Brainville

Album: Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although the narrator is trying to find a way to the elusive Brainville in The Flaming Lips' goofy tune, it's not really a place you'd want to visit. Frontman Wayne Coyne explained in the biography Staring At Sound: The True Story Of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips: "I imagined these guys who put fliers up all over town saying, 'Brainville University, Tuition One Dollar' and listing this back alley as the address, and then they beat up and rob anybody dumb enough to show up."
  • The band argued over how the handclaps should sound, with guitarist Ronald Jones voting for mighty, Queen-style claps and Wayne preferring looser smacks akin to The Stooges' first album. Drummer Steven Drozd settled the argument by playing David Bowie's 1971 album, Hunky Dory, and they emulated the syncopated handclapping of "Andy Warhol."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.