DEVO, a band I’ve loved since before I was born. A postmodern extravaganzaa that at some point, with the changing times, became modern. We know and love them for their amazing synth capabilities, making sounds that make you both laugh and wince at their perfect construction.
A casual DEVO fan, or maybe someone who only knows “Whip It”, may easily write them off as a joke, a band with no backbone or emotions. I think part of what makes DEVO so amazing is that underneath all the goofiness there is a real sense of love, both lost and found. And how po-mo is that?
I recently found myself reacquainted with a song that always had my feet tapping as a child, and was just overwhelmed by the raw declarations made in the lyrics. If you have ever been in love, or just dreamed about it, I’m sure you can relate to Mothersbaugh’s sentiments in “I Desire”
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE THOUGHT
THAT YOUR LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS
AND YOUR GESTURES HAVE THE POWER
TO BRING THE WHOLE WORLD TO ITS KNEES
DON’T LET ME TORMENT YOU
DON’T LET ME BRING YOU DOWN
DON’T EVER LET ME HURT YOU
DON’T LET ME FAIL BECAUSE
I DESIRE YOUR ATTENTION
I DESIRE YOUR PERFECT LOVE
I DESIRE NOTHING MORE (THAN THIS)
TO GIVE YOU HAPPINESS
COULD BECOME A LIFETIME GOAL
A SMILE I MIGHT BRING YOU
IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WORLD PEACE
DON’T LET ME TORMENT YOU
DON’T LET ME BRING YOU DOWN
DON’T EVER LET ME HURT YOU
DON’T LET ME FAIL BECAUSE
I DESIRE YOUR ATTENTION
I DESIRE YOUR PERFECT LOVE
I DESIRE NOTHING MORE
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FACT
THAT YOU’RE WISE TO WALK AWAY
FOR NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS
THAN DESIRE WHEN IT’S WRONG
DON’T LET ME TORMENT YOU
DON’T LET ME BRING YOU DOWN
DON’T EVER LET ME HURT YOU
DON’T LET ME FAIL BECAUSE
I DESIRE YOUR ATTENTION
I DESIRE YOUR PERFECT LOVE
I DESIRE NOTHING MORE (OR LESS)
