short songs brief career long lasting legacy welcome to watchmojo.com and
legacy welcome to watchmojo.com and
legacy welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks
today we’ll be counting down our picks
today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten pixie songs
for this list we’ve chosen our entries
for this list we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of the artists
based on a combination of the artists
based on a combination of the artists fan favorites and the most commercially
fan favorites and the most commercially
fan favorites and the most commercially successful songs
[Music]
[Music] your phones
your phones
your phones you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number ten Viloria
number ten Viloria
number ten Viloria [Music]
[Music]
[Music] due to the song being their first UK top
due to the song being their first UK top
due to the song being their first UK top 40 hit The Pixies were forced to make a
40 hit The Pixies were forced to make a
40 hit The Pixies were forced to make a video in order to qualify for an
video in order to qualify for an
video in order to qualify for an appearance on the BBC’s Top of the Pops
appearance on the BBC’s Top of the Pops
appearance on the BBC’s Top of the Pops the result a 23 second clip stretched to
the result a 23 second clip stretched to
the result a 23 second clip stretched to fit the songs three minutes and forty
fit the songs three minutes and forty
fit the songs three minutes and forty second running time
second running time
second running time [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
the beep might have said they had to
the beep might have said they had to have a music video but no one said it
have a music video but no one said it
have a music video but no one said it had to be good seemingly a
had to be good seemingly a
had to be good seemingly a straightforward love song frontman black
straightforward love song frontman black
straightforward love song frontman black francis claims it is rooted in folklore
francis claims it is rooted in folklore
francis claims it is rooted in folklore of 1920 san jose Rosicrucians
of 1920 san jose Rosicrucians
of 1920 san jose Rosicrucians whatever that means
[Music]
[Music] it does however contain a pretty
it does however contain a pretty
it does however contain a pretty kick-ass use of the theremin
number nine gigantic ironically given
number nine gigantic ironically given the friction between the two the pixies
the friction between the two the pixies
the friction between the two the pixies first single was actually sunk by Kim
first single was actually sunk by Kim
first single was actually sunk by Kim deal rather than black Francis written
deal rather than black Francis written
deal rather than black Francis written by Francis and deal then billed as mrs.
by Francis and deal then billed as mrs.
by Francis and deal then billed as mrs. John Murphy the song was inspired by the
John Murphy the song was inspired by the
John Murphy the song was inspired by the Bruce Beresford film crimes of the heart
Bruce Beresford film crimes of the heart
Bruce Beresford film crimes of the heart in that film a white married character
in that film a white married character
in that film a white married character has an affair with a black teenager
has an affair with a black teenager
has an affair with a black teenager [Music]
depending on who you ask gigantic is
depending on who you ask gigantic is either a compliment to the young lad in
either a compliment to the young lad in
either a compliment to the young lad in question or as Francis claims a
question or as Francis claims a
question or as Francis claims a commentary on the songs massive Lou Reed
commentary on the songs massive Lou Reed
commentary on the songs massive Lou Reed light chord progression you decide
light chord progression you decide
light chord progression you decide [Music]
written by Black Francis in the style of
written by Black Francis in the style of the Talking Heads dig for fire and its
the Talking Heads dig for fire and its
the Talking Heads dig for fire and its quirky hooky charm transcend its
quirky hooky charm transcend its
quirky hooky charm transcend its inspiration the second single released
inspiration the second single released
inspiration the second single released from bossa nova dig for fire is
from bossa nova dig for fire is
from bossa nova dig for fire is suggestive of the album space and surf
suggestive of the album space and surf
suggestive of the album space and surf sounds with classic Pixies weirdness
sounds with classic Pixies weirdness
sounds with classic Pixies weirdness mixed in for good measure
most of bossa nova an album that proved
most of bossa nova an album that proved to be far more successful in the UK than
to be far more successful in the UK than
to be far more successful in the UK than in the US was written in studio and was
in the US was written in studio and was
in the US was written in studio and was also plagued by recording issues most
also plagued by recording issues most
also plagued by recording issues most notably poorly grounded amplifiers and a
notably poorly grounded amplifiers and a
notably poorly grounded amplifiers and a mixing console that would pick up radio
mixing console that would pick up radio
mixing console that would pick up radio stations but only after 6:00 p.m.
[Music]
[Music] fire
fire
fire [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number seven Alec Eiffel
number seven Alec Eiffel
number seven Alec Eiffel [Music]
[Music]
[Music] here the Pixies paid tribute to
here the Pixies paid tribute to
here the Pixies paid tribute to architect Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
architect Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
architect Alexandre Gustave Eiffel because let’s face it he was way way
because let’s face it he was way way
because let’s face it he was way way overdue Eiffel aside from the obvious
overdue Eiffel aside from the obvious
overdue Eiffel aside from the obvious was also the mind behind the Statue of
was also the mind behind the Statue of
was also the mind behind the Statue of Liberty
Liberty
Liberty along with heaps of buildings bridges
along with heaps of buildings bridges
along with heaps of buildings bridges towers via ducks and other structures
towers via ducks and other structures
towers via ducks and other structures throughout the world
as iconic as the Eiffel Tower is today
as iconic as the Eiffel Tower is today it wasn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser in
it wasn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser in
it wasn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser in 1889 especially among the more
1889 especially among the more
1889 especially among the more artistically inclined that notion of
artistically inclined that notion of
artistically inclined that notion of division among artists gives the song
division among artists gives the song
division among artists gives the song its general theme lyrically while steady
its general theme lyrically while steady
its general theme lyrically while steady guitar hooks make it more fun to listen
guitar hooks make it more fun to listen
guitar hooks make it more fun to listen to than a lecture on French architecture
to than a lecture on French architecture
to than a lecture on French architecture [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number six wave of mutilation
I give up a goodbye
I give up a goodbye opening with a passing reference to a
opening with a passing reference to a
opening with a passing reference to a Charles Manson song eventually revised
Charles Manson song eventually revised
Charles Manson song eventually revised by the Beach Boys wave of mutilation
by the Beach Boys wave of mutilation
by the Beach Boys wave of mutilation only gets weirder her Black Francis the
only gets weirder her Black Francis the
only gets weirder her Black Francis the songs first half deals with a Japanese
songs first half deals with a Japanese
songs first half deals with a Japanese businessman committing suicide by diving
businessman committing suicide by diving
businessman committing suicide by diving into the ocean after failing in business
into the ocean after failing in business
into the ocean after failing in business [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Shyne
Shyne
Shyne then of course it moves on to happy
then of course it moves on to happy
then of course it moves on to happy times with mermaids crustaceans and one
times with mermaids crustaceans and one
times with mermaids crustaceans and one of the only references to El Nino in
of the only references to El Nino in
of the only references to El Nino in song
it’s as surreal as anything else the
it’s as surreal as anything else the band’s ever done and that’s a example
[Music]
[Music] we’re joined by a teenage black Francis
we’re joined by a teenage black Francis
we’re joined by a teenage black Francis here comes our man was used to help
here comes our man was used to help
here comes our man was used to help secure the band a recording contract
secure the band a recording contract
secure the band a recording contract with no plans to ever release it calling
with no plans to ever release it calling
with no plans to ever release it calling it wimpy poppy and Tom Petty ask the
it wimpy poppy and Tom Petty ask the
it wimpy poppy and Tom Petty ask the band eventually did record it but went
band eventually did record it but went
band eventually did record it but went out of their way to support it as little
out of their way to support it as little
out of their way to support it as little as possible this includes declining an
as possible this includes declining an
as possible this includes declining an invite to appear on the Arsenio Hall
invite to appear on the Arsenio Hall
invite to appear on the Arsenio Hall Show and barely committing to miming in
Show and barely committing to miming in
Show and barely committing to miming in the songs video
the songs video
the songs video [Music]
despite their efforts the song still
despite their efforts the song still managed to hit number three on the
managed to hit number three on the
managed to hit number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart their
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart their
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart their highest art showing to date
[Applause]
[Applause] got killed baton number four monkey gone
got killed baton number four monkey gone
got killed baton number four monkey gone to heaven
to heaven
to heaven [Music]
[Music]
[Music] The Surreal monkey gone to heaven song
The Surreal monkey gone to heaven song
The Surreal monkey gone to heaven song does something most enviro protest songs
does something most enviro protest songs
does something most enviro protest songs dumped it rocks and runs the gamut from
dumped it rocks and runs the gamut from
dumped it rocks and runs the gamut from ozone depletion to the greenhouse effect
ozone depletion to the greenhouse effect
ozone depletion to the greenhouse effect to pollution of the oceans while
to pollution of the oceans while
to pollution of the oceans while chucking in some biblical and
chucking in some biblical and
chucking in some biblical and mythological elements for variety monkey
mythological elements for variety monkey
mythological elements for variety monkey may not have United the planet towards a
may not have United the planet towards a
may not have United the planet towards a cleaner future but it did sound amazing
cleaner future but it did sound amazing
cleaner future but it did sound amazing through a set of speakers join for the
through a set of speakers join for the
through a set of speakers join for the first time by a string section the
first time by a string section the
first time by a string section the single earned praise from critics and
single earned praise from critics and
single earned praise from critics and fans alike
[Music]
[Music] yeah
yeah
yeah [Music]
Rolling Stone named it the fifth best
Rolling Stone named it the fifth best song of the year and later included it
song of the year and later included it
song of the year and later included it among the 500 greatest songs of all time
number three hey hey
number three hey hey must be a devil but sweetness whores in
must be a devil but sweetness whores in
must be a devil but sweetness whores in a strange little bass-heavy piece of pop
a strange little bass-heavy piece of pop
a strange little bass-heavy piece of pop magic hay was written during the band’s
magic hay was written during the band’s
magic hay was written during the band’s 1988 tour of Europe a live version of
1988 tour of Europe a live version of
1988 tour of Europe a live version of the song in fact was recorded in Britain
the song in fact was recorded in Britain
the song in fact was recorded in Britain and included in an issue of sounds
and included in an issue of sounds
and included in an issue of sounds magazine months ahead of Doolittle
magazine months ahead of Doolittle
magazine months ahead of Doolittle [Music]
the studio version meanwhile was
the studio version meanwhile was recorded in the band’s hometown of
recorded in the band’s hometown of
recorded in the band’s hometown of Boston and benefited from the album’s
Boston and benefited from the album’s
Boston and benefited from the album’s increased yet thrifty $40,000 recording
increased yet thrifty $40,000 recording
increased yet thrifty $40,000 recording budget it may not have been recorded for
budget it may not have been recorded for
budget it may not have been recorded for pennies but the album turned gold by
pennies but the album turned gold by
pennies but the album turned gold by 1995 even years before the band reunited
1995 even years before the band reunited
1995 even years before the band reunited it was still selling upwards of a
it was still selling upwards of a
it was still selling upwards of a thousand copies per week
thousand copies per week
thousand copies per week [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two debaser
least in part on the Salvador Dali Luis
least in part on the Salvador Dali Luis buñuel film near sha’alu which is the
buñuel film near sha’alu which is the
buñuel film near sha’alu which is the source of the eyeball slicing imagery
source of the eyeball slicing imagery
source of the eyeball slicing imagery debaser set the template for much of the
debaser set the template for much of the
debaser set the template for much of the grunge and alternative music movement
the song’s bass intro quite loud
the song’s bass intro quite loud contrast and noise guitar solo all ended
contrast and noise guitar solo all ended
contrast and noise guitar solo all ended up in the Kurt Cobain songwriting
up in the Kurt Cobain songwriting
up in the Kurt Cobain songwriting lexicon while the parent album landed
lexicon while the parent album landed
lexicon while the parent album landed the Pixies a spot on YouTube Zoo TV tour
the song’s chorus meanwhile was
the song’s chorus meanwhile was originally shed Apollonia that referred
originally shed Apollonia that referred
originally shed Apollonia that referred to the singer and one-time girlfriend of
to the singer and one-time girlfriend of
to the singer and one-time girlfriend of prince
prince
prince Apollonia kotero but black francis felt
Apollonia kotero but black francis felt
Apollonia kotero but black francis felt that kind of reference was too obscure
before we unveil our topic here are a
before we unveil our topic here are a few honorable mentions
[Music]
[Music] number one where is my mind
number one where is my mind
number one where is my mind [Music]
[Music]
[Music] it’s hard to say exactly what the song
it’s hard to say exactly what the song
it’s hard to say exactly what the song is about although black francis has
is about although black francis has
is about although black francis has confirmed and was inspired by scuba
confirmed and was inspired by scuba
confirmed and was inspired by scuba diving in the caribbean written by
diving in the caribbean written by
diving in the caribbean written by francis while he was still a student at
francis while he was still a student at
francis while he was still a student at UMass the song and its parent album were
UMass the song and its parent album were
UMass the song and its parent album were produced by Steve Albini
produced by Steve Albini
produced by Steve Albini [Music]
likely to blacks delight Steve stuck Kim
likely to blacks delight Steve stuck Kim deal in a bathroom to achieve her echoey
deal in a bathroom to achieve her echoey
deal in a bathroom to achieve her echoey and spooky backing vocals
although never released as a single
although never released as a single whereas my mind was always a fan
whereas my mind was always a fan
whereas my mind was always a fan favorite and became a pop cultural
favorite and became a pop cultural
favorite and became a pop cultural mainstay when it was used years later in
mainstay when it was used years later in
mainstay when it was used years later in Fight Club where is mine
so do you agree with our list what’s
so do you agree with our list what’s your favorite pixie song
for more alternative top 10 published
for more alternative top 10 published daily be sure to subscribe to
daily be sure to subscribe to
daily be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
”
Be First to Comment