First Time Hearing | Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (Official Video) Reaction

[@caseyurich9190]

This song is a message about school shootings/the more extreme effects of bullying and harassment. The song tells the story of Robert, who found a gun in his dad’s closet, and the “kids” referenced are school students. It’s about a deeply troubled kid who gets fed up with being bullied and finally snaps, and is in the process/fantasizing about shooting up his school. The song is essentially a message about the harm of bullying and the extremely negative mental health effects it can have on students.

[@joshuacoldwater]

This song is NOT about a school shooting, at all. It is written through the eyes of a delusional youth who is at home having homicidal thoughts. The singer, and author spoke about how he had seen such a huge growing trend in teenage mental illness. The full story isn’t often told, and there is a reason. I will share it here with their permission. Their band was visiting a High School. They were speaking in the physics class and doing sound experiments with the students. The singer noticed that one kid in particular was not only being picked on, but essentially harassed by the other boys. The class ended and he asked the kid to stay back. The kid then told him that they had been making fun of the fact that he had the same shoes for 2 years, and that he only had a few outfits. The singer talked with the kid for a while. The band left, and later came back to the school and dropped off some things for the kid and his family. Gift Cards a Grocery Store, a Gas Station, 5 or 6 different clothing stores, A Spa for Mom, Tickets to their next concert for the Family, and a Gift card to Foot Locker for the kid. There also was a card to the parents with a check for an undisclosed amount. Here is why they all stepped up, in a situation many ignore. First, the kid was clearly upset and by the end of the class angry. Angry at those kids for not even attempting to understand his situation. That is what the conversation was about. It also is why he STILL talks to this fine young man twice a week. Sometimes you need to talk to someone who has been where you are. Second, they didn’t have to bring anything back- but, again they have all been right where this kid was sitting. “A lot of parents forget the fact that we didn’t ask to be born, they chose to have us.” That statement will stay with me forever. So many kids are down, depressed and enraged- that they could be harassed during science class, go home, grab a gun and chase those bullies down. That is not the world ANY of us want to live in, ever. Lastly, The school they were visiting was their Drummer’s school, Columbine. He was in the Cafeteria when that shooting occurred. He never, EVER wants to see anyone be that angry again- this kid wasn’t even close, he just went into preventative mode. So, writing day came. He had NO IDEAS and had just talked to the kid on the phone. He was gonna go to the beach, changed his mind. Then he sat down and the song just flowed out of him. He has always been a producer, so he edited the song that night with the instrumentals HE played and saved in LogicPro. That is what ended up being released.

[@caseyurich9190]

@@joshuacoldwaterOh sorry, yes, it is about a mentally troubled kid having thoughts about carrying out the acts at school, and not about the acts explicitly taking place.

[@davezedman]

Thank you for that explanation 👍​@@joshuacoldwater

[@ggbeats_495]

​@@joshuacoldwaterwhy u are shoot in the school?

[@frizzlethecat2084]

I was like you, I thought the song was feel-goody. But I actually love it more now that I know what they're really saying. I find it really interesting musically and lyrically.

[@mr.krabs1009]

The lead singer was a victim of bullying and the bassist cousin was in the colombine shooting

[@CaddyJim]

Everybody got the wrong meaning of this song because of the breezy Summer jam feeling when it's actually about inside the mind of a school shooter pumped Up kicks are possibly about the old-school Reebok pumps I don't know if that means the kid is angry at the privilege students or he just use that as you're trying to run from the gun in their pumped Up kicks

[@jacksmith-vs4ct]

its not actually about a school shooter but you are right the kid is upset at the rich kids having things he didn't.

[@bellsTheorem1138]

It's a little darker than "robbing". lol This song is dark AF but it's catchy as hell.

[@ignaciosiqueiros2427]

Legend has it that the song is about the Columbine School Shooting and Rabbit was one of the kids nickname; so Krazy

[@derrickjordan714]

It’s not about robbing it’s about school shootings

[@wadewatts6606]

This is a song from 2011, how much longer, how many more shootings before something changes !!!

[@johnBlackwolf691]

What's more wild is he's talking about a school and the rest you know

[@lucasargandona4658]

I feel like it’s just a song about kids with a lot of energy and good times 👍

[@RomulessI]

It absolutely is not.

[@Kimi1968ful]

lol no

[@mazzymakka2770]

They made this song to get into the mindset of a school shooter because one of the bands cousins was a survivor in the columbine school shooting

[@Billydoesyoutubenow]

It’s high school kids wanting the $80 pump shoes. I’m 53yrs old. All this shooting stuff and crap. It’s a simple, great song.

[@Billydoesyoutubenow]

It’s all about greed and statue in high school. The by product was guns and violence. The song is not about shooting people. It’s about the realization that high school kids can actually shoot someone over shoes in the suburban’s or the hood.

[@Cummerguy]

This song had autotune before autotune was a thing

[@troyshilanski380]

This is a fun song.

[@jonathanbouthillette753]

yes but also no lol

[@troyshilanski380]

@@jonathanbouthillette753 im old 54 and considering i heard it on the radio way back and never paid attention to it at all, decades later its like ok it has a meaning. I blame DOOM.

[@Idk_what_to_put_here_3]

@@troyshilanski380 course you do. my parents blame fortnite

[@troyshilanski380]

@@Idk_what_to_put_here_3 lol never played it, im old and find doom challenging nowadays

[@troyshilanski380]

Pumped up kicks. Jordan pump sneakers. way after my time but i get it.

[@RowdyRuth]

I always thought it was about teenagers mental health and against gun violence, but that my opinion. The words are dark but the music is a nice vibe. 😊

[@angelagarutti6118]

Its NOT ABOUT shooting for sneakers its about a bully finally breaking and grabbing dads gun and shooting the school up ur unfortunately missing the real horrible stories they are bringing that happens way too much in America one of the band members family was a survior at the first school shhoting in the usa

[@TresTrefusis]

not the first, but one of the worst. First was a girl actually, in California I think.

[@deesavage5198]

Bro you sound you like this is EXACTLY the type of music you grew up on 😂 I sound completely opposite of you in a Fd up neighborhood in jersey wit a Fd up family and I am also black. Don't lie for content

[@redtube8667]

I've dono'd for this before

[@tay_94-y5w]

Its a good music but lyrics is dark

[@agent-proofme7720]

Weird reaction.

[@DuaneReacts]

Very.

[@m.soberano792]

I think he Clearly did not get what the song is about.