Although quite popular on alternative rock radio in the United States due to heavy airplay of the singles "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Here Comes Your Man", they were never widely popular there, but found success in Europe, especially in the UK (where they managed three top 40 singles "Velouria", "Planet of Sound" and a re-release of "Debaser") and Belgium and the Netherlands, where they were heavily broadcasted by alternative public radio.
The band's style of alternative rock music is heavily influenced by punk and surf rock, and while highly melodic, is capable of being tremendously abrasive at the same time. Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter and singer and has a distinctly desperate, yowling delivery. He has typically written cryptic songs about offbeat subjects, such as UFOs and surrealism. References to mental instability, violent Biblical imagery, and physical injury feature in many of the band's songs.
The group is frequently posited as the immediate forebear of the alternative rock boom of the 1990s, though they disbanded before reaping any of the benefits this might have brought them. Avowed fan Kurt Cobain's acknowledgement of the debt Nirvana owed to the Pixies, along with similar tributes by other alternative bands, ensured that the Pixies' legacy and influence grew substantially in the years following their demise.
In 1993, during an interview with BBC Radio 5, Black Francis announced that the band had split - something he had not told his bandmates. After the interview, he called Santiago, who in turn faxed Deal and Lovering the news the next morning. After the split, Black Francis inverted his stage name to Frank Black and embarked on a successful solo career, while Deal resumed her role in The Breeders with her identical twin sister Kelley. In 2004, the band reunited for a tour - documented in the film loudQUIETloud - and released a new single, "Bam Thwok" that summer. In 2007, Black Francis (now going by that name again) stated in an interview that the reunion was "done" even though the members remain in good terms with each other. In later interviews however, he began to mention that he might be willing to record another Pixies album. Nonetheless, Francis has returned to his solo career and Deal to the Breeders, both of which released albums and toured in 2008. Lovering and Santiago, meanwhile, set up their own project, a band called Everybody.
In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Doolittle, Pixies launched a tour in October 2009, on which they perform all the album's songs and B-sides. In the autumn of 2011 the "Lost Cities" tour continued the "Doolittle Tour" as they played many venues for the first time.
Vamos
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con mi sister en New Jersey
Ella me dijo que es una vida buena alla
Bien rica bien chevere
We'll keep well bred
We'll stay well fed
We'll have our sons
They'll come and play
Their friends will say
"Your daddy's rich
Your mamma's a pretty thing"
That maid Maria
She's really okay
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
I keep getting friends looking like lesbians
If we get bored
We'll move to California
They'll come and play
Their friends will say
"Your daddy's rich
Your mamma's a pretty thing
That maid Maria
She's really okay
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Vamos a jugar por la playa
The opening lyrics of Pixies' song "Vamos" are reflective of someone who is surviving with their sister in New Jersey. They are living a good life, as they put it - well-fed and well-bred. They even dream of having well-endowed sons who will come and play with their friends on the beach. Although their maid Maria is "really okay," they seem to be a bit bored with their current setting and are considering moving to California if they get tired of it.
The second verse of the song reveals the singer's tendency to attract friends who look like lesbians. Despite this, the singer remains optimistic and believes that their life will get better if they move to California. The song is meant to be somewhat satirical, as its themes poke fun at the idealized visions of the American Dream and the societal values put on wealth and status. Additionally, the Spanish phrase "Vamos a jugar por la playa" translates to "Let's play on the beach," emphasizing the idea of happiness and leisure.
Line by Line Meaning
Estaba pensando sobreviviendo
I was thinking about surviving
Con mi sister en New Jersey
With my sister in New Jersey
Ella me dijo que es una vida buena alla
She told me that life is good there
Bien rica bien chevere
Plenty of money and cool stuff
We'll keep well bred
We'll maintain our good breeding
We'll stay well fed
We'll always have enough to eat
We'll have our sons
We'll have children
They will be all well hung
Our sons will be well-endowed
They'll come and play
Our sons will come and play
Their friends will say
Their friends will comment
"Your daddy's rich
"Your dad has a lot of money
Your mamma's a pretty thing"
Your mom is attractive"
That maid Maria
The housekeeper named Maria
She's really okay
She's doing fine
Vamos a jugar por la playa
Let's go play on the beach
I keep getting friends looking like lesbians
I keep meeting friends who look like lesbians
If we get bored
If we become bored
We'll move to California
We'll relocate to California
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike D
on Nimrod's Son
It’s “shock the people” not chocolate people