Elephant

Album: Lonerism (2012)
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Songfacts®:

  • Tame Impala is a Psychedelic Rock project led by Australian musician, singer and producer Kevin Parker. Their name refers to the impala, a medium sized antelope, "Not so much domesticated, the band explained to FasterLouder, "more like, less afraid of things; not running away all the time." This is the first single from their second album, Lonerism.
  • Parker explained the song's meaning to NME: "It's not really a song about being a loner; it's a song about the bully," he said. "The guy who thinks he's great. The jock. You can imagine a real reclusive kind of guy who's a bit bitter about this guy who thinks he's great. Which is the opposite vibe of the loner, so it presents him in the worst light."
  • Tame Impala took home the Best Album award at the 2013 ARIAs for Lonerism. They also won Best Rock Album and Best Band at the event.
  • Kevin Parker suggested to Grantland that he is not a fan of the song. In the interview it is claimed that Parker "seems embarrassed by the empty-headed bluesy swagger of 'Elephant'" and the Tame Impala frontman is also quoted as saying, "It's a little bittersweet because, like, that song paid for half my house."
  • Children's entertainers The Wiggles covered the track on the Australian national radio station Triple J for the segment Like a Version on March 4, 2021. Their version went viral, receiving over 1 million global views on Triple J's YouTube page in its first week.
  • The Wiggles version of "Elephant" reached #1 on the 2021 Triple J Hottest 100, Australia's annual listener-voted poll of the most popular songs of the year. It's the first time a cover topped the poll.
  • "Elephant" won Best Song at the EG Music Awards in 2012.

Comments: 1

  • Patricus Rexus from NoybAre you kidding me. Think of what has come out in the last 10 years that even attempts to rock. An ode to PF with a real back beat. You guys should jam with Wolfmother and see what comes out of it. Quit the commercial nonsense.
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