This band was known for their sense of humor but musically they were really terrific! They had an incredible live show with props and costume changes with plenty of surprises like people working with the band planted in the audience. They actually still tour, or did until the pandemic. I saw them last year here in Solana Beach and they were great. Thanks so much for taking my request!
If no one answered your question in 2 years, the weird electronic noise is an ARP synthesizer. Cool to see that you got the song immediately and appreciated it.
These guys were all session players and decided to play together. Very tongue in cheek, practically a burlesque show in concert with major talent. Satire at its best, but also a great catalog of music. ("a baby's arm holding an apple" is a 70's reference to the male appendage)
Did you notice that all the car models started with an 'M'? I love the line "A fool-proof plan and an airtight alibi." This band is one of my favorites, smart pop by really talented people. In the early '80s they hit their stride with "The Completion Backward Principle" and "Outside Inside", 2 albums of pop songs loaded with great hooks. Some other of their comical songs: Slipped My Disco, Don't Touch Me There, White Punks on Dope (I like the version from their compilation "T.R.A.S.H.") and Cathy's Clone. For catchy pop songs: Tip of My Tongue, She's a Beauty, No Not Again, Out of the Business.
The Tubes were one of the best live shows ever. I saw them in a dive bar in Berkeley before they were famous. The lead singer came out in clear plastic platform heels with water and goldfish in the heels and performed White Punks On Dope. Their live shows were their strength. They enlisted the services of Todd Rundgren to produce the album this comes from and he tried many higher production values to mimic their live shows. Pretty good job.
I'm a fan of their Remote Control album (also one of my favorite album covers). First time I heard this song, I was on a plane to Germany and they had a rock channel with only a few songs that played over and over again. Same channel on the way home. So I heard it a lot on that trip. This song is a take on consumerism. The Tubes were infamous for their stage shows too - check out a live performance of Don't Touch Me There, or Sushi Girl.
Great choice. Looking forward to this. Was your age when I first started listening to The Tubes! They put out a double live album called What Do You Want From Live. The live version of this song is better than the studio. If you like comedy bands you'll love the Tubes. Songs like White Punks On Dope, I'm Proud To Be An American (A chicken in every garage), Young And Rich, Slipped My Disco, I Was A Punk Before You Were A Punk, the list goes on.
I saw The Tubes in 81 at a small venue. Fee Waybill (lead singer) came out into the crowd and was talking to us when the opening band was over. just a real human, funny as all get out. Gsry Young, the original drummer of Pavement had a "Baby's arm, Holding an Apple" sculpture in his studio.
Great analysis. Yes, completely sarcastic and anti-materialism. The "baby's arm" line at the end is the punchline to a filthy, dirty joke. The Tubes were a great act to see live. Saw them in the 1970s.
I just found you today and really enjoy your take on the songs- I like to hear others interpretations of songs I grew up listening too. And it looks like you are getting some great suggestions of bands/artists to check out( I have started from the beginning on your channel but catching up) Subscribed and looking forward to hearing more :( The Tubes are excellent. I like how they poke fun but it’s embroiled in some truth. Other greats: “she’s a Beauty”, “ White Punks on Dope”, “Talk to you later”.
One of those rare comedy-ish songs where the jokes never get old, even 45 years after it was released (a few topical references probably went over your head - and mine for that matter) but you got the gist of the song (and indeed the band) superquick.
Saw them at Winterland in 75 a few months after I graduated HS. Been watching them ever since. They got real "commercial" in the 80's but they still rocked. That's a MOOG synthesizer you hear with all the electronic sounds.
In concert, the song was... well, a hoot. They'd call up someone from the audience and, like a game show, shower them with all kinds of trinkets and gifts and coats and bling to the point the person was almost buried in the "prizes". The song, like all the songs during a concert, were a production. What a great band!
Loved this song when it came out, a new Monza. This band was really known for their humour playing live, I especially liked their appearance on SCTV when they appeared on Gil Fisher's Fishing Musician at Scuttlebut Lodge hosted by John Candy as Gil. The Tubes never took themselves to seriously .
Dicon: You got part of it..but you have to really get into the Tubes to know what they are about..the band is a commentary on our society! I recommend the documentary on The Tubes..they are brilliant. The kidnap an heiress is history..(look up Patty Hearst which was in the news at the time)..but I love your idealism. Every tune The Tubes ever have done has satirical lyrics and comments on society as a whole. The Tubes are still ahead of their time today!
BTW, A Meteor was a car by Mercury in 1962 and 1963 which was related to the Ford Fairlane. Also, the name Mercury was already copyrighted in Canada so Mercury's were called Meteors up there. www.automobile-catalog.com/make/mercury/meteor_2gen/meteor_2gen_s33_hardtop/1963.html
Love the Tubes! Not the song I would choose to listen to unless it were specifically to dissect lyrics. "Talk To Ya Later" or "Don't Want To Wait Anymore" are great tunes.
Kudos. I was wondering when someone would do a reaction to “What do you want from life”. I was your age when this album came out-I recommend “Space Baby” and “Malageña Salerosa” (The Tunbe’s version of a traditional Spanish folk song) from the same album. I got to see their outrageous stage show while I was still in high school, before they morphed into a more traditional pop band in the 80’s. That funky sound you heard was an analog synthesizer (check out Dark Side of the Moon for more examples). Since you are into lyrics, I recommend “War Pigs” (studio version) by Black Sabbath (if you haven’t already), and maybe “Electric Funeral” after that
I would say a lot of their songs dealt with the quirky San Francisco Bay area social scene in a funny, sarcastic way. And their styles of music were so varied that we use to say of new bands that came and went, "They sound like The Tubes." Haha, but they were great and put on these fantastic stage shows with different skits for every song. They were fun, funny, excellent music, and a bit on the raunchy side. Well worth the price of admission.
"Kidnap an heiress or threaten her with a knife" is a direct reference to Patty Hearst, whose name was still fresh in the public eye when this album came out. "Indian guru" refers to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. A lot of these references are very topical and if you were around when it came out, you would see them immediately and have a slightly different reaction. Lenny Bruce is responsible for "it looks like a babyʻs arm holding an apple" referring to an enormous penis.
Their stuff was all funny at this point. Kidnap an heiress was a reference to the Patty Hearst kidnapping. If you don't know about it, it's an interesting story.
Major theatrical band with a sprinkling of just massive tunes throughout their discography. I watched them live in uk show The Old Grey Whistle Test and was still in shock at how awesome their song White Punks On Dope was when Fee Waybill the lead singer on 2ft Platform shoes fell over and revealed his bare ass as he was wearing assless chaps… well that got my attention right there , not because of the bare ass , just the sheer theatricality and daring of the band and throw in some wonderful songs like the above mentioned, what’s not to like ? 👍🏴
'Ole Audiophile here, I'm sorry as can be for being late on this, I was not aware of your Tubes exposure. I'm prolly the Tube's biggest fan. There are two songs among the Tubes lexicon EVERYBODY should memorize, period. This is the first, the second is TV IS KING. Memorize the words & sing along, the absolute best fun to be had. Boy, could I drill ya on the Tubes, this is their first album, one of my very, very early Mobile Fidelity purchases on CD instead of half-speed vinyl. All their albums are precious, most folks don't know this or are too dense for the ultra-progressive nature of their style of San Fransico hard rock guitar & intense lead synth leads. It was too far advanced for its time, it weathered EXTREMELY well. Enjoy, the entirety of side two seems to be their thing on later albums like Outsideinside & especially Love Bomb. Their second was my personal favorite because of the love of the ridiculous broadway nature of Poland Whole/Madam I'm Adam although Proud To Be An American sure rings true today. Remote Control got lost in the theme album world, too intense but aged magnificently. One of the few electronic/synth/ bands that generally got misunderstood & totally mislabeled. They were both good in the studio & live, their later live recordings prove the dickens out of that.
The look in your eye when you first heard What Do You Want From Life was exactly what I expected from you, you got it. You'll quickly pick up on the rest, theatrics with style, flair, sex & comedy. Playboy featured them, you bet.
Sir...you should listen to their live album "what do want from live" I was lucky enough to see them in London ...crazy band ..but terrific musicians on stage. They had a crazy stage show . .like no other! Their live performance..in my opinion ...is way better than studio versions. They were about during the punk revolution in the UK. They were labelled Punk . But were far from it! A great band...and completely different. Check it out. You will like it!
Hey there Daniel.. loved this reaction! Very much a sarcastic poke at materialistic lifestyles. If you like songs with lyrics charged with messages- be them social, political, what have you.. check out a song called "Ship Of Fools" by the group World Party. Only concern might be is that I've noticed that video gets blocked quite often ..but you can give it a try. Loving your channel man..your lyrics analysis is great buddy!
In the live version of this they simulate a game show and actually get somebody out of the audience and play a game. As for the things mentioned in the song they are all things from the mid 1970s pop culture. One of the funnier things is "a dream date in knee pads with Paul Williams". Paul Williams was like a 5'2" songwriter who was ubiquitous in the early 1970s. If you weren't sick of Paul Williams by the time this song came out then something was wrong with you.
I like this song from them in particular. Makes me wonder how Frank Zappa would cover this, but he doesn't do that. Has his flavor in it. Also a very 1976 sound.
The Tubes of that era were more known for their full stage performances. Art/Music/Social Commentary. Definitely a band to watch, but stay to the 70s era. The 80s era Tubes were 'over commercial' when they went with producer David Foster.
One of my favourite bands. Their shows were outrageous in the 70's. Theatrical, satirical, and subversive. Great musicians though. Many of them toured with Todd Rundgren later on.
These guys would go out and make a million dollars on a tour after they'd spent two million on the live production. They were way too cool for the whole room in 1975. "White Punks On Dope. I'm tellin' ya.
trust me you do not want a baby's arm holding an apple. the whole debut album by the tubes is fantastic. if you like humor in your rock music play more tubes.
Consumerism. It’s a commentary on filling your life up with too much consumer goods. The weird bass in the back sounds like a synthesizer probably a mini moog.
if you like bands who make a point but also humorous then please discover TISM an Aussie band full name This Is Serious Mum Songs to check out Defecate On MY Face Greg the Stop Sign and Morrison Hotel to name a few English band also worth a listen Half Man Half Biscuit Evening of Swing has Been Cancelled Every Time A Bell Rings and You're The Reason Paradise Lost
You got the larger “message” of the song more or less correct. You DID miss, and I can only assume it’s because you are too young to know, all the late 60’s/early 70’s cultural references. The song is almost entirely made up of things that were going on at that period in history. Pick up culture was huge Patty Hearst had been famously kidnapped. Buddhism and “gurus” were a new and fashionable thing. Cable TV was a brand new luxury item. I could go on.
The song is an editorial on the self indulgent excesses of the era masquerading as “self improvement”(also a HUGE influence over the culture) …and I would guess that the sound you are hearing is a MOOG synth.
“A baby’s arm holding an apple” is a quote from a 50’s author William S Burroughs from his book “Naked Lunch” It is a reference to the size of the penis of one of the characters. As in… It looked like a baby’s arm holding an apple
This band was known for their sense of humor but musically they were really terrific! They had an incredible live show with props and costume changes with plenty of surprises like people working with the band planted in the audience. They actually still tour, or did until the pandemic. I saw them last year here in Solana Beach and they were great. Thanks so much for taking my request!
Happy Birthday, thanks for interacting with me and encouraging my content:)
If no one answered your question in 2 years, the weird electronic noise is an ARP synthesizer. Cool to see that you got the song immediately and appreciated it.
They did a song called "White Punks on Dope" which was covered in German by one of my favorite singers, Nina Hagen.
The Tubes - White Punks on Dope is a must.
These guys were all session players and decided to play together. Very tongue in cheek, practically a burlesque show in concert with major talent. Satire at its best, but also a great catalog of music. ("a baby's arm holding an apple" is a 70's reference to the male appendage)
Did you notice that all the car models started with an 'M'? I love the line "A fool-proof plan and an airtight alibi." This band is one of my favorites, smart pop by really talented people. In the early '80s they hit their stride with "The Completion Backward Principle" and "Outside Inside", 2 albums of pop songs loaded with great hooks.
Some other of their comical songs: Slipped My Disco, Don't Touch Me There, White Punks on Dope (I like the version from their compilation "T.R.A.S.H.") and Cathy's Clone.
For catchy pop songs: Tip of My Tongue, She's a Beauty, No Not Again, Out of the Business.
The Tubes were one of the best live shows ever. I saw them in a dive bar in Berkeley before they were famous. The lead singer came out in clear plastic platform heels with water and goldfish in the heels and performed White Punks On Dope. Their live shows were their strength. They enlisted the services of Todd Rundgren to produce the album this comes from and he tried many higher production values to mimic their live shows. Pretty good job.
The first two Tubes albums are amazing. Subversive and progressive, and mega-catchy!
I'm a fan of their Remote Control album (also one of my favorite album covers). First time I heard this song, I was on a plane to Germany and they had a rock channel with only a few songs that played over and over again. Same channel on the way home. So I heard it a lot on that trip.
This song is a take on consumerism. The Tubes were infamous for their stage shows too - check out a live performance of Don't Touch Me There, or Sushi Girl.
Great choice. Looking forward to this. Was your age when I first started listening to The Tubes! They put out a double live album called What Do You Want From Live. The live version of this song is better than the studio. If you like comedy bands you'll love the Tubes. Songs like White Punks On Dope, I'm Proud To Be An American (A chicken in every garage), Young And Rich, Slipped My Disco, I Was A Punk Before You Were A Punk, the list goes on.
I saw The Tubes in 81 at a small venue. Fee Waybill (lead singer) came out into the crowd and was talking to us when the opening band was over. just a real human, funny as all get out. Gsry Young, the original drummer of Pavement had a "Baby's arm, Holding an Apple" sculpture in his studio.
Great analysis. Yes, completely sarcastic and anti-materialism. The "baby's arm" line at the end is the punchline to a filthy, dirty joke. The Tubes were a great act to see live. Saw them in the 1970s.
My then girlfriend was at their concert in the front row and said that Fee had the biggest "nose holes" that she had ever seen.
Lenny Bruce joke.
I just found you today and really enjoy your take on the songs- I like to hear others interpretations of songs I grew up listening too. And it looks like you are getting some great suggestions of bands/artists to check out( I have started from the beginning on your channel but catching up) Subscribed and looking forward to hearing more :(
The Tubes are excellent. I like how they poke fun but it’s embroiled in some truth. Other greats: “she’s a Beauty”, “ White Punks on Dope”, “Talk to you later”.
One of those rare comedy-ish songs where the jokes never get old, even 45 years after it was released (a few topical references probably went over your head - and mine for that matter) but you got the gist of the song (and indeed the band) superquick.
Saw them at Winterland in 75 a few months after I graduated HS. Been watching them ever since. They got real "commercial" in the 80's but they still rocked. That's a MOOG synthesizer you hear with all the electronic sounds.
A little late to the party but "Don't Touch Me There". It's a hoot!
In concert, the song was... well, a hoot. They'd call up someone from the audience and, like a game show, shower them with all kinds of trinkets and gifts and coats and bling to the point the person was almost buried in the "prizes". The song, like all the songs during a concert, were a production. What a great band!
Loved this song when it came out, a new Monza. This band was really known for their humour playing live, I especially liked their appearance on SCTV when they appeared on Gil Fisher's Fishing Musician at Scuttlebut Lodge hosted by John Candy as Gil. The Tubes never took themselves to seriously .
Dicon: You got part of it..but you have to really get into the Tubes to know what they are about..the band is a commentary on our society! I recommend the documentary on The Tubes..they are brilliant. The kidnap an heiress is history..(look up Patty Hearst which was in the news at the time)..but I love your idealism. Every tune The Tubes ever have done has satirical lyrics and comments on society as a whole. The Tubes are still ahead of their time today!
Check out She's A Beauty. This was on the radio and TV and played A lot on MTV in the early 80's.😝
Most underated band of the 70s.. first 4 albums are masterpieces.. very socially aware lyrics.. still relevant
BTW, A Meteor was a car by Mercury in 1962 and 1963 which was related to the Ford Fairlane. Also, the name Mercury was already copyrighted in Canada so Mercury's were called Meteors up there. www.automobile-catalog.com/make/mercury/meteor_2gen/meteor_2gen_s33_hardtop/1963.html
Love the Tubes! Not the song I would choose to listen to unless it were specifically to dissect lyrics. "Talk To Ya Later" or "Don't Want To Wait Anymore" are great tunes.
Well then... Weird Al is for you. The best music parody artist in the world.
I have heard some Weird Al already, and completely agree:)
Kudos. I was wondering when someone would do a reaction to “What do you want from life”. I was your age when this album came out-I recommend “Space Baby” and “Malageña Salerosa” (The Tunbe’s version of a traditional Spanish folk song) from the same album. I got to see their outrageous stage show while I was still in high school, before they morphed into a more traditional pop band in the 80’s. That funky sound you heard was an analog synthesizer (check out Dark Side of the Moon for more examples). Since you are into lyrics, I recommend “War Pigs” (studio version) by Black Sabbath (if you haven’t already), and maybe “Electric Funeral” after that
I would say a lot of their songs dealt with the quirky San Francisco Bay area social scene in a funny, sarcastic way. And their styles of music were so varied that we use to say of new bands that came and went, "They sound like The Tubes." Haha, but they were great and put on these fantastic stage shows with different skits for every song. They were fun, funny, excellent music, and a bit on the raunchy side. Well worth the price of admission.
"Kidnap an heiress or threaten her with a knife" is a direct reference to Patty Hearst, whose name was still fresh in the public eye when this album came out. "Indian guru" refers to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. A lot of these references are very topical and if you were around when it came out, you would see them immediately and have a slightly different reaction. Lenny Bruce is responsible for "it looks like a babyʻs arm holding an apple" referring to an enormous penis.
Their stuff was all funny at this point. Kidnap an heiress was a reference to the Patty Hearst kidnapping. If you don't know about it, it's an interesting story.
Major theatrical band with a sprinkling of just massive tunes throughout their discography. I watched them live in uk show The Old Grey Whistle Test and was still in shock at how awesome their song White Punks On Dope was when Fee Waybill the lead singer on 2ft Platform shoes fell over and revealed his bare ass as he was wearing assless chaps… well that got my attention right there , not because of the bare ass , just the sheer theatricality and daring of the band and throw in some wonderful songs like the above mentioned, what’s not to like ? 👍🏴
Looks like he just walked out of 1977
A babies arm holding an apple!" Is a giant pen8s!!! Lol
There’s another Tubes song I would like to suggest for you, “She’s A Beauty”. It’s provocative. From the 80’s. It really rocks.
'Ole Audiophile here, I'm sorry as can be for being late on this, I was not aware of your Tubes exposure. I'm prolly the Tube's biggest fan. There are two songs among the Tubes lexicon EVERYBODY should memorize, period. This is the first, the second is TV IS KING. Memorize the words & sing along, the absolute best fun to be had. Boy, could I drill ya on the Tubes, this is their first album, one of my very, very early Mobile Fidelity purchases on CD instead of half-speed vinyl. All their albums are precious, most folks don't know this or are too dense for the ultra-progressive nature of their style of San Fransico hard rock guitar & intense lead synth leads. It was too far advanced for its time, it weathered EXTREMELY well. Enjoy, the entirety of side two seems to be their thing on later albums like Outsideinside & especially Love Bomb. Their second was my personal favorite because of the love of the ridiculous broadway nature of Poland Whole/Madam I'm Adam although Proud To Be An American sure rings true today. Remote Control got lost in the theme album world, too intense but aged magnificently. One of the few electronic/synth/ bands that generally got misunderstood & totally mislabeled. They were both good in the studio & live, their later live recordings prove the dickens out of that.
The look in your eye when you first heard What Do You Want From Life was exactly what I expected from you, you got it. You'll quickly pick up on the rest, theatrics with style, flair, sex & comedy. Playboy featured them, you bet.
The ending just means having an extremely large man part
The lyrics are very much of the time. A heiress had been kidnapped etc etc etc. The Tubes. 👏👏👏👏
Sir...you should listen to their live album "what do want from live" I was lucky enough to see them in London ...crazy band ..but terrific musicians on stage. They had a crazy stage show . .like no other! Their live performance..in my opinion ...is way better than studio versions. They were about during the punk revolution in the UK. They were labelled Punk . But were far from it! A great band...and completely different. Check it out. You will like it!
Hey there Daniel.. loved this reaction! Very much a sarcastic poke at materialistic lifestyles.
If you like songs with lyrics charged with messages- be them social, political, what have you.. check out a song called "Ship Of Fools" by the group World Party. Only concern might be is that I've noticed that video gets blocked quite often ..but you can give it a try. Loving your channel man..your lyrics analysis is great buddy!
Nobody's reacted to it because it's the best band in the world that no one's ever heard of. Check out that whole album.
Good for you young man....this song was from 1974.
In the live version of this they simulate a game show and actually get somebody out of the audience and play a game. As for the things mentioned in the song they are all things from the mid 1970s pop culture. One of the funnier things is "a dream date in knee pads with Paul Williams". Paul Williams was like a 5'2" songwriter who was ubiquitous in the early 1970s. If you weren't sick of Paul Williams by the time this song came out then something was wrong with you.
I like this song from them in particular. Makes me wonder how Frank Zappa would cover this, but he doesn't do that. Has his flavor in it. Also a very 1976 sound.
The Tubes of that era were more known for their full stage performances. Art/Music/Social Commentary. Definitely a band to watch, but stay to the 70s era. The 80s era Tubes were 'over commercial' when they went with producer David Foster.
One of my favourite bands. Their shows were outrageous in the 70's. Theatrical, satirical, and subversive. Great musicians though. Many of them toured with Todd Rundgren later on.
These guys would go out and make a million dollars on a tour after they'd spent two million on the live production. They were way too cool for the whole room in 1975.
"White Punks On Dope. I'm tellin' ya.
trust me you do not want a baby's arm holding an apple. the whole debut album by the tubes is fantastic. if you like humor in your rock music play more tubes.
You should check Mondo Bondage...these guys are x rated band...read between the lines lol.
Consumerism. It’s a commentary on filling your life up with too much consumer goods. The weird bass in the back sounds like a synthesizer probably a mini moog.
if you like bands who make a point but also humorous then please discover TISM an Aussie band full name This Is Serious Mum Songs to check out Defecate On MY Face Greg the Stop Sign and Morrison Hotel to name a few
English band also worth a listen Half Man Half Biscuit Evening of Swing has Been Cancelled Every Time A Bell Rings and You're The Reason Paradise Lost
You got the larger “message” of the song more or less correct.
You DID miss, and I can only assume it’s because you are too young to know, all the late 60’s/early 70’s cultural references. The song is almost entirely made up of things that were going on at that period in history.
Pick up culture was huge
Patty Hearst had been famously kidnapped.
Buddhism and “gurus” were a new and fashionable thing.
Cable TV was a brand new luxury item.
I could go on.
The song is an editorial on the self indulgent excesses of the era masquerading as “self improvement”(also a HUGE influence over the culture)
…and I would guess that the sound you are hearing is a MOOG synth.
“A baby’s arm holding an apple” is a quote from a 50’s author William S Burroughs from his book “Naked Lunch”
It is a reference to the size of the penis of one of the characters.
As in…
It looked like a baby’s arm holding an apple
They preceded Queen with their opera rock style.
PS: dude you talk toooooo much half the video was to babbling