Singer Iggy Pop and his wild onstage antics were often the focus of attention. The band had a shambling, energetic sound deliberately reminiscent of past garage rock groups. They sold very few records in their original incarnation and often performed to indifferent or hostile audiences. Nevertheless, the Stooges are often regarded as hugely influential both on then-nascent heavy metal movement and also on punk rock. As has been said about The Velvet Underground, the handful of people who did actually buy the Stooges' early records at the time ended up forming bands of their own and thus changed history. In fact, Velvet Underground member John Cale produced the original incarnation of their self-titled album. The 1969 album 'The Stooges' has received since its release critical acclaim from many reviewers over the years.
The Stooges drew their sound from a variety of influences. Examples include the often transgressive rock and roll artists The Doors, The MC5, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, and The Who. As well, the band members enjoyed the work of jazz and soul artists such as Booker T and the MGs, James Brown, and Miles Davis (particularly 'Bitches Brew').
In 2003, Iggy, Scott, and Ron reformed The Stooges with Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt filling in. The 2000s lineup played festivals around the world, and in 2006 recorded a new album with Steve Albini.
Founding member and guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, MI on January 6, 2009. Iggy Pop posted a message on his website stating "I am in shock. He was my best friend."
On June 22, 2016, Williamson made an official statement for the band saying that the Stooges are no more.
"The Stooges is over. Basically, everybody's dead except Iggy and I. So it would be sort-of ludicrous to try and tour as Iggy and the Stooges when there's only one Stooge in the band and then you have side guys. That doesn't make any sense to me."
Website: www.iggyandthestoogesmusic.com
The Weirdness
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fear runs around my brain
I had to leave
I could not stand the heat
They look at me with scorn
One more dead life was born
Formed from the clay
One word can just describe
Modern life comes to mind
This word alone
Puts the ache in my bones
It's weirdness
My dear
The weirdness
Is here
Weirdness
Weirdness
My, all this atmosphere
Chills my desire dear
You're so attractive
And I am a man
Like the guy in Psycho
Voices tell me hello
There's death and danger here
For something is queer
One word can just describe
Modern life comes to mind
This word alone
It's the ache in my bones
It's weirdness
My dear
The weirdness
Is here
Weirdness
Weirdness
The weirdness
The weirdness
The weirdness
The weirdness
The weirdness
The Stooges’ song, The Weirdness, describes the lead singer's feelings of being disconnected and estranged from society. The song begins with his mention of fear running around his brain, defining the uneasiness he feels in public. The singer's dissatisfaction with his life is described in the second verse as he explains the way people look at him with scorn, tired and disillusioned with their own unhappy lives. The chorus repeats the words "Weirdness" which represents the jarring and unsettling feelings he experiences in this oppressive world. The song also reveals a specific paranoia seen in lines like "Like the guy in Psycho, voices tell me hello," which amplifies the more eerie and unsettling vibe in the song.
The song reflects the feelings of society at that time with the lead singer describing his fear of the contemporary world as "weirdness." His rejection of modern times is exemplified in the lyrics "modern life comes to mind", which only serves to reinforce The Stooges' nostalgic desire for something lost in society. The lyrics express a sense of disconnect and confusion with the world, a world that has been built on destruction and unhappiness. The contrast between the singer's emotional unease and society's happy-go-lucky façade still strikingly echoes in today's societal themes, demonstrating the haunting timelessness of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel so estranged
I am experiencing a strong sense of disconnection and unfamiliarity.
Fear runs around my brain
My mind is consumed by terror and anxiety.
I had to leave
I had no choice but to depart from my previous situation.
I could not stand the heat
I was unable to cope with the pressure and intensity of my surroundings.
They look at me with scorn
Others view me with contempt and distaste.
One more dead life was born
Another individual has succumbed to the soul-crushing monotony of existence.
Formed from the clay
Originated from the same hopeless existence as those around me.
Of their unhappy ways
Inspired by the dismal and depressing lifestyle of those around me.
One word can just describe
One term provides a comprehensive description of my present reality.
Modern life comes to mind
I am reminded of the bleakness and desolation inherent in contemporary society.
This word alone
This single word encapsulates my current emotional state.
Puts the ache in my bones
The term evokes a deep, visceral pain within me.
It's weirdness
The unusual and unsettling nature of my surroundings is difficult to comprehend.
My dear
Addressing the ominous presence that surrounds me with a term of endearment.
The weirdness
The eerie and disquieting atmosphere is pervasive and all-encompassing.
Is here
This unsettling environment is present and inescapable.
Weirdness
Repeating the word to emphasize the pervasive nature of the disturbing environment.
The weirdness
Continuing to emphasize the all-encompassing nature of the unsettling environment.
My, all this atmosphere
Commenting on the pervasive and eerie nature of the surroundings.
Chills my desire dear
The unsettling atmosphere has a paralyzing effect, causing me to lose my motivation and drive.
You're so attractive
Addressing a specific individual, acknowledging their physical attractiveness.
And I am a man
Acknowledging myself as a typical male with typical desires and needs.
Like the guy in Psycho
Comparing myself to the infamous character in the horror film, suggesting that my mental state is similarly unstable.
Voices tell me hello
Experiencing auditory hallucinations, potentially indicative of psychological distress.
There's death and danger here
The environment is fraught with peril and the potential for fatal harm.
For something is queer
There is a pervasive sense of oddness and abnormality present in the environment.
The weirdness
Reiterating the unsettling nature of the environment.
It's the ache in my bones
My physical and emotional distress is all-encompassing and deeply felt.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IGGY POP, RON ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind