For more than twenty years he has been releasing, to only marginal commercial and critical success, playful and transgressive albums on labels in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In his lyrics and his other writing he makes seemingly random use of decontextualized pieces of continental (mostly French) philosophy, and has built up a personal world he says is "dominated by values like diversity, orientalism, and a respect for otherness." He is also known in certain circles outside the U.S. as a producer. He is fascinated by identity, Japan, the avant-garde, time travel and sex. Live Momus shows are rare but when he does perform he often sings the crowd favourite 'maf' from the Stars Forever LP.
He wears a patch over his right eye because he lost the use of it after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis from a contact lens case washed with Greek tap water.
Nick Currie currently resides in Osaka, Japan.
Jeff Koons
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A gigantic puppy made of living flowers
A balloon dog like a helium Brancusi
Baroque and Rococo, Louis Quattorze (Louis Quattorze)
(Louis Quattorze) (Louis Quattorze)
(Louis Quattorze) (Louis Quattorze)
He has come to bring you things that make you happy
A balloon dog like a helium Brancusi
Baroque and Rococo, Louis Quattorze
Basketballs suspended in Bavaria
Usher in a fat contented pig
Whose every hair is hand-carved by Italian master-
craftsmen
A porcelain Michael Jackson and Bubbles in a wig
A box of breakfast cereal we market to the morning
A teddy bear policeman reprimands you with a warning
And all that's made in heaven falls apart
Pink and yellow arrows through your heart
Blue and yellow arrows through your heart
Green and yellow arrows through your heart
Mr Koons with a swordfish!
Pin the tail on Koons!
President Koons on Mount Rushmore!
The Klondike Trail by donkey
Context is a game that you can play
And art can help you have a better day
Pink panthers from the realm of the ephemeral
A friendly advertising testimonial
A second empire chair, Botticelli hair
Cut-outs at a fun fair and the clothes you love to wear
Every time that it appears that happiness and fun
Are as far away as Jupiter and Mars
According to the lore of great philosophers
A shaman must appear amongst the stars
A Sun King lifts his hand amongst the stars
And a vacuum cleaner stands amongst the stars
Gigantic baboons
Cereal spoons
Philosopher kings
The moon in June
Disney cartoons
The morning sun
Jeff Koons
The lyrics of Momus's song "Jeff Koons" are centered around the eponymous artist Jeff Koons, who is known for his controversial and often provocative art pieces. The song describes Koons as bringing happiness to the people through his art. The lyrics mention several of Koons's iconic works, including a giant puppy made of living flowers, a balloon dog resembling a Brancusi sculpture, and basketballs suspended in Bavaria. The song also references Koons's infamous porcelain sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles the chimpanzee.
The lyrics suggest that Koons's art is both playful and profound. The chorus features the repeated line "He has come to bring you things that make you happy," which could be interpreted as either sincere admiration for Koons's work or as a sarcastic commentary on the commercialization of art. The verse mentioning the shaman and Sun King implies that Koons himself is elevated to a mythical status, capable of bringing happiness and meaning to people's lives.
Overall, the lyrics to "Jeff Koons" are a witty and insightful commentary on the intersections of art, commerce, and popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
He has come to bring you things that make you happy
Jeff Koons is here to provide you with joy and happiness through his art
A gigantic puppy made of living flowers
Koons has created a massive sculpture of a puppy made entirely of flowers, which is lovely and brings happiness
A balloon dog like a helium Brancusi
A sculpture of a balloon dog by Koons, inspired by the work of Constantin Brancusi, which appears to be buoyant like a helium-filled balloon
Baroque and Rococo, Louis Quattorze
Koons' work is inspired by the Baroque and Rococo styles, particularly the opulence and lavishness associated with Louis Quattorze
Basketballs suspended in Bavaria
Koons has created a sculpture of basketballs hanging in mid-air in the German region of Bavaria
Usher in a fat contented pig
The basketball sculpture introduces a sculpture of a satisfied, plump pig
Whose every hair is hand-carved by Italian master-craftsmen
The pig sculpture is meticulously crafted by skilled Italian artisans, with even its hair being carefully carved by hand
A porcelain Michael Jackson and Bubbles in a wig
Koons has made a figure of Michael Jackson with his pet chimpanzee Bubbles, both dressed in wigs and made out of porcelain
A box of breakfast cereal we market to the morning
Koons has made a cereal box design intended to appeal to people as they start their day
A teddy bear policeman reprimands you with a warning
Koons has created a sculpture of a teddy bear dressed as a police officer, admonishing the viewer with a warning
And all that's made in heaven falls apart
Despite the idealized view of heaven, all things eventually break down and lose their perfection
Pink and yellow arrows through your heart
Koons uses colorful arrows as a motif throughout his work, perhaps as commentary on how art can reflect powerful emotional experiences
Mr Koons with a swordfish!
Koons is depicted in a photograph holding a swordfish, blurring the lines between art and the artist's own identity
Pin the tail on Koons!
A playful reference to the children's game Pin the Tail on the Donkey, which implies a certain lightheartedness to Koons' work
President Koons on Mount Rushmore!
An absurdist statement, imagining Koons' inclusion on the famous American monument Mount Rushmore
The Klondike Trail by donkey
A reference to a historic route through the Yukon region of Canada, incorporating a donkey in the imagery
Context is a game that you can play
The meaning and interpretation of art can be subjective and open to personal interpretation
And art can help you have a better day
Art can be a source of joy and positivity in people's lives
Pink panthers from the realm of the ephemeral
Pink panthers, typically seen as fleeting and elusive creatures, appear in Koons' work as a representation of transience
A friendly advertising testimonial
Koons' art includes elements of advertising, often with an approachable and welcoming tone
A second empire chair, Botticelli hair
Koons' art references the Second French Empire period, and includes imagery from Renaissance art, such as the flowing locks of Botticelli portraits
Cut-outs at a fun fair and the clothes you love to wear
Koons presents variations on familiar, everyday elements including fair decorations and clothing
Every time that it appears that happiness and fun
During difficult moments when joy is hard to find
Are as far away as Jupiter and Mars
When happiness seems out of reach, as far away as celestial bodies in the sky
According to the lore of great philosophers
Drawing on the accumulated knowledge and insights of philosophers throughout history
A shaman must appear amongst the stars
A spiritual leader or guide, symbolized by appearing amongst the heavens
A Sun King lifts his hand amongst the stars
The image of a powerful, regal figure lifting their hand to the sky
And a vacuum cleaner stands amongst the stars
A seemingly mundane household appliance elevated to a cosmic context, perhaps commenting on the disposability and commodification of consumer goods
Gigantic baboons
Koons' sculptures of primates are often oversized, inviting the viewer to look at familiar animals in a new way
Cereal spoons
Another iteration of Koons' breakfast cereal motif, incorporating spoons into the design
Philosopher kings
An allusion to Plato's concept of philosopher-kings, individuals of great wisdom and ethics who govern society
The moon in June
A poetic and romanticimage, conjuring up feelings of nostalgia and longing
Disney cartoons
Disney is known for its cheerful and optimistic animated films, which could be seen as an influence on Koons' work
The morning sun
Another evocative and hopeful image, representing the beginning of a new day
Jeff Koons
The man behind the art, whose work embodies whimsy and joy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICHOLAS CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Матвій Оселедкин
this made my day
Datura Metel
thanks!
Evan Stewart
yes!