 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
"Pumped Up Kicks" (CD Single)
- By Foster the People
- Genre: Pop
Common Sense Media says
Upbeat music masks darker messages about smoking, guns.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while this song has a cheery melody, it's about a kid with a cowboy-like fantasy who thinks it's cool to smoke and wield the gun he finds in his dad's closet. Though there's no profanity in the tune, its messages about violence and smoking make it somewhat iffy for younger kids.
What's the story?
"PUMPED UP KICKS" is a pop tune by hipster group Foster the People that revolves around an old-time cowboy fantasy, with a kid who thinks it's cool to smoke threaten others with the gun he finds in his dad's closet: "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun...faster than my bullet."
Is it any good?
"Pumped Up Kicks" is the kind of song that gets stuck in your brain. You can't help but like the bouncy pop hook, with part of the lead vocals sporting a muted, megaphone-like sound that adds even more appeal. Aside from the fact that the lyrics are about guns and smoking, it's a fun, upbeat song.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the contrast between this song's lighter musical tone and its darker messages. Why might the band have paired lighter music with a deeper message? Is it possible that the talk about smoking and shooting is just a joke?
Is it ever OK to joke around about something as serious as shooting another person? Why or why not?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Don't give these hate promoters your $$!
I actually loved this song when I first heard it, until I looked up the lyrics. I am disgusted by this song. This song is about a disturbed boy who is abused and plans on shooting "all the kids with the pumpled up kicks" (kids who wear the good shoes, clothes, etc) at school. With school shootings in recent years, this is a slap in the face to every parent who has lost a child to this type of violence. Foster the People should be ashamed of themseves if they even have the soul to feel such an emotion as shame. As far as I am concerned, this is the devil's music. (I used to laugh at that expression when I would hear older people say it about rock n roll, but it fits this song)
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Kid, 12 years old
August 16, 2011
AGE
GREAT!
This is my favorite song ever!!! The iffy stuff will fly over kid's heads
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AGE
i am 12 and love the song i can't understand the singing for it to matter
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AGE
Pumped up really well
This is a really good song reminds me of the 90s for some reason but the lyrics are really good and ispring too
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AGE
Calm Down!!
I think that people are over-reacting to the lyrics of this song. In an interview, Mark Foster explained the meaning of the song. It's not about some random kid who's killing people. It's about "a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast." Yes, I'll admit that this behavior isn't correct. But when I listen to this song, I don't want to go out and kill people who make fun of me - I want to doubly make sure that I am nice to the kids who are made fun of! I think that this song is for a mature 12 or 13 year old and I would have given it five stars for amazing instrumental but its dark lyrics earned it a four.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 25, 2011
AGE
HATE IT!!!
I CAN'T STAND THIS SONG! IT'S THE MOST AWFUL SONG EVER, BUT ALWAYS GETS IN MY HEAD! IT HAS A CATCHY BEAT, BUT THE LYRICS ARE SO DISTURBING!!!
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AGE
If you think this song is suitable for kids, reread the lyrics...
This song is somewhat like a Gorillaz song. The verse vocals are muffled and hard to hear, but if you listen carefully, you'll realise this song has a subliminal meaning behind it. The lyrics are about a child who shoots people he is jealous of, and smokes at a young age. What makes it worse is that how the lyrics are written makes it seem that they're trying to tell the listener that guns are cool. Do not listen if you are faint-hearted.
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AGE
Deeply disturbing message hidden behind cheery tune.
I actually liked this song... before I looked up the lyrics and realized what it is actually about! When I read the lyrics... I got this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. It is so incredibly dark and disturbing. Not for kids... not for anyone. If the song gave some sort of positive message saying that the action being described in the song were bad... maybe it would have redeemed itself. But, as it stands, this song needs to be taken off of the airwaves.
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AGE
great song!
MY FAVORITE SONG!!! it's awesome!!! i think all the iffy stuff will fly over kids' heads.
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AGE
Great song, talks about how its not cool.
Basically, what this song is talking about, is a kid, going to his fathers closet, getting a gun, and shooting all the popular kids at his school. But, Foster The People are just saying, how thats not cool to do that, because things like this actually happen. Also
@Totally500
An inspiring song...? Demonic child.
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| Artist: | Foster the People |
| Type: | Single |
| Release date: | July 28, 2011 |
| Label: | NME Radar Records |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |
| Edited version available: | No |
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