MGMT’s Muse: A Praying Mantis
By Brian McConnell
MGMT have announced that their indie hit, “Time to Pretend” (named one of BeatCrave’s top 10 indie songs of 2008) from the album “Oracular Spectacular” is actually about a praying mantis. After winning the “Best Track” award at Shockwave’s NME Awards, Andrew VanWyngarden stated:
It [Time to Pretend] was a praying mantis that was named after our experimental music adviser. We found her in a yard sale. She loved The Clash.
A praying mantis….ummm, ok. That totally makes sense (heavy layer of sarcasm). I was going for a theme of basic youthful angst and the disillusionment we all have with the modern world in which we are forced to live, work breed and die:
This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.
Yeah, it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.
I guess I was wrong. Now the song has a whole new, and much lamer, meaning. Oh well, at least it’s still fun to sing along to! Check out a video of the band performing their praying mantis themed song live:
