The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

Song of the Summer: Pumped Up Kicks

This song is one of the most highly disturbing songs of the generation, yet it hit the Hot 100 list as soon as it was released. “Pumped Up Kicks” was Foster the People’s first song to be released and was also included in their first album Torches, which hit the racks May 23, 2011.

The song describes an outcast in high school who has found a gun and is plotting revenge against all of the people that have bullied him. Instead of writing a sad story about a victim from another person’s perspective, this song gets into the mind of the victimized killer, accessing his thoughts and finding his reasons to want revenge.

Disturbing? Very much so. “It’s a f**k you song to hipsters, in a kind of way,” said Mark Foster,  guitarist and lead vocalist, in an interview with Rolling Stone. But the kids, or “hipsters,” mentioned in the song have not reacted as negatively as expected.

By deciding on a chic, upbeat tempo for the song, the band has made it accessible even to the people that it is aimed against. It mixes a familiar electronic song with acoustic sound in the vein of Mumford and Sons, hence creating a whole new type of music. The alarming chorus of “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you’d better run/ better run, outrun my gun/All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you’d better run/ better run, faster than my bullet,” mixed with the groovy dance music makes this a one-of-a-kind song.

Story continues below advertisement

So  press play on this Song of the Summer and groove your way into disturbia.

0
0
View Comments (1)
Donate to The Pitch
$775
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Walter Johnson High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributor
Wahid Ishrar, Print Editorial Editor

Wahid Ishrar is a senior and the Print Editorial Editor for The Pitch. He also enjoys photography and writing in his free time.

He is a member of the Art, Science, Chinese and National Honors Societies, the President of the Photo Club, Treasurer of the Book Club and a member of various other clubs.

In addition, Wahid is an avid reader who is obsessed with The Hunger Games Trilogy, the A Song of Ice and Fire series, the Harry Potter series and anything by Charles Dickens. He is passionate about the sitcom "Friends," the drama "LOST" and "A Game of Thrones."
Donate to The Pitch
$775
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (1)

All The Pitch Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • A

    AhsanOct 27, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Great write up!

    Reply