Though his popularity has fluctuated through the years, many of Pop's songs have become well-known, including "Lust for Life", "The Passenger", "Real Wild Child", "Candy" (a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52's), "China Girl", "Nightclubbing", "Search and Destroy" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog".
In 2010, The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Pop was the lead singer of The Stooges, a late 1960s/early 1970s band that featured brothers Ron and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander and was highly influential in the development of hard rock. The debut album was produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale. The band's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is a garage punk standard.
Raw Power was first released in1973, perhaps the first record that could truly be called punk. It was the confluence of The Stooges ages, hormones, creativity, ability, experience, tastes, lack of supervision, contempt for authority and ambition that has made Raw Power one of the most influential albums of all time.
The Stooges were infamous for performances in which Pop leapt off the stage (hence, the "stage dive"), smeared raw meat or peanut butter over his chest and cut himself with broken bottles. A glimpse of the vibrating intensity of Iggy live can be seen in the Ramones movie "End of the Century." Guitarist James Williamson became a key collaborator, a partnership documented on the 1978 album Kill City.
In 25 years as a solo artist, Pop's best-known songs have included the thumping Lust for Life, to be heard on the soundtrack of the find-a-vein, shoot-it-up movie Trainspotting, I'm Bored and The Passenger (the latter based on a poem written by Jim Morrison). David Bowie played a key role in reinvigorating Pop's post-Stooges career and was a collaborator on the albums Lust for Life and The Idiot. Iggy may be under-rated as a songwriter. Bowie and Tina Turner covered his "Tonight". Bowie also put out his own version of "China Girl," while Grace Jones covered the icey "Nightclubbing".
1969
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All across the USA
It's another year
For me and you
Another year
With nothing to do
Last year I was 21
I didn't have a lot of fun
And now I'm gonna be 22
I say oh my and a boo hoo
And now I'm gonna be 22
I say oh my and a boo hoo
It's 1969 okay
All across the USA
It's another year
For me and you
Another year
With nothing to do
Another year
With nothing to do
It's 1969
The Stooges’ song “1969” is a rock and roll classic that depicts the feeling of aimlessness and discontent that define a generation’s experience with the end of the 60s. The song is a commentary on the perceived apathy and disillusionment of that time period. The song opens up with the year 1969 and talks about how it’s another year for him and you, suggesting that it’s just another year for the same old thing. The second line of the song “All across the USA” indicates that this apathy and ennui wasn’t limited to one particular location, but rather it was a general feeling across the country. The song continues to describe how last year (at 21), he didn’t have a lot of fun, and now that he’s going to be 22, he doesn't have anything either. The lines "I say oh my and a boo hoo" are an expression of sadness and frustration, indicating the singer’s feeling of being stuck in a rut.
The chorus “It’s another year for me and you, another year with nothing to do” perfectly captures the disillusionment and lack of progress many people felt during the late sixties. It addresses the frustration that young people at the time felt about their lack of options, opportunities and vision. The song’s lyrics are a biting yet realistic depiction of the hopelessness and lack of direction felt by the youth of America during that time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's 1969 okay
The singer acknowledges that the year is 1969 and that it doesn't hold any significant weight in their life.
All across the USA
The singer acknowledges that 1969 is a common year across the United States, affecting everyone similarly.
It's another year
The singer recognizes that a year has simply passed, and another one is beginning.
For me and you
The artist believes that 1969 will be experienced mutually by both themselves and the listener.
Another year
The artist reiterates that a year has passed with little significance.
With nothing to do
The singer says that there are no activities or events planned for the upcoming year.
Last year I was 21
The singer explains that they were 21 years old the previous year, insinuating that they were young.
I didn't have a lot of fun
The artist admits that the year wasn't exciting or enjoyable for them.
And now I'm gonna be 22
The artist accepts that they're going to turn 22 years old, which isn't very significant either.
I say oh my and a boo hoo
The artist is being sarcastic and exaggerating their reaction to turning 22, implying that it's not a big deal.
Another year
The singer reiterates again that another year has passed with no particular events or significance.
With nothing to do
The artist repeats that there's nothing planned or exciting happening in the upcoming year.
Another year
The singer reiterates again that another year has passed with little significance.
With nothing to do
The singer repeats that there are still no planned activities or events happening in the new year.
It's 1969
Finally, the singer concludes that it's still simply 1969.
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