Music Monday ~ Wayne Coyne, Flaming Lips, Do You Realize?

Those of a different generation, and more in tune with alternative rock than I am, might be more familiar with the name Wayne Coyne. He is frontman of the band Flaming Lips. I have heard of them, as it happens, mainly due to their hit song Do You Realize? The band hails from Oklahoma, my (transplanted) home state:

"Even within the eclectic world of alternative rock, few bands were so brave, so frequently brilliant, and so deliciously weird as the Flaming Lips. From their beginnings as Oklahoma weirdos to their mid-'90s pop culture breakthrough to their status as one of the most respected groups of the 2000s, the Lips rode one of the more surreal and haphazard career trajectories in pop music. An acid-bubblegum band with as much affinity for sweet melodies as blistering noise assaults, their off-kilter sound, uncommon emotional depth, and bizarre history (packed with tales of self-immolating fans and the like) firmly established them as true originals. The Flaming Lips formed in Oklahoma City in 1983....." (See here.)

Do You Realize, written by Wayne Coyne, is now our official "State Rock Song". In an interview with Mojo, Coyne revealed that during the recording of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, band member Steven Drozd was trying to kick a heroin addiction. When they took breaks from playing, Drozd would have a really tough time with his withdrawal. Listening to him cry, and with the death of his father in mind, Coyne wrote Do You Realize?. Wayne Coyne, commenting on the song said, "Whenever I analyze the scientific realities of what it means to be living here on Earth – in this galaxy – spinning around the sun – flying through space – a terror shock seizes me!!! I'm reminded once again of how precarious our whole existence is..."

1, 2, 3, 4
Do you realize
That you have the most beautiful face?
Do you realize We're floating in space?
Do you realize That happiness makes you cry?
Do you realize That everyone you know someday will die?
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do you realize?

Do you realize That everyone you know someday will die?
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do you realize
That you have the most beautiful face?
Do you realize?? (Video below).

All US States have state songs, but only Ohio (Hang On Sloopy by The Mccoys) and Washington State (Louie Louie by The Kingsmen) also have State Rock Songs, so this achievement is all the more impressive. Do You Realize? only achieved its honor after some opposition and controversy though:

"Oklahoma rockers/sonic explorers The Flaming Lips are no strangers to weirdness. But even singer Wayne Coyne found the recent controversy over Lips track “Do You Realize?” becoming his state’s official rock song a tad off-the-wall. “It was silly,” he tells EW. “People were talking about the fact that I used bad language. I mean, Jesus, I’m not running for office! Last time I checked, a guy in a rock band is allowed to cuss if he wants to.” The saga began last year when folks in Oklahoma voted on what song they wanted to become their official rock anthem, and an overwhelming number plumped for “Do You Realize?” On March 2, the Flaming Lips visited the Oklahoma Senate to see that body pass the appropriate resolution. But the measure subsequently failed to get the necessary amount of support in the House of Representatives after some Republican members objected to Coyne’s potty-mouth and bassist Michael Ivins having worn a hammer and sickle T-shirt during his Senate visit. Finally, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed an executive order making “Do You Realize?” the state rock song...." (See here).

Do you Realize? was the first single from the Flaming Lips album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots . A more recent album, Embryonic, a concept album, has "a recurring unnamed female protagonist, a subplot about an earth-visiting alien, the preoccupation with astrology and the cosmos (including several zodiac-named tracks), perpetual themes of existentialism, the insignificance of humanity, and the search for meaning and morality, etc."





Considering their weirdness, songs about astrology, zodiac-named tracks, the cosmos etc. I'd have expected some strong Aquarius or Uranus influence in the natal chart of frontman Wayne Coyne. I was wrong! Here's his chart set for 12 noon (time of birth unknown).

He has a stellium (tight cluster of planets) in Capricorn, including the sign's ruler Saturn conjunct his natal Sun. This doesn't immediately indicate any kind of weird individual - nor is he, in his off-stage life - I'm pretty confident of that. He's very creative though! Sun conjunct Saturn & Mercury could translate into a rather scientifically oriented mindset (Saturn rules science).

Whatever time of day Wayne was born his natal Moon would have been in Sagittarius - sign of the philosopher. With Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius linked into that Capricorn stellium, which also includes Mercury, planet of mental processes, some philosophical ideas, metaphysical ones too, will appeal to him (See highlighted item in quote about Embryonic album).

A Grand Trine of planets in Water signs confirms his sensitivity and creative credentials: Venus/Neptune/Mars linked in such harmonious circuitry involving planets representing art, imagination, creativity and dynamic energy found in signs representing sensitivity, emotionalism and passion.