B52s - 'Rock Lobster' Reaction! Super Fun Song With High Energy Rockin'!
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- Опубліковано 20 лис 2023
- "Rock Lobster" is a popular song by the American rock band The B-52's. It was released in 1978 as a single and later appeared on the band's self-titled debut album, "The B-52's," in 1979. The song is known for its quirky and energetic style, featuring a mix of new wave, surf rock, and punk influences.
"Rock Lobster" is characterized by its catchy and repetitive chorus, where the band members shout "Rock Lobster!" The lyrics are surreal and nonsensical, with references to marine life and a party atmosphere. The song's unusual sound, including the use of the guitar and organ, contributed to its distinctive and memorable style.
Over the years, "Rock Lobster" has become one of The B-52's most iconic and enduring songs, and it remains a favorite in their live performances. It has also been covered and referenced in various forms of popular culture, cementing its status as a classic and influential track in the new wave and alternative music scenes.
If you guys choose to listen to more B-52s, and I highly recommend you do, NEVER expect the lyrics to be serious! They are a party band. You will RARELY find a song of theirs with serious lyrics. There is only one I can think of. That IS their appeal. Seen them live so many times and it was basically like attending a party with thousands of people.
This is where the high energy of Punk began to move into Post-Punk/New Wave.
I remember dancing to this song in clubs. When Fred says "Down Down" the whole crowd squats down and then springs back up when the beat kicks in. It's probably good that you couldn't bring up the subtitles because the lyrics are incredibly (and intentionally) ridiculous. But the song was really meant to be danced to and to create a fun party atmosphere when the B-52's played live. It doesn't want anyone to take it seriously.
What you said!
We used to do "dead fly" as well.
The B-52's are acid sci-fi surf music from Mars. They take the conventions of 60's dance music and turn it into a unique hallucinogenic festival. The weird images and musical intensity are addictive; I can't hear it without frugging and twisting. (I think whoever said that about the song being about a rubber breaking was taking the piss. I certainly have never heard that before, and I bought a copy of the song when it first came out as a single.) The lyrics aren't about a plot but about a feeling, a vibe. Flames and shadows and sun and, water and fish and drowning. (Remember that one of the more popular dance steps of the 60's was the Swim.) I love the strange sweaty vibe of the song, what should be sunny and fun is somehow crazed and dark, spinning out of control. And I just love the intense absurdity of the lyrics, the diving/resurfacing motif, the weird Dr. Seuss parade of water creatures. It's meaningless, and that's why it's fun.
Very nicely put! 👍
Ricky Wilson could lay down a groove on guitar like no other. He was a machine!
A real, creative original, gone way too soon. RIP Ricky.
Fred Schneider is one of the most underrated and innovative front men of all times.
Oh yes! Check out B-52"s " Planet Claire "!!
It's such a fresh Post-Punk New Wave feel - The B52s are incredible ;)
Thanks for the reaction. The B52's are so underrated. Good music and good times! Try "Roam" or "My Own Private Idaho".
No other band like them. Once they catch you, you totally get them. They get you moving, that’s for sure.
This song is a send up to early 60s beach movies that these kids grew up on (think Gidget, young Sally Field) and does them both parody and tribute with an absolutely slapping musical number.
I loved Gidget!
"Rock Lobster" was well-received by critics, and went on to place at No. 147 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in December 2004.
SO CREATIVE and SO FUN!! PACKED the dance floors: JUST because it was FUN!
Hi Guys - thanks for choosing this song/video to react to. " Rock Lobster" is probably my favorite B-52's song. I'm fine with the lyrics being so random. I was only a kid when I first heard this - loved it then, still do now. My other faves of theirs would be "Private Idaho" and "Planet Claire"," Legal Tender" is also fun but you guys would probably like "Roam" more as it came out the same time as "Love Shack".
I was thinking Private Idaho as well!
Love the reaction!! ♥ also.... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
The high pitched screaming was an homage to Yoko Ono's singing on the Plastic Ono Band album. When John Lennon heard this song, it inspired him to start recording again.
Panic at the disco “Don’t threaten me with a good time “ you’re welcome. 😂😂😂
Brings back fuzzy memories.
Impossible to not like, after all, it has matching towels, and a hyper- energized ending!
It was the first single they had. They were new wave but the guitar influence was in connection with the beach Boys and dickDale. I think the lyrics were fun and quirky. That's why it sounds like the 60's
“Quiche Lorraine”, “Good Stuff”, and “Dry County” are some overlooked ones as well. I hope everyone has a great rest of your week. Happy Holidays. -Amber
Nothing says summer to me like this song. Love it
LSD, Rock Lobster blaring in a dorm room in 1988 somewhere in the Southwest… with 12+ people out of their minds… If everyone could have been there in that moment, there would be peace on earth today.
The best party band of all time.
As a 17 year old, we considered it in the punk genre. Makes more sense that way 😊👍🏻🇨🇦🐉👩🎤
Excellent reaction!!! My Senior Year in High School. When this song came on at the dance club, everybody went nuts. When he said "down, down" everybody on the dance floor slowly dropped down to the dance floor, and then slowly rose back up. So much fun!!!
New wake, punk rock. Fun music to vibe and dance to.
"Rock Lobster" by the B-52's is a take-off (to me at least) is about a teenage sci-fi beach B type horror film from the 1950s early 1960s, and the Rock Lobster is a sea monster/creature that was affected by atomic radiation by the military when they were doing atomic bomb testing way out on the ocean waters, and also affected other sea life. Dogfish, catfish (a cat that is half cat and half fish) etcetera.
Top 20 song of all time. Great LP
Saw them live a couple of times. Loved them. So much fun.
I first saw this song performed on Saturday Night Live and didn't know what to think as a young teenager. Then I didn't hear from this group until the late 80's.
Thanks - loved the B-52s, the whole new wave/punk vibe. Great party song. I think the section near the end must have inspired "What did the Fox say" by Ylvis!
The B-52's =
AMERICAS #1
DANCE PARTY BAND!
This is the NEW WAVE meets the BEACH!
You should check out this entire 1st Album! You need to hear the Studio version, and all the other Tracks as well!
This was definitely a party song.
Hey guys!!! I saw them live. No words!!! Thanks. Greettings from Argentina
Party music ! We danced so hard to this in the early 80’s. Some songs the lyrics don’t mean anything and that’s ok. Pixies , Nirvana sometimes put words in that just sounded ok but meant nothing. Party songs are for fun and lyrics are fun.
So great! If you enjoy it I hope you’ll keep going with Dance This Mess Around, Party Out Of Bounds, Strobe Light, Mesopotamia (which has their funkiest groove), Song For A Future Generation, Trism, Detour Thru Your Mind (since you like the trippy stuff), Theme For A Nude Beach, Bushfire, Deadbeat Club, Cosmic Thing, and the list goes on…
I have never understood why “Mesopotamia” isn’t a bigger song!
Strobelight is an incredible song. That's my favorite by them.
The cow bell is a nice touch. I'm surprised more bands don't use one, but then again the cow bell isn't easy to master.
The B-52's are best experienced live. I've gone to shows with metalheads that initially gave them the stinkeye, but ended up dancing their asses off. The party atmosphere is infectious at a B-52's show. You'll leave dripping in sweat.
Oh wow! It isn't disco but we were still dancing to it way back in '79!
1980s new wave music rock lobster B-52 for real for real my brothers if you don’t know now you know
I LOVE B 52's!!
The mix sounds like it was taken from the PA console. The voices are quite prominent in the studio recording. But it’s just as good you’re seeing them live; the excitement makes up for the weak mix. You three are very entertaining!
A party staple in college!
Old school weirdness... love it.
CLUTCH "ELECTRIC WORRY" (Video will trip your triggers)
Love the reaction. But to get the full effect of this song, you should do the album version.
It was truly great to dance to.
You guys are always fun.
Good reaction guys.
Love love love this song
😂 Sometimes you just need a good dance song in a club to dance to! B-52s always brought the dance jams! 😳 They had their serious songs also but mostly you threw on the B's in-between the opening Band & Headliners to keep the crowd on the dance floor. Them, Talking Heads (IZIMBRA) Police, Simple Minds, The Cure all had 'Club Songs' before MTV made them all household names with their videos! 🥰🐰
Never saw this live version. Awesome!
“After fact”, I like that one.
The driving beat with lack of fills can put you in a trance state. The nonsense sounds can take you out of your head.
Liked it because it was straight ahead but totally different at the same time. And, of course, the guitar riff.
The production on the studio version is clear, strong pop and well worth a listen.
Just thinking how a lot of music is set and setting. This song is very versatile.
Saw them on Halloween in Rochester in the 80s
So much fun. Omg
The best band, they will get you of your seat! Listen to: Bow Wow Wow, See Jungle. Haircut 100, Love plus one. Romeo Void, Never say never. Blondie, Dreaming. The Ramones, Glad to see you go, Judy is a punk.
Holy crap, this was nuts, with the band and people flailing around all over the place. I have been familiar with this song for decades, but never been a big fan of the band overall even though I have enjoyed some of their songs. I have always heard the studio version, and heard them live about 20 years ago (kind of randomly). They played this song, but their physical movements weren't this psychedelic or crazy. They all basically just stood there. Maybe that's b/c it was 25ish years on, but they did still have great energy in that concert, and were great to watch. I would like to see them again. TBH for their energy and the crowd's energy, but this original honestly surprised me compared to the studio version (audio) and what I have seen live because of them jumping all over the place as well as the exaggerated noises coming from the co-singers. Good stuff gents. Keep cranking them out.
They recently wrapped up their farewell tour. 😢
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
By far the best B-52's music was when Ricky Wilson was still in the band playing guitar and contributing to the songwriting.
This is one of the songs John Lennon credited with getting him interested in making music again.
"Why so serious?" If you aren't grinning and laughing through this song you're missing the point.
Here's how weird it was: One of the instruments listed in the album credits was a smoke alarm.
I have an instrumental version of this that really highlights how great that guitar is.
Gives off a Pulp Fiction Vibe.
Are you kidding me? The B-52s are the Shiznit for real for real
You're right, people would pile onto the dancefloor when this came on, back in the day.
B52s were not anti disco, disco is dance music and the B52s, as you can see, are all about the dance.... high energy full throttle dance music. Fact is New Wave was the merger of late 70s disco beats coupled with the angst and energy of late 70s punk. Disco as we knew it evolved with the times for a younger (80s) generation to celebrate dance.
well put!!
I was working at the Wherehouse when this came out!
Studio version better- if you listen to Planet Claire or Give Me Back My Man please do studio version. Production is clean and fabulous
"Give Me Back My Man" is just amazing. Probably my top 3 of theirs, maybe #1. If I'm in the mood to be mentally destroyed especially.
I know you guys like to mix it up a little bit when it comes to genres, and Olli wants some deeper lyrics; so why not try Tricky's version of Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos with Martina Topley Bird. I love the live version "Tricky - Black Steel (West 54th 1998)", but the official video is great too.
If you want lyrics, go somewhere else. These guys are about silly, funny lyrics, dance beats, and just a good time, with or without an adult beverage. In college, this was played at every single party, when almost everyone would stand up and dance and sing all the silliness.
The song is just about a beach party. Nothing hidden
If you guys like the keyboard part similar to this there's a German punk band called Pisse with a couple of songs you'd like
Glad you all stuck with it. The B-52's were obviously a progressive rock band. Just a lot of fun.
Peter on Family Guy sang this for Cleveland, maybe you saw it there if you've seen that show. ua-cam.com/video/pn26ZJhSJ94/v-deo.html
Thanks for the great review.
#1...I had no idea they had music in 1979. #2....😮... Y'all stop playin STUPID. All of them were high as $hit!! I appreciated the live performance, but come on. I liked it. Had no idea what they were talking about, but I definitely liked it. Of course, Love Shack was 1 of my favorite songs.
I left as soon as I saw it was a live version. Never do a live for a first listen.
This is almost an homage to Beach Music.
You should have listened to the studio version
They're high as kites!😂😂😂 Not my cup of tea but I respect their music.
This is song isn't "anti-disco." It's simply a song from another genre of music considered New Wave.
Peter Griffin plays a couple of bars of it on an episode of family guy. Maybe that's what you're thinking of.
Check out Mesopatamia by the B52s, that jams too!
I believe they were mimicking yoko Ono and her style of singing
With the beef of cheese, don’t read too much into it. It’s just describing a day at the beach.
I liked them, okay, they were fun. I have to say that the studio version is better.
The theatrical version is good too. 😆
The B52s sound was retro at the time, intentionally. Early sixties surf/go go sound, not psychedelic. "Baking potatoes, baking in the sun." What better lyrics do you want?
the screaming was inspired by Yoko Ono, John Lennon's wife - in fact John Lennon heard this song and decided to come out of retirement
Strange but has some good parts.
The other live performance video of this song that people react to is so much better then this one. You can hear them much better.
This song, and “I’m turning Japanese”, by The Vapors??
Try "Private Idaho"
If you think you are going insane play this and it will straighten you out... or possibly make you worse.
Put ALL the drugs they were on in one person and you get one of two things. In order of likelihood, 1. a corpse with foamy vomit all over your face or 2. a Fn superhero origin story. There is no gray. 1 or 2. The End.
edit This trip shouldnt end. Keep going. Give Me Back My Man HAS to be next. Im begging you. Nobody reacts to my personal favorite B-52s track.
Its a party song they all high on acid.
Not the best version of this song, but awesome anyways. The organ/synth player is a god.
Look, just because some lyrics arent very cut and dry, doesnt mean they arent using metaphors or lines that are deeper in context than you realize. Some artists also write lyrics in a way that's personal to their individual experience which gave them the inspiration to create the tune... while allowing the listener to assemble or gather 'their' own specific meaning to the song. Just putting that out there. BTW, love your channel and the songs you select. You guys have great chemistry and its nice to see people wanting to explore different musical horizons. Take it light and peace to all 🤙🎸🤖
Mmmm. Cindy Wilson being delicious. ❤ Of course she does all 16 dances!
Can you say coked out?
Cocaine's a helluva drug.
u miss it if u r looking for philosophy
Damn... why did you do the live version first? Newbie reactor mistake #1... never do the live version of any song before the studio version (with VERY rare exceptions!).
Check out Family Guy Rock Lobster