Attack Of The Fifty Foot Woman

Album: The Completion Backward Principle (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Tubes were fascinated by campy pop culture, and it doesn't get much more campy than Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman, a 1958 movie about a woman who grows to 10 times her normal size after she is touched by a giant hand belonging to an alien of some kind. She goes on a rampage, ripping the roof off of a building and killing those who crossed her.

    The film is a classic B-movie, combining sci-fi, horror and comedy into an entertaining mess. And of course, the 50-foot woman is really hot and lightly clothed. This song is an homage to the film, telling a similar story about a guy whose girlfriend grows to that size after being exposed to nuclear radiation. She also goes out of control, stomping on men to get her kicks.
  • Tubes lead singer Fee Waybill wrote the lyric to this song, which is one of his favorites. "It's a funny song," he told Songfacts. "I get to play the boyfriend - the young kid who was stunned by the transformation. It's a really fun song to sing."
  • This was included on The Completion Backward Principle, the group's first album with Capitol Records, and their commercial breakthrough. A fun, quirky song with a strong visual element, "Attack Of The Fifty Foot Woman" is in line with what the group was doing in the '70s when they were signed to A&M Records. Other songs on The Completion Backward Principle, which was produced by hit man David Foster, had more pop appeal, notably "Don't Want To Wait Anymore" and "Talk To Ya Later."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.