Rock Lobster - The B52's | Andy & Alex FIRST TIME REACTION!

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-Our Intro Song "Feel the Love" From Alex's band
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[@jamie4993]

Alex's face: this song cannot possibly get stranger. Also Alex's face: It actually gets stranger. Alex's vote: A Did not see that coming...

[@todvball]

....so A & A actually listened to this song 44yrs..... after it was released. I imagine that had they been given "permission" to dance in their own studio, their "fitbit" would've exploded, haha ;) .

[@LadyIarConnacht]

I first heard this on the Dr. Demento show - a radio show that came on at midnight on Saturdays and looked for the weirdest new and old music they could find.

[@JeffLynnesELO2024Tour]

Love shack is much better and more digestible. It's a fun song by the B52s... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4Syo6yAq7l0fdU

[@SAM-dg3vd]

@@LadyIarConnacht me, too!! in 1979

[@susanklasinski1805]

The song that inspired John Lennon to start making music again. I can't express enough how unique and cool this song sounded in 1978

[@JabaLeeJones]

I thought that was “Coming Up" by McCartney that made John make music again

[@alrivers2297]

It's probably because parts of it sound like Yoko's type of singing😅

[@LeChaunce]

Specifically, he famously said "Now the world's finally ready for Yoko's music."

[@susanklasinski1805]

@@alrivers2297 This exactly! He said in an interview that when he heard Rock Lobster that it was time to get out the old axe and wake up the wife

[@sirhoopalot1]

@@alrivers2297 The piranha or narwhal?

[@johnhughes3214]

This song was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon!

[@keepgrindingup7661]

You can't overemphasize how massively huge this song was in 1980...

[@lt6134]

Within the first few notes of this song, the dance floor was packed! I also loved Planet Claire.

[@CorePathway]

Down…down…. You had to be there

[@bonniealbo3324]

Instantly brings me back to school dances!

[@brucedonaldson3627]

Give Me Back My Man!

[@DforDelinquent]

As a 15 year old in '79 and right on the cusp of the new wave trend, I can assure you the B 52s were indeed mind blowing, along w/Devo/The Cars/Blondie/The Tubes, etc.

[@jeffmorse645]

Little bit older than you in 1979 (18) but I wore this album out. My older brother and sisters started calling me "B-52" 😄 They were older boomers and didn't understand my more New Wave taste in music. 🤣

[@slbgraphics2]

Yes to all of those. And XTC, Gary Numan, Buzzcocks... so much great music!

[@lindarichards3195]

Mentioning B 52s in the same breath as those other bands is so gross.

[@scottmorschhauser4421]

Same age dude and absolutely spot on comment!! My crowd of nerdy misfits grabbed hold of this and we let our freak flag fly. We felt great when the new wave hit... we felt vindicated.

[@SMccrate01]

You have to understand what it was like when they were on SNL in their leopard skin, beehive hairdos, wrap around shades, go go boots and doing this song. It was a complete musical reset for the decade. It was insane! Damn the 80s were fun as hell, the clubs were a blast!

[@dwinkleman]

What I love about them is they have mastered the absurd. They're like the Monte Python of Music.

[@horsebydayartbynight]

Yes, what a perfect comparison!

[@Martin.Wilson]

Excellent analogy.

[@marktait2371]

or the rutles a few weeks ago driving oldies channel.its been a hard days rut haha

[@bostonwhofan]

Yep, and they always sounded so serious when singing the absurd lyrics. That's what's so great about them.

[@debrafong8899]

Perfect!

[@eddierodriguez8354]

Sometimes all you want is fun with no thinking. This song nailed it.

[@videovoidtv]

great way of putting it. mad fun. no thought.

[@stephanieeverett2461]

This whole album is 🔥 I wore it out! I love every song! Im 57 now and my love for the B 52's is forever ❤️

[@bastiat6865]

You are my B-52's soulmate!

[@johneldridge8678]

This song was soooo epic at the time. You're right Andy. At the dance club, when he would sing, "Everybody down, down, down," everybody would slowly drop to the dance floor, and when the beat would rise, everybody would slowly rise up off the dance floor and start jamming again. This was in California. GREAT memories. Excellent reaction.

[@TheMissBeki]

Hahahah !! I had forgotten about that !! Thank you so much for bringing that memory back to me !!! gold !

[@jkat6880]

Same!! The best song to break out your silliest dance moves after a couple long island iced teas. What cracked me up on this reaction video was Alex's expression--as if he was waiting for something meaningful to happen LOL

[@genny5309]

This was big when I was in college… and we did that at so many parties, even with the beer sticky floor.

[@Y_.R]

This song CREATED a party, wherever you were! I remember dancing to this at weddings, in dorm rooms, cookouts. If this song came on, everybody danced!

[@memcmac]

Same in New York, lol

[@Martin.Wilson]

This was indeed the big radio hit for the B-52's but my personal favourite was always Planet Claire.

[@rogerpatton2242]

Planet Claire should be 20 minutes long.

[@Martin.Wilson]

@@rogerpatton2242 The video for the song is the best. Fred Schneider's little dance gets me every time.🤣

[@Y_.R]

Planet Claire has pink air. All the trees are red.

[@fractuss]

Love 'em all but I am particularly fond of "Roam".

[@Martin.Wilson]

@@Y_.R No one ever dies there, No one has a head. They just don't write them like that anymore. LOL

[@907kat]

There it is. You were both genuinely smiling around 2:35. That’s the genius of this song.

[@jasonwilliams6005]

The more you hear this, the better it gets. Pure awesomeness

[@chicagojon1972]

One of the all time great party songs!

[@djohnspangler]

As great as The First Cut Is the Deepest? 😂 🙄

[@montysmegma4649]

KATE & CINDY……what powerful voices….and their harmony!

[@drg3712]

Some kind of divine intervention was working to out those two women in a band together.

[@babyBloodthirster]

Agreed, they were technically backup vocals, but they were the force that drove the band. So dynamic.

[@thetannaree]

LOVE them!

[@thetannaree]

@@babyBloodthirsterthey sang lead on a lot of songs

[@babyBloodthirster]

@@thetannaree True, but Schneider was TECHNICALLY, or officially, considered the lead. But you're right, the women made a stronger lead performance than Schneider with his sprechgesang style, imo.

[@Pothos969]

"Rock Lobster" was well-received by critics, and went on to place at No. 147 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in December 2004.

[@Salguine]

It would be impossible to imagine now how radical and completely crazy this sounded when it came out in 1978. There was NOTHING that sounded like this. Fortunately it was a time when major record labels were still run by people who were passionate about music and would actually take a chance on something this radical. They wouldn't even get a record deal today.

[@TheBamfinator]

Private Idaho is probably the next song to check from the B52s. It's also cool to see how these guys perform stuff like Rock Lobster live and how much physically chaotic energy they emit.

[@zkeletonz001]

Oh yeah, Private Idaho is a great song.

[@kdm71291]

Yes...I suggested a live version, too.

[@chuckmeyers1153]

Or Strobe Light

[@shawnk7832]

Oh a live version is absolutely 💯 recommend!

[@gbeachbum464]

Yes, you've got to look up a live version. They were so young!

[@bradsimpson9396]

You guys should hit “Roam” next. The female singers, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson really shine overtop a great guitar riff

[@LoriCurl]

Now, I do like Roam.

[@AdamConus]

My favorite B52's song.

[@fredmcveigh9877]

I was going to suggest that , well done it's fantastic .

[@grahamm5630]

I don't know that Roam is their best song, but I do think it's their best pop song

[@dadof4813]

Agreed. Roam is my favorite too.

[@klaytaylor7011]

In my opinion, Kate and Cindy were the best female harmony duo in all of Rock&Roll. It's also my understanding that Ricky's guitar part as you hear it, is played all at once, no overdubs, on one really weird guitar. What a great party band. Very good reaction fellas!

[@ZakhadWOW]

Ann and Nancy Wilson say hi

[@klaytaylor7011]

@@ZakhadWOW Ann & Nancy are amazing! Ann is one of the very best rock singers of all time (male, or female) and Nancy's a natural harmonist. I considered them when I mentioned Kate & Cindy, whom I stick with (see above: "in my opinion". : ) -considered Cass & Michelle too.

[@knowhere60]

The drummer used to bortow Ricky's guitar when they were college buddies, and he would break strings and not replace them. So Ricky put on two Bass guitar strings he had laying around, creating his signature sound!

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Ricky played a Mosrite, a surf era guitar made famous by The Ventures. Weird looking, maybe, but very well made with a very unique sound. Johnny Ramone played one as well, but loaded with distortion.

[@zoeherriot]

@@CANDOKNOWHOWit wasn’t so much the guitar that was weird, it was his tunings. Ricky didn’t really know how to play guitar and he’d just tune it until he got a sound he liked.

[@brucecoleman5379]

This band changed my life. They are THE dance party band of the 20th century.

[@raybernal6829]

There are 5 bands that are that to me... Chicago Steely Dan The Cars Rush and. B52s ...

[@brucecoleman5379]

@@raybernal6829 I love a ferw of those too. I feel like The Cars and The B52s don't get enough love and rec ognition for how they changed music.

[@JayCross]

There was a time when dancing at s party didn't require especially intellectual lyrics, just a compelling beat, and something to make you smile.

[@TTM9691]

What makes you think anything has changed in that respect? Most dance music in clubs has been instrumental since the 90s, and when there are lyrics, I wouldn't exactly call them "intellectual". The truth is "Rock Lobster" - even though the lyrics are pretty brilliant in my opinion, as much as they are hilarious - is and was seen as a throwback to an earlier period of rock history (pre Beatles/Dylan) where indeed lyrics didn't need to be so heavy. Because this was at the same time people were VERY into lyric-heavy music, be it Elvis Costello on the New Wave side, or Bruce Springsteen on the straight rock side, and pretty much alot of the stuff in between. Certainly lots of the lyrics of the new wave dance era had "clever" lyrics. ) (Talking Heads was another. That was very dancey music, and the lyrics are INCREDIBLE on those records.)

[@jgsrhythm100]

Check Rock Lobster Official Video. It's actually live from 79 or 80 and so so worth watching !

[@kzintilord6145]

Hey guys - you nailed the description. In way too loud dance parties in the basement of the dorm we danced to the B-52s and at the "Down!..Down!" part, yes, everyone did the snorkel -- down to the floor. Then everyone just writhed on the floor until the beat came back. The B-52s were the definition of fun.

[@tammynelson4505]

100% accurate!

[@kbusby4824]

Spot on. So fun!!

[@Nightrelic]

Yup, did that at college mixers.

[@rebrox6545]

So guys, thanks for being so generous in your reaction as most people just don't get this one, it was never supposed to put under this much scrutiny, its a product of its time, its just a song to go crazy to at a party, it fits in with The Cramps and GO GO MUCK made famous by Jenna Ortega dance. I would say that to get the full experience you'd need to watch them performing this song

[@jburma]

Exactly. For people into the scene, and for those just wanting to have fun, this was the ultimate party song of the early 80s.

[@badsherman1193]

"Roam" should be next B-52's selection. Not only a banger, but one of the few songs where the music video actually enhances the listening experience.

[@surlechapeau]

A&A, you’ll love their “Roam” and “Private Idaho” !!! edit- Kate Pierson of this group was featured on the R.E.M. song "Shiny Happy People", and official video. Both groups are from Athens, GA.

[@KathySandru]

“Give Me Back My Man” is on that same album “Wild Planet.” Kate Pierson’s voice is great as is Cindy Wilson

[@notanotherenigma7759]

And Candy by Iggy Pop! It was actually her singing candy that inspired REM to ask her to do Shiney Happy People.

[@stevenmix3723]

I always wondered what instigated that brilliant connection on "Shiny Happy People." From two completely disparate bands.

[@rundoetx]

I was sooooo in love with Katie.

[@billherman7294]

Kate and Iggys duet "candy" is soooo good

[@marshsundeen]

Kate and Cindy made all of the noises in this song. They are amazing.

[@burmajones803]

Truth! they are amazing indeed.

[@TFEnright5]

I remember first hearing this and Whip It by DEVO at an eighth grade dance. It was my first exposure to new wave and it blew me away. They played both songs twice. Everybody would slowly go down to the floor during the “down down down” section of Rock Lobster. That dance was the beginning of my love of new wave, punk and alternative rock.

[@d2d2d28]

I think you guys have grown in your reactions. You can deftly analyze a song within the context of which it was meant to be listened to without letting your personal reaction interfere with your analysis. This is the kind of reaction I dig.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Astute observation, I totally agree and was thinking the same, as I’ve seen other reactors completely stumped by this tune.

[@craiger991gm]

Honestly, they were one of the funnest concerts I ever went to. It was basically a giant dance party. I recently brought this concert up to my wife thinking we had gone to it together, turns out it was a girl I dated just before I met her. She was not impressed. I would recommend Private Idaho or Quiche L'oraine, but I am a huge fan of their earlier stuff.

[@lewellyncrunkmeyer1512]

In high school for this. Music was a melting pot of everything. Some thought they were a novelty band. Not the case. Very talented and their body of work and staying power speaks for itself.

[@jhamptonjr]

Exactly! I had a good friend who was their monitor technician and he got to send backstage for like eight shows in the early '90s and it was the most fun concerts I've ever been to in my life! You could do the twist or the watusi dance around nobody even looked at you funny! Peace!

[@jeffmorse645]

Planet Claire.😆

[@jhamptonjr]

@@jeffmorse645 And Is That You Mo Dean - the interdimensional outer space being! I was there for the tour interdimensional tourgasm and it was a blast!

[@marktait2371]

yeh same attended cosmic tour

[@KawaTony1964]

I wasn't sure you guys were liking this while you were listening to it. I'm glad you did like it. The B-52s are definitely all about fun and laughing - no deep philosophical lyrics here. I would recommend also "Private Idaho" and "Dance This Mess Around", 2 of my favorites. If you just want to dance and have fun, their catalog is very, very deep.

[@seamusburke639]

"Private Idaho" goes SO hard. I'm amazed it's not better known.

[@KawaTony1964]

@@seamusburke639 Yeah - it's great. Hilarious, too, with an awesome bass line.

[@Charles-ij1ow]

The philosophical lyrics are about being gay and free

[@billherman7294]

Dance this mess around is sooo good

[@terriemartinez9989]

Always Fun.

[@ftlauderdaleborn1098]

I've seen them in concert 3 times. What great entertainers! Everybody is up singing and dancing... just plain FUN for everyone 🦞🥰😆

[@ziaboulder1]

B52s’ tune ‘Mesopotamia’ is a unique take on history lesson.

[@kenthunter6850]

From 1980 to 1984, I don't think I attended a college party that didn't have this on its playlist. Its uniqueness with that solud riff made it a must party tune.

[@genny5309]

This right here. I think several of us who were in college then have made similar comments!! 🦞

[@gavinlucas6799]

When the final riff kicks in, this song rocks so hard.

[@Gman1044]

I love how it never eases off

[@cherylwoodward]

Just a fun, silly, song! Everybody was exhausted when they finished dancing to this song, but everyone was smiling! You guys nailed the critique.

[@skwervin1]

The lead singer had a solo song called" Monster in my pants," which was a scream. Planet Claire was so cool and the whole album was cool

[@burmajones803]

I love Fred's lead vocals too. He has exactly the right style, attitude, and sense of humor for what this band wanted to do.

[@Y_.R]

Pass the tanning butter!

[@blktauna]

Fred is bomb

[@jennyjenny4501]

Arguably one of the most groundbreaking songs ever recorded.

[@USCanthony]

Andy, you are correct. Back in its day this was a major party song on the dance floor. One of the reasons it has so many verses. Their songs were always so much fun in the clubs.

[@debrafong8899]

One of the most unique and bizarre songs! I was 14 and this blew my mind. At 55, I am still dancing to this bizarreness!

[@jrsinsf]

1980, doing lines in the restroom, drinking lots of cocktails, and doing some serious sweaty dancing was what it was all about, and you're right... people loved this kind of song in the clubs. B52s were right there in the center of the party.

[@troywailly7847]

Nailed it😅

[@badkitty4922]

Yes! Your comment makes me think of Miami during that time. And I was 10!😂😂😂

[@pjg58x]

@TheHrodWulf Yes I read it was Coming Up too. But I do think that he felt this song was like Yoko’s music.

[@leemcclements8889]

You just described my 20's In the 80's!

[@ww7883]

The B52's are the Andy Warhol of music.

[@angusmcwhorter9012]

When I was in college from 1983-87, every party that I attended had something by the B52s. This song song/band was so popular. I loved and still love every second of it.

[@MrRustyspot]

The influence of Yoko Ono on the B-52's can't be overstated. I've seen them live several times; the last time was at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco in '89, and when they played "Rock Lobster" and Kate and Cindy started dancing, I thought the friggin' floor was going to cave in. The entire place was ROCKING like you have never seen before.

[@brucecoleman5379]

Same at The Bronco Bowl in Dallas. Management warned us we were tearing apart the plaster.

[@clasicradiolover]

How can this be? I love B52s and hate Yoko Ono.

[@BretSnyder]

They inspired John Lennon. “Lennon remembered, “I was at a dance club one night in Bermuda” in June 1980. “Upstairs, they were playing disco, and downstairs, I suddenly heard ‘Rock Lobster’ by the B-52’s for the first time. Do you know it? It sounds just like Yoko’s music, so I said to meself, ‘It’s time to get out the old axe and wake the wife up!’ We wrote about twenty-five songs during those three weeks, and we’ve recorded enough for another album.” “Rock Lobster” lit a fuse of inspiration that flared into Lennon’s 2-LP set Double Fantasy (1980)”

[@darrenmoore1305]

This song is a killer. It was never meant to be anything but a blast of fun. Musically it is tight as all get out, and the accompnying video is brilliant. 45 years later this song still hits it out of the park and you literally cannot listen to it and not smile. That to me makes it a clear S.

[@burmajones803]

S-tier all the way. This may be the S-tier song of all S-tier songs, in my book. Fun is the whole point of it, which is what makes it so flippin' great.

[@avogrid296]

I was in college when this song came out -- best dance party song EVER! When they say DOWN DOWN, we all got on the nasty floor and wiggled around. 😆

[@courtneywallace871]

One of the most fun bands along with Barenaked Ladies and They Might Bw Giants. The B52’s are probably the ultimate party band.

[@submandave1125]

It's still impossible to hear "Rock Lobster - Down! Down!" without having to fight the urge to lower myself to the ground.

[@maxpower997]

I saw them live in a small club on a Rhode Island beach right when Love Shack was a huge hit. They closed the show with Rock Lobster and 300 people went insane at once. Like, the whole show was a dance party, but when they launched into this song, a body could not help but move. It was beyond control. For sure in the top 5 shows of all time that I've been to.

[@kevinsieg2076]

I play this song on a jukebox in a bar quite a bit and watch how people react-- sometimes there's casual indifference and sometimes there's spontaneous dancing. This was a huge party song in the 80s. Incidentally, the B-52s were from the same college town in northern Georgia as REM.

[@billsantospianomore678]

I was at university in the early 1980s. This song was played at every party every Saturday night. Of course, everyone who was dancing slowly dropped to the floor when he said, "Down, Down," then leaped when the song became faster.

[@NOLAgenX]

Today you guys impressed me! I did not expect you to like it. You got it, just a musical explosion of fun by a very talented group.

[@mkmstillstackin]

As a black guy, I fully endorse this song and have since day one. It totally RULEZ!

[@justingutube]

the likes on this are hilarious, cheers

[@laurahatzes6964]

The most fun you'll ever have at a concert! They are incredible. Glad you listened!

[@dougs78records64]

This was the B-52's first single from their 1st album. This band was a BIG part of what was called "New Wave" at the time. 1979. I remember that if you were on a dance floor when this came on and they got to the place where the vocalist says DOWN, DOWN, everybody on the dance floor would squat in two increments to the floor and then jump up again when the drums kick back in. I used to go to a club in San Francisco then called THE STUD on Monday nights. That was New Wave night where they played strictly records like this along with the Talking Heads, Lene Lovich doing her song, Lucky Number etc. This was the beginning of these groups that had singers with quirky voices and a hard stiff drum beat of which Rock Lobster is a prime example. Drum beat played with ride cymbal or hi-hat with quarter notes on 1,2,3,4 with a solid snare on 2 and 4. I think that Punk Rock, which just barley predated this, had a baby and they called it New Wave. I was just beginning my career as a drummer at this time. I was 6 years old when The Beatles first came to the US and played The Ed Sullivan Show the first time in 1964. I saw that and knew I wanted to play music for a living. Everything pretty much that came along up until the late 70's was influenced directly my them. This is one of THE records that changed that. From that moment, the 80's had arrived.

[@stuberry1875]

The B-52s are legendary. I always felt that "Dirty Back Road" is terribly underrated. It's simply the best track to drive to, ever.

[@fewwiggle]

"It's simply the best track to drive to, ever." Sure if you don't count "Drive" Or, "Radar Love" Or, "Highway Star" Or . . . . ;-)

[@MadSlantedPowers]

@@fewwiggleHighway Star and Radar Love are good for highways and road trips, but Dirty Back Road is good for a rural drive at night.

[@johngrether6541]

I'd say Devil in My Car is the best driving song ever.

[@karenglenn6707]

I’m an Aussie and this song was huge here!! I was 17 and we had never heard anything like it, I was an AC/DC girl!! But this was brilliant at a party!!

[@PaulWhytcross]

Agreed! A massive hit down here in Oz (#3 in 1980). As a 9 year-old I used to love it when it came on the radio.

[@kimberly2310]

YES!! I remember dancing to it at house parties when I was in college here in the States, and people were jumping so hard the floors of these old houses converted into student rooming houses would flex a good 3 or 4 inches under the weight!! It's a miracle we didn't cause a collapse.

[@harriotteworthington3147]

I absolutely love A&A…❤🦞❤ This 65 year old still freaking has it- danced 100% as hard as I did in the day for the Whole song; I even “got down” (and could “get back up”)! Only B52s could have pulled that much energy out of me!!!

[@gregorymillar285]

My name is Greg and I danced my ass off to this. Best party band ever and killer show. Nobody ever sat down at a 52 show

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

This song changed parties forever. And it's going to grow on you.

[@djm0111]

I started middle school in 1980. This was played at every middle school dance I ever attended. FILLED the dance floor.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

I was in middle school when the song came out, and the same thing happened! I remember my 7th and 8th grade dances in 78-79 and 79-80. Every kid ran to the dance floor to act goofy and fall down!

[@rbffbvs]

Weddings too!

[@414pancake]

And when he sang "Down...Down...Down!" everyone would dance down until they were lying on the floor and convulsing until the beat picked up again

[@kirkguymon3412]

I was your age when the B-52s were popular. You nailed the club vibe and that women loved them. Us guys were too cool to "like" them but we danced and partied to their stuff. Flash forward 20 years to about 2000. I'm a big bad biker and my then girlfriend takes me to one of their concerts. It was the most fun you can have with your pants on. The crowd was rabid in their adoration and shear joy. The B-52's had more fun on stage than anyone in the audience. I was converted to their crazy faith. Still to this day have fun every time I hear their stuff.

[@gregortega6547]

One of the most underrated rhythm guitarist ever

[@johnpratt3561]

This song was everything in the club. Everyone would go down on the floor during that part in the song. Always pure mayhem. Huge 80's anthem

[@marshsundeen]

It is about time. You need to see them perform it live. B-52 is a whole vibe.

[@stantheman9072]

First time I saw them do anything it was this and I thought it was The Talking Heads who had gone off the deep end. Got my attention, definitely!

[@alexjbennett1017]

Yes, there are some great KZbins of them in their early days -- one where the stage was super small, and the vocalist slowly dropped to the floor and laid down for the DOWN DOWN part. I also like "Planet Claire."

[@jackal59]

Proof that you can do anything if you have a good drummer.

[@KathySandru]

Man, that was our party song in college! I was the morning DJ of my college radio station & this was extremely popular. Note: you could drink at the Devil’s Den (our college pub) at age 18 so I’m dating myself. Don’t care, though. I love the way B-52’s used punk & 1960’s California surf music in their albums. Simple yet complex

[@floyd2222]

we used to "gator" to this in university - basically on the "down", "down", "down" part we would all stop pogo-ing and slamming and crouch down, end up on the floor on our backs rolling around - then pop back up again. I cannot tell you how much FUN that was!!! The whole dance floor would gator together..... aaaaah, good times..... ;-)

[@indegoraven]

I absolutely love this song!!! This kills TODAY! Early B-52s is really ground breaking, edgy, fun, punk, sexy… just everything! LOVE IT!!!❤😁

[@pillmuncher67]

I watched a B52's show on German TV in 1983 as when I was 15 and immediately fell in love with the band. I still love them.

[@stevemurrell6167]

This song took the world by storm.....what a time it was. Fun times, high times!😍

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

The ultimate party band. This song was so different from anything that was around when it came out that it was huge. The follow up was the equally bizarre "Planet Claire". And anyone who writes a song called "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)" is on some seriously good shit. They became more mainstream - but still very quirky - after that. Their songs "Love Shack" and "Roam" are excellent.

[@salfrontiero1519]

You have to do “Dance this Mess Around” from the same debut album. Great song.

[@jamesjohnston9225]

IKR! one of my brothers used one of the dances named in Dance.. as his social media handle.

[@burmajones803]

Why don't you dance with me? I'm not no Limburger!!!

[@Gman1044]

This song goes off. Just when you thought it was easing off it goes nuts again. Love it.

[@fords_nothere_100]

They were a live band for sure. Their shows, and their renditions of Rock Lobster in particular, are legendary. In the early 80s, especially in the South, this was a band you needed to see.

[@TheFlowNetwork]

Back in the early 80's EVERY school dance or teenage dance party went OFF when this song came on! Everyone would slowly descend to the floor when they sang "Down! Down!" and then jump back up when the riff comes back in. Next song of theirs you MUST hit is "Dance This Mess Around". And you really need to SEE this band to truly appreciate them.

[@HidingFromFate]

Definitely one of the more entertaining reactions from Andy & Alex. I don't remember them ever glancing over to each other during any other song reactions, as often as they did here with Rock Lobster.

[@georgeperkins4171]

This just scratches the surface. Wild planet album is the essence of new wave sound. The guitarist, the late Ricky Wilson played his guitar with 2 of the middle strings missing which gave it a unique sound. I hope you guys get adventurous and check out more..and DEVO!

[@Grizazzle]

Such a unique band. They deserve every bit of praise for that fact alone. And yes, when this played at the club and people were dancing (who couldn't?), people would slowly crouch to the floor during the 'down, down' parts

[@hipsville]

I was a teen working at a record store when this came out and it made such a giant splash on the music environment you can't imagine. And dancing to it was the best! It even had its own dance styles. It was thee best! Welcomed in the new music era!

[@ConradsStudio]

I remember a point after listening to this a bunch of times, where I realized this was the only song I knew that simultaneously rocks this hard and is also so incredibly silly. Still true. It grows on you like the memory of an epic party you attended after the memory of being hungover has faded.

[@kmorri9]

I wasn't alive when this came out but I've loved it for a long time. And the number of times I've randomly said "there goes a narwhal" is unimaginable.

[@kevinm3428]

You really need to see the official video to truly appreciate the absolute genius of this song and band. New Wave.

[@magistrumartium]

I was shy to dance in 1980 but then EVERYBODY at the place was out on the dance floor when they played Rock Lobster, so so I joined them!

[@dominicbiondi4097]

B-52s were a party band. They were there to make you drink and make you dance. That's it. When this song came out, I was 16...it was the most amazing thing I had ever heard. We would dance to this at every party...and when he does the "down, down" part - twice! - we would all fall down to the floor and wriggle...until it was time to get up again. More B-52s: Planet Claire, Channel Z, Private Idaho, Gimme Back My Man....

[@lionofhighpark]

This song was a monster on the dancefloor. Clubs just exploded with people rushing to dance when this came on.

[@jackpearson1110]

So happy you both heard this. Now go watch the video of this. It was OK to be silly. Just don't be boring. We were coming out of disco and live music was playing in bars again. Cover bands were dressing up, looking like MTV videos. This group knew their sound. Campy but never sweet. Their fashion, songwriting and art broke through. You don't show up at an awards show in Flintstone outfits by accident. They took off, landing at the top of a new pop culture. The music video age. Rock Lobster.... Rocks. Private Idaho also rocks. Roam showcases the girls. Fun video.

[@sarleywinkle]

Planet Claire video is a lifetime must see.

[@valentinrivero1650]

the guy in the left trying to piece the lyrics together, while the guy in the right just grooving. Love it man!

[@kevinkennedy6875]

It helps to understand the B-52s to know that they began with just guitarist Ricky Wilson and drummer Keith Strickland jamming on dance grooves in Athens, GA clubs.

[@kanjjn]

The entire album is fire.

[@lynne5322]

This song is like Beach Blanket Bingo + 50s horror movies + The Ventures. Awesome.

[@bradhyatt3906]

When Fred screams “Let’s Rock!” At the end of the song I feel like I could hurl a car into outer space.

[@michaelpennington7800]

Missing part of the fun, watch them live, 1979. When they are going down, down the girls, Kate and Cindy, and Fred actually lay on the floor while Ricky and Keith play on. Ricky's guitar has no A or D strings.

[@NeutronDance]

Everybody falls to the floor during the "down, down" part

[@jeffmartin1026]

Without a doubt these were the MOST FUN concerts ever. If the crowd wasn't up and dancing Fred would "mention" - "Hey, ya'll, we are a dance band, you know"! Private Idaho should be on your listening list.

[@waneemo9067]

OMG We had this album back in '88 Rock Lobster was the main song listened to. All the bandmates are so talented. Such unique songs! The band has been together a very long time.

[@gino88]

This song illustrates one of the many reasons I really like music from 1978-81. Musicians and people have lived through every kind of genre up until this point, the ballads and cliches of the 40s, 50s, and the innovations of the 60s and 70s... punk rock etc. So bands were sitting around wondering where to go with music next and not be derivative... then you get a "Rock Lobster."... you get Devo, you get post punk, you get Adam and the Ants with dual tribal drumming with guys dressed as dandy pirates and tribal makeup. By the way just criminal reactors haven't dug into early Adam and the Ants.

[@jamesjohnston9225]

Ant music rocks!

[@rundoetx]

And XTC and They Might Be Giants

[@gino88]

And Peter Gabriel's silo albums in those years.

[@joonzville]

Adam Ant was so fun and good. He and the Ants were one of my guilty pleasure because I had been all about the rock n roll!

[@yellatjerry6945]

Watching the B52s play live on Saturday Night Live blew a lot of minds. Another band from Athens Georgia, along with REM.

[@genny5309]

I went to grad school in Athens in the early 1990s. We were always on the lookout for members of the B52s or REM.

[@BretSnyder]

I saw them that night. There was nothing like them at that time. Best performance ever.

[@groove2519]

Walking on the beaches, looking at the peaches!

[@rydelldownward7808]

B52s, Devo, and Talking Heads were new wave monsters. They shaped my brain.

[@tb6791]

As a teenager I first saw them on SNL and I was more shocked 😮 than seeing Alice, Kiss, Bowie, or even Iggy. They have left a unique mark in Music.