Singer SAYS #1 HIT PISSED People OFF Because DARK Lyrics Were SET to HAPPY Music | Professor Of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 22 ноя 2022
- For once on our show…A song that came from no real inspiration at all.. Just a Jingle writer forcing himself to write a song on a lazy day where he was about to sneak off to the beach or go home. Mark Foster of Foster the People wrote Pumped Up Kicks in an afternoon just messing around. He pretty much just pushed himself to write a song that would become a masterpiece. He recorded a rough demo playing every instrument . He played that rough recording for people and in the end he actually released the demo. It would become the #1 song of the year. It actually went to #1 on alternative, dance, rock and pop charts collectively. Some would even try to ban or hate on it due to it’s controversial subject, claiming it was a violent gun song but as Mark Foster explains in the interview no one bothered to really listen to the lyrics which shows that no violence occurs at all. A deep dive interview about the best song of this century thus far.. This Interview blew my mind and changed the way I look at the world as we discuss song from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash and how Taylor Swift and Weezer covered it.
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Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. WE interview the great artists of the rock era and you never know what’s in store from day to day, so make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. click the bell and all that jazz and check out our exclusive content on patreon including behind the scenes at our recent live events.
I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations- where featured artists take us for an inspirational and in depth focus on their greatest song and albums. I probably say it too much on this channel but mainstream music is a mess in today’s society. Whereas the top 10 songs for any given week in the 60s 70s or 80s were about 70% classic and still heard today. But every once in a while an up and coming artist or band releases a brand new song that climbs to the top of the charts that blows our mind and reminds us that great songs can drop out of the sky at anytime. And this classic song is proof although it really didn’t come from inspiration it came from perspiration. at the time he was working as a jingle writer, Mark Foster of Foster the people wrote Pumped up Kicks in an afternoon where he would rather have gone to the beach instead he forced himself to write a song… That song would become the song of 2011 reaching #3 in the billboard hot 100. Up next in our interview Mark Foster tells the story of this song including the process of putting it together, his thoughts on the lyrics and the his take on the controversy surrounding it. It’s a fascinating interview As we go into this interview I want to thank our sponsor Zenni Eyewear my favorite frames ever. Make sure to take advantage of the phenomenal deals Zenni always runs to design your own pair of frames the color, the shape the size the style. All available at Zenni.com Go check it out at the link below. Here’s Dave the Snake Sabo with the story of 18 and life on revelations.
Thank you for watching
Leave us a comment about Mark Foster and this modern day hit. what are your thought and memories of the song? 
Развлечения
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Poll: What is a song or artist the you disliked at first listen but then grew to embrace?
Van Morrison
You - who is venerating every not very good eighties song as though it was a world changing classic and eventually hitting on a modern classic people quite like.
@@soulcityrocker3799 I love the 80s, so I'm a little biased.
Easy one- Dire Straits. Hated Sultans of Swing. Then one day I was drinking with some mates when our host said he was going to put some Straits on. I chirped up something about don’t put that rubbish on an got some horrified looks. He said he would find something to change my mind and got out Making Movies and put the needle on Skateaway. I ate my words that day and by the end of the week got all four albums (at the time) and waited for Alchemy to come out a month later. That one song got me hook line and sinker. Saw them five times from the Brothers tour to when they broke up, including the Mandela concert when they headlined with Clapton
Lady Gaga... Randomly downloaded her because it was one of the top downloads back in the PirateBay days and I was exploring. Within a few seconds I deleted her. Years later looking back, probably my most mistaken first impression.
I'm so glad Mark got to tell the story about his dad encouraging him to pursue a music career to a live audience in which his dad was actually present. That is, as they say, absolutely priceless.
Such an inspiring story right there.
Right?? Oh man, that story gave me goose bumps. I’m not crying, your crying!
Yep. That choked me up. ❤
One thing I love about your interviews is you always ask the right questions and never interrupt. Some other will talk over the artist and do not let them finish but you, VERY PROFESSIONAL. I love it.
THanks Erik. It took a few years to learn this. Important to be a good listener.
....that's IT! ....THIS is the comment!! ...the #1 thing Prof. does, that I dig in his Interviews! ....I call it, '...letting it breathe.....' ....very VERY professional...respectful, TOO.....
Agree!
@@ProfessorofRock very well said Your enthusiasm shows thru
asking open ended questions only works if interviewee fills the space though...but yeah
you ask the right questions cause you done
the background research..this one pulled out
some gold nuggets.
Pumped Up Kicks never _put_ ideas into anyone’s head; it put into words the thoughts that _are already there_ .
I'm a GenXer. (1968) I was mind blown when he talked about how his Dad encouraged him to pursue his musical career instead of college or the military, like most of our generation's Dads did with us. It's awesome to see a parent do this.
Same age as you bro. Blessings
Now, that’s a dad I wish I had!
Curious, do you have any kids? I'm X too (1973) and looking back on the way things were when I graduated in 92, I can understand why adults gave us that advice. When they were starting out, even manual labor jobs paid enough to live on, and if you graduated college you were just about guaranteed to land a job with very good income. They didn't know that dynamic was slipping away, FAST. They didn't realize there were few factory jobs anymore, that wages were stagnating, not keeping up with inflation, and that one of the fastest-spiking costs was college, so unlike in their day, a summer job absolutely could NOT pay your tuition; you WOULD have to borrow.
I remember all my cousins and me getting lectured by our family elders about how we must be wasting too much money on junk we didn't need, or we wouldn't have to keep asking to borrow money so much. But it wasn't true; we were busting our behinds 40+ hours a week, eating ramen and wearing thrift store clothes, and still couldn't afford rent sometimes, even with roommates. They just couldn't wrap their heads around how much the economy had changed from their generations to ours.
Now, for the Millennials and Zoomers, it's even worse, which is why so fewer of them are getting married or having kids, in fact roughly HALF of them live with parents or other family members!!
So back to my question. Do you have kids, and what do you advise them to do? I have a 16 year old and am at a total loss. How can I recommend college when her dad and I both went, and have nothing but eyeballs-deep debt to show for it? I got in an online conversation with another Gen X parent recently, and what she said kind of shocked me: She and her husband decided not to even make their son finish HIGH SCHOOL, because he was such a good guitar player, they figured he could better use the time practicing and writing. I'm sure most Boomers-and-older would call that horrible parenting. But I would just ask them 'Why? What's so important about having a diploma anymore?'
@@audreymuzingo933 I dunno my 16 year old son just moved in with his mother six weeks ago. He’s a promising Mx racer but , lacks discipline and dedication. I want him to have more to fall back on also. Still, while he has the youthful body he should train and go for it .
I ran an automotive shop when this came out and it was filled with 3 generations of people working in it that all had different musical tastes, from old country to heavy metal and everything in between but everyone that worked in the shop all loved that song. It's one of the few modern songs that everyone could agree on. Such a great song.
I’m one of those folks who likes a little bit of everything. This song is one of the best.
Hm. Never even heard it until today. The interview was getting boring, so I stopped watching.
So I'm a 67 year old rocker, who has been writing and performing for as long as I can remember. I have to admit I have never heard this song, as far as I can tell. Yet I LOVED this interview! So thoughtful and open. Mark is a very cool person with some very insightful comments. And his dad was a special person! To give your son that gift at a turning point time in his life...I'm in awe.
So cool, right?
I love that Mark's dad encouraged him to pursue music when so many parents tell their kids to get a degree & a "real job." His dad is the real rock star. LOL I'm also glad Mark listened to him & followed that amazing advice!
My parents have been guilty of this more than once, so it’s a really inspiring story for me.
I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Pumped Up Kicks. I was driving in my truck leaving a friend’s house early in the morning. The song caught my attention immediately and I’d never heard anything like it. Fell in love immediately. Definitely a game changer for music. That album was on repeat in my car after buying it and it really captured what I was going through at the time. I said back then that it was going to be one of those timeless hit songs that only come around once in a while and I still believe that.
This is one of the few songs that I like and appreciate from the past 15 years. It feels good to be able to listen to newer music with my kids so I can learn from them while they learn about the 70s 80s and 90s from me. Appreciate all the work you put in to these videos! Rock on brother!
Thanks Kraig.
Exactly. There are still good songs out there, but you just won’t find them the way you used to. I’ve listened to about 85% of the music that you grew up with, and am still a minor.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I like Imagine Dragons the song Demons and there is a band called The Revivalists that have some cool songs so I agree good songs are still coming out but not at the pace of decades gone by.
@@ponzo1967 The Revivalists are awesome.
I haven’t finished this video yet, but years ago when this song finished playing on the radio the DJ said he went to the Foster The People concert and while he and thousands of other concert-goers were whistling the bridge part, he realized that at *that* moment, nowhere else in the world were that many people whistling at once together. ❤ Deep song that was also so fun and whimsical.
It’s a song that unites.
I knew and was familiar with this song when it was played as “pump up the audience “ music at an annual sales meeting I was present at. I remember hearing this and telling a few other attendees “They really haven’t listened to the lyrics, have they?” when this came on.
Love the song. Sad that so many people have missed the message.
Right.
Similar story: my mother in law graduated nursing school in the early 90’s and the song they played was In the air tonight. So, people that were supposed to help others graduated to a song about someone that refused to help.
The first time I heard this song my mouth dropped open in awe. Totally unique sound with incredible lyrics. The entire song is a HOOK that grabs the listener and traps the mind.
I agree.
Jim, you are exactly right!
The first time I heard this song I was driving on my way to practice with my own band. I thought it was OK, it sounded different from what else was around at that time, and I certainly wasn't listening to my normal radio station either, but I just didn't get it right away. I don't recall when exactly when it clicked, but I ended up asking for and receiving the album as a Christmas gift later in the year. And that first listen when Helena Beat came up, and right off it led in with those thick, rich, dark synths...I knew that I was listening to the right album. I didn't have a clue what he was talking about but it meant something, something deep, and that resonated with me. And then, when it got to the end of that song, the climax with the high vocals, and the whooping, I was just knocked out of my seat.
I ended up not getting anywhere with that band, although they eventually got somewhere without me. They were full metal and I had too many other influences to fit into their box. But Torches in particular expanded my box even further, these songs directly influencing me to broaden what I was comfortable doing and get into using more sampling, more synthesizers, do things for myself and not let anybody else tell me that it wasn't good enough, wasn't right, wasn't real, didn't fit the genre, all of that mess. Even without any success or recognition I'm true to myself, and that's important. Thank you, Mark Foster, for letting me hear your message and shining this little light for me and others to follow.
I’m 60 years old and a huge Foster the People fan. My son bought me tickets to see the Sacred Hearts Club tour back in 2017. I was blown away at the showmanship and the musicianship of Mark. If you ever get a chance to see him and his group perform, you have to do it as you won’t be disappointment. You’ll be smiling from ear to ear entire show.
As far as Pumped Up Kicks, I remember how popular this song was when it came out and how everybody was playing it. It was so catchy and hypnotic and fun. People from my church were singing it and didn’t even know what they were singing. Then, people started figuring out the lyrics and it seemed the AirPlay was dwindling.
The first thing I do when I find a song I like is to find out what the lyrics are. Not just out of interest but don’t you like to know what you’re singing?
My sister is 30 years younger than me. When she saw this song on my iTunes, I was momentarily cool.
I run sound for motivational seminars, and we use this song in the AM while folks are finding their seats, getting coffee, etc. (I didn't even know the lyrics) But it really sets the tone for the day with that bouncy, relaxed groove. In 10 years, no one has mentioned the dark theme of the song, in fact it puts everyone in a cheerful mood. KUDOS to the Professor, and Mark Foster for bringing us the story.
Its ambience, its atmosphere.
I remember back in the late 80s and early 90s, kids getting mugged and killed on the streets for their Reebok pump shoes, because they was so darn expensive and most kids couldn't afford them. That first pump shoe retailed for $179 in 1989. A price still rediculous in 2022.😂
It's true. Never had the money as a kid to get those kind of shoes.
....MAN, Retro Man always shoots me BACK! ...so to speak! ...ha-HAA!! ....Oh, that NONSENSE over those Sneakers, back then! ...But, I was ahead O' the game, I always wore Converse 'chucks', when NO ONE wanted to wear 'em, 1984- 1993....then "Chucky" & Nirvana hit the scene....DAMN! ...ha-HAAA!!
Those were freaky times. I never owned a single pair of Reeboks.
For sure man. Nowadays, they just walk into the store with a garbage bag and walk out with a dozen. No one hurt. Much better times. LOL
Damn. Id never spend that much on shoes. Ive never got that. lol. Id rather spend the $ on a good pair of converse
Mark's second album is a modern day masterpiece. It will stand the test of time.
💯
Really glad you picked a newer gen song like this. I bought that album and loved the whole album. You know it's good music when older gens with higher standards love it. As an 80's kid, I still found some greats in the 2000's and 2010's. Great interview. I love hearing about writers' creative processes.
I’m Gen Z and this song was my anthem for a long period of time.
Great song! Love the juxtapose of the dark lyrics and catchy melody!
I agree. It makes it very mysterious.
It’s so cool how they pulled it off.
Much like Billy Joel's Allentown. The music is very happy and upbeat but the lyrics are about factories shutting down.
Your interviews just go places I never expect. The introspection you encourage in the artist is amazing.
What an interview, however, Wow 😮 the dad story just opened my heart with tears rolling down my cheeks. Bring out memories of my father and the day he drove me to the spot on the side of the road where the bus would stop in the county I lived in to pick me up taking me to basic training at Ft Knox; he had told me earlier I didn't have to go into the military, and he would figure out a way to send me on to college. I remember thinking I was an adult trying my best to act as if I had the experience at 18 to be grown up and telling him thanks for the offer, but I was going to be alright, save it for my sisters and brother. As time went on, I did grow up and had more than a few missed adventures, but he could see before he passed away that I had become successful. That's all, and Adam, thanks for bring to life the stories surrounding the music that makes up the intricate fabric of our lives.
Shell
I swear I'm psychic! I was just listening to this song on Sirius this morning and wondering how Mark felt about the backlash at the time it was released. Thanks for the update on a newer hit!
I still can't understand why this unique, mesmerising channel doesn't have at least 1 million subs
Awesome stuff 🏆
It does now!!!! 1.1 million subscribers to be exact!!!! 😲☺️👍👍 ✌️& ❤
That was a really good interview. I wasn’t really listening to new music then, but I remember hearing about Foster the People and even I couldn’t escape this song. It’s good hearing the backstory behind it.
Us GenZers had this song as our anthem!
An important song and a very good interview with Mark. Learned a lot about the meaning behind the lyrics that I wasn’t aware of before. One of the many things that I love about your channel, Adam! Thx!
Thanks Robster! Always love seeing you here old friend.
Learned a few new things along the way as well! It was a fun one.
I'm so glad you covered this. That song was so happy sounding but the words! They scared me. I guess I was so afraid that I didn't look up the lyrics or look for meaning in them. Now I can give myself permission to love this song. I love love love that his dad suggested that he follow his dream and supported his trying it for a year. Thank goodness for a dad like that. ❤
I have watched almost every video from the past 2 or 3 years. This is one of my favorite interviews so far. Thank you for this.
Wow, thank you!
Awesome interview, thank yall for this.
Ya know I love all your stuff. I admire your passion for music and you always take me back and paint a perfect picture of what everything felt like.
That being said. This was a truly awesome interview with an amazing artist. Thank you both,I really enjoyed it. Three chords and the truth 🤘
And to this day every 12 yr old that believes they are not like other kids (that's all of them) loves this song.
So right!
This was a very insightful interview about a dark song with a cheery music vibe behind it. Mental illness( especially involving young adults) is still a sensitive issue and and society seems to have issues with dealing and coming up with ways and resources on how to deal with mental issues. This song is a once in a generation song. Violence and death should never be normalized or trivialized within society.
It is seriously an epidemic in our society.
I like the way he gives credit to "The Spirit of Creativity". He talks about it like it is an actual living entity. Paul McCartney said the same thing in one his interviews also.
I use that term as well.
Also known as "the voice of the beast"
it's like when your trying to figure something out and then once you stop thinking the answer just comes.
You know it's a classic hit whenever your daughter hears it at 4 years old and wants you to turn it up, and she has her own words and style to the song. Then years later she goes to State as a freshman in high school in choir. She learned how to sing this song in tune at 4 yrs. Old
Great interview! Thanks, professor 🤘
Great interview. The research you and your team put makes this interview really interesting.
Cool Professor that you covered a song from the 2010 decade ! Great interview about this cool song ! I like the 2012 song We Are Young by Fun - another classic !
Really enjoyed this interview. He was such an interesting guest. I just was amazed at this song, loved its sound and the words.
Professor this was an awesome interview! I really enjoyed it, and I'm not suprised, bc all your interviews are great and you get songwriters to open up about really personal things which is so precious and something to be cherished. I love the song "Pumped Up Kicks" and have it on my playlist and i think i loved it from the first time i heard it. I'm a writer, mostly of fiction, so I explore a lot of different themes when I write - and I enjoy exploring the dark side of characters and different things that motivate people - of course not all of them are wholesome bc I write a lot of mysteries and about flawed people - but i think that's what makes this world interesting - the secrets that people keep and the sides of ourselves that we don't show everyone. Everyone has a private side and private thoughts and as a writer i like to explore that about my characters and in my plots - so songs like this attract me and really fascinate me. That's why I think I love grunge and a lot of the songs from those bands and the early 90s - bc they started to explore darker subjects - such as the songs from Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam with "Jeremy", etc. So this was a great episode- and good job as usual, Professor! I have a funny story about The Smiths - I love them - but at first I didn't know anything about them, and I had a girlfriend who loved this guy "Morrisey" , of whom i knew nothing about, and would sing and imitate his deep voice and i thought she was so weird and at first when i heard a couple of their songs! At first I didn't like them - but later on when i discovered songs like "How Soon is Now," and "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," and even better, the beautiful "There is a light that never goes out," I was hooked and loved their music ever since! Sometimes you just have to take the time and listen to things when you're ready and have more of an open mind, and that's all it takes to realize that, hey, that friend of mine had good taste! lol. I love you , keep up the good work! xoxoxox 😘❤✌- keep on rockin'!
When it first came out, I thought "Is it wrong that I REALLY like this song?". At first I was just jamming to the catchy rhythm and flow of the song; it wasn't until several days later that I started to piece the lyrics together, and it blew me away. Brilliant song, insightful interview, and a shout out to any parent that encourages their kid to just go for it and see what happens.
Refreshing to hear from a more recent artist! This song was one of my son’s all time favorite songs! I love hearing the story behind it!! As always, you are a amazing interviewer! Thanks for the stories behind the songs! PS Happy Thanksgiving!!
Excellent conversation Professor!
Fantastic interview, I have always wondered about this song! Thanks to all!
Thanks for listening
This guy sounds very humble and cool. Nice interview, Professor ❤
What an absolutely lovely discussion of the freedom of pure creativity. I've rarely heard it expressed better.
Music is art and self expression, some people get it, some don't. Dark subjects don't always have to be dark because you stop listening to the message at some point. I have recently come across your channel and have been binge watching. I was lucky to have grown up in the 70s and 80s and got to experience some great music.
There are multiple examples of this at play. Welcome Kenda!
I’m a Gen-Xer that can barely find 10 good new songs a year now, but the early 2010’s was amazing! “Pumped Up Kicks” was a big part of the reason why
I'm Gen X with a Gen Z kid. He says the same thing about music; it's hard to find good new songs.
What a fabulous interview! Thank you! :)
Thank you too!
You've done it again! Just when I was starting to tune out due to you dealing with a number of songs that didn't happen to mean that much to me, BOOM! Two in a row! Ultravox's Vienna & Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks are both forever favourite songs that got me through difficult times, many years apart. Thanks, Adam...
great interview- Professor of Rock has such passion for what he does
Every era has had their disturbing things...people being idiotic about material things or their own agendas. We just need to be nice and appreciate each person's individuality. It always takes dark times to see the light. Those that choose to only see darkness will be enveloped in such. Thanks for sharing Mark's story and meaning behind the music. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Wish I could like this a thousand times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Very insightful.
I was a latch key kid, but I came from a loving family. My mom and dad had great work ethics. My dad was a long haul trucker, and if I was lucky, I'd see him every other weekend. My mom worked her butt off at a drug store, just because she wanted some disposable income, so she could buy something if she wanted it lol. Needless to say, I grew up a spoiled Mama's boy lol. When I got older, I went with my dad on some of his hauls. That was nice because I got to see a lot of the U.S. More than TV though, music was my babysitter. Then, I started learning guitar, and soon as I'd come home from school, I was playing until it was time to go to bed, if I even went to bed lol! It's funny, as a kid I could run without sleep for days. Now, at 52, I get cranky if I don't get at least 7 hours of sleep, and if I'm lucky, a nap. I don't know why I'm babbling about all this, other than to say I love my music! If I'm feeling some type of way, I've got a song for it. Several actually! This is why I love this channel. It takes a deep dive into the music, and artist. I was the nerd who read the liner notes, started at the album cover for hours, and finding out all I could about the artist. I never bought singles either. If I liked a song, I would get the whole album. God Bless!
Those album covers! I too would sit down on my sister's bedroom floor ...while she wasn't home..and before I knew it, her entire album collection was scattered everywhere! Everything from led zeppelin to cheech and Chong, ..I remember really trying to figure out what the meaning of all that album art meant. Bit of trivia: The Cars, were known for being new wave stylish and their cover art was always dynamic and vibrant...and sexy. Well, every album the Card did -David Robinson, drummer for the band designed every single one.
🕊️ Peace
Who knew? Now we do thanks to the PoR. Thanks, Adam. Another gem worthy of historic archival.
I’ve certainly heard the song many times but this is my first time seeing Mark Foster interviewed, and I would confidently wager that he is easily among the smartest few people in any crowded room he ever finds himself in-he simply exudes intelligence. Great interview with a well-spoken artist.
Totally.
I was working at Star 102.3 in Eugene, Oregon when I started playing this song. One day I got a call from a guy who was so angry that we were playing this song. He told me that there a school shooting years ago at Thurston High, where his son was killed.
I was new in town and had no idea. I told him that I had no words. But explained that the song is telling a story, much like many other songs like Boomtown Rats, I Don’t Like Mondays”, which was based on a true story about a school shooting in San Diego.
The song was a story like you would find in a movie or TV show. He understood.
Another great deep dive! Mark seems so low key...... and also humble. Never understood the controversy about the song....... sometimes people just look for trouble!
Thank you for this interview. Love the shirt too. Great stuff Professor!
Thanks Roger. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Sounds like the perfect guy for me to get along with.
@@ProfessorofRock
You have a great Thanksgiving too! 🦃
The first time I heard Pumped Up Kicks was on TV in late 2011 when I was home, I believe. I fell in love with it immediately but procrastinated to look up the band until some months later. They rarely played it on TV or radio in my country but I got around to checking their other stuff in early 2012 and fell in love with Torches and became their fan. I was very young back then, only 13, and I think they shaped me in a profound way at such a young age. They're my favourite band and they always will be.
As to how I interpreted it once I processed the whole lyrics - I thought it was a very important song. It came around during a time when I heard a lot about school shootings in the US and Pumped Up Kicks seemed to bring awareness to the issue and what kind of kids could have such thoughts in their head. They're the kind of kids who are the outcasts, that are being bullied, have a difficult life at home and have no support system. I never viewed this song in a bad light, maybe because I'm from somewhere where we don't have such issues but wishes America would wake up to the nightmare they have created with their laws.
Thank you so much for this interview! It was truly very insightful.
I remember my daughter introduced me to this song. I was a bit of a music snob and didn't care much for the music at the time. She played this song for me and it DEFINITELY got my attention. It is such a well put together song and checks all the boxes for sure.
Wow blown away! Great interview!
Amazing as always, thank you for this!
I wish more interviewers had the ability to have such a natural and engulfing ability to make your guests eel at home and really give heartfelt interviews. Amazing ability and talent. Thank you Professor
Really cool episode really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.
You mention Bruce Springsteen with his dark lyrics. Some of his songs like Dancing in the Dark, Born in the USA, The Rising, etc have cheerful music and chorus but then you look deeper at the lyrics in the verses and they aren't so cheerful.
I think Phil Collins, John Mellencamp, and a few others do that in some of their songs too.
“Latchkey kid generation” isn’t a generation. There are latchkey kids in EVERY generation, unfortunately. Well, at least since women have been able to work outside the home. My best friend when I was 11 was a latchkey kid whose parents were focused on their careers, and didn’t seem happy generally. He started sneaking their liquor after they would leave for work in the morning and he’d come to school drunk. In 5th grade. Fortunately his dad didn’t have a gun. Who knows what could have happened when he was young. He later got into drugs and was murdered by his roommate just last summer. Rest in peace, Shannon.
It just came out. What i meant is latchkey society
@@ProfessorofRock I didn’t mean to “correct” you. Just to comment on the sad fact of life that sometimes there are latchkey kids, and sometimes those kids don’t handle that lifestyle well. Thanks so much for all your videos. Peace and love.
Great interview,, unlike so many experts you just, yeah,, yeah,, and wait for the artist to expound,, THEN the deep questions... THAT'S how you get to be The Professor,, kudos on this excellent light on a guy I'd never really heard of...
I heard "Pumped Up Kicks" while shopping in a clothing store. I ended up buying the CD. I then realized it had two gems that were even better: "Waste" and "Houdini".
Terrific interview
This is one of the few songs I actually like from the past 15 years. Sometimes simplicity becomes masterful.
Exactly how I feel.
Same here!
This story is reminiscent of the recent post you had on Tommy James' Crimson and Clover song, it was also from a rough demo that became an iconic rock classic, and Pumped Up Kicks is also destined to be an iconic rock classic. Mark Foster is definitely in good company. With people bemoaning the state of music today, how it is more about manufacturing an image than talent, there are good songs to be had. Another recent song I loved was Lorde's Royals song. She sang about the downside of celebrity worshipping. If I remember, the late David Bowie loved the song. Also, Goyte's Someone That I Used to Know, had a great 80s new wave feel; Prince gave a shoutout to the song as he named the song as Record of the Year at the Grammys. If you have icons like Bowie and Prince loving your songs, it is no doubt an endorsement.
I also love Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala.
I've got to admit.... I had never heard this song until a few minutes ago after watching this episode. Very cool song!! Appreciate the content Adam!! Keep being the best and have a great Thanksgiving!!
Thanks Lance! You too. We need to get together for lunch. Text me. or email me at theprofessor@professorofrock.com
@@ProfessorofRock For sure.... it's been too long. I'll hit you up.
Good for you that you love this song!
Love the new info graphics!
love the song, to be honest don't know the rest of the album but this interview makes me want to go listen to it. love your channel, in a time when most music is crap your channel takes me back to a time where music as amazing. its so sad that proper music these days is not as played and given a chance as crappy music does.
Cool song by Mark, its played frequently on our alt music station in syracuse, me and Mark grew up the same way , we needed to do something big , except I did enlist in the usaf at 19 , had a ts clearance, the plan was 4yrs then a career in the medical profession, nope , i liked the usaf and stayed in for 20yrs, Mark had that artistic musical background and drive plus a great guidance counselor, his father, marks perseverance paid off , congratulations
Thank you Phil for your service.
Remembered hearing it, and hearing radio DJs proclaiming it “the song of the summer” and then I finally heard the lyrics, and I was like, “he just said ‘out run my gun’, this isn’t a summer song, it’s s school shooter song!”
Great song. Great interview
I think the negative reaction to this song was more out of fear. It's because that kind of violence he's singing about is usually set in a school situation. In this age parents have to send their kids into a place that's no longer safe so that's why it hit a nerve.Don't get me wrong. I'm all for music singing about truth. It SHOULD hit a nerve. And it's good to bring it out in the open.
Thanks for this! I dig this guy and I am happy about that because I love his music.
I was horrified at the time. It seemed like an anthem of praise for school shootings. Then I began to see it as an attempt to understand such a mind.
I now think it bothered so many of us so much because it hit so close to home. I always felt alienated from most of my peers. Maybe I feared the possibilities of what might be in me.
None of my feelings actually led to violence. But when people fear ideas being expressed, I think it is very often fear of what is or might be in themselves.
Have so much love and respect for Mark. Saw FTP in 2017 and it’s still one of the best shows I’ve been to. Torches will always be one of my favourite albums, Supermodel and SHC are incredible too (not to mention their singles like Imagination and Pick U Up). Their music was the soundtrack to my teen years and saw me through university too. The story about his dad encouraging him to pursue music is so touching and thank goodness he did! Love this interview, really hope there will be a new Foster album in the future.
This is a great interview around a great song. I had no clue the story behind the song, thank you for sharing
Thanks for listening
Fantastic interview, as always! I remember hearing this track on a Saturday morning back in 2011, watching the music video on MTV, and waking up my girlfriend at the time and saying "babe, you gotta hear this track! this is gonna be HUGE". Next thing I knew it went to #1 in Australia. Been a massive fan since that day, 11 years ago. Thanks Mark for the amazing music that you put out 🤩🤩😁😍😍🥰🥰
Difficult to believe that over a decade’s passed since “Pumped up kicks” was released. The CD, _Torches_ , was one of the last physical media of music that I bought, and the album’s indeed 🔥
Time flies!
Another great interview Prof!!
Thanks Mark!
Love your interviews but at this moment am more invested in that table of yours. Details please! Thanks.
Yes! I've often wondered about that table and how it travels.
I have a video about it on our patreon page.
My friend, Pete Lohman, turned me onto this song. I had already stopped listening to radio, so I didn’t even know the song existed. It was during our Beach Week when he played it for me. I thought it was SO ORIGINAL!! The dichotomy of the song!! It sounded like your typical pop song… until you listened to the verses. I LOVED THAT!! I also remember being impressed with the whole album…. It was SO NOT MAINSTREAM RADIO!!!
Same here. It's a great album. Thanks Dani!
Such a cool song, the way it is structured.
I've never heard of song or this guy, but I'm from the 60's, outta touch with the world. Good luck, thank you professor.
When I saw the title I knew you were talking about 'Pumped up Kicks'
I'm in the Cleveland area but haven't listened to regular radio since early 2000's (very early), I listen to XM when I'm driving or yt music at home.
I never heard this song or about him so I'm going to have something new to listen to this weekend. Thanks Adam, for bringing new music into my life.
I remember hearing this song at work and being a classic 60's, 70's and 80's music lover, I've not been into new music since the grunge of the early 90's, but I liked this song and had to find out who did it! Great song with a message of of the sad things that society has brought upon us! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
Thanks Mitch!
There couldn’t have been a more relevant song in 2022.
I really enjoyed this interview, Adam! It's great that you can make your guests comfortable enough to be candid and talk about the artistic process. I like Mark's idea of The Creative Spirit. I've felt that myself and it's fun and surprising to discover where a composition is going as you go along.
I wanted to recommend a cover of this song by Hildegard Von Blingen, done in bardcore style.
I LOVE watching your channel Adam cuz I genuinely get excited to know WHI you're talking about.
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you!
He uses the BEST marketing tactics!
Great interview!
Thanks Marisa.
I still am baffled why Professor of Rock still is under a million subscribers. I just don’t get it! WTF is the matter with people? Don’t they know how wonderful this channel is? Keep the music alive!
Well, there are millions of other websites to grab people's attention. People "get it", but their IT is different than yours.
To be honest I loved this song from the first moment, but my first thought was "Mmm! Another 80´s diamond that we didn´t know! A new discover of an old classic!!!" I was convinced this was an 80´s song. Through the weeks I realized that was a new one, and from the 2000´s, it was a surprise.
just discovered this channel... very cool man, I'm excited to watch more! Also, I can vouch for Zenni, their glasses are great quality and inexpensive. Try 'em out, you won't be disappointed :)
Hard to believe pumped up kicks is over a decade old now ! Were did the time go ?
I live by a movie theater. In Aurora, Colorado. I moved here in 2012. Several months prior, my nephew was invited to go see the latest Batman movie at this same theater. I don't remember exactly when I was at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center when I first heard this song, but I was in a trendy clothing store with my teenaged daughter, listened to the chorus and just crumbled. It was just the timing, and -as he says - art shows us ourselves, our world. I love the song. It's catchy and unique, but just the timing of my first hearing, and the context, made it feel like something very specific that was hard to hear. Remember: "A man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest..." Or maybe we hear what we need to hear in order to process internal turmoil.
Never heard the song but the inter iew was great and so down to earth. I loved it.
Thanks for watching!