Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Whip it Good!



It's time for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop! Today's Writing Prompt is:

2.) When is it okay not to listen to the words? Explain about a song you really love that has lame lyrics or lyrics you simply don't understand. (writingfix.com)

I shudder when I look at my pictures of me back in the 80's. Why was my hair so big? Why were there shoulder pads in all my shirts? Why did I wear leg warmers over my jeans? What was I thinking?! And yet, I loved the songs from the 80's, even when I couldn't understand what the lyrics were all about. Remember the nerdy singing group called Devo?

They had one hit called "Whip it Good." Here are part of the lyrics;


Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
(end of lyrics)


I was still in elementary school when "Whip it" came out. At first I thought the song was about a dance move. And then I thought it was sending subliminal messages to all nerds to stand up for their right. Was "Whip it" a metaphor? Devo's one hit wonder still gets some air time on the radio and I was still puzzled over the lyrics. Was I reading too much into it? And then one day the light bulb went on! Of course! I'm soooo stupid!!!! Why didn't I see it before? It's very simple. "Whip it" is about.....






KNEADING BREAD! Duh!!!!

18 comments:

septembermom said...

So funny! I remember that song too. Devo seemed to be from their own planet. Remember the video? I still have some of the shoulder pad shirts hiding deep in my closet. When I watch a movie from the 80s, I can't believe how we all used to dress. We did have some fun though. I think I'll have "Whip It" in my head all day now :)

Wendy said...

funny! i laughed through this whole post.

tammy said...

Too funny!!!! I LOVED the 80's!!!
It was a decade of outrageous fun!!! I remember the leg warmers and I even remember THE outfit where I declared my style in that decade.

As for Whip It...I agree with the kneading of bread!!! Too funny girl!!!

tammy said...

Too funny!!!! I LOVED the 80's!!!
It was a decade of outrageous fun!!! I remember the leg warmers and I even remember THE outfit where I declared my style in that decade.

As for Whip It...I agree with the kneading of bread!!! Too funny girl!!!

Michelle said...

Um...I don't know what it means either. A jumprope?

You arent old enough ot have lived through the 80's...you look about 25.

Kristina P. said...

I don't really remember this song in elementary school, and that was in the 80s. I do remember all the really highly sexual rap songs, however.

Anonymous said...

LMBO

LOVE IT!@ I'll hae to share that w/ my hubby

Heatherlyn said...

Oh yes, that is one of the songs from the 80s and I believe everyone refused to consider what the lyrics might possibly really mean!

Michele said...

Too funny! I remember that song too and played it all the time!

Have a great day!
Hugz,
Michele

Sassy said...

of course....why didn't I see that!!!!!!



By the way my friend I gave you an award on my blog...

The Crazy Coxes said...

I kind of love 80's music and then I kind of cringe when I hear 80's music. Hmmm....so ambivalent! I like your post though and it does bring back memories.

tiki_lady said...

this song makes me think of the movie raising helen. I liked the 80's

Stacey said...

I loved the 80's too. I spent a small fortune on the TimeLife 80's collection of music back while in University. Someone stole it from me at a party a week later. :(

I'm so embarrassed to admit I like that song too now that I know the true lyrics.

Unknown said...

I never heard that song. Probably because I wasn't allowed to listen to rock music when I was growing up. I am pretty sure Whip It is not a hymn : ). VERY funny story : ). I laughed my head off. Your blog is very pretty.

Anonymous said...

Haha! You just made me have a flashback of when my friend and I as kids would sing that song 'big brown eyes'-'lalalalalong lalalalalong lalalalalong long long long long long' and I remember her big sister being like 'do you even know what that song means??' Lol!!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I love 80's music. I can still see that video in my mind.

wendy said...

Really, I thought it was about mashed potatoes --I was really all that fond of musice in the 80's --prefer the 70's. (dang I am old)

Sally said...

Um, yeah ok. If you want to believe it's about bread dough, good for you!

(Never mind that the video shows some dorky dude whipping some chick's clothes off)