MGMT just rocks. These guys are hilarious but deep at the same time.
I see this song as a tongue-in-cheek prime directive. There's a whole history of songs that are basically mission statements, a song that defines what the band is about. One of my favorites is Kick Out the Jams by The MC5. Or Long Live Rock by The Who. Both of those tunes have good doses of humor threaded through them as well.
I wouldn't take their stated desires seriously. Do these guys really want to do a bunch of cocaine and heroin then die by choking on vomit? C'mon, the song is called Time to Pretend, right? I know nothing about their private lives, but even if they do drugs personally, this song isn't glorifying drugs. The song is contrasting materialism (models, drugs, fame, etc.) with the simpler things in life like family, friendship and solitude. You don't have to see the video to understand the song, but there's a part where the band and their friends/tribe are pushing stacks of money into a bonfire. That says it all. The fact that everybody can relate to it in some way, like the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures, just goes to show that these are great lyrics. I think the whole point to parody/satire is to expose and criticize the underlying meaning of things.
I'm 39 years old and have been playing in bands for close to 25 years. Everyone in my current band is just crazy for MGMT. We're all 35 to 45 years old and just rant and rave about how much we like these guys' songs. They are catchy as hell, they expertly steal from a bunch of different genres for their tracks (in a way that's not boring or derivative) and mash it all together into a distinctive sound. Maybe it'll get overplayed today, but it's classic stuff, 25 years from now people will still dig this song.
The only lyric that makes no sense to me is the "You man the island" part. Huh? I listened to that line 10 times, at loud volume with headphones on, and even though it sounds like that I can't quite figure it out. These lyrics are so tightly written, every line thought out near perfectly, I don't think they would throw in something that seems like such a non-sequiter. Am I missing something?
Great post. I think "man the island" means the same thing as to man a ship, to take it over, to live/reside on it, basically. In that sense, buying and owning and island fits nicely with the other things, like buying cars and marrying models.
Great post. I think "man the island" means the same thing as to man a ship, to take it over, to live/reside on it, basically. In that sense, buying and owning and island fits nicely with the other things, like buying cars and marrying models.
I like that line "the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures". And good point about the money-fire pit, I almost forgot about that. "Tongue-in-cheek ... materialism" all good points :P
I like that line "the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures". And good point about the money-fire pit, I almost forgot about that. "Tongue-in-cheek ... materialism" all good points :P
@AluminumAnemone Because the song is not about the band but 2 characters they have created who are office workers who want to be rich and famous and so imitate the rich and famous. Hes saying the main character will marry the model wife, his mate will party on there own private island and take cocaine and get fast cars. Its a thick as thieves or friendship song about 2 dudes fated to kill themselves trying to live a fantasy that they dont even get to achieve at least for the rock stars they get the material wealth and women...
@AluminumAnemone Because the song is not about the band but 2 characters they have created who are office workers who want to be rich and famous and so imitate the rich and famous. Hes saying the main character will marry the model wife, his mate will party on there own private island and take cocaine and get fast cars. Its a thick as thieves or friendship song about 2 dudes fated to kill themselves trying to live a fantasy that they dont even get to achieve at least for the rock stars they get the material wealth and women to make up for their inner sadness and dying young, the office workers however by having a fantsy miss out what would make em truly happy their friends and family
The song is about controlled hedonims not destuctive hedonims or purer than thou living
@AluminumAnemone I agree with you. This song is very tongue-in-cheek.
Actually, I find it disturbingly cynical... The first impression I got from this song was a very happy and uplifting one. That's what the music conveys.
But when you really pay attention to the lyrics... It's a sad statement. Definitely not the kind of song to be taken too lightly.
@AluminumAnemone I agree with you. This song is very tongue-in-cheek.
Actually, I find it disturbingly cynical... The first impression I got from this song was a very happy and uplifting one. That's what the music conveys.
But when you really pay attention to the lyrics... It's a sad statement. Definitely not the kind of song to be taken too lightly.
MGMT just rocks. These guys are hilarious but deep at the same time.
I see this song as a tongue-in-cheek prime directive. There's a whole history of songs that are basically mission statements, a song that defines what the band is about. One of my favorites is Kick Out the Jams by The MC5. Or Long Live Rock by The Who. Both of those tunes have good doses of humor threaded through them as well.
I wouldn't take their stated desires seriously. Do these guys really want to do a bunch of cocaine and heroin then die by choking on vomit? C'mon, the song is called Time to Pretend, right? I know nothing about their private lives, but even if they do drugs personally, this song isn't glorifying drugs. The song is contrasting materialism (models, drugs, fame, etc.) with the simpler things in life like family, friendship and solitude. You don't have to see the video to understand the song, but there's a part where the band and their friends/tribe are pushing stacks of money into a bonfire. That says it all. The fact that everybody can relate to it in some way, like the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures, just goes to show that these are great lyrics. I think the whole point to parody/satire is to expose and criticize the underlying meaning of things.
I'm 39 years old and have been playing in bands for close to 25 years. Everyone in my current band is just crazy for MGMT. We're all 35 to 45 years old and just rant and rave about how much we like these guys' songs. They are catchy as hell, they expertly steal from a bunch of different genres for their tracks (in a way that's not boring or derivative) and mash it all together into a distinctive sound. Maybe it'll get overplayed today, but it's classic stuff, 25 years from now people will still dig this song.
The only lyric that makes no sense to me is the "You man the island" part. Huh? I listened to that line 10 times, at loud volume with headphones on, and even though it sounds like that I can't quite figure it out. These lyrics are so tightly written, every line thought out near perfectly, I don't think they would throw in something that seems like such a non-sequiter. Am I missing something?
Great post. I think "man the island" means the same thing as to man a ship, to take it over, to live/reside on it, basically. In that sense, buying and owning and island fits nicely with the other things, like buying cars and marrying models.
Great post. I think "man the island" means the same thing as to man a ship, to take it over, to live/reside on it, basically. In that sense, buying and owning and island fits nicely with the other things, like buying cars and marrying models.
I like that line "the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures". And good point about the money-fire pit, I almost forgot about that. "Tongue-in-cheek ... materialism" all good points :P
I like that line "the anxiety of growing up and feeling alienated from our loved ones by life's pressures". And good point about the money-fire pit, I almost forgot about that. "Tongue-in-cheek ... materialism" all good points :P
@AluminumAnemone Because the song is not about the band but 2 characters they have created who are office workers who want to be rich and famous and so imitate the rich and famous. Hes saying the main character will marry the model wife, his mate will party on there own private island and take cocaine and get fast cars. Its a thick as thieves or friendship song about 2 dudes fated to kill themselves trying to live a fantasy that they dont even get to achieve at least for the rock stars they get the material wealth and women...
@AluminumAnemone Because the song is not about the band but 2 characters they have created who are office workers who want to be rich and famous and so imitate the rich and famous. Hes saying the main character will marry the model wife, his mate will party on there own private island and take cocaine and get fast cars. Its a thick as thieves or friendship song about 2 dudes fated to kill themselves trying to live a fantasy that they dont even get to achieve at least for the rock stars they get the material wealth and women to make up for their inner sadness and dying young, the office workers however by having a fantsy miss out what would make em truly happy their friends and family
The song is about controlled hedonims not destuctive hedonims or purer than thou living
@AluminumAnemone I agree with you. This song is very tongue-in-cheek. Actually, I find it disturbingly cynical... The first impression I got from this song was a very happy and uplifting one. That's what the music conveys. But when you really pay attention to the lyrics... It's a sad statement. Definitely not the kind of song to be taken too lightly.
@AluminumAnemone I agree with you. This song is very tongue-in-cheek. Actually, I find it disturbingly cynical... The first impression I got from this song was a very happy and uplifting one. That's what the music conveys. But when you really pay attention to the lyrics... It's a sad statement. Definitely not the kind of song to be taken too lightly.