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
Race for the Prize
The Flaming Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two scientists are racing
For the good of all mankind
Both of them side-by-side
So determined
Locked in heated battle
But it's so dangerous
But they're determined
Theirs is to win
If it kills them
They're just humans
With wives and children
Upwards to the vanguard
Where the pressure is too high
Under the microscope
Hope against hope
Forging for the future
But to sacrifice their lives
Both of them side-by-side
So determined
Theirs is to win
If it kills them
They're just humans
With wives and children
Theirs is to win
If it kills them
They're just human
With wives and children
The Flaming Lips's song Race for the Prize is a powerful track that tells the story of two scientists who are competing to find a cure that will benefit all humanity. The scientists are locked in a heated battle, working side-by-side towards their goal, despite the dangers that lay ahead of them. They are determined to win, even if it means sacrificing their own lives for the greater good. The pressure is high, and hope is all they have as they work towards a future that will hopefully be brighter for all.
The lyrics of this song are incredibly insightful and touching, as they explore the idea of sacrifice and the lengths that people will go to in order to make a difference in the world. The scientists in the song are just like any other human beings, with wives and children who will miss them dearly if they should fail in their efforts. Yet, they continue to work towards a brighter future, driven by the hope that their work will make a difference in the world.
Race for the Prize is a song that speaks to the core of what it means to be human. It is a testament to the power of hope and determination, and the willingness of people to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. With its powerful lyrics and driving beat, this song is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who listens to it.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, one!
The race for the cure has begun, with two scientists ready to take on the challenge.
Two scientists are racing
Two competing scientists are in a race to find a cure for the benefit of humanity.
For the good of all mankind
The scientists are not only racing for themselves but for the betterment of the entire human population.
Both of them side-by-side
The two scientists are neck and neck, in a heated competition.
So determined
The scientists are resolute and focused on winning the race, despite its dangers.
Locked in heated battle
Both scientists are in fierce competition with one another in pursuit of the prize.
For the cure that is their prize
The scientists are racing to win the cure, which is the ultimate reward.
But it's so dangerous
The pursuit for the cure entails life-threatening risks.
Theirs is to win, If it kills them
The scientists are willing to risk their lives to win the prized cure.
They're just humans, With wives and children
The scientists, despite their intelligence, are still mere humans with families, adding to the sense of urgency and risk intensity.
Upwards to the vanguard
The scientists are at the forefront of scientific advancement, racing for the cure.
Where the pressure is too high
The pressure on the scientists is enormous and almost unbearable.
Under the microscope, Hope against hope
The scientists are under immense scrutiny and working against all odds to find the cure.
Forging for the future
The scientists are working tirelessly to forge a path to a better future.
But to sacrifice their lives
The pursuit of the cure puts their lives in constant danger and requires life-threatening sacrifice.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL IVINS, STEVEN DROZD, WAYNE COYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bathtubgeorge
Drums are just incredible
@dadasurreal86
Snare is so dope isn't it?!
@DoGlowy
you can always pick a Flaming Lips song for it's drums
@crankykoala8377
Yeah, damn this snare sounds great. Like really sloppy/lo-fi but in the best way possible, so much raw power
@strace67
thats Steven
@ActualKaktus
Bathtubgeorge! They're huge!
@crazywhales9874
This is one of the greatest songs ever recorded
@Asofiro
Totally, if this was written by the beatles the media would call it the best song ever
@jameswhite7997
We know it's true.
@UncleGwendolyn
Not really. It just drops when it matters on a finely constructed album. As all tracks should do.