lyrics in first person and not have it perceived as the intent of the band.
You’re not alone in being uncomfortable with those lyrics. I had to look them up today because I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. Yeah, there is nothing to denote it being anti-violence at all. It seems to package shooting in a catchy little musical package. I noticed it’s disappeared from our Top 40 station.. maybe some people got wise to it.
Of course, I’m also uncomfortable with Pink’s song about fitting in at school, “Raise Your Glass,” about getting drunk if you’re “too school for cool.” But maybe I’m old fashioned.
Trixie, in my mind it will never be “in fashion” for under age drinking or even college age (which is often under age anyway). You are not alone on that one. The songs on the radio are now haunting me as my 13 year old has gone from playing the violin only to memorizing songs from the college radio station. I can’t decide if being on top of the music on the radio is a good thing or if I should be turning it off all together? What do you think?
My boyfriend & I agree. When I first heard it, I thought it sounded different but then the beat got to me & I like the music. I heard it today on the radio & let my boyfriend listen to it. I just went online to see the lyrics of the song & I was surprised to what I saw. I showed my boyfriend & he immediately said that it sounds like they’re glorifying violence with the “better run faster than my gun or bullet”. After thinking about Martina McBride’s song Concrete Angel (about violence) & discussing the 2 different songs, it’s apparent that Martina’s song didn’t glorify it at all. You’re not alone & I wish more people would think more about what they do.
My son has been begging me to go to Thurston (probably because of a girl he likes in 8th grade) but is supposed to go to Springfield High per the boundaries. He’s always singing this song. Of course he has no idea what this song is about (I’m assuming) and probably needs a little education on what happened back at Thurston. It is a high school with a reputation for having extremely talented sports educated and skilled kids. Thank you for the reminder Kurt. No!, you’re not overreacting. Dead kids is not something to glamorize!!
I think the kids who listen to and like this song are just too young to remember the terrible tragedy at Columbine. Ican’t enjoy a song when every time I hear it, I can only think of the terror those poor kids must’ve felt. Don’t see how ANYONE would want to write a song that eve comes close to glorifying this type of violence. I would feel like every cent I made off of it was blood money. They should donate all money made off of it to an antiviolence campaign.