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Marriage license
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Marriage License from the State of Georgia
A marriage license is a document issued, either by a church or state authority, authorizing a couple to marry. The procedure for obtaining a license varies between countries and has changed over time. Marriage licenses began to be issued in the Middle Ages, to permit a marriage which would otherwise be illegal (for instance, if the necessary period of notice for the marriage had not been given).
Today, they are a legal requirement in some jurisdictions and may also serve as the record of the marriage itself, if signed by the couple and witnessed.
In other jurisdictions, a license is not required. In some jurisdictions, a "pardon" can be obtained for marrying without a license, and in some jurisdictions, common-law marriages and marriage by cohabitation and representation are also recognized. These do not require a marriage license. There are also some jurisdictions where marriage licenses do not exist at all and a marriage certificate is given to the couple after the marriage ceremony had taken place.
Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that "Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses."[1]
Contents
1 History
2 United Kingdom
2.1 England & Wales
2.2 Scotland
3 United States
3.1 Controversy in the U.S.
4 The Netherlands and Belgium
5 Mexico
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
History[edit]
For most of Western history, marriage was a private contract between two families. Until the 16th century, Christian churches accepted the validity of a marriage on the basis of a couple’s declarations. If two people claimed that they had exchanged marital vows—even without witnesses—the Catholic Church accepted that they were validly married[citation needed].
Some states in the US hold that public cohabitation can be sufficient evidence of a valid marriage. Marriage license application records from government authorities are widely available starting from the mid-19th century. Some are available dating from the 17th century in colonial America.[2] Marriage licenses have been required since 1639 in Massachusetts, with their use gradually expanding to other jurisdictions.[3]
United Kingdom[edit]
England & Wales[edit]
Marriage record of Joseph Stannard and Emily Coppin (1826)
A requirement for banns of marriage was introduced to England and Wales by the Church in 1215. This required a public announcement of a forthcoming marriage, in the couple's parish church, for three Sundays prior to the wedding and gave an opportunity for any objections to the marriage to be voiced (for example, that one of the parties was already married or that the couple was related within a prohibited degree), but a failure to call banns did not affect the validity of the marriage.
Marriage licences were introduced in the 14th century, to allow the usual notice period under banns to be waived, on payment of a fee and accompanied by a sworn declaration, that there was no canonical impediment to the marriage. Licences were usually granted by an archbishop, bishop or archdeacon. There could be a number of reasons for a couple to obtain a licence: they might wish to marry quickly (and avoid the three weeks' delay by the calling of banns); they might wish to marry in a parish away from their home parish; or, because a licence required a higher payment than banns, they might choose to obtain one as a status symbol.
There were two kinds of marriage licences that could be issued: the usual was known as a common licence and named one or two parishes where the wedding could take place, within the jurisdiction of the person who issued the licence. The other was the special licence, which could only be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury or his officials and allowed the marriage to take place in any church.
To obtain a marriage licence, the couple, or more usually the bridegroom, had to swear that there was no just cause or impediment why they should not marry. This was the marriage allegation. A bond was also lodged with the church authorities for a sum of money to be paid if it turned out that the marriage was contrary to Canon Law. The bishop kept the allegation and bond and issued the licence to the groom, who then gave it to the vicar of the church where they were to get married. There was no obligation for the vicar to keep the licence and many were simply destroyed. Hence, few historical examples of marriage licences, in England and Wales, survive. However, the allegations and bonds were usually retained and are an important source for English genealogy.
Hardwicke's Marriage Act 1753 affirmed this existing ecclesiastical law and built it into statutory law. From this date, a marriage was only legally valid, if it followed the calling of banns in church or the obtaining of a licence —the only exceptions being Jewish and Quaker marriages, whose legality was also recognised. From the date of Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act up to 1837, the ceremony was required to be performed in a consecrated building.
Since 1 July 1837, civil marriages have been a legal alternative to church marriages under the Marriage Act 1836, which provided the statutory basis for regulating and recording marriages. So, today, a couple has a choice between being married in the Anglican Church, after the calling of banns or obtaining a licence or else, they can give "Notice of Marriage" to a civil registrar. In this latter case, the notice is publicly posted for 15 days, after which a civil marriage can take place. Marriages may take place in churches other than Anglican churches, but these are governed by civil marriage law and notice must be given to the civil registrar in the same way. The marriage may then take place without a registrar being present if the church itself is registered for marriages and the minister or priest is an Authorised Person for marriages.
The licence does not record the marriage itself, only the permission for a marriage to take place. Since 1837, the proof of a marriage has been by a marriage certificate, issued at the ceremony; before then, it was by the recording of the marriage in a parish register.
The provisions on civil marriage in the 1836 Act were repealed by the Marriage Act 1949. The Marriage Act 1949 re-enacted and re-stated the law on marriage in England and Wales.
Scotland[edit]
Marriage law and practice in Scotland differs from that in England and Wales. Historically, it was always considered legal and binding for a couple to marry by making public promises, without a formal ceremony but this form has not been available since 1940. More recently "marriage by cohabitation with repute" has also been abolished for any relationship commenced since 2006. Church marriages "without proclamation" are somewhat analogous to the English "marriages by licence", although the permission to perform them is not a church matter. Religious marriages in Scotland have never had a restriction on the place in which they are performed. Marriages in Scotland normally require between 2 and 6 weeks’ notice to the district registrar depending on the previous marital status and other procedural matters usually involving the country of residence and the nationality of the parties. Marriages with less than the normal amount of notice require the permission of the Registrar General.
United States[edit]
In the United States, until the mid-19th century, common-law marriages were recognized as valid, but thereafter some states began to invalidate common-law marriages. Common-law marriages, if recognized[by whom?], are valid, notwithstanding the absence of a marriage license. North Carolina and Tennessee (which was originally western North Carolina) never recognized marriage at the common law as valid without a license unless entered into in other states. They have always recognized otherwise valid marriages (except bigamous, polygamous, interracial, or same-sex) entered into in conformity with the law of other states, territories and nations.[citation needed]
The specifications for obtaining a marriage license vary between states. In general, however, both parties must appear in person at the time the license is obtained; be of marriageable age (i.e., over 18 years; lower in some states with the consent of a parent); present proper identification (typically a driver's license, state ID card, birth certificate or passport; more documentation may be required for those born outside of the United States); and neither must be married to anyone else (proof of spouse's death or divorce may be required for someone who had been previously married in some states).
The US states of Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Mississippi, California, New York,[4][5] and the District of Columbia once required blood tests before issuing a marriage license, but such requirements have since been abolished. The tests were mainly used to check for previous or current bouts of syphilis and rubella (German measles); other diseases that have been screened for before marriage in some cases have included tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and HIV, the last of which is the only one of those three that is detectable using a blood test.[4]
Many states require 1 to 6 days to pass between the granting of the license and the marriage ceremony. After the marriage ceremony, both spouses and the officiant sign the marriage license (some states also require one or two witnesses). The officiant or couple then files for a certified copy of the marriage license and a marriage certificate with the appropriate authority. Some states also have a requirement that a license be filed within a certain time after its issuance, typically 30 or 60 days, following which a new license must be obtained.
Marriage licenses in the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the state in which the ceremony is performed; however, the marriage is generally recognized across the country. The state in which they are married holds the record of that marriage. Traditionally, working with law enforcement was the only means of searching and accessing marriage license information across state lines.[6]
Controversy in the U.S.[edit]
Some groups and individuals believe that the requirement to obtain a marriage license is unnecessary or immoral. The Libertarian Party, for instance, believes that marriage should be a matter of personal liberty, not requiring permission from the state.[7][8] Individuals who align with this libertarian stance argue that marriage is a right, and that by allowing the state to exercise control over marriage, it falsely presupposes that we merely have the privilege, not the right, to marry. As an example of a right (as opposed to a privilege), those that are born in the US receive a birth certificate (certifying that they have been born), not a birth license (which would give them license so they could be born). Some Christian groups also argue that a marriage is a contract between a man and a woman presided over by God, so no authorization from the state is required. Some US states have started citing the state specifically as a party in the marriage contract[9] which is seen by some as an infringement.[10]
Marriage licenses have also been the subject of controversy for affected minority groups. California's Proposition 8 has been the subject of heavy criticism by advocates of same-sex marriage,[11] including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community whose ability to marry is often limited by the aforementioned state intervention. This changed on June 26, 2015, with the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. However, the state and federal intervention still continues to limit the ability of members of other minority religious groups from marrying according to the dictates of their religious tenets, as is the case with Islamic polygamy, for example. Polyamorous and polyandrous marriages are, likewise, still prohibited.[12]
In October 2009, Keith Bardwell, a Louisiana justice of the peace, refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple, prompting civil liberties groups, such as the NAACP and ACLU, to call for his resignation or firing.[13][14] Bardwell resigned his office on November 3.[15]
In the state of Pennsylvania, self-uniting marriage licenses are available which require only the signatures of the bride and groom and witnesses. Although this is an accommodation for a Quaker wedding, any couple is able to apply for it.
The Netherlands and Belgium[edit]
In the Netherlands and Belgium, couples intending to marry are required to register their intention beforehand, a process called "ondertrouw".
Mexico[edit]
In Mexico, only civil marriage is recognized as legal. Persons wishing to do so may also have a religious ceremony, but it has no legal effect and does not replace in any way the legal binding civil marriage. A civil wedding in Mexico is fully valid for legal purpose in the U.S. The Mexican civil registry does not issue marriage licences, it issues marriage certificates, because under Latin law, marriage is a legal right, not requiring a permit, marriages are performed without charge at the premises of the "Registro Civil" at the municipality hall of most counties and state houses in Mexico.[16]
See also[edit]
Banns of marriage
Birth certificate
Death certificate
Marriage certificate

People
Robert Stewart Sparks, in charge of Los Angeles, California, marriage-license division, 20th century
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights". United Nations. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
Jump up ^ Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy. Provo, UT: Ancestry, 2006. Pages 87 to 103.
Jump up ^ (PDF) Legislative Guide to Marriage Law, Iowa Legislative Services, Legal Services Division.
^ Jump up to: a b (PDF) Mississippi Legislature Regular Session 2012
Jump up ^ Shmerling, Robert H. (March 11, 2003). "The truth about premarital blood testing". InteliHealth. Archived from the original on October 20, 2003.
Jump up ^ "Marriage Records Records Retrieval". Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
Jump up ^ "Platform". Libertarian Party.
Jump up ^ Michael Badnarik. Michael Badnarik's Constitution Class. Event occurs at 00:06:43. Retrieved 2010-07-26. If you go to a wedding, how many people are in that contract? Well you've got the man, you've got the woman, but that's not all you've also got the state! The state is there, giving you permission. Why? Because you asked.
Jump up ^ "Marriage — public". ohiolegalservices.org.
Jump up ^ Arguments against marriage licenses, from Mercy Seat church, Wisconsin
Jump up ^ The Christian Science Monitor. "Same-sex marriage activists seek repeal of California's Prop. 8". The Christian Science Monitor.
Jump up ^ "Some Muslims in U.S. Quietly Engage in Polygamy". NPR.org. 27 May 2008.
Jump up ^ "Justice stands by refusal to give interracial couple license to wed". cnn.com.
Jump up ^ "Heat Builds in Interracial Marriage Denial". cbsnews.com. 17 October 2009.
Jump up ^ "Justice of peace in marriage flap resigns". United Press International. November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
Jump up ^ . http://www.mexicolaw.com/Marriage%20in%20Mexico.htm
References[edit]
Mark D. Herber, Ancestral Trails: The complete guide to British genealogy and family history, Sutton Publishing, 1997, ISBN 0-7509-1418-1
C. R. Chapman & P. M. Litton, Marriage laws, rites, records and customs, Lochin Publishing, 1996
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, American Uniform Marriage and Marriage License Act, Railway Printing Company, 1911 (Note, this is a "model act", not an actual law passed by Congress or individual states.)
http://www.mexicolaw.com/Marriage%20in%20Mexico.htm
External links[edit]
"Complete guide to getting copies of marriage licenses by US State". vitalrecordsguide.com.
"Information on blood tests, waiting periods, and length of time for which the license is valid in the United States". FindLaw.
"Marriage license information by city and county in the US". marriagelicensenow.org.
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text:
Whip It (Devo song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
"Whip It"
Single by Devo
from the album Freedom of Choice
B-side
"Turn Around"
Released
August 13, 1980 (1980-08-13)
Format
7-inch single
Genre
New wave
synth-pop
Length
2:37
Label
Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Gerald Casale
Mark Mothersbaugh
Producer(s)
Robert Margouleff
Devo singles chronology
"Girl U Want"
(1980) "Whip It"
(1980) "Gates of Steel"
(1980)
"Whip It" is a song by American rock band Devo from their third album Freedom of Choice (1980). It is a new wave and synth-pop song that features a synthesizer, electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums in its instrumentation. The apparently nonsensical lyrics have a common theme revolving around the ability to deal with one's problems by "whipping it". Co-written by bassist Gerald Casale and singer Mark Mothersbaugh, Devo recorded "Whip It" with producer Robert Margouleff at the Record Plant in Los Angeles.
Although "Whip It" was released as the second single from Freedom of Choice, Warner Bros. Records did not expect it to be a hit, due to its nonstandard tempo and strange lyrics. The disc jockey Kal Rudman took an interest in the song and it was soon being played on several radio stations in the Southeastern United States. Peaking at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100, "Whip It" became a hit single and found chart success in several countries. Mothersbaugh believes the song sold well because some people assumed the lyrics are about masturbation or sadomasochism.
An accompanying music video depicts these sexual themes; it features Mothersbaugh whipping clothing from a woman on a dude ranch. Despite some claims of misogynistic undertones, the video became popular on the fledgling television channel MTV. In recent years, several journalists have described "Whip It" as a cornerstone of the development of new wave music in the early 1980s and a unique song that transcended mainstream music. In the band's forty-year history, "Whip It" remains the only song by Devo to peak within the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100.
Contents
1 Background and recording
2 Composition
2.1 Music and vocals
2.2 Lyrics
3 Release
4 Music video
5 Legacy
6 Covers and media use
7 Credits and personnel
8 Charts and certifications
8.1 Weekly charts
8.2 Year-end charts
8.3 Sales and certifications
9 References
9.1 Notes
9.2 Footnotes
10 External links
Background and recording[edit]
Devo's 1979 album Duty Now for the Future was considered a disappointment by critics and band members; critics regarded it as a formulaic repeat of the band's 1978 debut Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and the band members primarily blamed the formulaic sound on the album's producer Ken Scott.[1][2] Warner Bros. Records was also unhappy with Duty Now for the Future and issued to Devo an ultimatum that they needed to produce a successful follow-up album or be dropped from the label.[3] The band members believed a hit single would bolster the next album's popularity and finally give them radio exposure.[4] In late 1979, audio engineer Robert Margouleff was brought on to produce "Whip It" and its parent album Freedom of Choice.[5]
"Whip It" was written by bassist Gerald Casale and singer/keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh between August and October 1979.[6] Howard Siegal engineered the song while Margouleff served as the producer. It was recorded at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and mastered by Ken Perry at Capitol Studios.[7] The song was recorded using API mixing consoles, 3M tape machines, and Minimoog and Prophet-5 synthesizers.[5][6] Throughout the song, there are whipcracking noises that were recorded using an Electrocomp 500 synthesizer and Neumann KM 84 and U 87 microphones.[8]
The music for "Whip It" was crafted by taking elements from four different demo tapes that Casale had collected. Mothersbaugh composed what became the song's break in his bedroom; the break was originally much slower and had a classical sound. On another tape, Mothersbaugh played what became the main riff with a drum machine. One of Captain Beefheart's drummers created a beat that Mothersbaugh recorded; the last demo was a live recording between Casale and Mothersbaugh. Casale took the four demos and layered them to create a smooth, consistent time signature.[9] Mothersbaugh created the main riff in "Whip It" by taking the riff used in Roy Orbison's song "Oh, Pretty Woman" and changing the ending slightly.[4]
Composition[edit]
Music and vocals[edit]
"Whip It"
A sixteen second audio sample of "Whip It". The song is defined by its motorik beat and seemingly nonsensical lyrics about "whipping it".
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Whip It" is a new wave and synth-pop song,[10] that is built around a consistent 4/4 beat known as a motorik beat.[4][5] It moves at a tempo of 120 beats per minute and is constructed in verse–chorus form. With a chord progression of D-A-E7sus4 in the verses and C-G-D in the choruses, the song is written in the key of E major.[11] "Whip It"'s main riff alternates between a five-note ascension and a three-note descension, and is played with a synthesizer, electric guitar, and bass guitar.[4][12] The chorus features two synthesizer notes that are a half step apart, which creates what AllMusic's Steve Huey describes as "a disorienting aural effect".[12]
As the song progresses, a guitar lick in the main riff becomes more prominent.[12] During the instrumental break, the riff temporarily recofigures to a nonstandard 6/4 beat before returning to the original 4/4 beat.[5][12] Casale and Mothersbaugh sing the vocals of "Whip It" with a vocal range of A4-F#5.[11] The singers take alternate turns on vocals; Casale uses a nasal drawl while Mothersbaugh sings in a more powerful "cartoonish" voice.[12] The use of two vocalists is a call and response that Casale said is "kind of like white boys rapping".[8]
Lyrics[edit]
The lyrics of "Whip It" are disjointed and nonsensical.[12] For example, its central theme revolves around the ability to solve one's problems by "whipping it"; other lines include motivational statements like "go forward, move ahead" and "it's not too late".[12] Casale wrote the lyrics, which were intended to satirize American optimism. He took inspiration from communist propaganda posters and Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, a 1973 novel that contains satirical limericks about capitalist can-do clichés.[13] Casale incorporated lyrics that would sound like motivational clichés if taken out of context.[14]
Mothersbaugh offered a different interpretation of the lyrics, saying they were written in the form of a subtle pep talk for United States President Jimmy Carter during the 1980 presidential election. The members of Devo supported Carter and feared the Republican candidate Ronald Reagan would win the election.[15] Mothersbaugh jokingly once said in an interview: "Come on Jimmy, get your shit together".[16] Huey notes that despite the song's novelty, there are violent undertones in the lyrics. He describes the process of whipping it to solve one's problems as "a sardonic portrait of a general, problematic aspect of the American psyche: the predilection for using force and violence to solve problems, vent frustration, and prove oneself to others".[12]
Release[edit]
"Whip It" is one of four songs from Freedom of Choice to be released as a single. Warner Bros. heavily favored the commercial viability of the first single "Girl U Want" because its music and lyrics were more radio-friendly and akin to "My Sharona" by the Knack.[17] "Girl U Want" failed to reach any record chart and was considered a failure.[8] Despite this initial failure, Devo decided to tour in support of the album without a hit single. Shortly into the tour, disc jockey Kal Rudman began playing "Whip It", and the song was soon being played on several radio stations in the Southeastern U.S. Within a week, "Whip It" had become so popular that Devo was forced to temporarily stop its tour to book larger venues because the concerts were selling out too quickly.[18]
"Whip It" debuted at number eighty-five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on August 30, 1980.[19] It spent twenty-five weeks on the chart, peaked at number fourteen on November 15, 1980, and finished the year at number ninety-four on the Billboard Year-End singles chart for 1981.[20][21] In the U.S., the song also reached number thirteen on the Cash Box Top 100,[22] number fourteen on the Hot Dance Club Play chart,[23][A] and number seventeen on the Record World Singles chart.[24] "Whip It" found international success, peaking at number seventy-seven on the Australian Kent Music Report,[25] number eleven on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart,[26] number eleven on the Official New Zealand Music Chart,[27] and number fifty-one on the UK Singles Chart.[28] The song was certified gold in the U.S. and Canada, denoting shipments of 1,000,000 and 75,000 copies respectively.[29][30]
In a retrospective review, Huey said the song has "an irresistibly odd novelty appeal" and that it was "one of the best arguments that punk ideology didn't necessarily lose its bite when placed in the more pop-oriented musical context of new wave".[12] PopMatters' Chris Gerard noted the song's originality and described it as "a bold and provocative recording that still sounds fantastic blasted out of a good set of speakers".[31] The website subsequently ranked "Whip It" as the fifty-first best alternative song of the 1980s.[31]
When "Whip It" was released, some listeners assumed the lyrics were double entendres for masturbation or sadomasochism.[32] Devo's previous material often included sexual innuendos or blatant references to sex in the lyrics, which made "Whip It" appear consistent with this style of songwriting.[32] Mothersbaugh said many disc jockeys would make masturbation jokes to him before interviews.[15] At first, the band members attempted to dissuade them of this assumption but they eventually gave in and helped reinforce these misinterpretations.[33] Mothersbaugh believed a song about taboo subjects would receive more radio airplay and sell more copies.[34]
Music video[edit]
A screenshot from the "Whip It" music video in which Mothersbaugh uses a whip to remove a woman's clothing while the other band members play in a cattle-pen.
Although "Whip It" was not about masturbation or sadomasochism as some listeners believed, Devo used these sexual themes for an accompanying music video.[18] The video is set on a dude ranch where cowboys and cowgirls are watching Mothersbaugh whip the clothing from a cigarette-smoking woman. A cross-eyed woman and a middle-aged woman making whipped cream watch from a ranch house while the other members of Devo perform the song in a cattle pen. The band members are wearing sleeveless black turtlenecks and red flowerpot-shaped hats called energy domes.[16][35]
Devo was heavily committed to adding film aspects to its act; the band asked Warner Bros. to provide non-recoupable promotional money to make videos for "Girl U Want" and "Freedom of Choice". This was before the making of music videos had become standard industry practice, which confused label executives. When "Whip It" started to receive radio airplay, the record company embraced the concept and asked the band to produce a video for "Whip It" with a $15,000 budget.[18] The idea for the video came from an article in a 1962 issue of The Dude magazine, which revolved around a former stuntman who marries a stripper and moves to a dude ranch in Arizona. For entertainment, the man would use a whip to remove the clothes from his wife, who would remain unhurt. Mothersbaugh stated; "That's the kind of stuff that fed us creatively. It was just so stupid and so low, and yet so great."[36]
The video was partially a reaction to Reagan's previous career as a Hollywood actor; Devo wanted to make a video that satirized both the cowboy mythos and "right-wing racist values".[16][37] In the video, the whip does not strike the woman's clothes; they were tied to a fishing line and pulled away after each whip crack. The whip did, however, strike the cigarette holder to knock it out of her mouth.[38] For the first few months after its release, the video was seen by a limited audience, primarily on late-night talk shows. The American television channel MTV, which was launched in 1981, gave the video so much exposure that it temporarily revived the song's popularity, shortly before the release of Devo's next album New Traditionalists (1981).[38]
The video attracted some controversy, particularly for its perceived misogynistic undertones. Casale said the band members intended the video to appear tasteless and demeaning but also funny.[14] The claims of misogyny increased when Devo was cut from a live performance on an episode of The Midnight Special hosted by Lily Tomlin. After watching the video, Tomlin refused to host the show unless Devo was cut.[9] There were also claims that MTV banned the video but these claims were ultimately proven false.[1]
Legacy[edit]
Several journalists view "Whip It" as a cornerstone of the development of new wave music in the early 1980s.[15][17][39] In his book Pop Goes the Decade: The Eighties, Thomas Harrison wrote that the song introduced heavily synthesized music to a mainstream audience while music critic Evie Nagy called it a "defining anthem of new wave's rise".[15][39] The majority of new wave music in the early 1980s was produced by British bands. Following the success of "Whip It", Devo joined the B-52's as the face of the emergent American new wave music movement.[28]
If there was a Hall of Fame for early '80s New Wave music, Devo's 'Whip It' would be a shoo-in for induction. Undoubtedly the band's most recognizable song, 'Whip It' elevated Devo from an underground art-rock outfit to a (briefly) mainstream pop act, albeit one that still retained its pointed and satirical view of society. And, of course, who can forget the song's surrealist and now-iconic video that was a staple of MTV during the then-fledgling channel's early years? The fact that The Simpsons even paid homage to both the song and the video in an episode demonstrates how much 'Whip It' has transcended pop culture.
David Chiu of PopMatters, discussing the song's legacy.[17]
The song's popularity can be largely attributed to its distinct originality. Gerard noted, "there's been nothing quite like 'Whip It' in the top 40, before or since".[31] Nagy said the song's drum beat, guitar chords, and keyboard lines are distinct and easily recognizable, even when isolated from the song.[15] In his book 99 Red Balloons: And 100 All-time One-hit Wonders, Brent Mann wrote; "It's hard to find anyone between the ages of 30 and 50 who does not have a vivid recollection of 'Whip It' ... the kind of unusual track that made listeners want to bop their heads and break into a herky-jerky dance".[40]
The accompanying music video is also remembered for its bizarre and controversial content.[5][12] According to Huey, "the song has remained in the public consciousness thanks in part to MTV's extensive airplay for the video".[12] With the popularity of the video, MTV began pursuing Devo and promised them a new platform to showcase their visual works. Devo, however, eventually developed a troubled relationship with the channel. Most of the band's subsequent videos were censored for controversial content or were rejected because the song was not a hit single. According to Casale; "As soon as MTV went national, they came up with this new Taliban set of rules ... we were stunned and felt jilted".[41]
In the band's forty-year history, "Whip It" remains their only song to chart within the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100.[20] As a result, some journalists have labeled Devo as a one-hit wonder.[40][42][43] Mann noted that the band's strange philosophy on devolution offset its accessibility, and wrote; "Devo's songs were, quite simply, too far out and counter-culture for mainstream radio".[40] Devo's members have never tried to distance themselves from "Whip It" and as of 2018[update] still play it live.[43] Casale said; "I'm glad it was 'Whip It', because it was certainly twisted and original ... it came from a pure, creative, open collaboration, and that's to me when all the best stuff comes".[8]
Covers and media use[edit]
Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron of the band Pearl Jam perform a cover of "Whip It" in 2009. Both musicians are wearing Devo's signature yellow janitorial suits and energy domes.
Since 1980, "Whip It" has been covered by several bands, including Pearl Jam, Love and Death, and Does It Offend You, Yeah?.[44][45][46] One of the most unusual covers was recorded by the American teen pop band Devo 2.0 and featured on its album DEV2.0 (2006).[47] Devo 2.0, which was created by Walt Disney Records in an attempt to emulate the popularity of the Swedish pop group the A-Teens, covered Devo songs for a teenage audience.[47] Label executives asked Casale to serve as the band's manager; he agreed, reasoning that Devo 2.0 furthered Devo's belief that everything humanity creates— including Devo's own songs—will devolve [48] Casale had to rewrite several lyrics to remove sexual innuendos and references to drugs and suicide, although "Whip It" was not subject to revisions.[47]
According to David Chiu of PopMatters, "Whip It" had transcended popular culture because it has been featured in several television episodes of The Simpsons,[17] Family Guy,[49] and Stranger Things.[50] It has also been featured in television advertisements for brands including Bonds, Gateway, and Swiffer.[51] In the Swiffer commercial, a middle-aged woman performs robotic dance moves while cleaning her house. The commercial uses a slightly altered version of the song, replacing the lyrics "whip it good" with "swiffer's good". Devo agreed to perform the song for the commercial because they found it to be absurd. Mothersbaugh stated that performing in the commercial "is coming full circle, to be commenting on a conspicuous, consumptive culture ... and to be fed into the hopper and spit back out the other side".[52] Several other companies have altered the phrase "whip it" for their commercials to lyrics such as "flip it", "chip it", and "dip it".[48]
Credits and personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from Freedom of Choice album liner notes.[7]
Written by Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh
Produced by Robert Margouleff
Recorded at the Record Plant, Los Angeles
Engineered by Howard Siegal
Mastered by Ken Perry, Capitol Studios, Los Angeles
Charts and certifications[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (1980–1981)
Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[25]
77
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[26]
11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27]
11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28]
51
US Billboard Hot 100[20]
14
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[23][A]
14
US Cash Box[22]
13
US Record World[24]
17
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (1981)
Position
US Billboard Hot 100[21]
94
Sales and certifications[edit]
Region
Certification
Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29]
Gold 75,000^
United States (RIAA)[30]
Gold 1,000,000^
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b With "Gates of Steel" and "Freedom of Choice".[23]
Footnotes[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b Moskowitz, David V. (2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-4408-0340-6.
Jump up ^ Nagy 2015, pp. 19–20.
Jump up ^ Nagy 2015, pp. 20–21.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Nagy 2015, p. 35.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Buskin, Richard (July 2008). "Devo 'Whip It' – Classic Tracks". Sound on Sound. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Fortner, Stephen (September 2010). "Devo: The Masters of Subversive Synth Rock Return". Keyboard. Vol. 36 no. 9. p. 40. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Freedom of Choice (liner notes). Devo. Warner Bros. Records. 1980.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Nagy 2015, p. 36.
^ Jump up to: a b Harris, Will (June 18, 2015). "Interview: Gerald Casale of Devo". Rhino Entertainment. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
Jump up ^
Source that describes "Whip It" as a new wave song: Flick, Larry (February 1, 1997). "Moby Rocks Out On Elektra's 'Animal Rights'". Billboard. Vol. 109 no. 5. p. 9. ISSN 0006-2510.
Source that described "Whip It" as a synth-pop song: Perrone, Pierre (July 6, 2013). "Alan Myers: Drummer with art-rockers DEVO". The Independent. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b "Whip It by Devo – Digital Sheet Music". Music Notes. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Huey, Steve. "Devo – Whip It – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
Jump up ^ Majewski & Bernstein 2014, p. 77; Nagy 2015, p. 33.
^ Jump up to: a b Crow, Sara Jayne (March 18, 2009). "Exclusive: Devo's Jerry Casale on De-evolution and the Meaning of 'Whip It'". Flavorwire. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Nagy 2015, p. 34.
^ Jump up to: a b c Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip It Up and Start Again. Penguin Books. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-1012-0105-3.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Chiu, David (May 21, 2015). "'Freedom of Choice' Is What You Got: A New Look at Devo's 1980 Hit Album". PopMatters. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c Nagy 2015, p. 37.
Jump up ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. August 30, 1980. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Devo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b "Singles". Billboard. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ Jump up to: a b "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week Ending November 22, 1980". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Freedom of Choice – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b "Record World Singles" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 37 no. 1742. December 13, 1980. p. 27. See last week peak position. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-6461-1917-5.
^ Jump up to: a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0279." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b "Charts.nz – Devo – Whip It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 327. ISBN 978-0-8793-0607-6.
^ Jump up to: a b "Canadian single certifications – Devo – Whip It". Music Canada. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b "American single certifications – Devo – Whip It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 8, 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
^ Jump up to: a b c Gerard, Chris (September 30, 2015). "The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 3: 60 – 41". PopMatters. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Nagy 2015, p. 33.
Jump up ^ Majewski & Bernstein 2014, p. 77.
Jump up ^ Adams, Deanna R. (2002). Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent State University Press. p. 386. ISBN 978-0-8733-8691-3.
Jump up ^ Nagy 2015, p. 38.
Jump up ^ Majewski & Bernstein 2014, p. 77; Nagy 2015, p. 38.
Jump up ^ Majewski & Bernstein 2014, p. 78.
^ Jump up to: a b Nagy 2015, p. 39.
^ Jump up to: a b Harrison, Thomas (2017). Pop Goes the Decade: The Eighties. ABC-CLIO. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-4408-3667-1.
^ Jump up to: a b c Mann, Brent (2003). 99 Red Balloons: And 100 All-time One-hit Wonders. Citadel Press. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-0-8065-2516-7.
Jump up ^ Nagy 2015, p. 88.
Jump up ^ Nagy, p. 94.
^ Jump up to: a b Suddath, Claire (January 27, 2012). "Nada Surf: Life After the One-Hit Wonder". Time. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
Jump up ^ Soniak, Matt (February 1, 2011). "The Late Movies: "Whip It" Covers". Mental Floss. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
Jump up ^ Titus, Christa (January 15, 2013). "Love and Death Album Premiere: 'Between Here & Lost' Exclusive First Listen". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
Jump up ^ "Does It Offend You Yeah? cover Devo at Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival". NME. August 26, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b c Seibold, Witney (August 25, 2017). "The Strange Saga of Disney's Preteen Devo Cover Band". Nerdist. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b Majewski & Bernstein 2014, p. 80.
Jump up ^ Thurm, Eric (April 6, 2014). "Family Guy: 'Herpe The Love Sore'". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
Jump up ^ Wigler, Josh (October 30, 2017). "'Stranger Things': All the Pop Culture References in Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
Jump up ^ Trofimova, Kat (February 19, 2014). "Check it! Commercials inspired by Devo's 'Whip It'". SheKnows Media. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
Jump up ^ Sanders, Lisa (August 13, 2003). "Former Anti-Business Band Does P&G Commercial". Advertising Age. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
Majewski, Lori; Bernstein, Jonathan (2014). Mad World, An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s. Abrams Books. ISBN 978-1-6131-2666-0.
Nagy, Evie (2015). Devo's Freedom of Choice. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6235-6317-2.
External links[edit]
"Whip It" official music video on YouTube
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
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Devo
Gerald Casale
Mark Mothersbaugh
Bob Mothersbaugh
Josh Freese
Josh Hager
Bob Casale
Alan Myers
Jim Mothersbaugh
Bob Lewis
Fred Weber
Rod Reisman
David Kendrick
Jeff Friedl
Josh Mancell
Studio albums
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
Duty Now for the Future (1979)
Freedom of Choice (1980)
New Traditionalists (1981)
Oh, No! It's Devo (1982)
Shout (1984)
Total Devo (1988)
Smooth Noodle Maps (1990)
Something for Everybody (2010)
Live albums
Now It Can Be Told: DEVO at the Palace (1989)
DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992)
DEV-O Live (1999)
Live in Central Park (2004)
Devo Live 1980 (2005)
Hardcore Devo Live! (2015)
Compilation albums
E-Z Listening Disc (1987)
Devo's Greatest Hits (1990)
Devo's Greatest Misses (1990)
Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990)
Hardcore Devo: Volume Two (1991)
Hot Potatoes: The Best of Devo (1993)
Adventures of the Smart Patrol (1996)
Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology (2000)
Recombo DNA (2000)
This Is the Devo Box (2008)
Something Else for Everybody (2013)
EPs
B Stiff EP (1977)
Mechanical Man EP (1978)
DEV-O Live (1981)
Theme from Doctor Detroit (1983)
Watch Us Work It (2008)
Song Study (2010)
Singles
"Mongoloid"
"Jocko Homo"
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
"Be Stiff"
"Secret Agent Man"
"Girl U Want"
"Whip It"
"Freedom of Choice"
"Through Being Cool"
"Beautiful World"
"Working in the Coal Mine"
"Peek-a-Boo!"
"That's Good"
"Are You Experienced?"
"Here to Go"
"Disco Dancer"
"Watch Us Work It"
Home video releases
The Men Who Make the Music
Human Highway
We're All Devo
The Complete Truth About De-Evolution
Devo Live
Devo Live 1980
Hardcore Devo Live!
Related articles
Discography
Booji Boy
Church of the SubGenius
Devo 2.0
Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol
Energy dome
General Boy
Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers
Mutato Muzika
The Beginning Was the End
"Dare to Be Stupid"
"The Mutants Are Revolting"
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