Do you guys think Devo are a 70s or 80s group (I will say what I think later)?:

Pro-70s Arguments:

1. "Are We Not Men" is 1978 and is very punk
2. Once the band went pure synth on "Freedom of Choice" they had brief success in 80-81 but were all but forgotten
in 82 when "Oh No! It's Devo!" came out.
3. Formed in the early 70s

Pro-80s Arguments:

1. Really helped begin the New Wave rush of the early 80s
2. "Whip It" most popular song and is acknowledged as VERY 80s
3. Even their 70s stuff was quite synth-loaded

Post away!

IMO, they're an '80's band (or performance artists)' since they did brgin the new wave trend and were quite unique than what was mainstream in the 1970's.  Not to forget they're one of the pioneers of music video, which wasn't popular until the '80's.  8)

BTW does anybody know when "Whip It" was recorded?  Was it 1979?

BTW does anybody know when "Whip It" was recorded?  Was it 1979?


According to this site it was 1980

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=722

Tough call, they where formed in the 70's, but yet their biggest hit "Whip It" came out during the 80's.

I would have to say 80's.

I think it a pretty iffy question. A lot of the New Wave(ish) bands like Talking Heads, Devo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Blondie, etc... all had their start (and some of their best work) in the late seventies, but seemed to have left their impact on the eighties. So I guess they were the transition between the two decades (and what an amazing way to transit). I tend to think of them all, including Devo, as 80s.

I think it a pretty iffy question. A lot of the New Wave(ish) bands like Talking Heads, Devo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Blondie, etc... all had their start (and some of their best work) in the late seventies, but seemed to have left their impact on the eighties. So I guess they were the transition between the two decades (and what an amazing way to transit). I tend to think of them all, including Devo, as 80s.

I'd agree.  They're 80s, but early 80s.  Out of that stuff, the only stuff that seemed to outlive 1985 was Synth-Pop, which sustained DM's "Violator" even in 1990, probably because dance music was popular in the late 80s and early 1990s.  Other aspects of New Wave morphed into things totally different, like Nine Inch Nails sorta stuff.

I'd say The 80's. ;)


Howard

Devo wasn't one of my favorite bands in the 80s. I liked some of their songs, and "Whip It" was a classic, but I got ticked off by the robotic sounding voice of Mark Mothersbaugh.

I remember seeing the video back when it just aired on MTV, Are we not men, We are Devo - I thought they were idiots :P

One of my faves is "Cold War".  VERY 80s.  I know, "Are We Not Men?" and "Oh No! It's Devo" are almost self-insulting.  And those flowerpots?  That's  80s style for you  :D

I remember seeing the video back when it just aired on MTV, Are we not men, We are Devo - I thought they were idiots :P



I wonder what the song Whip It was about? ;D



Howard

I wonder what the song Whip It was about?



Howard

Well, from what I heard, Howard, the guys in Devo wanted to write it after the style of something (can't remember what, it was very obscure).  But when it came out people thought it was about beating off, so Devo just embraced the idea.  

Now "Turning Japanese", another New Wave hit from 1980, WAS about spanking the monkey  ;D

I wonder what the song Whip It was about?



Howard

Well, from what I heard, Howard, the guys in Devo wanted to write it after the style of something (can't remember what, it was very obscure).  But when it came out people thought it was about beating off, so Devo just embraced the idea.  

Now "Turning Japanese", another New Wave hit from 1980, WAS about spanking the monkey  ;D



You know,I kinda thought Turning Japanese was about actually turning japanese by accident. ;D



Howard

You know,I kinda thought Turning Japanese was about actually turning japanese by accident.



Howard

LOL!  Now I'm no racist, but I find corrupt pleasure out of making Asian eyes while singing that song.  :D  Do they do that in the vid for it?

You know,I kinda thought Turning Japanese was about actually turning japanese by accident.



Howard

LOL!  Now I'm no racist, but I find corrupt pleasure out of making Asian eyes while singing that song.   :D  Do they do that in the vid for it?


I don't know.I haven't seen the video in years.



Howard

I don't know.I haven't seen the video in years.



Howard

I wasn't around then, but I still find it odd that was 1/4 of a frickin' CENTURY ago.