Song for a Future Generation
Encyclopedia
"Song for a Future Generation" is the third single taken from The B-52's
1983 album Whammy!
. It peaked at #63 on the UK Singles Chart
and also reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart, along with the album tracks "Whammy Kiss
" and "Legal Tender
." It is the first of two songs by the B-52's to feature all five band members singing lead vocals, the second being "Theme for a Nude Beach" from the album Bouncing off the Satellites
.
The song's lyrical content has been speculated to be a satirical look at heterosexual coupling, evidenced both by the dating agency styled introductions of the band members, and by the repeated lyric: "let's meet and have a baby NOW!" The title of the song is not part of the lyrics, and was used as the title of a 1998 B-52's greatest hits compilation album, Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation
.
A music video was filmed to accompany "Song for a Future Generation" for promotion on television. It features the band members performing the song on podiums, swings and in a Brady Bunch
style split screen. The video also features some of the most extravagant, elaborate bouffant wigs that the female members of the band notoriously wore throughout their early career, including one made of golden tinsel, one with a chicken wire frame (nicknamed "the bird cage") and one bouffant atop which sat a giant bow made from wig-hair.
The B-52's
sang "Song for a Future Generation" live over a backing track on the Whammy!
tour in 1983.
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
1983 album Whammy!
Whammy!
Media response to Whammy! was mixed, but generally positive; most critics agreed that while the album was generally weaker in songwriting structure than The B-52's' first two albums The B-52's and Wild Planet, it was an overall improvement over their previous album Mesopotamia, which received poor...
. It peaked at #63 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and also reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, along with the album tracks "Whammy Kiss
Whammy Kiss
"Whammy Kiss" is the second single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album Whammy!.The song reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with the album tracks "Legal Tender" and "Song for a Future Generation."-Chart positions:...
" and "Legal Tender
Legal Tender (song)
"Legal Tender" is the first single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album Whammy!. The single was their third Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, at #81. The song also peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation"...
." It is the first of two songs by the B-52's to feature all five band members singing lead vocals, the second being "Theme for a Nude Beach" from the album Bouncing off the Satellites
Bouncing off the Satellites
- Personnel :Band* Fred Schneider – lead vocals* Keith Strickland – bass, guitar, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, sitar, vocals, backing vocals* Cindy Wilson – lead vocals* Kate Pierson – lead vocals* Ricky Wilson – lead guitar, bass, backing vocals...
.
The song's lyrical content has been speculated to be a satirical look at heterosexual coupling, evidenced both by the dating agency styled introductions of the band members, and by the repeated lyric: "let's meet and have a baby NOW!" The title of the song is not part of the lyrics, and was used as the title of a 1998 B-52's greatest hits compilation album, Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation
Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation
Time Capsule: Songs For a Future Generation is a greatest hits album released by the B-52's in 1998. The album presents sixteen of their single releases and fan-favorite album tracks in chronological order, with the addition of two newly-recorded songs exclusive to this collection. One of them,...
.
A music video was filmed to accompany "Song for a Future Generation" for promotion on television. It features the band members performing the song on podiums, swings and in a Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
style split screen. The video also features some of the most extravagant, elaborate bouffant wigs that the female members of the band notoriously wore throughout their early career, including one made of golden tinsel, one with a chicken wire frame (nicknamed "the bird cage") and one bouffant atop which sat a giant bow made from wig-hair.
The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
sang "Song for a Future Generation" live over a backing track on the Whammy!
Whammy!
Media response to Whammy! was mixed, but generally positive; most critics agreed that while the album was generally weaker in songwriting structure than The B-52's' first two albums The B-52's and Wild Planet, it was an overall improvement over their previous album Mesopotamia, which received poor...
tour in 1983.
UK 2 x vinyl 7" single: Island Records
- "Song for a Future Generation"
- "Song for a Future Future Generation" (Instrumental)
- "Planet Claire"
- "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)"