They play indie rock music, with influences such as Cheap Trick, T Rex and Queen. They share management with They Might Be Giants, with whom they toured before signing to Capitol Records. They served as the house band to the public radio program This American Life on the show's fifth anniversary tour. Ira Glass, the show's host, wrote their first official bio, calling them "living catnip" and describing their songs as "part indie rock, part stadium rock, part straight up pop with the occasional whiff of The Pixies or The Cars or Elliott Smith."
In the United Kingdom, "Get Over It", from their self-titled debut album, appeared at No. 21 in the singles chart on March 16, 2003, and the band performed it on that week's edition of Top of the Pops. Also that week, the single's video was named video of the week by Q Magazine. The single was also featured in EA Sports video games Triple Play Baseball and Madden NFL 2003 in 2002.
The band contributed a cover of "This Will Be Our Year," the Zombies classic, as the lead track of Future Soundtrack for America, a political benefit album put out by Barsuk Records in the fall of 2004. Lead singer Damian Kulash also became somewhat politically active during that election cycle, writing a heavily downloaded how-to-guide entitled "How Your Band Can Fire Bush" for bands hoping to help unseat President George W. Bush, which garnered him an avalanche of hate mail.
The band's second record, "Oh No", was recorded in Malmö, Sweden and produced by Tore Johansson (The Cardigans, Franz Ferdinand) in the fall of 2004. Released in August 2005, it gained notoriety for its first single, the Clash-esque "A Million Ways." Its popularity was due in large part to its video, which proved to be a viral internet sensation in the fall of 2005. The ultra-low budget, one-take video featured the band in their back yard performing a dance choreographed by lead singer Kulash's sister, Trish Sie. Using a camera borrowed from a friend, the video was produced for under ten dollars and released without the knowledge or consent of their label, Capitol Records. By November 2005, the video had become the most downloaded music video ever with over 3 million downloads. It also spawned hundreds of tribute performances by amateur dancers around the world, a phenomenon that was encouraged by the group, which sponsored a dance contest, "OK Go Dances with You(Tube)", in which contestants were asked to upload videos of themselves doing the 'million ways dance' to YouTube, which would subsequently be judged, with the winning group of dancers to appear on stage with the band at a future OK Go performance.
The nontraditional video for "A Million Ways" is not without precedent for the band. Previous oddball video efforts featuring OK Go include their Ping Pong Instructional Video and the Federal Truth In Music Project.
Their next video featured the band dancing on treadmills to the single "Here It Goes Again" from the "Oh No" Album. This video was produced in a similar style to "A Million Ways", and also choreographed by singer/songwriter Damian Kulash's sister, Trish Sie. As with the previous music video for "A Million Ways", "Here It Goes Again" was also recorded as one continuous unedited take, although it required 7 days of rehearsal, and was the best (take 14) of 17 attempts. The amateur and yet brilliantly original 'treadmill video' sparked an even greater viral internet phenomenon than the AMW video, and was subsequently viewed on YouTube and elsewhere online well over 15 million times. On February 11, 2007, the "Here It Goes Again" music video earned the band members of OK Go and Trish Sie the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
OK Go toured North America with Silversun Pickups and Snow Patrol in 2007.
Do What You Want
OK Go Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took a bite out the sun
And saw your future in a machine built for two
Now your rays make me kind of go crazy
Shock and awe and amaze me
Just a ticker tape parade and me
But something was wrong
Screaming at the top of your lungs
You said
"Come on, come on
Do what you want
What could go wrong?
Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on
Do what you want
Oh, come on, come on
What could go wrong?
Do, do, do, do what you want, yeah"
Come on, oh
Me, I was raised
Amid the trickle-down days
I woke up numb in the haze
And saw my future in a machine built for two
But the light
Gave me some kind of fright
How did wrong get so right?
Well, lead me stumbling through the dark of night
Oh, something was wrong
But you tap-danced on the air
In the night
Screaming at the top of your lungs
You said
"Come on come on
Do what you want
What could go wrong?
Come on come on come on, come on
Do what you want
Oh come on come on
What could go wrong?
Do, do, do, do what you want
Yeah"
Come on
Do, do, do, do what you want
Do, do, do, do what you want, yeah
Alright
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Do, do, do, do what you want, yeah
Do, do, do, do what you want, yeah, yeah
Ah, do what you want
Ooh, do what you want
Oh, do what you want
Do, do what you want
Do, do what you want
Do, do what you want
C-c-come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do what you want
Do, do, yeah
The song Do What You Want by OK Go is an exhortation to take a chance and do something out of the ordinary. The lyrics present two characters - one who was "born in an electrical storm" and "saw [their] future in a machine built for two," while the other was "raised amid the trickle-down days" and "woke up numb in the haze." Despite their different backgrounds, they both find inspiration in the other's adventurous spirit. The chorus urges the listener to "do what you want" and take risks because "what could go wrong?"
The song's bridge reveals that the singer's own experience has been a more conventional and uninspired one; they have been searching for something to snap them out of their "numb" existence. The energetic tapping and screaming of the other character finally inspires them to take action and "do what [they] want."
Overall, the song's theme can be seen as a plea to take risks and follow your passions, rather than living a dull, safe life.
Line by Line Meaning
So you were born in an electrical storm
The singer is describing someone who is unique and different from others right from the start of their life.
Took a bite out the sun
The person is ambitious and driven enough to take on challenges difficult for others.
And saw your future in a machine built for two
The person is smart and can predict or plan ahead about their future while keeping a companion that can help them along the way.
Now your rays make me kind of go crazy
The person's charisma and persona are so impactful that it affects others.
Shock and awe and amaze me
The person surprises others with their unconventional ways and attitude.
Just a ticker tape parade and me
The singer is saying that they want to be a part of that person's celebrations and achievements.
But something was wrong
The singer now shifts the focus on themselves and their experiences.
'Til you tap-danced on the air, in the night
The person brings happiness and light to the singer's dark thoughts and experiences.
Screaming at the top of your lungs
The person expresses that one should be true to themselves, be bold, and not fear anything.
You said 'Come on, come on
You urged the listener to be confident and take risks.
Do what you want
Be free and follow your heart's desires.
What could go wrong?
Don't let fear hold you back or dictate your actions.
Me, I was raised
The singer is sharing their own upbringing and experiences.
Amid the trickle-down days
The singer is referencing the political and economic policies of their country.
I woke up numb in the haze
The singer felt disconnected and disillusioned with their life.
But the light
The person they're addressing brings positivity and hope to the singer's life.
Gave me some kind of fright
The singer is scared of letting someone new into their life.
How did wrong get so right?
The singer is questioning why their life has changed so much due to the influence of the person they're addressing.
Well, lead me stumbling through the dark of night
The person is leading the singer through difficult times, making it easier for them to see things clearly.
Do, do, do, do what you want, yeah
Repeating the main message of being free to do what you want and not having any regrets.
Alright
The singer approves of this message and agrees with it.
C-c-come on
Encouraging the listener once again to take action and not be afraid.
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do what you want
A final repetition of the message of living your life to the fullest.
Do, do, yeah
Repeating the same message with enthusiasm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Damian Kulash, Timothy Nordwind
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SuperSSMB
So that's what my wallpaper does when I'm not looking.
@peaceforyouandme845
🤣💕
@veronicaglitchh9667
This is a trailer for the new Pixar film Wallpaper Story!
@mrmando5403
Hahahaha 🤣
@gradygameplays2033
What do you mean the wallpaper just sat there all video nothing happened
@watson956
@Cam Sanchez : Your wallpaper looks like that?? Bold decorating, bud!
@user-bw2it5eu4x
ok go has one of the friendliest/nicest comment sections that I've ever seen on youtube
@fitterrhappierr3289
psh... Um... You- You're a dingus!
@micahcease4617
Daniela When you're as awesome as OK GO, there's allot less hate.
@ELEcomments
ok go is genuine fun band for fun people:p