The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Encyclopedia
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)" is a song by The Flaming Lips
, released as the second single from their 2006 album At War with the Mystics
. It is their highest-charting single so far in the UK, peaking at #16.
has repeatedly stated that the song does not directly refer to George W. Bush
, as members of the media have speculated, but serves as a general statement about abuse of power. Coyne summarized his intended interpretation to the band's audience at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
that "Power is like money. It should be earned, not given to you."
This song was used in Intel's "Raise Your Hand" ad campaign, which features text question over shots of people in various settings raising their hand while the chorus "Yeah Yeah Yeah" was repeated. It was also used over the opening scenes and credits of The Brothers Solomon
. A recent television commercial for a Kraft salad dressing features this song in the background , as does a wind power commercial for the group's hometown utility company, OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric), in which Coyne
appears along with other Oklahoma luminaries and representatives of the general public. The song was also used in the trailer for the film Moving McAllister
, as well as the movie I Love You, Man
, and the pilot for the Fox
show Sons of Tucson
. It was also featured on a commercial in late 2006 for Cartoon Network
's Squirrel Boy
.
played by Flaming Lips members Michael Ivins
, Steven Drozd
and Kliph Scurlock
. In the second segment, a woman resembling Gwen Stefani
is similarly covered by doughnut
s (suggesting that the three Asian women are supposed to criticize Stefani's objectification of her entourage of four women who play "Harajuku Girls"), and is chased by the police officers. In the third segment, frontman Wayne Coyne
- who portrays a ruthless leader - has raw steaks and some lengths of intestine stapled to him and gets chased by a werewolf
.
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
, released as the second single from their 2006 album At War with the Mystics
At War with the Mystics
-At War with the Mystics 5.1:Like The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi, At War with the Mystics was released as a special edition 5.1 CD+DVD-Audio mix on October 24, 2006...
. It is their highest-charting single so far in the UK, peaking at #16.
About the song
The theme of the lyrics is more political than their earlier material, as it asks listeners what they would do if they had all the power in the world. The questions asked are answered by a chorus of repetitive "yeah"s for some questions and "no"s for others. Wayne CoyneWayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
has repeatedly stated that the song does not directly refer to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, as members of the media have speculated, but serves as a general statement about abuse of power. Coyne summarized his intended interpretation to the band's audience at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
that "Power is like money. It should be earned, not given to you."
This song was used in Intel's "Raise Your Hand" ad campaign, which features text question over shots of people in various settings raising their hand while the chorus "Yeah Yeah Yeah" was repeated. It was also used over the opening scenes and credits of The Brothers Solomon
The Brothers Solomon
The Brothers Solomon is a comedy film released on September 7, 2007, starring Will Arnett and Will Forte.-Plot:John and Dean are two sheltered happy-go-lucky brothers who want nothing more than to please their ailing father . Deciding a grandson will do the trick, the clueless boys set out to...
. A recent television commercial for a Kraft salad dressing features this song in the background , as does a wind power commercial for the group's hometown utility company, OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric), in which Coyne
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
appears along with other Oklahoma luminaries and representatives of the general public. The song was also used in the trailer for the film Moving McAllister
Moving McAllister
Moving McAllister is a 2007 American comedy film starring Mila Kunis, Jon Heder, Rutger Hauer, and Billy Drago. The film was shot largely in Utah and St Johns County, Florida and was produced by Camera 40 Productions...
, as well as the movie I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
, and the pilot for the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
show Sons of Tucson
Sons of Tucson
Sons of Tucson is a comedy television series starring Tyler Labine, Frank Dolce, Matthew Levy and Benjamin Stockham. It premiered on Fox on March 11, 2010...
. It was also featured on a commercial in late 2006 for Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (United States)
Cartoon Network is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting which primarily airs animated programming. The channel was launched on October 1, 1992 after Turner purchased the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991...
's Squirrel Boy
Squirrel Boy
Squirrel Boy is an American animated television series produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The series, created and executive-produced by Everett Peck, who was also the creator of the more adult-humored Duckman, ran from May 27, 2006 until September 27, 2007 on Cartoon Network...
.
Wayne Coyne's view on the song
Music video
The music video has three segments. In the first, Asian women forcibly tape hamburgers to a businessman and then he is let loose, chased by several shirtless obese men and watched by amused but non-interfering police officersPolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
played by Flaming Lips members Michael Ivins
Michael Ivins
Michael Lee Ivins is the bassist and one of the founding members of The Flaming Lips.Along with Mark Coyne and Wayne Coyne, he formed The Flaming Lips in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to Wayne, Michael was found as the bassist for the band because of his punk-rock look, and not...
, Steven Drozd
Steven Drozd
Steven Gregory Drozd is an American musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist and lead guitarist for The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
and Kliph Scurlock
Kliph Scurlock
Kliph Scurlock is an American musician. He is the drummer for the alternative rock band The Flaming Lips.He was born Clifton Thomas Scurlock in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Roger W. Scurlock and Linda Louise Rokey . His love of music was inspired by his mother...
. In the second segment, a woman resembling Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
is similarly covered by doughnut
Doughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
s (suggesting that the three Asian women are supposed to criticize Stefani's objectification of her entourage of four women who play "Harajuku Girls"), and is chased by the police officers. In the third segment, frontman Wayne Coyne
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
- who portrays a ruthless leader - has raw steaks and some lengths of intestine stapled to him and gets chased by a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
.
UK track listings
- "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
- "Why Does It End?"
- "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
- "The Gold in the Mountain of Our Madness"
- Maxi-CD
- "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
- "Time Travel...YES!!!"
- This is not the same version of the song on the single for "The W.A.N.D." or the song on the "It Overtakes Me" EP.
- "Why Does It End?"
- "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" (Music video)
Chart positions
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
79 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
16 |
| U.S. Billboard European Hot 100 Singles | 48 |