The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
Encyclopedia
"The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" is a song by Timbuk3. It is the opening track from their debut album, Greetings from Timbuk 3
. It was released by I.R.S. Records
in 1986. The song made the Top 20 in the United States (#19) and The United Kingdom (#21).
said to her partner and husband singer/songwriter Pat MacDonald, "The future is looking so bright, we'll have to wear sunglasses!" But, while Barbara had made the comment in earnest – it was the early '80s, the two had met and married and were starting a family, their first EP was coming, their book was filling up with gigs – Pat heard the comment as an ironic quip and wrote down instead, "The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades."
From there, the lyrics to the song were born, but not the song as it ended up in the minds of popular culture. While Pat wrote a song of a young nuclear scientist and his rich future, listening audiences heard a graduation theme song.
Pat revealed on VH1's "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders
of the '80s" list that the meaning of the song was widely misinterpreted as a positive perspective in regard to the near future. Pat somewhat clarified the meaning by stating that it was, contrary to popular belief, a "grim" outlook. While not saying so directly, he hinted at the idea that the bright future was in fact due to impending nuclear holocaust. The "job waiting" after graduation signified the demand for nuclear scientists to facilitate such events. Pat drew upon the multitude of past predictions which transcend several cultures that foreshadow the world ending in the 1980s, along with the nuclear tension at the height of the cold war to compile the song.
The group's EP Looks Like Dark to Me contains a slower version of the song with an additional verse, making clear the dark nature of the song's intent:
That same EP's title track also refers back to this song:
, 1992's Kuffs
starring Christian Slater, Dream a little dream (1989), and TV show soundtracks.
Greetings from Timbuk 3
Greetings from Timbuk 3 was the debut album from Timbuk 3. The album contains their only charting single, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades".-Track listing:...
. It was released by I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
in 1986. The song made the Top 20 in the United States (#19) and The United Kingdom (#21).
Background
The inspiration for the song, and the title specifically, came when Barbara K. MacDonaldBarbara K. MacDonald
Barbara Kooyman Barbara Kooyman (also known as by her stage name Barbara K and formerly Barbara K. MacDonald) Barbara Kooyman (also known as by her stage name Barbara K and formerly Barbara K. MacDonald) (born October 4, 1958 in Wausau, Wisconsin is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin,...
said to her partner and husband singer/songwriter Pat MacDonald, "The future is looking so bright, we'll have to wear sunglasses!" But, while Barbara had made the comment in earnest – it was the early '80s, the two had met and married and were starting a family, their first EP was coming, their book was filling up with gigs – Pat heard the comment as an ironic quip and wrote down instead, "The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades."
From there, the lyrics to the song were born, but not the song as it ended up in the minds of popular culture. While Pat wrote a song of a young nuclear scientist and his rich future, listening audiences heard a graduation theme song.
Pat revealed on VH1's "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
of the '80s" list that the meaning of the song was widely misinterpreted as a positive perspective in regard to the near future. Pat somewhat clarified the meaning by stating that it was, contrary to popular belief, a "grim" outlook. While not saying so directly, he hinted at the idea that the bright future was in fact due to impending nuclear holocaust. The "job waiting" after graduation signified the demand for nuclear scientists to facilitate such events. Pat drew upon the multitude of past predictions which transcend several cultures that foreshadow the world ending in the 1980s, along with the nuclear tension at the height of the cold war to compile the song.
The group's EP Looks Like Dark to Me contains a slower version of the song with an additional verse, making clear the dark nature of the song's intent:
Blowin' up the lab,
Blowin' the professor,
Torn between two evils,
I always pick the lesser.
That same EP's title track also refers back to this song:
The future's been bright for so long now, it looks like dark to me
List of compilation albums containing the song
- L.A. Freeway
- The '80s Hit(s) Back!
- Chart Toppers: Modern Rock Hits of the 80's, Vol. 2
- Only Dance: 1985-1989
- Rock of the 80's: Volume 5
- Entertainment Weekly: The Greatest Hits 1986
- Living In Oblivion : The 80's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
- On the Charts: I.R.S. Records 1979-1994
- Only in the 80s, Vol. 3
- Rock on
- Entertainment Weekly: The Greatest Hits 1985-1989
- I.R.S. Records on the Charts
- Overnight Sensations 1975-1989
- Disney's An Extremely Goofy Movie Dance Party! soundtrack (2000)
- Where Were You? - 1987
Use on film and TV soundtracks
The track has been used in the 1986 movie Something Wild, 1987 movies Campus Man and My Best Friend Is a VampireMy Best Friend Is a Vampire
My Best Friend Is a Vampire is a 1987 American horror-comedy film about a newly made vampire who is trying to live as a "good" vampire and not feed on humans. Jeremy is played by Robert Sean Leonard and Rene Auberjonois also stars as Jeremy's vampire guidance counsel...
, 1992's Kuffs
Kuffs
Kuffs is a 1992 comedy film directed by Bruce A. Evans and produced by Raynold Gideon. It stars Christian Slater and Milla Jovovich. The film also features Ashley Judd in her first movie role....
starring Christian Slater, Dream a little dream (1989), and TV show soundtracks.
External links
- [ allmusic.com]
- Lyrics