The Flaming Lips are known for their lush, multi-layered arrangements, spacey lyrics and bizarre song titles. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which typically feature animal suits, puppets, streamers, video projections and complex stage light configurations.
In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die". In 2006, Oklahoma City named a street Flaming Lips Alley in their honor.
The group recorded several albums and EPs for Restless Records in the 1980s and early 1990s. After signing to Warner Brothers, they scored a #9 hit on the Billboard Alternative charts (and #55 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart) in 1994 with "She Don't Use Jelly". Although it would be their only hit single, the band has maintained critical respect and, to a lesser extent, commercial viability with sonically majestic albums such as 1995's Clouds Taste Metallic, 1999's The Soft Bulletin, 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and 2006's At War with the Mystics. The Flaming Lips' 12th studio album, Embryonic, was released in October of 2009. A complete cover of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon was released in May 2010. The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, their collaborative album which features artists like Ke$ha, Bon Iver, Nick Cave and Erykah Badu, was released on Record Store Day, April 2012.
Their next studio album, tentatively titled The Terror, will be released in January 2013.
Their song "Do You Realize??" is the official State Rock Song of Oklahoma.
www.flaminglips.com
I Can Be A Frog
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can be a bat
I can be a bear
Or I can be a cat
She said I can be a lion
I can be a guillemonster
I can be a warrior Indian
She said I can be a wolf
I can be a finch
I can be a jaguar
Or a locust on the bridge
She said I can be a monkey
I can be a tiger
I can be a tornado
Knocking down your wires
Well, it seems like she can be anything
Any kind of creature she wants to be
Oh, it seems like she can be anything
Any kind of frog
Any kind of bear
Any kind of monkey
She wants to be
The Flaming Lips’ “I Can Be a Frog” is an innovative song that showcases the identify crisis of a person. The song highlights the idea of being able to change things about oneself and the ability to be anybody using the power of imagination. The lyrics impressively use a metaphor of different creatures that a person can become, representing different characteristics and qualities of every creature. The lyrics touch upon an important concept of diversity and the different aspects through which we can identify ourselves.
The lyrics beautifully relate the concept of transformation to the power of imagination. The song emphasizes that one can truly be whoever they want to be through the use of imagination. The song communicates the message that the possibilities are literally endless when you use your imagination. The song encourages us to break from societal stereotypes and find the courage to express our true selves, even if it is outside of the norm. The song emphasizes the importance of individual freedom, by highlighting that we have the power to create own identity.
In summary, The Flaming Lips’ “I Can Be a Frog” is a beautiful song that encourages the listener to use their imagination to become whoever they want to be. The lyrics are metaphorical and highlight the importance of being in touch with oneself and the ability to constantly evolve.
Line by Line Meaning
She said I can be a frog
She told me that I have the power to transform into a frog
I can be a bat
I have the ability to become a bat
I can be a bear
I have the potential to turn into a bear
Or I can be a cat
I am capable of transforming into a cat
She said I can be a lion
She informed me that I can become a lion
I can be a guillemonster
I can transform into a guillemonster if I choose to
I can be a warrior Indian
I have the potential to become a warrior Indian
I can be a helicopter
I can turn into a helicopter if I desire to
She said I can be a wolf
She told me that I have the ability to become a wolf
I can be a finch
I am capable of transforming into a finch
I can be a jaguar
I can become a jaguar if I choose to
Or a locust on the bridge
I can even transform into a locust if I want to
She said I can be a monkey
She told me that I have the power to become a monkey
I can be a tiger
I am capable of turning into a tiger
I can be a tornado
I have the ability to become a tornado if I desire to
Knocking down your wires
As a tornado, I can knock down the wires
Well, it seems like she can be anything
The person speaking realizes that the other person can transform into any creature they want
Any kind of creature she wants to be
They understand that the other person has the ability to become any type of creature they desire
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WAYNE COYNE, STEVEN DROZD, MICHAEL IVINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TrailridgeRealty
This is one of my favorite songs because it crosses the line between my child and I - we can both enjoy it.
@IanqueParker
The one thing that makes me proud to be from Oklahoma. These guys are so out there. :)
@plazticbag
0:38 he starts laughing a bit
@SOEmark
Thank you, flaming lips. I've been looking for a band to start loving.
@who_is_lucy_
Once we let go of our ego, we become free to be anything...
@bejAmir
damn...this is amazing. the most psychedelic and deep one of flaming lips since SOFT BULLETIN. outstanding!
@Ericotheriault
THIS is ART ....she is everything ...GOD BLESS THE FLAMING LIPS
@armondoserna2342
Enamored,the beats with terrible heat,whooo
@americanboy717
Beautifully simple and poetic...The drawings and rawness of the girl was really cool too!!
@Gabriel-bk3lm
best ideas are those that could've been realized on 10 dollar budget