Starting as a parody of the booming third-wave ska scene in Southern California (their first show, reportedly, was played with fourteen members, at least half of which were wielding horns), The Aquabats played third-wave ska with surf guitar sounds and b-movie inspired lyrics. Over time, their sound became even more eclectic, dropping much of the surf guitar leads and ska rhythms for more varied influences.
Their current sound blends upbeat rock and roll, new wave, punk, and ska/rocksteady with synth largely replacing their horn and woodwind section. Notable influences upon The Aquabats are Devo, Oingo Boingo, Madness, and Toy Dolls.
The Aquabats’ current lineup is The MC Bat Commander (vocals), Ricky Fitness (drums), Crash McLarson (bass), Eagle "Bones" Falconhawk (guitar) & Jimmy the Robot (keyboards/tenor sax). Former members like Chainsaw, The Prince of Karate; Prince Adam; and Catboy have been known to come back into the fold for the occasional show.
The Aquabats's most recent album is Kooky Spooky... In Stereo!, released on August 21, 2020. via Gloopy Records.
Plastic Lips!
The Aquabats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So shiny vinyl-y
so finally we know what to do
And she is toxic what I hear
And just like plasticine
I want to squish her
Because she's perfect
She's plastic
Everybody wants to kiss her
Perfect plastic lips
They said to get away
But I can't give her the slip
It makes me wonder if this world is plastic
A-woah-woah you're really artificial
It makes me wonder if you might think
That I may be artificial myself
It makes me wonder if this world is plastic
A-woah-woah you're really artificial
It's officially official!
You know that girl she's out of touch
So squeaky, freaky, and I'm thinking
That she may be too much
And she's a genius did you know?
And yeah, I'm sure she really cares about you
It's officially official
Kiss those plastic lips!
The lyrics to The Aquabats's song Plastic Lips are a satirical commentary on society's fixation with appearance and the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards. The song describes a girl who is so perfect and shiny that she seems to be made of plastic. The singer is drawn to her, even though he knows she is toxic and artificial.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the girl's plasticity, as everyone wants to kiss her "perfect plastic lips." The bridge then delves deeper into the theme of artificiality, with the line "It makes me wonder if this world is plastic" reflecting the singer's disillusionment with the society he lives in. He questions whether he himself may be artificial, suggesting that the pressure to conform has affected everyone.
Despite the cynical lyrics, the song has an upbeat and catchy melody, adding to the irony of the message. Overall, Plastic Lips serves as a humorous critique of society's obsession with appearance and the damaging effects it can have on individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a girl she is brand new
Introducing a newly encountered girl.
So shiny vinyl-y
She looks like she is made of vinyl and shines like it too.
so finally we know what to do
We are excited about her and know what we want to do with her.
And she is toxic what I hear
Rumors suggest that she is toxic and harmful.
And just like plasticine
She resembles a plasticine material that can be molded and shaped at will.
I want to squish her
There is an inexplicable desire to squeeze or press her body material.
Because she's perfect
We want to squish her because she appears to be flawless and perfect.
She's plastic
Describing the girl as plastic material.
She's perfectly plastic
She is completely plastic-like, without any imperfections or defects.
Everybody wants to kiss her
She is very attractive such that everyone wants to kiss her.
Perfect plastic lips
Her lips are the best qualities of plastic material, smooth and glossy.
They said to get away
Some have warned us to stay away from her because she is bad news.
But I can't give her the slip
We cannot resist her despite the warning to stay away from her.
It makes me wonder if this world is plastic
Her perfect plastic appearance has made us question the authenticity of the world around us.
A-woah-woah you're really artificial
We can tell that she is artificial by her appearance and attributes.
It makes me wonder if you might think that I may be artificial myself
Her fakeness makes us wonder if we are like her in some way.
It's officially official!
We strongly believe that she is truly artificial.
You know that girl she's out of touch
She is detached from reality or out of step with societal norms.
So squeaky, freaky, and I'm thinking
She looks and feels strange, and we are contemplating her odd nature.
That she may be too much
Her strange and unusual nature may be too much for us to handle.
And she's a genius did you know?
Surprisingly, she is smart and believes in her abilities.
And yeah, I'm sure she really cares about you
Despite her strange and artificial nature, she may be capable of showing care towards others.
It's officially official
Once again, we strongly believe that she is truly artificial.
Kiss those plastic lips!
Encouraging others to kiss her perfectly plastic lips.
Contributed by Adrian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.