VIOLENT FEMMES-Blister in the Sun

[@Crapinabus]

What a mullet! All business up front, All party in back! PERFECT!

[@jonbongjovi1869]

"can we get LESS mullet in the monitor, please?"

[@Dreamcatcher9000]

@@jonbongjovi1869 Where's that from?

[@user-tx2ri3vv5t]

Saw them live in Paris in the 80s. Unbeknownst to all of us rocking out to their great music inside, a snowstorm was dumping beautiful snow on the city. There was no containing everyone's delight and energy as we emptied into the beautiful, snowy streets. It turned into a delightful snowball fight/fest. Great memory!

[@jo4vt]

My friend and I snuck into a VF concert in the early 1990's, when we were still in high school and they were performing at a college. We met boys near the open side door for people to smoke. They showed up their stamps and we licked their hands and pressed them against ours to get a at least a faint impression of the "ticket inside." Then, even though neither of us smoked, we bummed cigarettes, and smoked them, then showed our "stamps" and went into the concert. We both knew all the lyrics to most of their songs, and it was the first, (and only), time I've ever crowd surfed. Gees. Teenagers!

[@xdef1ne]

jo4vt that’s so rad haha

[@Lokh66]

jo4vt interesting

[@MFDOOOOM]

Damn Mommy you was wild

[@kirby711]

Lucky you dude

[@Philmoscowitz]

That's f*****g awesome.

[@DCoven]

These guys are even better live than in the studio and they're so charismatic. It's funny how some bands on stage go through all kinds of choreography, histrionics, and showmanship, but these guys hardly to anything and they're eminently entertaining and likeable. Oh, how I wish I had seen them live back in the day (same with Pretenders). There stuff is so damn original, great lyrics, and humor.

[@wooodrow99]

Saw them for the first time in 2019 with The X and it was an amazing show. They still kill it.

[@jorjinawright2141]

Interesting you mention the Pretenders ... did you know this (from Wikipedia)? "They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of the Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act."

[@jorjinawright2141]

shit, just saw this was mentioned in the blurb at the top!

[@sardilongboard]

this band will never die for me. Part of the soundtrack of my life

[@joppyjipplesigot2nipples]

Amen!

[@unforeseeninsight]

I wore out this cd when I was a kid, but never thought of going to find a video of them until now, to see what they actually look like.

[@CapysGardenShop]

Tape 😉

[@xbmpr]

It’s on the back cover...

[@tnpacr]

Wore out the vinyl, then the tape, then the cd.

[@kryzs_kornhell]

I know. I imagined them all different except the singer. ^^

[@unknown6390]

I thought the singer was a lesbian

[@reznorected]

i love this song, and i adore his voice. today most of the singers you hear on your radio have technologically enhanced voices and sound nothing like what you hear in real life. his voice is raw and unedited. what a wonderful expression.

[@XcatisX]

Their singer had one of those voices that's impossible to duplicate.

[@egosbucketofcontent4312]

Harley Poe did good

[@SkySkrapinEnt]

So wild so many of us grew up in the mid90s thinking this song was from then. How in the world did that happen that so many of us felt that it was? It wasn't played on the radio a lot, if any.. nor on MTV. . but somehow we all felt it. Weird.

[@travismaupin6617]

So true

[@bmphil3400]

I think I was listening to it in 1987........our big things were this, janes addiction, peter tosh, the doors, driving and cryin, Jeff healey, the cult, U2, Police, ...and various hard rock and metal....83 to 89 was the huge metal explosion.

[@kennsj]

It's because it was on the Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) soundtrack, which I only realised today. Until recently I also thought this song was first released in the 90s, just as you did!

[@ShellshockedRadio]

What a great song, I love it! I put it into my "Shellshocked Radio - Recommendations" List: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZDbfp2mjbhqeNE Very well done!

[@mpreiss7780]

This whole album changed many lives, including mine. raw art!

[@canani02]

i have literally been searching for the name of this song for 6 years! that's right, SIX!!!! No one could ever tell me the name of it, so i happened to click on this video, and i finally found it!!

[@chrsgonz1]

I love this group!! Great memories. I agree this was the greatest time to be alive!!!!

[@LJH70122]

This song just popped into my head this afternoon. That opening guitar riff and snare drum thing. And I couldn't think of what song it was and it was driving me nuts. Then I thought it might have been the Femmes, and youtube saved me from a sleepless night. Classic.

[@erciliaflores]

I knew this song and Add It Up-- but never by name. I never knew the band name or what they looked like ! Fun band

[@brandtus]

Who gives a thumbs down to this??? Femmes are eternal. Fn awesome live too

[@jelgano3171]

not everybody can appreciate good music, it’s just their taste…

[@MyCre8tiveUserName]

I don't know, man. I really like this band. This song is awesome. But this particular performance was so frickin awful 😫 like nails on a chalkboard in a room full of cats being sprayed with water. Which is unfortunate bc like I said ...this band usually slaps 💯

[@Dreamcatcher9000]

@@MyCre8tiveUserName What didn't you like in this performance?

[@StacyMoats-vd9zk]

If people weren't there in the 80's!!!! They cannot possibly understand the unbelievable freedom we had!!

[@mohamedmusa6693]

One of the all time best bass lines I didn't know Michael J Fox was in a band

[@3425charlie]

Marty!

[@JULIUSIGONZALEZ]

😂 LOL

[@72daystar]

One of the coolest rock groups ever!

[@clf400]

HAHAHAHA!!!

[@weltonreds]

..yet another classic and timeless masterpiece from one of the most original bands ever!!!!....fact!!!!!

[@danieltafoya7130]

Saw these guys in Tucson 20 years ago. I'm a metalhead and I must say that concert had the best mosh pit I've ever been in!

[@jerrycronin1647]

My first exposure was in 1984 with a rare live recording that had Sigurd Sorenson on the horns. When I next saw them in 1985 in DC they allowed us to go backstage with them (Thank you Beth Gregg for arranging that) and see a second show. Great fun...one of the best live shows I've seen.

[@bw2020]

This song played pretty much everyday on the radio until the early 2000s.

[@ShellshockedRadio]

What a great song, I love it! I put it into my "Shellshocked Radio - Recommendations" List: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZDbfp2mjbhqeNE Very well done!

[@KìŧŧyDąrlìng2024]

💚 Just like a Beastie Boys song, you can't just listen to one Violent Femmes song when you hear it, it's takes you on a damn side adventure from what you "were" doing! Talking Heads-And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?" Me: I just had to *STOP TO CHECK YOU OUT!*

[@michellewalsh3819]

One of the all time best bass lines The Guitar That Makes Ovaries Explode. Didn’t realize the lead singer was actually pretty handsome 1980's !!! The memories linger!

[@RichardZumach]

Great memories listening to this Violent Femmes a great band !!!

[@tjmcdonald4747]

In 1985, back from my freshman year in college. I got a call out of the blue from their manager (I think it was Gordon Gano's brother) asking if the band could stay at our house on their next swing through Seattle. My younger brother had seen them while I was at school. He has the gift of gab and chatted the band up after the show. Knowing a lot bands are looking for free places to crash he offered up our place but he never told me or our mom. The Femmes were played at literally every party at college. Naturally I said yes. Sadly, they never visited. They said Gorilla Gardens, the venue, never paid them and it was a long time before they returned to Seattle.

[@debbieayers5159]

What year was that? Did you live in Seattle in the late 70's?

[@debbieayers5159]

Sorry I just noticed the year

[@markkelly9788]

what a classic song a huge song for me growing up thxs for bring back old music tha rocks mk

[@aisforapple2494]

I hate to inform you of this, but THIS IS NOT A '90s SONG!!! The Violent Femmes debut self titled album, which this was a single from, came out in 1983!

[@monkeyliver1986]

No shit. Sherlock

[@ghxsty66]

@Ray Malec bruh strung out means on Fucking hard drugs, its not about a cat.

[@alexcarter8807]

@@circusbrains That's how good it was/is!

[@JerryDLTN]

I think I was a freshman in high school when I first heard this...that would have been ~1985

[@stephaniemomma]

93-94 is when it hit my circle in good ol’ Bangor, ME lol

[@issyjas3309]

Life, I heard this in front of the far out cafe in Ios Greece; backpacking 1980’s. Danced all day and night, that’s what you did there

[@simpleli96]

i was born in 1996, currently 16, not all of us are idiots that listen to pop music :( I don't know details or origins or anything but old songs like these just inspire some happiness in me...isn't that good enough to listen to them? :D

[@Novisibly]

Absolutely

[@DebMustard]

I've seen them 5 times in concert, the first time int 1982? The best fucking concert ever!

[@nunyabidness8049]

awesome

[@SeahawkSonya12]

Awesome song! Love'd them since the 80's. This song was also in a great movie titled, "Grosse Point Blank".

[@avidnongetit8710]

Jeff H and bro's John H Brett H and John Wee and John A Thank You for all the road trips and friendship And thank for introducing me to these guys!

[@chefafischer]

In '82 a friend of mine went to California for the summer. He came back with this killer album. It was so ahead of it's time that we used to play it at the end of parties to make people leave. It was my great awakening to move away from classic rock.

[@edwardofgreene]

So he came back from California to bring you music from Milwaukee? Seams a bit roundabout, but whatever works 'eh?

[@jasonmoyer]

@@edwardofgreene Music from Milwaukee that wouldn't be released for another year.

[@butchcassidy3373]

Same thing happened to me. Now I hardly listen to classic rock. Mostly nineties grunge and blues. I still have to play the classic shit on stage for gigs. Lol

[@phlemphlam574]

Saw them at the first Lollapalooza Concert in Dallas! Freaking amazing time and memories!

[@LouLikestowatch]

this song was the anthem of our summers in the backyard hanging with friends and getting drunk and singing this song loud. best band

[@doyleperkins4916]

Bet you didn't know it's about a dude who masturbates to the point that he has driven his girlfriend to despair...Sure you did-Lol!...My girlfriend, she's at the end...I stain my sheets...big hands I know you're the one..."Lol!

[@denisetiawan5423]

Mabok mlulu lu ! Taubat lahh taubatan nasuha weeyy... kiamat udh deket !

[@ShellshockedRadio]

What a great song, I love it! I put it into my "Shellshocked Radio - Recommendations" List: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZDbfp2mjbhqeNE Very well done!

[@Oksenvard]

This song was performed very well by both Alex and Steph at the spring festival. :D

[@Conn30Mtenor]

My friend Nicole passed away and had this song playing as she was being loaded into the hearse at the end of the memorial service.

[@dansiepman9531]

a guy who went to school with Victor DeLorenzo said my style reminded him of the kid that kept irritating the nuns at his Catholic school. One of the greatest compliments I've ever received.

[@keptyeti]

I did coke with these guys in 1892 under a bridge after a gig with Johnny Appleseed who was on tour throwing seeds around. We got arrested and dunked but I'll never forget those guys. BTW who else is watching in 1902?

[@fredesti1]

I'm watching this in the 3rd century.

[@1bls]

Instantly I am back in high school..... Class of 90 baby.

[@trixie2794]

so many fantastic memories come to mind... gotta dance whenever i hear these guys!

[@andrewbooth2200]

Continuesly introducing everyone to this band! And I'm 54

[@aclacombe]

This is one of the most fun songs I've ever played in pep band!

[@frankbeans5921]

Do you still play it?

[@barrygreenstein8383]

I saw them when they came to Montreal on tour in the 80's. They had just released their second album "Hallowed Ground" and the show took place in a roller skating rink.

[@csp1977]

1980's !!! The memories linger!

[@alexcarter8807]

Doc Martens, motorcycles, riding up and down Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in for a date shake at the lookout on the way to Laguna, waffles at the Shake Shack in Huntington, yeah good times.

[@lilya7110]

This song was so fun to sing at parties in the 80s

[@sillyblonde2345]

STILL one of my all time favs!

[@jamesphillips6607]

Great tune. From a 71year old

[@mike5559]

When I'm out walking I strut my stuff And I'm so strung out I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out Let me go on like I Blister in the sun Let me go on Big hands, I know you're the one Body and beats, I stain my sheets I don't even know why My girlfriend, she's at the end, She is starting to cry Let me go on like I Blister in the sun Let me go on Big hands, I know you're the one When I'm out walking I strut my stuff And I'm so strung out I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out When I'm out walking I strut my stuff And I'm so strung out I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out Body and beats, I stain my sheets I don't even know why My girlfriend, she's at the end, She is starting to cry When I'm out walking I strut my stuff And I'm so strung out I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out Let me go on like I Blister in the sun Let me go on Big hands, I know you're the one

[@allannacadle673]

I grew up listening to this with my dad and sister. we would blast the song and scream along. I never realized how dirty this song was until highschool though

[@ObamaCare902]

1984 we did so much acid rocked hard to theese guys and forgotten rebbels 14 was so fun lol

[@rogerpotger9261]

Working as a graphic designer here in Australian TV in the late 1980's my fellow designer Kelly, brought in a poster of the VF. I thought it was about her having her period !! as soon as I heard the opening riff, it will be forever one of my favourite ear candy pleasures.

[@colorfulsocksrule]

Im suprised my parents played this song and the whole album when i was a kid beacause now I know the meaning lol

[@undergroundkingz7969]

It's not about masturbation

[@pigeonheadedman5225]

There is no meaning to this song

[@meltedusb7533]

@@undergroundkingz7969 i know gano said it wasnt but wtf else would it be about dude

[@danielflorent4299]

melted usb he said it was about heroin i think

[@dedo7326]

@@meltedusb7533 well being strung out and high as a kite would be a herion reference and his girl friend crying. I’m guessing it was a drug reference

[@Mannuriah]

I like 200 songs and only a handful that give my goosebumps this is on the top of my goosebumps list

[@thSubliminalCriminal]

The Violent Femmes got to me in those shitty middleschool days. I swear if it weren't for them I'd probably be listening to some nonsense right about now. THANK YOU VIOLENT FEMMES!!

[@michdonn1984]

Have always loved the femmes... am in my 40's and stil love them today...

[@isaiahdaniels5643]

Awesome that they're just as good in concert as on record. I mean hell, they aint the best on record but it's punk aint it? Rock on!

[@racheldiederich838]

My sister used to have a big bomb of a car back in the 90s. It took a quart of oil everytime it left the yard but the radio was great. I remember us toodling around. Enjoying looking at good looking guys. Listening to this song and Mary Moon. Lots of great memories.

[@andrewmoldenhauer897]

Amazing band. They were so ahead of their time in terms of style. Much similar to many indie bands now. I think that if there were around now, they would be even bigger than when they started.

[@BrotherDave80]

What a legendary song wow this brings back memories

[@Pacalolo04]

They were great! I saw them live in '92, at the Merriweather Post Pavillion. They rocked!!

[@creativeexpression3376]

I love them & saw them live in Switzerland need to check where one of best gigs ever with ex who made me go here there everywhere visiting people - in fact wanna return- like Dad & left me on street corner - listening to them saved me being an au pair.

[@MrForsta]

One of the best songs ever!!!

[@scottleipski1015]

92.7 WLIR Garden City, Long Island introduced me to the Femmes, New Order,DP, The Clash, B.A.D., Love And Rockets, The Pretenders, The Malibu Dance Club, Lido Beach, Long Island, Spit, 007,The Ritz,CBGS's and my way of life back in the 80's! Would NOT TRADE A SINGLE MINUTE!! sgl

[@brettnewski]

Representing old Milwaukee. :)

[@Suntzu366]

SOOOOO many college memories from these guys

[@miguelmarquez4192]

Jeeeeeeez i was too young to look at him like that, but now im an old knobgobbler i can say holy shit he was so hot! I never realized it. Always late to the party.

[@turneresme6085]

Mullets in the sun Glad to see Gordons not locked inside his house. 1980's !!! The memories linger!

[@barragin9893]

The bassist's mullet is epic!

[@LeJaxon]

Saw these guys at a little club in San Francisco on Haight st. in the late 80's early 90's? (its a blur) Blown away and still a favorite!

[@zabbaz3693]

i discovered this song from the fosters advert... all i can say is... THANK YOU FOSTERS!!!!!

[@ltr1745]

Hello Zabrina.

[@cornvilleconsigliere966]

Saw them one time. They headlined Day one at Woodstock 94...what a show and the Femmes nailed everything. Underrated band and they like it that way I believe.😅

[@joep6742]

Glad to see Gordons not locked inside his house.

[@HelpMe311]

Joe P I was honestly locked in my house today. The doorknob fell off and I had to find a screwdriver to get out. I don't have a key for the front door, it needs a key to open from both sides.

[@valkor73]

i loved this band 91 yrs 94 classsic

[@CoastalBackWoods]

THE BOAT HOUSE!!! I miss that place!

[@Wasev]

What happened to it?

[@racerx143]

+Lord of The Rings is overrated It was torn down for a baseball stadium.

[@zyante1]

This just never gets old

[@jamesatkinson9940]

I heard this a billion times as a kid ....not till 29 did I realize hes talking about herion addiction /withdrwal ...classic at any rate

[@swankyluchador]

i swear he was talking about masturbation

[@reefy664]

james taylor me too

[@anonymous0s0egion]

i can dig it dude. my mom is a heroin addict. I kicked 10 years ago. I got these lyrics as a teen but unless you've lived it it's so unbelievable you may never understand second hand.

[@jimsters2]

I thought the same thing too actually.

[@POLITICALYCORRECTify]

I didnt know that.. Are u sure?

[@marcoluraschi120]

amazing, reminde me Greece 30 years ago wher we dance every night this song toghether, came back in Italy

[@NYCrazyRob]

I always thought this song was from the 90's, not the 80's.

[@BruhYoochun]

1980's !!! The memories linger! I didn't know Michael J Fox was in a band

[@shellyv2634]

Didn’t realize the lead singer was actually pretty handsome

[@alexcarter8807]

Everyone's handsome when they're young.

[@rexsexson5349]

@@alexcarter8807 not everyone 😥

[@waxeater112]

@@alexcarter8807 *d a n n y e l f m a n .*

[@ConfusedMan052]

@kcotte59 straight? Lol

[@patriciastewart2239]

Ikr

[@MsMihella]

went and saw them a few times in the 80s, underage, being a little punk...ahhhhhhhhhh fun times

[@kenfresno2125]

In an era of odd music somehow becoming huge, this might be the peak. If you just listen to the sound and don't focus on the words this sounds like some kind of novelty song. Between the almost voice cracking lines to the whispered lines to the acoustic bass. It all just seems way too odd to ever work, but I don't think there's a single person in the English speaking world between the ages of 35-55 that doesn't know every word to this song.

[@unknown6390]

This song isn't really strange, all those things you mentioned are what makes the song great. Standards for popular music have took a nose dive into the shitter, that's all

[@dscribbz]

Best artist to come out Milwaukee, hands down.

[@marksmithwas12]

2:02 - 2:04 that black guy was really into it

[@kalaslsl]

+Marksmithwas12 Hahaha so true

[@jesusenriquez9205]

looks like he was a security guard sick of all the rowdy white kids lol

[@ravynnrohnerdotcom2119]

@Marksmithwas12 I know!!!!! OMFGLMAO I saw it the first time, and then i went back after reading your post, and it took me a few times to find it, it's less than a second. But so fucking funny what you said, i lol'd for sure.

[@jtisback1]

I learned this song as a kid, I would always hear my dad humming it so I asked him. He taught me the lyrics, I was 6. My favorite song since then.

[@sonogramgrl]

I didn't realize this was an older band.

[@heyhandbanana1]

+Stacy Veazey Me too, I thought they were from the 90s forever

[@frodolives6671]

I found them on Pandora via mountain goats so I thought they were 1990-2000ish

[@sonogramgrl]

Me too, lol.

[@aLbotTV]

Violent femmes had kickass 90s music a decade before it was cool

[@meatwoodflac4526]

+Stacy Veazey theyre timeless

[@TheSlipperyOtter]

Saw them last night in Geelong. Older but can still rock. Love it ❤

[@GrayWoIf]

Mullets in the sun

[@chansen8668]

I just wanted to leave a comment about how great it is to hear this song again but then I seen the comment below. Sounds like the classic case of "I'm cool for not being cool." Shopping at second-hand stores for an image opposed to necessity are completely different. It actually sucks not being able to buy you kids new clothes.

[@philosophyman]

My dad's really good friends with the drummer, and plays with them all the time. He refused to go see them play "cause they have one good song and it's from the 80s"

[@xxfacexfacexx]

Viva Wisconsin! I saw these guys three summers ago, really good.

[@roberrkantin7205]

my dad was friends with all of then stole the equipment for them for there first tour he got caught and was sent to prison

[@ajaxx9492]

That's an awesome story man

[@leticiavences7725]

wow man

[@themichaelbaas2056]

My uncle knew them too.

[@Mizaun74]

Yes, and my cousins best friends sisters boyfriend is the lead singer.

[@rebeccakeys5440]

yeah man my brother was best friends with them!!

[@MajestyMelain]

i luv this song and it is always stuck inside my head .......!!!!!!

[@itsthumpthumpmcgee8304]

I see a few videos from the same night, this and add it up. was it a whole concert, and if so how can I find it??

[@Brandon-hi2ku]

It's ThumpThumpMcGee I'm commenting to get this answer too lol

[@__marie__]

Multiple comments saying the boathouse was the venue? I'm wondering the same thing!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGbdoauCdsZ-fqM haven't watched yet, but this could be the full set?

[@nostrilnick]

Introduced to these gents in 1986. Thank you college.

[@superjacksonfan12345]

Gordon looks delicious in this video.

[@nordge44]

Penny Lane He and his brother were delicious in high school.

[@SizeB]

you is very beautiful

[@makyaharthur1768]

+João Paulo Im very beautiful :P

[@superjacksonfan12345]

Makyah Arthur Yas girl get that positiveness

[@evilpilch]

i was fortunate to see them live once... forever one of my fave bands... :D

[@Predaking4ever]

When I was a teenager, they played this at a Christian camp. I guess I was the only person there that knew it had nothing to do with God and was lmao!

[@meltedusb7533]

gano was a big christian lol

[@andrewdate4955]

Their second album Hallowed Ground is actually pretty heavy with a lot of Christian themes

[@ane404738]

good song and still think this songs rocks even tho its old, feels like this song was just made this year man, the material is so, how do u say it,hummm..... awesome