DEVO - "Girl U Want"

Co-founder, singer, keyboardist, and songwriter Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo joins host Peter Chatty on The Story Behind the Songto explore the iconic "Girl U Want" from Freedom of Choice. Peter welcomes Mark to discuss the bouncing and boisterous track, its unique inspirations from a Glasgow pamphlet and The Knack's "My Sharona," and its enduring legacy as a quintessential Devo classic that continues to define their de-evolutionary message. Released in 1980 on Devo's third album, Freedom of Choice, "Girl U Want" captured a pivotal moment for the band, and Devo continues its "50 Years of De-Evolution" tour, proving their message is as relevant as ever.

The conversation delves into Mark's journey to becoming a "conceptualist" and true Renaissance man, from overcoming childhood blindness to his prolific work in visual art and as one of Hollywood's most sought-after film and television composers.

Listen to Mark Mothersbaugh talk about “Girl U Want” and more. Then, make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Fans can also check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop or via the buy now buttons below!

You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media.

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Deep dive into Mothersbaugh's visual & musical artistry

I didn't have high hopes, but I'm a Devo fan so I gave it a listen. Starts slow, but then Mothersbaugh relaxes and really opens up about unexpected influences, how Devo started, impact of being legally blind since birth, etc. I learned a lot and gained a deeper appreciation of the layers that go into songs some might dismiss as a bop.