In 2007, longtime best friends Rocky Tinder and Eric Phipps moved to Portla… Read Full Bio ↴In 2007, longtime best friends Rocky Tinder and Eric Phipps moved to Portland, Oregon and decided to start a band. With all the buoyancy and idealism of youth (being fresh out of high school at the time), and stimulated by the massive amount of creative output surrounding them in their new city, they sketched out a vision for a massive friend band - the possibility of getting every single one of their buds on stage and creating a monumental live show. Yet both boys have discerning taste, having backgrounds in music theory from a tender age, and questioned the logistics of a chaotic set-up. Moreover, they were enamored of the freedom that local dance music outfits had with their compact set-ups, allowing these acts to show up and throw down anywhere. Accordingly, they tweaked their vision and decided to just do it themselves. Armed with two guitars and an iPod filled with their meticulously prerecorded beats, bass lines, and bells, they became Wampire – two boys on a mission to have as much fun being a dance-rock duo as 20 people combined. Now, 3 years later, with the new addition of drummer Cyrus Lampton for extra beats and extra smiles, it is very safe to say that Wampire have succeeded: this band is epically, epically fun. Whether rocking out in the dark of a nightclub, with Flashdance projected behind them from out of Tinder's gold-painted VCR, or stripping down to their skivvies during an afternoon parking lot performance, Wampire is a sight to behold. They're certainly not taking themselves too seriously, but one can say a lot more than that about their live show. Their easy chemistry and inexhaustible joviality is totally infectious – you're powerless to resist the dance floor when they take the stage. They've also managed, in a rare feat these days, to wed onstage antics with bonafide musicianship, earning them love from musicians, critics, and fans all over Portland. From their delightful re-invention of Kraftwerk's “Das model,” sung impeccably in German by Phipps over a sleek synth-pop landscape, to original jewels like “Hyphy shred” which boasts soaring guitars and blissed-out glitchiness, their work would be right at home amongst the current Chillwave phenomenon made popular by Neon Indian, Washed Out, Small Black, etc. Yet don't be confused into thinking that their bliss is purely aesthetic, for there is no too-cool posturing when it comes to Wamp-Wamp, as Wampire is often affectionately called around town. Their aesthetic arose organically, out of the stoner/skater/slacker subculture to which they belong, having built a fanbase from the basement up via Portland's vibrant house show scene. Among these roots is a stint living, working, and curating all-ages shows at the legendary now-defunct downtown Portland performance space The Hush. Now, they're considered one of the staples of Portland's dance/electronic scene, sharing bills with local greats like Starfucker, Reporter, and Glass Candy.

People of Earth
Wampire Lyrics

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People of Earth
I have travelled so far
You know I'm made of glitter
Cuz I come from the stars
I've flown from star to star
To reach this planet so blue
Listen to my story
Cuz my message is true

And I know
Just how you feel
And I see
Your loving is real
But your ways
Will lead you you astray
The clock on the wall
Will ruin it all

People of Earth
They're always driving their cars
They dress all kinds of fancy
And they're drinking at bars
The thing I like the most
Is how they show what they feel
The clock upon the wall
Is always mocking them still

But I know
Just how they feel
And I see
Their loving is real
But in space
Time is erased

The clock on the wall
Would ruin it all

Overall Meaning

The song "People of Earth" by Wampire is a commentary on the human condition as seen from the perspective of an extraterrestrial visitor. The singer describes themselves as having come from the stars, made of glitter, and having flown from star to star to reach Earth. They entreat the listener to listen to their story because their message is true. The alien narrator expresses sympathy for the people of Earth, acknowledging the depth and reality of their emotional lives. However, throughout the song, the clock on the wall is presented as a symbol of the limitations of human existence. The singer implies that humanity's fixation on time, as measured by clocks, is ultimately detrimental to their well-being.

The song offers a contrast between the singer's perspective and that of the people of Earth. The people of Earth are described as always driving their cars, dressing fancily, and drinking at bars. Despite these mundane pleasures, the clock on the wall is always present, mocking their attempts at happiness. The singer seems to long for the freedom from time that they enjoy in space, recognizing the ways in which humanity is limited by its fixation on measuring seconds and minutes.

Overall, "People of Earth" can be interpreted as a philosophical meditation on the human condition, with the alien narrator serving as a stand-in for a wise, insightful voice that sees humanity with both understanding and a certain distance.

Line by Line Meaning

People of Earth
The beings on this planet

I have travelled so far
I've journeyed across the cosmos

You know I'm made of glitter
My essence is infused with light

Cuz I come from the stars
As an extraterrestrial, that's where I originated from

I've flown from star to star
I've traveled among celestial bodies

To reach this planet so blue
I've come to this blue, watery world

Listen to my story
Hear what I have to say

Cuz my message is true
My words are authentic

And I know
I understand

Just how you feel
I empathize with your emotions

And I see
I observe