The band released their first album in 20 years, Something for Everybody on June 15, 2010.
Their style has been variously classified as punk, industrial and rock, but are most often considered to be the 70s/early 80s New Wave band that ushered in the synth pop of the 1980s, along with other acts such as Gary Numan and The B-52s.
Devo's music and stage show mingle kitsch science fiction themes, deadpan surrealist humor, and mordantly satirical social commentary, often dealing with the concept of De-Evolution, in sometimes-discordant pop songs that often feature unusual synthetic instrumentation and time signatures.
Their work has proved hugely influential on subsequent popular music, particularly New Wave, alternative and grunge music, they created some memorable music videos popular in the early days of MTV.
The name "Devo" comes from the concept of Devolution (also referred to by the band as de-evolution). This idea was developed as a joke by Kent State University art students Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis as early as the late 1960s. Casale and Lewis created a number of art pieces in the vein of Devolution. At this time, Casale had also performed with the local band 15-60-75. They met Mark Mothersbaugh around 1970, who introduced them to the pamphlet Jocko Homo Heavenbound, which would later inspire the song Jocko Homo
The pivotal moment for the formation of Devo was the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. Casale knew two of the murdered students, and even saw one student, Allison Krause, with exit wounds from the M1 Garand rifle. At this moment, Casale claims he changed the idea of Devolution into a serious concept.
The first form of Devo was the Sextet Devo which performed at the 1973 Kent State performing arts festival. It included Casale, Lewis and Mothersbaugh, as well as Gerald's brother Bob Casale on guitar, and friends Rod Reisman and Fred Weber on drums and vocals, respectively. This performance was filmed and a part was included on the home video The Complete Truth About De-evolution. This lineup only performed once. Devo returned to perform in the Student Governance Center (featured prominently in the film) at the 1974 Creative Arts Festival with a line-up including the Casale brothers, Bob Lewis, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Jim Mothersbaugh on drums.
Devo later formed as a quartet focusing around Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. They recruited Mark's brothers Bob Mothersbaugh and Jim Mothersbaugh. Bob played electric guitar, and Jim provided percussion using a set of homemade electronic drums. This lineup of Devo lasted until 1976 when Jim left the band. The lineup was occasionally fluid, and Bob Lewis would sometimes play guitar during this period. In concert, Devo would often perform in the guise of theatrical characters, such as Booji Boy, and The Chinaman. Live concerts from this period were often confrontational, and would remain so until 1977. A recording of an early Devo performance from 1975 with the quartet lineup appears on DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years, ending with the promoters unplugging Devo's equipment.
Following Jim Motherbaugh's departure, Bob Mothersbaugh found a new drummer in Alan Myers, who played a conventional, acoustic drum set with mechanical precision. Casale re-recruited his brother Bob Casale, and the popular line-up of Devo was formed. It would endure for nearly ten years.
Devo embarked on a Euro-Tour 2007 on June 16th in Barcelona. They also performed concerts in Brighton, London, Manchester and Glasgow. More information about it can be found here.
In May 2020 Devo re-opened their online store where face masks with logo designs and an infamous Energy Dome with the attacheable protective shield can be pre-ordered to help their fans protect themselves from Covid-19.
Girl U Want
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The Devo song "Girl U Want" is a catchy and enigmatic tune with lyrics that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. At its core, the song appears to be about desire and longing for an elusive woman who embodies some sort of undefined ideal of love and attraction. The lyrics describe this woman as singing from an unseen location (perhaps implying her mysterious nature or inaccessibility), sitting atop the "greenest tree" (symbolizing her untouchable status or unattainability), and emitting an "aroma of undefined love" that envelops the listener in a mist of desire and possibility.
Throughout the song, the singer (presumably a man) is tormented by this woman's allure and the fact that he can't quite articulate what it is that draws him to her. He hears her "calling everywhere" and feels himself being drawn inexorably toward the "pleasure burn." However, he is also aware that his words "get stuck on the tip of [his] tongue" whenever he tries to express his feelings for her. Despite this frustration, the singer seems to accept that this woman is simply "the girl you want," and that he will never be able to fully possess or understand her.
Overall, "Girl U Want" is a fascinating exploration of the complex and often irrational nature of desire, as well as the power of attraction and mystery in romance. Whether interpreted as a straightforward love song, a satire of consumer culture, or a meditation on the search for human connection, this song remains a compelling and memorable piece of pop culture.
Line by Line Meaning
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She communicates from a place that is not visible
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She perches on the highest point of the most verdant plant
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
She emits a scent of a love that is not easily categorized
It drips on down in a mist from above
It falls down in a fog from the sky
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is only the female person, she is only the female person
The girl you want
The female person you desire
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You hear her beckoning at every corner
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
You are aware that you are headed for an intense feeling of joy
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
But the words you want to say just won't come out
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
She is genuine, but you were always aware of that fact
Look at you with your mouth watering
Examine yourself desiringly
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Observe yourself with a spinning psyche
Why don't we just admit it's all over
Why don't we just recognize that it's the end
She's just the girl you want
She is the woman you desire
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is just the female person, she is just the female person
The girl you want
The female person you desire
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She communicates from a place that is not visible
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She perches on the highest point of the most verdant plant
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
She emits a scent of a love that is not easily categorized
It drips on down in a mist from above
It falls down in a fog from the sky
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is only the female person, she is only the female person
The girl you want
The female person you desire
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is only the female person, she is only the female person
The girl you want
The female person you desire
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is only the female person, she is only the female person
The girl you want
The female person you desire
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
She is only the female person, she is only the female person
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gerald Casale, Mark Allen Mothersbaugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tveye1398
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
@AnnetteDB63
Lyrics
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
@jeffpsd
Girl U Want Lyrics
[Verse 1]
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
[Chorus]
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
[Verse 2]
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
[Chorus]
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
[Post-Chorus]
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinning
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
[Chorus]
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, just the girl
The girl you want
[Verse 1]
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined lust
It drips on down in a mist from above
[Chorus]
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
[Post-Chorus]
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinning
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
[Chorus]
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
@thomasbuck2775
SING ALONG:
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
You hear her calling everywhere you turn
You know you're headed for the pleasure burn
But the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue
She's the real thing but you knew it all along
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She sings from somewhere you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenest tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down in a mist from above
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
Look at you with your mouth watering
Look at you with your mind spinnin'
Why don't we just admit it's all over
She's just the girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
The girl you want
She's just the girl, she's just the girl
@ldolphin34
When all the new wave bands were trying to be different, Devo was busy trying not to be them. Absolutely brilliant and unique music, and it's got its own place in history.
@kellerwyant1704
The Talking Heads were fairly unique
@noelmurray8052
@Keller Wyant I think its because fundamentally the talking heads and devo were originators of the genre. It was more that the other new wave bands were trying to be devo/talking heads
@guyboost4094
@Keller Wyant The Talking Heads ,The Tubes, Todd Rundgren s Utopia, The B52s , The Cars ,The Ramones. BLONDE. DEBBIE Harry
Xtc THE POLICE, STING
ELVIS COSTELLO
GARY NUMAN AND KRAFTWERK all respect
DEVO !!!
@guyboost4094
@Keller Wyant https://youtu.be/XkZwHVM64qg
That's Good 👍 Posted by Electronictomato 1982 DEVO Kicking Ass on David Letterman Late Show NBC, From The Classic Future Rock
Album OH NO !IT'S DEVO PRODUCED BY
ROY THOMAS BACKER
@fanatamon
Yep I love Devo.
@Loqucious
I was one of those long haired rocker dudes back in these days and I use to take so much crap for admitting that these guys were my favorite band. I look at them today and still think they are/were brilliant.
@keith4804
Respect for having the guts to openly like what you like. I've struggled with it for years but as I get older I give less and less of a sh!t what others think.
@scottsansone9343
My buddy harry Stewart was a big sabbath fan.then dropped devo on us and blew our mind.it was1980
@mongoloid1369
damn hippys,too stoned to know the difference between KISS n Devo lol