Peace Sword (Open Your Heart)

Album: Peace Sword EP (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This kaleidoscopic song was penned by The Flaming Lips for Ender's Game and plays during the movie's end credits. When the band originally received the commission, frontman Wayne Coyne had not heard of the 1985 hit novel, which was the film's source. "People described it to me a bit like 'Harry Potter in outer space,'" he explained to Spin magazine. However, attracted by the flick's "video game philosophy" and subject matter of a youngster who is sent to an advanced military academy in outer space to prepare for a future alien invasion that threatens the future of humanity, the band was up for the challenge.

    Coyne and his bandmates penned the song using some clips from the film and a thematic sketch as their source material. The frontman told Spin that at first, the filmmakers thought the song was "too sad," but after some alterations came up with the swooning, psychedelic finished product.
  • The Flaming Lips' creative juices were so inspired by the process that they recorded five further songs inspired by Ender's Game. Though the additional tunes were all rejected by the filmmakers, the band collected them all together on a disc, Peace Sword EP. Coyne told Rolling Stone that the experience confirmed his belief that writing to a narrative aids his band's writing process citing two of their best-known albums as evidence -The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. "Our most satisfying records to listen to... at the end you kind of stumble upon a character and a theme and a story," he said. "The more you do it, the more you're compelled by your own creation."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.