🎵 Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkey REACTION

Thanks for checking out our Peter Gabriel reaction. Shock The Monkey was the headliner for our 80's night live stream.
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[@OronOfMontreal]

Peter Gabriel has stated that "Shock the Monkey" is about jealousy. Go figure, eh? You should have seen him, in the day, performing this live. Amazing. The 1982 music video was chosen by MTV and by Rolling Stone magazine as the best Rock music video of all time, to be supplanted four years later by another Peter Gabriel video: "Sledgehammer". That one is still considered the absolutely best music video ever created.

[@MsTruthseeker999]

Wow I never knew it was about jealousy...I always thought it was maybe about experiments on monkeys! Lol but was mainly just confused by the lyrics.

[@hosehead58]

both videos were excellent..the rest of them, 99%, you can forget

[@alukuhito]

I've always thought of it as about trying to kick the habit of doing drugs. Drugs are the monkey on his back.

[@MarkJones-mm3br]

@@MsTruthseeker999 you are also correct. The jealousy was observed in an experiment with monkeys. Reading about this experiment inspired PG to write the song.

[@cyberserk5614]

I think the same guy who created the video for Sledgehammer did the visuals for Frank Zappas Inca Roads.

[@mrkelso]

He's the monkey. He wants his girl to help him feel safe, but instead she's out there "casting her pearls before the swine", freaking him out, making him jealous. It reminds him of how scientists retrain the thought processes of lab animals: shock the monkey, watch it get hurt. He's not particularly cool with being treated like that. No arousal.

[@melissaw704]

Lol... everything is about “arousal” with these younger generations. Lex: “Oh, I know... I figured it out... 😅

[@mikeg.4211]

You're exactly right.

[@jamesburnett6247]

Bingo. Dead on. He feels like he’s being used as a lab experiment by some girl.

[@wholeshebang1]

@@melissaw704 - I wonder if they're aware of the expression "Spank your monkey," which _is_ about masturbation (by men). 😂

[@richardbailey1295]

I have been trying to figure out this one for years.....All I could find was Gabriel once introducing the song as a song 'About Jealousy' Your explanation makes sense.

[@sealdrup]

Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy.

[@s.mcpherson6354]

I loved how, on tour, he would wear the 'monkey' makeup. I remember that was the first tour I ever saw the artist wear their mic.

[@s.mcpherson6354]

@@sealdrup Sorry, you lost me. Do you mean how he was using electronics in the studio?

[@sealdrup]

@@s.mcpherson6354 No, someone had responded how they loved Wikipedia and said I could state it in my own words. I copy and paste text because I am a programmer.

[@lilymarinovic1644]

I thought it was about our primitive emotions as well- jealousy being one, anger another

[@smittybenzo4693]

In this episode of Brad & Lex, after the couch couple gets acquainted with Mr Gabriel while performing moderate "sways" and "bops", Lex may or may not pick up what Peter is putting down but she maintains optimism until her confidence peaks at the point of enlightenment in which she provides her "arousal" theory that isn't met with hostility from her cohort. In fact Brad exudes a sense of relief and peacefulness although his inquiries are left a mystery.

[@badgrandma6973]

I think your comment is very underappreciated sir. I find your sense of wit refreshing! LOL

[@robertcain9682]

I read maybe 3 comments like this now probably all yours. Will check next time. Lol

[@ninawildr4207]

@@badgrandma6973 i suuuuure do appreciate em and look for these comments here

[@jacobjones5269]

Tune in next time…

[@hubrisnaut]

weak

[@rogeroran2911]

Peter Gabriel is my favorite solo artist. Man is amazing. To get a better feel for his music try watching one of his live performances. Start with In Your Eyes from The Secret World Live video. Incredible musicianship.

[@TheScottSlater]

100% this.

[@Matt2010]

Was just going to say the same!

[@adgato75]

Peter Gabriel is immensely talented. He makes great music , in different styles , that is excellent. He was also one of the early white artists to incorporate "World Music" into their music.

[@jazztheglass6139]

Robert palmer "the silver gun" and woke up laughing" both excellent tracks

[@robertherring9277]

Danced to this in High School back in the day. Not my usual genre, but there is a lot of Peter Gabriel that I really like and have good memories too.

[@Cadinho93]

You guys should react to… Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill 🎸🤘

[@cwillece3128]

"Shock The Monkey" is sometimes mistaken as a song about shock therapy, but Gabriel has said it is a song about jealousy.

[@phungyi4947]

Oh, so it's not like spank the monkey? I did wonder though..

[@bobcorbin3294]

I read an interview with PG back in the 80'sand he said that to Shock The Monkey was to bring a persons emotions to the front

[@mr.knowitall6440]

Nice "cut and paste" job... 🧐

[@anthonygarcia3543]

I was always guessing this song’s meaning!! Thank you 🙏

[@BensSoZen]

'Peter Gabriel has never elaborated much on the meaning of “Shock The Monkey,” other than to say in a 1993 interview, “This song is about jealousy and a sort of animal nature.” However, another Gabriel song, “We Do What We’re Told,” was inspired by the infamous 1961 Milgram experiments in which subjects believed they were administering shocks to other test subjects and continued to administer higher and higher “shocks” when instructed to do so.'

[@terrysmith1037]

I was in college when this came out and MTV was just getting started. (They actually played music videos instead of strange reality shows) and the official video was played a lot. It is very interesting and fits Peter Gabriel well. You can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZ-5l2SQpKh9idE

[@chrisa4695]

I was a senior in high school or freshman in college.

[@jamesstarks3676]

Shock the monkey is about a lab experiment where one monkey has a shock collar and the other a button to induce the shock. The monkey isn't prone to use the button as it gives pain to his friend in the other cage, but when the lab tech gives the monkey with the shock collar grapes, but not yet one with the button, over time, jealousy causes the button monkey to shock his friend. Peter Gabriel was genius for researching hoe jealously causes our basic animal instincts to arise... to allow us to hurt others without remorse.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

"San Jacinto" or "Rhythm of the Heat" would be AMAAAAZING reactions for Peter Gabriel. "Biko" and "Solsbury Hill" would also be winners.

[@davidpeters44]

what he said.

[@jamessweet5341]

San Jacinto is gorgeously spiritual.

[@chosanwan1510]

Mercy Street, Games Without Frontiers Aaaand Sky Blue live W/The Blind Boys Of Alabama. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4u7oXt8arJ2mMU&ab_channel=PeterGabriel

[@metalmark1214]

Peter Gabriel has said this song is about jealousy.

[@mvellis3863]

Peter Gabriel is one of the creative geniuses of art/progressive/rock music starting in the 70's with Genesis and his solo career through the 80's and 90's (check out Kate Bush for his genius female counterpart). Highly recommend you react to Peter's "Digging In The Dirt" with the official video, or his incredible duet with Kate Bush "Don't Give Up"

[@Jhelpura]

Gabriel has described " Shock the Monkey " as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy. Gabriel has mentioned that the song's lyrical motif was inspired by King Kong's lightning powers in the film King Kong vs. Godzilla.....had to look this up and delete the other stupid post I made.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

That doesn't make sense. It seems obvious that the metaphorical monkey is like a lab monkey who is being experimented on. I think he must have been pulling someone's leg if he said something about King Kong.

[@JonathanVee]

If you want to hear a more intense version of this song, Coal Chamber did a cover of this song with Ozzy Osbourne in then late 90's. Its pretty awesome!

[@michaeldaugette802]

According to Peter Gabriel it’s a song about jealousy !

[@pauljansen1137]

His duet with Kate Bush..."Don't Give Up"....is worth a listen as well guys!!!

[@dennissullivan888]

I agree with "Don't Give Up", but even more so with Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill"

[@pauljansen1137]

@@dennissullivan888 well...I agree!

[@stuartfenton157]

The version of Roy Harper’s Another Day that Peter & Kate did in 1979 for her Christmas BBC TV special is equally as good.

[@gregfagan199]

As other commenters have noted, this song is about jealousy, and as Gabriel once put it himself at a concert I attended, the effect of shock on human behavior. Get your mind out of the gutter, Lex! 😉

[@CJ-Fischer]

Peter is Amazing! Love anything he has put out…especially with Genesis

[@BKLYN_TZU]

It's crazy to think this song is 40 years old this year and it sounds like it could fit in with some of today's EDM & '80S revival music Mr.Gabriel was definitely a futurist and ahead of his time when it came to the Electronic music

[@Johnny_Socko]

100% agree, this sound was SO fresh to me as a kid, I felt like it introduced a whole new concept of music to me. This song was originally played a little on traditional Rock radio (I guess because they already played Genesis), but it quickly got picked up on Alternative and New Wave stations, and THAT'S the music I started listening to. And in general, this song is just so freaking *cool,* I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.

[@BKLYN_TZU]

@@Johnny_Socko Arhythmius me too when I was a kid in the Early '80s I was already a fan of Genesis but to hear Peter creating more Electronic sounding music that's true that was getting main stream radio play thanks to him being in Genesis who would have thought this song was just one of many hits he had back then the cool thing about back then Artists could take their time & experiment with different sounds and still get mainstream airplay your right I have been listening to this song for 40 years can't believe I'm writing this and I never lost interest in hear this song now that's timeless music

[@buzzardbeatniks]

I love it but It absolutely sounds 40 years old.

[@BKLYN_TZU]

@@buzzardbeatniks Buzzardbeatniks it is 40 years old this song cameout in 1982 lol.

[@Sweep_The_Leg_Johnny]

funny you mention that. the last Synthwave set I DJ'd, i tossed this in. Fit perfectly.

[@timfeeley714-25]

The Peter Gabriel that you should listen to is "Biko" it is one of the most important songs ever written and helped bring an end to apartheid. There is a great movie about "Bantu Peter Biko" with Denzel Washington as Peter. Here's a link to the music video: ~ kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqa5oaaDaL50ndk

[@andrewriggs4364]

Yihla moja

[@timfeeley714-25]

@@andrewriggs4364 What the ? I ran it thru Bing translator, and apparently it's gibberish there's no such language !

[@timfeeley714-25]

@Jim Henderson Mahalo nui loa for the explanation !!!

[@andrewriggs4364]

@Tim Freeley it's what he says right before the line," the man is dead". Biko IS a powerful song. It helped raise awareness around the World when it came out.

[@swartwoodart2558]

They used to do experiments that would reward monkeys with food, or shock them, to see if they would learn. His woman is shocking him instead of helping him "Don't like it but I guess I'm learning"

[@Roadstar1602]

4:05 "You throw your pearls before the swine" is a reference to what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

[@spiderbass65]

According to Mr. Gabriel, this song is about jealousy.

[@iainweller452]

Peter Gabriel is just brilliant check out his song “Biko” it’s amazing

[@wholeshebang1]

Yes, it certainly is a powerful and emotional song. *Stephen Bantu Biko,* a prominent anti-apartheid activist during the '60s and '70s in South Africa, founded the *_Black Consciousness Movement_* which empowered and mobilized much of the urban Black population against apartheid - i.e. the enforced racial segregation and discrimination of Blacks by minority white colonizers (first the Dutch in 1652, then Britain, then back and forth between them for a few hundred years, until Dutch again). Apartheid prevailed in South Africa from 1948 until (future president) Nelson Mandela, after a serving 27 years in prison, also as a political prisoner, brokered the end of white-nationalist apartheid in 1994. Biko was arrested in 1977 at a roadblock, as a political prisoner for _subversion._ He was driven to a jail in Pretoria (700 miles away), and found shackled, naked and dead a week later in a filthy police hospital. Afrikaner (white) police claimed he'd died from a week-long hunger strike, though the autopsy showed he'd sustained a fatal blow to the head. Later, four police officers admitted to killing Biko, thinking they'd be granted ammesty (a pardon) by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee led by Desmond Tutu, but no legitimate political motive was found for them to murder him. (Note: I'm not assuming you don't know this, but thought it would inform Brad and Lex (and other readers) of the significance of Gabriel's song which tells the story of Biko and the racist, apatheid movement in South Africa.)

[@iainweller452]

@@wholeshebang1 thank you for sharing this

[@philiplinder3473]

I've read it's about fighting addiction. The "monkey on your back". 🙈

[@Diva369]

Gabriel was referring to scientists conducting experiments on caged monkeys. They attached wires to the monkey's head and would randomly shock the monkey to control their behavior. I feel it was torture of innocent animals. He's using the metaphor for the primitive pain he feels when his lover hurts him. Nothing about drugs or getting the monkey off your back. Though George Michael had a hit later in the decade called "Monkey" which fits your description very well.

[@jamessweet5341]

Electric shock is used as aversion training in animals. In this case, he's the monkey and he's being hurt.

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, his song "In Your Eyes" is outstanding!!!

[@wholeshebang1]

As is "Don't Give Up," with legendary, British singer/composer Kate Bush. The song is powerful and the video of Peter and Kate holding each other closely while standing, with a camera revolving around them, was so touching and emotional. I find it a source of comfort, and I sometimes cry, because the music, voices and imagery are so exquisitely beautiful!

[@KoZsWastingMoney]

Gabriel said the song is actually about jealousy.

[@MrDiddyDee]

I think its about our basic primal feelings, our fight or flight mechanism. No matter how intellectual humans become we can't escape are emotional reactions to potential threats. I think this song is about anger and jealously, he's asking his partner to have his back instead of making him jealous and suspicious and awaking the 'monkey' in him.

[@dannycasson1551]

This is absolutely one of my favorite artists. Incredible talent. His album “So” is a masterpiece in my opinion. I nearly forgot about this one. I think there’s a music video. Anyway I’m assuming it has something to do with lab experiments on animals.

[@wholeshebang1]

Yes, "So" is a fantastic album. This song is about jealousy in a relationship, as Peter Gabriel has described it. The video showed a monkey that appeared to be rigged up for a lab experiment. It's interesting that Brad thought it's a "chill" tune, whereas Lex thought it was a danceable one, saying it has _"a beat," - _all_ songs have a beat/rhythm - but I think she mean it's _upbeat_ and thus danceable. In the '90s when this came out, it was a *New Wave* (music genre) dance song. Rockers didn't dance to it, but prog rock fans loved it, as they'd also have been into *Genesis,* the world-famous, prog rock band Gabriel was in with drummer/singer Phil Collins (who also had a successful solo career, post-Genesis), Tony Banks, Steve Hacket and a few others over the years.

[@jeffreyaverett1800]

@@wholeshebang1 Shock The Monkey was released in 1982 PS & BTW ✌️

[@dannycasson1551]

@@wholeshebang1 👍

[@mhomho1979]

Peter Gabriel said he wrote the song about Jealousy.

[@deanchiampas3991]

You guys have a fun channel! Love your reactions! Lex, you are such a ray of light, and Brad plays off that perfectly!

[@tjmair761]

People used to think that it was about the Milgram experiments (in which participants believed that they were shocking others, and, even though they felt bad, always followed orders to keep electrocuting. Anyway, it's not about that. Others thought that it was about animal rights (i.e. actual monkeys). It's not about that either. Lex posits that it's about arousal. It's not quite about that either. According to Gabriel, it's about jealousy.

[@Diva369]

If it’s not about the experiments where they'd shock the monkey, then why does he feature caged monkeys getting shocked in the music video?

[@markclark4795]

Gabriel is a very dramatic performer with a lot of depth. The more I hear of his work the more I research him and find out more about his life and experiences. Great writer and like Bowie you get more for your money than you ever expected when you watch him perform. Career goes for decades and decades while remaining relevent.

[@sumonjamal1653]

Coal Chamber recorded an awesome heavy metal cover of 'Shock the monkey' w/ Ozzy Osbourne 🤘🤘🔥🔥

[@ahmo2]

Sub-Urban Tribe recorded much better version without Ozzy Osbourne. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4q0dHquq959e5I

[@terrymartin7649]

Do George Micheal , do u love your monkey or do u love me , song

[@luthierjustin1]

This song is about jealousy, not arousal

[@patmullen7597]

Ever since I listed to this for the first time 40 years ago the arrangement starting at 5:09 has affected me in a way I can't even explain because it's not technically complicated and there are barely any lyrics at that point but EVERY time I hear this song start I'm waiting for that point in the track. I have always loved Peter Gabriel's work. He is an amazing writer and musician.

[@Chase57Tx]

Also, this live performance is not on par with the studio version. It's not arousal. It's jealously.

[@TheBuzzard1209]

his book Obedience to Authority.[5] It is neither, but the Gabriel song "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" from his 1986 album So does deal directly with Milgram. Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy

[@Gloomshadow100]

no.., heroin habit

[@TheBuzzard1209]

@@Gloomshadow100 could be, but I don't think Peter Gabriel was a heroin user?

[@Gloomshadow100]

@@TheBuzzard1209 yeah he was, mentions it in sledgehammer, "I kicked the habit, shed my skin, here is the new stuff, I come dancing in" heroin was big back then

[@TheBuzzard1209]

@@Gloomshadow100 well unless he publicly comes out and said hes a user, then I'll believe it, otherwise that song could be a metaphor for well anything.

[@TheBuzzard1209]

@@Gloomshadow100 Another dichotomy I've read about regarding you is that you're someone who freely chases altered states of mind whether by hanging upside down by your ankles, or meditating, or spending time in flotation tanks or by reading esoteric works but contrary to popular belief, you don't take drugs. PG: No. The only drug I was interested in was LSD but I look at my nine-year-old son now and he gets scared shitless by his dreams and nightmares and I think I was the same as a young man - I didn't really want to amplify what was already vivid to me. But I was curious and I've got drunk, I've smoked dope but not regularly. One time I was trying to write lyrics and I was stuck. The road crew had baked a hash cake and I thought that might help. I had this empty page staring at me and I thought, 'What the fuck do I do?' I started eating it and I was thinking, 'This just doesn't do anything.' So then I ate all of it. Ha ha ha. Then I thought, 'It's still not doing anything, I don't understand it.' So I sat down at my desk and there was this surge of silver metal that came shooting up my spine and exploded in the front of my head and I started hallucinating. I was absolutely certain I was going to die. I had a cassette recorder with me for lyrics and I thought, 'Ok, well I'll keep this with me to record my last words.' I started heading home to where Jill [his wife at the time] and the kids were. It was about a mile across some fields and a stream. If you listen to the tape now you can hear me fall into the stream and start swearing. I was trying to get my last words down but then I fell in a bramble bush. Eventually I got home and my wife saw me covered in blood and scratches and mud, she thought I'd been in a car crash but still holding onto a tape recorder for some reason.

[@drServitis]

SPANKING THE MONKEY IS GOOD. SHOCKING THE MONKEY, NOT SO GOOD. Unless you're into that kind of thing, which is just weird in my opinion.

[@LynnThompsonAuthor]

Watch the official video, not one somebody else made with the lyrics. This song came out in the early days of MTV, when it played one music video after another all the time. The more avant-garde musicians like Peter Gabriel were all trying to out-do each other with the style of their videos, which was just as important to them as the music. Some of them, including this one, were very clever.

[@ElijahPerrin80]

I have to hand it to you both on exploring and experiencing the music many of us grew up on.

[@gabbybuzzard1543]

“Throw the pearls before the swine” means to offer something valuable to someone who doesn’t understand it’s value the phrase is actually from the Bible

[@TomNY]

This recording is special largely due to Tony Levin's bass part. The rest of the arrangement is standard pop of its day.

[@GoblinGuy333]

He is actually playing a Chapman stick on this. It is a 10 string hammer-on bass that he can play both bass lines and rhythm lines on simultaneously. Amazingly talented man! He also played it with King Crimson in the 80s and 90s. Check out King Crimson Live at Frejus to see him in action!

[@BodhranPlayer66]

Found this: "Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy. Gabriel has mentioned that the song's lyrical motif was inspired by King Kong's lightning powers in the film King Kong vs. Godzilla."

[@brianyoungberg9904]

Met Peter in KC on this tour in 1982. Hung out by the stage exit. Saw him a few times later. Genius...

[@NeutronDance]

Please check out Sledgehammer with the video

[@bobsonian]

Coal Chambers cover of this is awesome, has Ozzy O on that as well

[@lukec2579]

Came here for that. Ozzy's vocals on this song fit so well. Never the biggest Coal Chamber guy but their cover was great.

[@michaelbriefs9764]

This considered New Wave music and it very danceable -- I've danced to this song numerous times, back in the day -- and "clubby" for the time period.

[@doriwiljt]

Saw Peter numerous times in the 80s and 90s. Amazing live. Watch some live videos of his secret world tour

[@Chase57Tx]

Again. Please watch the official video for clarity. Lyric video's suck.

[@txrojas]

It’s definitely not what you think, Lex. It’s a song about jealousy. Why is everything sex and drugs with you two? lol 😆

[@mcsquared981]

Because they don't understand where British artists of this period are coming from. Not surprising, not their fault.

[@kathyjam2482]

Great song but I think Peter said it is about jealousy. 🤫

[@footnotedrummer]

If Wikipedia is correct: "Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy"

[@billofalltrades2633]

Due to its title and the content of the video, the song is frequently assumed to be either an animal rights song or a reference to the famous experiments by Stanley Milgram described in his book Obedience to Authority.[5] It is neither, but the Gabriel song "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" from his 1986 album So does deal directly with Milgram. Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy.[6] Gabriel has mentioned that the song's lyrical motif was inspired by King Kong's lightning powers in the film King Kong vs. Godzilla.[7] Music video

[@eggy1962]

my favourite of PG's is the live version of In Your Eyes

[@tierbore1985]

That was high school.... ... also, I'll say again, Peter Gabriel In Your Eyes from Secret World Live (video) for Lex. For humanity really.

[@Mar69Mars]

Please check out “Biko” by Peter Gabriel. It’s about Stephen Biko, an anti-apartheid activist and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa. Biko was savagely beaten to death by police while in custody. “Biko” is a moving track. When I saw Peter Gabriel back in ‘88 on a big tour for Amnesty International promoting awareness for the Declaration of Human Rights. Gabriel, along with other artist such as Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen, KD Lang, and Sting performed. Peter Gabriel did some tunes there with Youssou N'Dour (Youssou was AMAZING).. When Gabriel did “Biko”, it’s still one of the most emotionally charged concert crowd experiences I’ve ever had.. and I’ve been to hundreds of shows in my life.. I’ll never forget it.. all arms were raised, everyone chanting, not a dry eye anywhere I could see.. This was in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens 1988. Please check out “Biko”.

[@spiderbass65]

You just listened to one of the greatest musicians ever. There it is, I said it.

[@shawnk7832]

Club music.. all of the above... But less Chill than Brad thinks... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@shawnk7832]

Always thought it was about experiments on animals, esp monkeys... Other's thoughts or knowledge is cool! Thanks!!!

[@Ed9870]

We used to think this was called Spank the Monkey, but we were young then.

[@BROU-bb2uc]

🤣

[@eximusic]

I love it! The old theory that if you don't understand the lyrics it's either about sex or drugs. You guys haven't done much progressive rock, but Gabriel was the singer for prog band Genesis up until their Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album (some of it's about sex).

[@rk41gator]

Assume you are watching his video and we are blocked. It is pretty artsy and shocking, to borrow his title. Catchy. Gabriel is genius. Oh, sorry you aren't watching the video. WE are the monkey (and not paying attention) but Peter loves to have multiple meaning so it might be Lex is also right. WE are distracted you could say. But this is not chill music.

[@michaelbriefs9764]

Peter Gabriel videos are all so amazing! He made some of the best of them from the 80's and 90's! I believe the song derives from medical experimentation on monkeys/primates that was going on at the time. The song is a protest against that practice but I believe Peter is also seeing that as a metaphor for modern life and the trials of human existence.

[@ITPalGame]

"cast your pearls before swine" is a partial quote by Jesus from the book of Matthew 7:6, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (NASB)

[@joehynes5452]

Games Without Frontiers and Solsbury Hill are beyond fantastic

[@maximelesperance4132]

Notice anything particular in the drum playing ? No cymbals whatsoever were used on the recording of this album, on request of Peter Gabriel. Drummer Jerry Marotta was not pleased when he saw the drum kit in the studio. Phil Collins was brought in to record a few of the tracks on drums.

[@user-pe9gz8si8k]

It’s about jealousy lol. “Throwing your pearls before swine” means wasting your virtues on someone who doesn’t appreciate them. The phrase you’re looking for is “spanking the monkey” rofl

[@ugadawgs1990]

The song is about Cocoa, a monkey in Birmingham UK who was killed by jumping out of the cage onto a live wire. It’s about trying to escape a depressing job.

[@alboystewart2212]

Superb ex genesis vocalist Not one of us Games without frontiers Solsbury hill Excellent numbers

[@jamesdavisjr6937]

As Peter Gabriel is one of my favorite artist check out biko about Steven biko who was a South African activist, San Jacinto which is about the plight of the American Indian ,Salisbury hill which is just an uplifting song red rain and mercy street whichch is my personal favorite

[@deborahcornell171]

Some of those lyrics aren't even correct. You need to do Official videos instead of badly done lyric videos. Plus, you're missing out on the visual artistry of people like Peter Gabriel. That's part of it.

[@evanerys]

This song is about dehumanization and desensitization. "Throw your pearls before the swine" is use of an old idiom referring to the futility of giving valuable information to people devoted to ignorance. This is a good song. Solsbury Hill is better.

[@tdact2280]

Experimentation on animals...come on! Not every song is about sex. Lex got a dirty brain. Love you guys.

[@michaelhodgson662]

Pearl's before swine is a biblical reference to offer something and the meaning or value is misunderstood 🤷‍♂️

[@Uradamus]

I always assumed he was just making stuff up, but this song does pop into my head any time I see those videos of people doing magic tricks at the zoo for various apes and such, lol. >.

[@spydude38]

Peter Gabriel, a very talented singer, song writer was at one time the lead singer for Genesis. Upon his departure, Phil Collins, their drummer took over as lead singer and he too eventually went solo and onto greater success.

[@mikesheahan6906]

I'll save you the trip to Wikipedia. "Due to its title and the content of the video, the song is frequently assumed to be either an animal rights song or a reference to the famous experiments by Stanley Milgram described in his book Obedience to Authority. It is neither, but the Gabriel song "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" from his 1986 album So does deal directly with Milgram. Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy. Gabriel has mentioned that the song's lyrical motif was inspired by King Kong's lightning powers in the film King Kong vs. Godzilla."

[@neshobanakni]

You're getting pretty perverted here. Pete G. has always hated animal experimentation. Maybe get your head out of the gutter?

[@ericwilliams1031]

Gabriel has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's basic instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy.

[@palecorpse]

I think the video does matter when exploring the 80s and 90s, at least with pop music.

[@MySherry10]

OOps mind went to the gutter Lex, Oh well, , its about jealousy, but these songs are easy to confuse sometimes.

[@bryanforis1839]

This music has meaning just listen don’t think about

[@brettkenschaft4239]

I once tried to win the heart of a girl by playing this song outside of her bedroom window on a boom box I was holding over my head. Sadly it didn't work 😔 I did get a restraining order out of it though!

[@chimairanl9043]

Please check out the Coal Chamber cover with Ozzy!

[@michaeldavis5610]

Check out his song "Big Time" You should both get a kick out his lyrics in that one...

[@MrFoxy125]

Solisbury Hill Or Don't Give Up.

[@semchen9]

Peter Gabriel, too, in regards to his Song Writing, writes in Metaphor. His Tone also often is "Confessional" , - ..."I paint in Pictures, not in Words." -- Peter Gabriel's song -And Through the Wire

[@YESTERYEAR_VIDEO]

Dudes always confused. Doesnt know what he thinks. The lyrics were the only thing to look at on the video but he doesnt read them. Weird.

[@tracylynn1461]

One of my top 5 fav artists of ALL time.... Blood of Eden and Don't Give Up, Washing of the Water and Digging in the Dirt have to be my favs tho...

[@geneforte9038]

U Guys gotta listen to "Chest Fever " by The Band.

[@josephpowell3949]

You would get a lot more out of some of these songs if you watched the Video!

[@zwick6890]

Yes yes yes yes

[@lancevaughn432]

This song you need to watch the video it’s unbelievable

[@michaelbillow2544]

Great video! Its a song about jealousy!

[@Sinnesvidgande]

Please, Peter Gabriel - In your eyes (secret world live)

[@jackndan6603]

Cool song. Saw him with David Bowe in Vancouver. Great show. He has a lot of great songs. Try In Your Eyes or Sledge Hammer... Thanks!!!!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦😊😊😊😊