On February 10, 2009 the Lonely Island's debut record "Incredibad" was released. It includes most of the SNL Digital Shorts as well as new songs featuring E-40, Julian Casablancas, Beck, Jack Black, and Norah Jones.
On their YouTube channel, The Lonely Island announced an upcoming album on October 28, 2010, which would be released in the spring of 2011. On December 18, 2010, the SNL Digital Short was the official music video of "I Just Had Sex" (featuring Akon), the first single off the album.
On January 29, 2011, the group debuted "The Creep" featuring Nicki Minaj and a cameo by filmmaker John Waters, on SNL and YouTube. On March 15, 2011, Direct Current Music reported that the album would be named Turtleneck & Chain and would be released on May 10, 2011. On April 1, 2011, The Lonely Island appeared as guests on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where they premiered the lead track, "We're Back!", as well as the new album cover. On April 19, 2011, the group released "Motherlover" featuring Justin Timberlake as the fourth single from the album. This song was last featured on season 34 of SNL.
The group held a fundraiser to promote their new album on April 16, 2011. This event was at Amoeba Music in Berkeley, California. There were only 250 tickets available, and the only way to obtain a ticket was to preorder their album. They hosted a Q&A session and an autograph session. Shortly after, "Motherlover" was released on iTunes. On May 7, they released a new track, "Jack Sparrow", featuring Michael Bolton. Turtleneck & Chain was both Emmy and Grammy nominated (for Best Comedy Album).
On January 26, 2013, the group released a new single on iTunes and Google Music, "YOLO" featuring Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar. They also released a music video on their YouTube channel which revealed a new album was coming in 2013. On May 4th they announced that their new album will be called The Wack Album, also releasing its cover art and confirming that it will include people they have worked with in the past such as Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga and some new collaborators like Billie Joe Armstrong and Adam Levine. They also stated that each week until the album comes out they will release a new song or video from the album on each Wednesday called "Wack Wednesdays." The album was released on June 11, 2013.
Space Olympics
The Lonely Island Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You stand on a distant planet
Skyline of red plateaus
Strange air and vegetation
You're a winner!
Welcome to the Space Olympics
Take part in a grand tradition
Your name echoes in the holes of the universe!
Believe in yourself!
Take your game into outer space!
Every single galactic athlete
Needs a coded ID badge
Drug tests are mandatory
You're a winner!
The Athlete's Village is on Zargon
You all get a junior suite
We don't cover incidentals
So keep your ass off the minibar!
You're the best in the world!
Brace yourself 'cause there's no gravity!
You're in the motherfuckin' Space Olympics!
Let it be known by every nation
You'll only get one meal a day
There was a bit of a budget SNAFU
And food funding is insufficient
We can't really enforce a curfew
As there is no light or sound
Just one of the many problems
With hosting a sporting event in space.
Attention all athletes. There are minor scheduling adjustments.
Space Disc! Is totally canceled.
Space Swords! Is totally canceled.
Space Luge! Is also canceled.
And all other events are pending!
Welcome to your Space Olympics
All the oxygen has run out
And someone who will not be named
Accidentally hit self-destruct
As you file to your escape pods
I'll distract the alien hordes
And as I stare death in the face I know my sins will take me to hell.
You do it for the love
My love
And there ain't no woman that could take your spot my love
The Lonely Island's song Space Olympics is a humorous and satirical take on the Olympics that takes place in outer space. The lyrics are about an intergalactic sporting event in the distant future in the year thirty twenty-two. The song begins with the chorus "Reach for the stars!", which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The first verse describes the planet on which the sporting event takes place. The athletes are praised and promised a grand tradition that echoes through the universe, encouraging them to believe in themselves and take their game into outer space.
The second verse describes the preparations for the event, including the necessity for each athlete to carry a coded ID badge and undergo drug testing. The athletes are provided with a junior suite at the Athlete's Village, but they are also warned not to touch the minibar as it is not covered by the organization's expenses. The events are presented as challenging, with the warning to brace yourself as there is no gravity in space.
The last verse takes a comical and surreal turn by announcing the cancellation of all events, food running out, oxygen running out, and an impending self-destruct. The song ends on a melancholic note, with the artist singing that the athletes do it all for love, referencing the motivations behind participating in an event in which almost every factor is against the athletes.
Line by Line Meaning
Reach for the stars!
Encouragement to aspire for great things.
You stand on a distant planet
Setting the scene of being in outer space.
Skyline of red plateaus
Describing the landscape of the distant planet.
Strange air and vegetation
Further describing the foreign environment.
You're a winner!
Instilling confidence and a winning attitude.
Welcome to the Space Olympics
Introducing the event and setting the tone.
The year Thirty Twenty Two
Providing a futuristic setting.
Take part in a grand tradition
Playing up the importance and history of the Space Olympics.
Your name echoes in the holes of the universe!
Exaggerating the significance and noteworthiness of participating.
Believe in yourself!
Reinforcing self-confidence and the importance of mental fortitude.
Take your game into outer space!
Urging athletes to rise to the unique and extreme circumstances.
Every single galactic athlete
Referring to all the athletes involved.
Needs a coded ID badge
Emphasizing the strict protocol and procedures involved.
Drug tests are mandatory
Highlighting the importance of ensuring a level playing field.
The Athlete's Village is on Zargon
Providing more details about logistics and location.
You all get a junior suite
Despite the grandiose setting, accommodations are not luxurious.
We don't cover incidentals
Bringing attention to financial constraints and limitations.
So keep your ass off the minibar!
Giving a specific warning to be frugal and responsible.
You're the best in the world!
Underscoring the elite level of competition.
Brace yourself 'cause there's no gravity!
Pointing out another unique challenge of the Space Olympics.
You're in the motherfuckin' Space Olympics!
Reiterating the gravity and importance of the event.
Let it be known by every nation
Stressing the message is for everyone to hear and take note of.
You'll only get one meal a day
Further underscoring the financial constraints and limitations.
There was a bit of a budget SNAFU
Acknowledging a misstep or oversight in the planning of the event.
And food funding is insufficient
Blatantly stating there is not enough money to provide more than one meal per day.
We can't really enforce a curfew
Admitting a lack of control over some circumstances.
As there is no light or sound
Offering an explanation for why a curfew is not feasible.
Just one of the many problems
Conceding that there are a multitude of challenges involved.
With hosting a sporting event in space.
Indicating the title challenge and novelty of the event.
Attention all athletes. There are minor scheduling adjustments.
Announcing changes to the event to be made.
Space Disc! Is totally canceled.
Clarifying which events are canceled and canceled completely
Space Swords! Is totally canceled.
Clarifying which events are canceled and canceled completely
Space Luge! Is also canceled.
Clarifying which events are canceled and canceled completely.
And all other events are pending!
Providing an update on the status of other events.
Welcome to your Space Olympics
Repeating the introduction for emphasis or due to restarting.
All the oxygen has run out
Announcing a major problem and potentially dire situation.
And someone who will not be named
Acknowledging responsibility for something bad happening, but not wanting to call it out.
Accidentally hit self-destruct
Specifying the root cause of the problem.
As you file to your escape pods
Giving instruction on how to get to safety.
I'll distract the alien hordes
Providing additional help or support to the athletes to get to safety.
And as I stare death in the face I know my sins will take me to hell.
Offering a potentially humorous, yet fatalistic comment on the situation.
You do it for the love
Suggesting athletes compete for the love of their sport or activity.
My love
Affectionately speaking to the athletes.
And there ain't no woman that could take your spot my love
Praising the athletes and their importance to the event.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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