When did The Flaming Lips become so irrelevant?

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Join me in exploring the psychedelic journey of The Flaming Lips!
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:27 The Early Years
3:40 A Zaireeka Moment
5:44 The Lush & Orchestral Trilogy
12:12 Dave Fridmann
15:00 A Dark, Experimental Turn
23:05 Return to Mellow
26:56 Obscure Icons
A deep dive into their epic evolution from grunge-era wonders to pioneers of neo-psychedelia. Plus, discover why tracks like “Do You Realize??” are pure magic, and how legends like Dave Fridmann shaped their sound.
#Middle8 #theflaminglips #OsheagaFestival #videoessay

[@thecosmicblueautie]

The Flaming Lips is whom I can call a cult band. Those who know their deal with making weird yet intriguing music will always be up for the ride, as long as they maintain a lack of expectations. One can say they made some mediocre records, but it is all a part of the expressive journey to them and those who stuck around. They still get people far and wide to come to their shows.

[@Callingcascade]

Their fans are also a cult at times. 😅

[@Callingcascade]

A lot of their 2011 stuff was mid but the way they released all of it is what kept me interested.

[@goatuscrow4135]

Pretense

[@SansNeural]

@@goatuscrow4135 "Pretense" ...and Post-tense!

[@migangelmart]

Those mediocre records came after Soft Bulletin, unfortunately. At War With the Mystics put me to sleep.

[@shoestringmovies6530]

Embryonic is easily one of my favorite albums of all time

[@tedgallegos6512]

Same !!!!!! God-tier masterpiece

[@dnvnwt]

I agree 100% these guys have been grinding for decades and continue to make thoughtful and beautiful music, one of the best bands to see live.

[@mikem3779]

Discovered them in the early 90s when Priest came out. Loved them to death, but never in my wildest imagination would I have guessed they'd get as big as they did and still be around in 2024.

[@tepigthegamer55]

i listened to the soft bulletin and i loved it, went to my local CD store to bought it but they didn't have it so i ask if they had others of the same band (i didn't knew the name Flaming Lips back then) and they showed me 3 records that were the equivalent to 20 dolars each, i manage to bring down the price to 9 dolars for all 3 because no one knew de band in my country and they wanted to just trow them out, the albums were Clouds taste metallic, war at the mystics and the terror, the three records couldn't be more different between them but i loved them so much today the flaming lips are one of my favorite bands ever, in every "Era" and sound they had and will made.

[@astrosquirrel5038]

One of the most brilliant, daring, and underrated groups around. The Soft Bulletin is one of favorite albums ever.

[@Hiajarock]

Wildly overated band

[@KenLieck]

The Soft Bulletin is Neil Young fronting ELO. And that's a good thing.

[@SansNeural]

@@Hiajarock "Wildly overated band" Overrated, underrated... I just hope they don't bother you too much.

[@jeremymr]

I've got to experience it performed live in its entirety twice, one time with the Colorado symphony backing the band. My favorite album of all time.

[@reesetorwad8346]

@@SansNeural I suspect they were drunk and used wrong prefix, I've noticed a lot of that on Ytube lately, people saying "understated" when they meant "overstated," saying "decimated" (one in ten destroyed) when they meant "devastated" etc.

[@_baalshamin]

The Terror is my favorite album by them. Everything about it is perfect. I guess I'm one of those weirdos who likes their dark era the best haha

[@dalbeider6315]

That's my favorite also, along with Embryonic and Zaireeka. Their "dark" trilogy.

[@chiefchimp2789]

The Terror has possibly their greatest opening track on any of their albums too.

[@viniciuscomacento]

I really like it as well, some brilliant beautiful melodies

[@exoplanetarydev]

Yeah. It's really underrated but it executes its concept flawlessly and is honestly a really gorgeous record when you know what its deal is. I just wish the listing on Spotify wasn't all borked lmao

[@_baalshamin]

@@exoplanetarydev I only listen to the last song, called 'The Terror', that is basically the whole album without the radio edits. I mean, it's an album who's meant to be listened fully.

[@leddy100]

I've been a huge fan sice At War with the Mytics. As great as all their albums are nothing beats the first 30 seconds of a live gig when Race for the Prize kicks with the confetti and balloons, Best feeling ever!

[@SjorsHoukes]

Literally the most ecstatic I’ve ever felt at a concert. I was bawling ❤

[@Step_03]

Whenever I need a dose of inspiration to be brave or creative, I visit The Flaming Lips. So happy to see the fathers of modern psychedelia get some attention.

[@theofarnum8706]

as a long time flaming lips/black moth super rainbow/tame impala fan, i gotta say that dave fridmann’s production is so important when it comes to the sound and the feel of records he’s done. it’s unique and awesome and transforms the songs.

[@ryanstoerger2960]

One of my favorite projects from the band comes from "B-sides" from the yoshimi days. "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" dives deeper into existential concepts and wild repetitive sounds. I recommend it if you want to test your psyche

[@cjbcarr1]

sunship balloons :)))))

[@milesd4460]

The flaming lips are for sure my favorite band ever. My first concert ever, too. My dad used to tell me about zaireeka parties he would have with his friends, they would all bring their own cd player and listen together. Soft bulletin, yoshimi, and at war with the mystics is an underrated three album run for sure

[@davidhowell5585]

The Flaming Lips mean so much to me. Ive seen them live several times, have listened to all there albums, and love scouring the web for interviews with wayne. One of my favorite hobbies is showing their music to people. They either flat out hate it, think its kinda funny, or very rarely fall in love with it. Finding a fellow lips fan is one of the greatest joys of life. Thanks for the amazing video!

[@toysarealive1]

I'm here. I'm one of those fans. I've only seen them live once, but it was one of the most emotional shows I've been to.

[@pmsso]

Always wondered why aren't they as praised as other psych rock bands, and even I forget about them sometimes even though I love them. Today is going to be a Flaming Lips day for me! Great video!

[@danielsinnott2343]

This is a really great video and was interesting to watch. American Head is a vastly underrated album also.

[@ninevehguitar]

I will never forget when “Zaireeka” came out. I had already been a Lips fan for a number of years, and had all of their albums up to that point (yes, even the very early stuff), but I remember hearing about the Parking Lot Experiments and not really knowing what the aim was exactly. I just thought “Well, that’s sounds like something weird they’d do.” When “Zaireeka” actually came out, the bassist in my band at the time got it, and we got 4 CD players together at his house, and spent a good 45 min at least, just trying to line up the intro countoffs. We finally got it, and sat and just listened, completely mind-blown that a band would release something like this, but after finally getting it lined up, the payoff was amazing. Then we started mixing and matching stuff, playing discs intentionally out of time, and all that fun stuff. I actually learned a LOT as a musician from that, and the memories of our “Zaireeka” listening parties never left me. When “Soft Bulletin” came out, that solidified Flaming Lips as a forever top 5 band for me. Not everyone likes them, and certainly not everyone “gets” them. But that’s okay.

[@YYunnus]

Honestly amazing video I've been listening to them for a good couple of years now and they really helped me out from some tough times currently saving up to see them in Austin.Great job middle 8!

[@davidadams2395]

My entry was with _Telepathic Surgery._ Never did I anticipate any success beyond cult status until _Transmissions,_ so I was perplexed when they couldn't recreate the latter album's success. I was tickled, then, at the surge of popularity for _Yoshimi,_ and it's been exciting to see their legacy grow with subsequent generations. However, Ronald Jones wasn't their first guitarist to leave the band. Donahue recorded two albums as well ('90 & '92) and left to form the excellent Mercury Rev. The two bands also have two albums in common: recording for MR's _Deserter's Songs,_ in '98, was finishing while TFL's _The Soft Bulletin_ was beginning at the same studio, both with Fridmann as producer. Wayne credits _Deserter's Songs_ for elevating _The Soft Bulletin's_ sound. They then ventured on a successful tour together, which exposed TFL to enjoy a wider audience.

[@drewaldrich711]

a LOT wasn't covered here. this mini doc- though I appreciate it- is missing a LOT about the heady early days

[@Callingcascade]

Im so glad to see this. The Flaming Lips dont have enough discussion around them outside of the hardcore fans. We need more deep dives into this band!

[@roncolem4558]

Wayne Coyne loooks like a cross between Jeff Lynne( the hair) and George Harrison ( eyes) lol!

[@magicwindow6682]

I agree that despite their success they feel somewhat underrated

[@jamespriest9658]

By who, who are the folks rating music.. that's nonsense.. the shoes sell out that's what's important. I don't think most folks thought that way until Todd Rundgren started talking about the RRHf. Accolades are irrelevant. Connecting/Entertaining and yes sometimes inspiring and floating some wisdom. When the audience claps or buys record, all the accolades needed.not the artist Wayne is, but I've been playing live for 50 years and hats what it's all about, that showing off and chicks or guys whatever.We are old and play same things we been playing forever we just never play it same way twice. We can turn the sky tie-dye. "David Nelson Band"

[@wilsonkilmer9776]

Oczy Mlody is one of their best projects, it definitely deserves more love. It’s up there with The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi, and Mystics for me. I think each of their albums since Transmissions has been a masterpiece in its own way. When Oczy Mlody came out, it was unlike anything I’d heard before. A lot like The Terror in that way; that one was an astonishingly unforgiving listen when it came out! But it’s one of my favorites. Like I said, all masterpieces.

[@mkhud50n]

Best. Drum. Sound. Ever. 🥁

[@mkhud50n]

Best live shows I’ve ever seen too.

[@raingirlcat2245]

Steven Drozd

[@CarbonSolutions]

My wife and I had our first wedding dance to Do You Realize in 2007. It still makes me tear up - I keep trying to cover that song and can’t get all the way through it. I don’t know that there’s another band that has been so committed to enjoying life and spreading joy and unfiltered art in the world. Thanks for the care put into this homage. Long live Flaming Lips ❤

[@SaturnProductions]

Another amazing video, with incredible editing and analysis! Love the Lips, so many great albums

[@melodicvirginia]

As a big flaming lips fan it’s a shock every time to see anyone recognize them lmao

[@brownyuio]

They really don’t get enough love - especially amongst my circle of friends who are into psych, shockingly. I remember getting into them around the time Embryonic came out and I instantly became a fan.

[@SjorsHoukes]

Now you can show them this amazing video :)

[@bennettwyler846]

LET'S GO finally a flaming lips video!! One of my favorite bands ever, truly not enough people talking about them

[@JoeyG333]

I think granddaddy and the sophtware slump doesnt get enough credit in conversation about yoshimi.

[@harizonflamingice3167]

Great job with this video, Middle 8! I'll be honest, I was always a bit confused about which albums are really the core studio albums and never had a concrete idea of how I felt about The Flaming Lips, but always wanted to like them more. I should probably listen to some of their albums again, though.

[@melissashupe5732]

As an Okie, albeit from Tulsa, not OKC, I've embraced their psychedelia from the start. To see the Lips live, as in a show, is the best way to experience them. The show will mark a spot in history for your entire existence. Thank you for this wonderful content!

[@SansNeural]

As an Okie from Stillwater, I've known about the Lips for decades but, for no good reason, never really paid attention until a couple of years ago. Now I realize I've got 4 decades of their stuff to wade through.

[@drownthepoor]

For me this band begins with Val Kilmer/Jim Carey Batman movie. When the Riddler's entering his tiny weird apartment the song "Bad Days" from Clouds Taste Metallic is playing. Hearing that song made me check the credits to find out who it was. Years later my 2nd girlfriend was a huge fan, and I got all their albums up to At War With The Mystics. The only bad album was Oh My Gawd. Clouds, Transmissions, and Yoshimi are probably my favorites. I love them all though, and I have Zaireeka mixed down. I was heavy into LSD when I got huge into them.

[@jb8280]

Okies unite. Always loved my Lips. Wayne is a stand up guy and one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Steve is a musical genius. Michael is Michael. Under the radar is their lane. People with the right kind of taste for their sound always end up finding them in the end.

[@anthonygillette]

Before this, as a huge music psychadelia experimental music lover, I always just knew them as the band who wrote Vaseline. Literally never even heard a whisper of anything else. So thank you, because I’m absolutely going to go hard on their discography for a while.

[@simonzoric]

I think the songwriting on American Head is fantastic and it’s amazing to me that at this stage of their career they are releasing what is one of their best albums.

[@aclockworkreview]

I've been saying for years in my inner circle of friends that the flaming lips and Eels are up there as one of the greats that I wish people talk about

[@browneyedotter1010]

Love the slimey early lips, but all flaming lips is awesome. I love kings mouth a lot

[@weirdfishesarp]

Please make videos about The Microphones' The Glow Pt.2 and Mount Eerie albums🥺 Your videos are great, always have that professional quality to it and feels pretty personal at times. Great stuff man!!

[@seamussc]

Transmissions from the Satellite Heart is my favorite album from any band start to finish, and Slow Nerve Action off that album is my favorite song of all time. Clouds Taste Metallic is also an incredible followup. I like their discography as a whole, but those two are the most special to me.

[@kelstermcgil]

When Yer Twenty Two... the shizz kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZuYo4mMfp6FhJo

[@calvinkill448]

fantastic video, it's not easy to capture exactly what the flaming lips are but I think you did a great job and it was a great watch for me

[@Spookyjordan]

This is a tactic that advertisers and political strategists use. They don’t say something is bad, they make it look like everyone already hates it and if you don’t hate it too then YOU’RE bad. “Why are the flaming lips so irrelevant?” Is so manipulative. Most people in their formative years don’t know how to read something like that and not take it as gospel. They’ll go to their friends at school and repeat it “Flaming Lips is irrelevant” not even hearing them. Flaming Lips will become a punchline to their jokes and they won’t actually know why but it will make people laugh and everyone will feel like they’re part of the in group that doesn’t like uncool things. How many brilliant artists have died completely unknown because of this sort of bad jacketing? How many countries have fallen because of newspapers flattering their audience by telling them they already know what they’re about to inform them of? How many swaths of people have had their minds made up for them by sentences like this? Thumbs down. And I’m not even a Flaming Lips fan, I just hate journalistic manipulation.

[@evan8373]

Even further overlooked: The fact that Mercury Rev (with former Lips guitarist Jonathan Donahue) predated The Soft Bulletin by a year or two with Deserter's Songs. Super similar sound and band arc in marking a departure from noisy alt rock, also produced by Dave Fridmann. Worth checking out!

[@henrybauck7924]

Fwends is my favorite flaming lips album 😭

[@BrazenBull001]

Da fwaming wips

[@nicksilva7113]

the cover of she’s leaving home is so good

[@jasonthomas6684]

“Clouds Taste Metallic” was the first CD I purchased as a teen after hearing them on collage radio. They are simply awesome…😋😋

[@youthofyesterdayrecords]

Irrelevant? Emily Dickenson would argue that touching one heart makes everything you ever did worthwhile... I agree with that sentiment. Perhaps the lips have embraced some dark elements of this realm, to their detriment...But they made one record... The Soft Bulletin... that will forever go down as having kept me alive.

[@macmaci553]

Thank for this video u do when we want!

[@SjorsHoukes]

Great documentary! I feel an immediate urge to listen to my Lips records all day. Haven’t REALLY listened to anything since Embryonic, so I will give the new albums a chance. Thanks for your weirdness, guys!

[@charliervr]

I'll be watching them next month in Mexico, can't wait!

[@dantec03]

I’ll always remember being introduced to the Lips with W.A.N.D. on MLB 2K8 lmao. Great video .

[@Quickmart4]

as a long time fan I'm always surprised others don't view oczy mlody as the masterpiece it is.

[@wilsonkilmer9776]

Yes! Thank you! I think it’s some of their best stuff. Mind blowing album.

[@thiagocarvalho7120]

I got introduced to flaming lips' sound in the terror era and even though it is a pretty difficult record to listen to, especially for how musically immature I was at that time, it was so intriguing I listened to their previous work and became a fan. A miracle, just like what that band is. In the morning of the magicians is my favorite song ever. Thanks for the great video!

[@milesdufourny4813]

I bought their 1st record a few months after it was released, loved the psych/punk attitude. A friend of mine wanted that record but couldn't find it locally - I told him to write to the band, he did and Wayne sent him the record and some promotional fliers free of charge. The last two things I bought by them were "Hit to Death......." (Hold Your Head is absolutely one of my favorite songs by them) and "Scratching the Door" 'cause my original vinyl copies were pretty well worn.

[@saulorocha3755]

'Clouds Taste Metallic' is the album that first got my attention. Still one of my favorite along with 'Soft Bulletin'.

[@ScumFuckSyn]

Found one of their albums at a thrift a few weeks back best $2 I’ve ever spent

[@mpstrgc112]

So many gems in their discography.

[@thesatellitehead]

Love this!

[@jayhunter76]

This video made The Flaming Lips a band I really adore. They have some of the coolest Titles for songs. Thankyou psychedelically for this video - much love

[@honeywisp]

One of the most underrated bands ever they are definitely my favorite band

[@sampal5352]

This is an amazing exploration- I don’t care that much about but the Lips beyond liking their main stuff to be honest, but I was able to get engaged and appreciate their unique interesting evolution, well paced, well written, well produced. Thanks!

[@therealjohngalaxy]

Love the title! ❤

[@koenhuibers876]

I clicked on this video just to watch the editing and visuals, I’ve fallen in love with them ever since I watched the ‘experimental hip-hop video’, they are so damn good

[@8billiondoomed]

awesome video

[@michaelmoraga2926]

Love The Flaming Lips live! It's like attending a Spiritual Revival.... with confetti, beach balls, zorbs, and furries... Hallelujah! 🕺🙏💜 Absolutely love their albums too.

[@Jaspertine]

Part of the trouble with talking about the Flaming Lips is that Wayne Coyne is "better to beg forgiveness than ask permission" kind of guys. When it comes to making wildly experimental music, that's great, but it also leads to a laundry list of controversies from times when the man just didn't think through the consequences of his actions. I'm not here to cancel the man or anything, I love the band... but this is the guy who shut down an airport because he forgot that there was a HAND GRENADE in his backpack... and it says something when that's one of your less remembered controversies.

[@basman2006]

They are such a fun and experimental band. They aren't for everybody but you can really set you're teeth in them

[@niicx7]

YES FINALLY THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@atomicsmith]

What a great video! I’ve been a casual fan since “she don’t use jelly” This was a great romp through their catalog.

[@Dr.JeremyDunks]

For me, i kinda quit listening when they fired Kliph Scurlock and Wayne started getting creepy with Miley Cyrus, and ended up cheating on his girlfriend of over 20 years. It just felt so wrong to listen after all of that.

[@ProgDeather]

Yes!! What a band TFL!!

[@sianspherica]

One of the best live bands out there.

[@thomasshepard6030]

The first time I heard the flaming lips singing do you realise I was hooked now decades later I still listen to them great band

[@viniciuscomacento]

thanks for the love to Flaming Lips! not enough talk about this HUGE band

[@the_chandler]

Something not mentioned: They put on the best fucking live show I've seen in my life.

[@jacobhaagerup7816]

Went to see The Flaming Lips at Roskilde Festival in 1995. Granted, it was a late night concert but it was on the biggest stage (Orange). It was literally me and about 6 other guys listening to our own private concert on that occasion. I always felt sorry for the band. Those were some crazy years at Roskilde, though, with insane lineups, probably culminating in 1996, when The Flaming Lips also returned with a bonkers show involving cars with insane stereo systems and them rolling around inside large transparent beach balls. Fun times.

[@Michael-su7ip]

i like their song spongebob and patrick confront the psychic wall of energy

[@urdr_urdr]

A lot of their side projects are just as worth checking out as studio albums. Some that were brushed over or skipped include the Sgt Peppers cover album, their movie and soundtrack Christmas on Mars, the Peace Sword EP written for Ender's Game (a bit like an expansion of The Terror) and their b-sides EPs (especially for Yoshimi & AWWTM). If you can take the weird pop-rock side of things, their collab with Deap Valley is pretty fun, and if you search for it, the unreleased collaboration album with Ke$ha is out there.

[@migol1984]

Dave Friddman also produced a few songs on Mexican band, Cafe Tacvba's 2003 album, Cuatro Caminos. The two he produced, you can almost recognize it immediately. "Puntos Cardinales" and "Hoy Es", if I'm not mistaken are the one's he produced.

[@paulpunzo9560]

Friddman’s first produced album was Mercury Rev, “yer self esteem “ while he was in college

[@homogenicmp3]

Great video. I'm only familiar with The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi but I'll try to get into the rest of their discography.

[@jeremymr]

I'm an obscure indie musician and release my music under the name The Strange Hours. I recently got to collaborate with founding Flaming Lips member and former bassist Michael Ivins on a song called Mothman for my new album Epoch of Cryptids! Really cool dude. He has started a new band called The Lolly Bombs with his partner Julia, who is also super cool.

[@peterisdead666]

excellent video. the flaming lips have been one of my fav bands since i saw my first show when i was 13 in 2008, over the years i kept falling off, and this video perfectly explained what i was feeling during the last ten years but also made me want to get right back into them. they really are one of the best and most truly unique bands ever

[@melodicvirginia]

one of my favorite bands oat, their self titled record is a killer

[@philbert3333]

always love to see a band genuinely excited by sound even after many years passed

[@MsFreshadenu]

When they recorded the covers album and edited the video without Badu's clearance, i was annoyed. Then they just didnt capture my attention afterwards

[@Number2wox]

I bought zaireeka not knowing 😅 and at that time I started helping my brother-in-law record and mix his music. I used this album as a crash course in time alignment and mixing volume levels... it was so much fun and then I could play the whole album in my car. 😅

[@joshcoolshit]

5:30 on the soft bulletin companion, 5 of the 8 songs from zaireeka are available in full. the train runs over the camel, crashendos, and march of the rotten vegetables are missing tho

[@mikeweimer]

Are we gonna get a middle 8 exclusive story on the 24 hour song skull??

[@yeastboyuk]

what a great review

[@isispriest]

Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell has the closest sample I have heard to the inner noise of coming down off a couple hits of acid.

[@stephenpiculas4901]

What can I say ... I think their output of the 2010's you can look back on and say THEY are the most experimental rock group of all time. Heady Fwends, due to its mile long guest list of collaborators, I consider one of the most important records so far of this century alone. Because it represents so many points of view. I know this video says fans were disappointed in this era, but MAN I LOVED IT. Also Oczy Mlody is such a peaceful, lovely, hangover dream after waking up from the Terror.

[@seaanlangae8125]

You know who else we dont talk enough about, James Blake

[@thebrianchannel9890]

I got to hear a sound check from this band in downtown Portland a couple months ago while I was juggling across the street. I was going to leave but stayed. The music was so good. I didn’t go into the show, but I couldn’t believe how many fans were there. I remember them back in the 90s but just didn’t pay much attention.

[@likecrazyhorse]

Saw them live for the first time finally last year. I loved the show, but I wish Wayne would realize that most of us are zooted out of our brains too much to give him the adoration he wants. "Come on, clap!" after every song really roller-coastered my mushroom trip in and out of mini-depression for them. At another concert about 6 months after, there was still confetti from the Lips show falling from the ceiling.

[@Michael_Ian_Blackface]

Yep, had the same thing. I've seen them a few times, whenever they come to Australia, and every time he did that. Such a bummer. Goes on and on about how they feed off energy so we need to feed them with claps and woo-hoos.

[@theeHeisenberg]

After watching more I need to add something. When they first started, they strung Christmas lights on stage and performed music similar to The Butthole Surfers. Who ALSO strung Christmas lights on their stage. If you look at their career, every step has been influenced by what was popular, or a distancing panicked reaction to what was falling out of style. Wayne is an opportunist with his eyes ever fixed on the long game. Trying to find a place for himself in perpetually strange circumstances due to his ever increasing age.

[@harryt92]

1986 - 1993 Flaming Lips era is great.

[@Datv24]

Magic wand has probably one of my favorite fuzz tones of all time

[@theskidmarkoforion4829]

I saw them in London Troxy last April and they were amazing

[@TingoMedia]

The Terror is the my favorite album the Lips have ever made. Wanted to make a whole piece for the record, but you do a great job covering it 🙌Had a bootlegged cd of The Terror before it came out, my dad drove my car one day, came in and asked me "wtf am I listening to" 😂

[@susragejr477]

It has to be some kind of cosmic mistake that a band this audacious and daring hasn’t received more attention

[@tylersimmons4287]

time marches on

[@robbiematthews168]

They go through many different phases..interesting at most, haven’t been into their recent psychedelic stuff..but their albums up to war at the mystics are worth giving a listen.. amazing show live though, will not disappoint at that when they play their hits with all the confetti, balloons, big screens and people in animal costumes..