The band has released four records, Folk the World Tour; a self-titled album, Flight of the Conchords; an EP, The Distant Future, which won a 2007 Grammy for Best Comedy Album, and a sophomore effort for Sub Pop, I Told You I was Freaky released October 20, 2009.
In 2002 they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time. Returning in 2003, with a new show, they were nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award. They also performed there in 2004.
In 2005, BBC Radio 2 broadcast their first radio series. Largely improvised, it features Rob Brydon as their narrator, Rhys Darby as their manager and Jimmy Carr as a devoted fan called Kipper. Also in 2005, HBO gave the group a special on their Friday night half-hour stand-up comedy series One Night Stand.
Jemaine Clement has appeared in 2006 television commercials for Outback Steakhouse in the U.S. This advertising campaign was launched during Superbowl XL. He also narrates the world famous in New Zealand television commercials for L&P.
The duo currently stars in their award winning television series, also entitled "Flight of the Conchords", which began on the American television channel HBO in June 2007. Its first season had 12 episodes and the second and final season - which began in January 2009 had ten episodes. The show features Rhys Darby as their manager Murray, Kristen Schaal as obsessive fan Mel, Arj Barker as their friend Dave and Eugene Mirman as their landlord.
Bowie
Flight of the Conchords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bowie's in spa-a-hace
Whatcha' doin' out there, man?
That's pretty freaky, Bowie
What's a rock musician doing out in space,man?
Isn't it cold out there, Bowie?
Does the space cold do funny things to your nipples
Making them all pointy, Bowie?
And do you use your pointy nipples as telescopic antennae
Transmitting data back to Earth?
(Data back to Earth)
Bet you do, you freaky old bastard, you.
Is it lonely out there in space, man?
Or is there life on Mars?
Wouldn't that be weird 'cause you wrote that song, "Is There Life on Mars"
You could write a follow up tune and call it 'And There Is'
Yes, there is, there is
Do you have one really freaky sequin space suit, man?
Or do you have several ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?
Do you smoke grass out in space, man?
Or do they smoke astro-turf?
Receiving transmission from David Bowie's nipple antennae
Do you read me, Lieutenant Bowie?
This is Bowie to Bowie,
Do you hear me out there, man?
This is Bowie back to Bowie,
I read you loud and clear, man
Oh yeah man!
Your signal's weak on my radar screen,
How far out are you, man?
I'm pretty far out
That's pretty far out, man!
I'm orbiting Pluto
I'm drawn in by it's Groovitational
(Groovitational pull)
I'm jamming out with the Mick Jagger-nauts
And they think it's pretty cool man
Are you OK, Bowie, what was that sound?
I don't know, man, I have to turn my ship around
Oh, it's the craziest scene
I know, I'm picking it up on my LSD screen
Can you see the Stratosphere ringing?
To the choir of Afro-nauts singing
bowie is in space
bowie [Repeat x6]
bowie is in space
bowie [Repeat x6]
Eenie, ma-ma-meenie mynie mowie
(Set your phasers on funky)
Eenie, ma-ma-ma-meenie mynie mowie
Eenie, ma-meenie, mynie mynie mowie
Bowie's in space
The Flight of the Conchords song "Bowie" is a humorous take on the idea of David Bowie being an otherworldly being. The song is essentially a conversation between the singers and Bowie, who is apparently in space. They ask him a range of questions, from the practical (isn't it cold out there?) to the bizarre (does the space cold do funny things to your nipples?). They marvel at the idea that Bowie might be using his pointy nipples as antennas to transmit data back to Earth. The song also references Bowie's hit song "Is There Life on Mars?" and imagines what might happen if it turned out there really was life on the red planet.
The song is a play on the idea of Bowie being an eccentric figure who is always pushing artistic boundaries. He is transformed into an intergalactic rock star, floating around in space and communicating with Earth via his nipples. The humor in the lyrics comes from the absurdity of the idea, and the fact that Bowie himself was known for his flamboyance and experimental approach to music. The song is a tribute to the late singer, but it also pokes fun at his legendary status and the quasi-mythical persona that he cultivated.
Line by Line Meaning
Bowie's in space
A rock musician is in space
Bowie's in spa-a-hace
A rock musician is in space
Whatcha' doin' out there, man?
Asking why a rock musician is in space
That's pretty freaky, Bowie
Acknowledging the oddity of a rock musician being in space
What's a rock musician doing out in space,man?
Asking why a rock musician is in space
Isn't it cold out there, Bowie?
Asking if space is cold
You can borrow my Jumper if you want Bowie?
Offering a jumper to the rock musician in space
Does the space cold do funny things to your nipples
Asking if the cold of space affects the body
Making them all pointy, Bowie?
Asking if the cold of space makes nipples harden
And do you use your pointy nipples as telescopic antennae
Musing on a strange idea of the rock musician using their nipples as antennas
Transmitting data back to Earth?
Asking if data is transmitted from space through the rock musician's nipples
(Data back to Earth)
Speculating on data transmission to Earth through space nipples
Bet you do, you freaky old bastard, you.
Making a crude joke about the idea of the rock musician using their nipples as antennas
Is it lonely out there in space, man?
Asking the rock musician if they feel lonely in space
Or is there life on Mars?
Asking if there is life on Mars
Wouldn't that be weird 'cause you wrote that song, "Is There Life on Mars"
Commenting on the strange coincidence of the rock musician writing a song about life on Mars
You could write a follow up tune and call it 'And There Is'
Jokingly suggesting a follow-up song for the rock musician
Yes, there is, there is
Agreeing that there may be life on Mars
Do you have one really freaky sequin space suit, man?
Asking if the rock musician has a strange space suit
Or do you have several ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?
Referencing the rock musician's famous song about changes
Do you smoke grass out in space, man?
Asking if the rock musician smokes marijuana in space
Or do they smoke astro-turf?
Making a joke about what people smoke in space
Receiving transmission from David Bowie's nipple antennae
Making another joke about the strange idea of using nipples as antennas
Do you read me, Lieutenant Bowie?
Addressing the rock musician with a title
This is Bowie to Bowie,
The rock musician responds using his own name
Do you hear me out there, man?
Asking if the rock musician can hear
This is Bowie back to Bowie,
The rock musician responds again using his name
I read you loud and clear, man
Confirming that they can hear each other
Your signal's weak on my radar screen,
Noticing a problem with the signal transmission
How far out are you, man?
Asking how far the rock musician is from the singer
I'm pretty far out
Responding that they are far from the singer
That's pretty far out, man!
Expressing amazement at the distance
I'm orbiting Pluto
Describing the location of the rock musician
I'm drawn in by it's Groovitational
Making a joke by coining a new word
(Groovitational pull)
Elaborating on the made-up word
I'm jamming out with the Mick Jagger-nauts
Making a humorous reference to another musician
And they think it's pretty cool man
Describing the opinion of the other musicians
Are you OK, Bowie, what was that sound?
Asking the rock musician if they are okay and what a sound was
I don't know, man, I have to turn my ship around
Responding that they are not sure and need to investigate
Oh, it's the craziest scene
Commenting on the strange and exciting environment
I know, I'm picking it up on my LSD screen
Making a drug reference and joking about a screen picking up sounds
Can you see the Stratosphere ringing?
Asking if the singer can see a phenomenon
To the choir of Afro-nauts singing
Describing the sight that the singer is seeing
bowie is in space [Repeat x6]
Repeating the refrain, emphasizing the main topic of the song
Eenie, ma-ma-meenie mynie mowie
Singing nonsense words
(Set your phasers on funky)
Making a joke about setting phasers
Eenie, ma-ma-ma-meenie mynie mowie
Singing more nonsense words
Eenie, ma-meenie, mynie mynie mowie
Singing more nonsense words
Bowie's in space
Repeating the main topic of the song
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: BRET MCKENZIE, JEMAINE CLEMENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@erinfraise6154
This is actually a brilliant tribute by two men who ate obviously big fans. I hope he saw this, and loved it.
@scatmav
Bowie said in an interview he had this on his iPod at the time :)
@Materminds187
^are, not ate hopefully
@GrilloTheFlightless
Gemaine was told by Ricky Gervaise that Bowie had this song on his iPod.
@Interphased
@MarvelKing 9000 Productions No, they ate really big fans of Bowie's. That's how they became the world's biggest Bowie fans.
As the old saying goes: "To be the best, you've gotta eat the best"
@themerryprankster44
Do you not know this is from a show?
@craigman98
I named my 4 month old dog bowie after I saw this in 2008, he just passed this morning and I had to watch this again in his honor. Thank you Flight of the Conchords for the inspiration in naming the sweetest soul I've ever met.
@coreycox2345
I am sorry. I have lost family members myself. craigman98.
@comfortable.and.furious
sorry for your loss, dogs give us the most unconditional love we can dream of, truly man's best friend.
@nathantilley5693
I had a dog named Bowie! We got him in 2004 and he died last year