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Devo — Whip It
Album: Freedom of Choice
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1171









Released: 1980
Length: 2:36
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your momma's back

When a problem comes along you must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long you must whip it
When something's going wrong you must whip it

Now whip it into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late to whip it
Whip it good

When a good time turns around you must whip it
You will never live it down unless you whip it
No one gets their way until they whip it
I say whip it whip it good
I say whip it whip it good

Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your momma's back

When a problem comes along you must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long you must whip it
When something's going wrong you must whip it

Now whip it into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late to whip it into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late to whip it
Whip it good
Comments (71)add comment
Devo remains unsurpassed. 👍😊
Posted 2 days ago by big_gare    [ Reply ]
That really worked from Eillish "Lunch" to this - nice (again) William!
Posted 3 weeks ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Stupid
Posted 11 months ago by dpursnl    [ Reply ]
'Tattoo Detective' was my misheard lyric
Posted 1 year ago by roadie    [ Reply ]
Total classic.  
Posted 1 year ago by jjbchansen159    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:


And sometimes did the music for episodes of PeeWee’s Playhouse, when it wasn’t Todd Rundgren or someone else equally unexpected.



Rugrats too, I think.  Mothersbaugh, in any case, if not the whole band.  I've seen his name on recent things too.
Posted 1 year ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
I wonder....do you think this would have survived the censorship police back in the day if they's said "spank it" instead of whip it? 🤣😉
Posted 1 year ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!  Brings back memories!   Thanx RP!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 lynn01 wrote:

fun song and a fun band, you must hear their cover of "can't get no satisfaction" - best cover ever imo, love the video too.



Didn't Devo do this song during their appearance on SNL? Hmm .. the 70's were a long time ago, and many brain cells away.
Posted 1 year ago by talexb    [ Reply ]
This is fun! 
Wonder if anyone's experimented with playing it in a BDSM club. Sorry 


Posted 2 years ago by Egctheow    [ Reply ]
 xtalman wrote:

To think one of these guys went on to create a kids show.....Yo Gabba Gabba.



And sometimes did the music for episodes of PeeWee’s Playhouse, when it wasn’t Todd Rundgren or someone else equally unexpected.
Posted 2 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 freddyfender wrote:

My first exposure to 'alternative' music while growing up in piss-ant central MN in the 80's.  Perhaps the first indication to me that there was a world outside of the farm.


Saw them at Northrup Auditorium, U of MN  2nd row balcony. 1978. Never so scared that I was going to fall off the balcony to the crowd below!
Posted 2 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
 DaMoGan wrote:

This, and "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen were the very first 45s I ever owned as a kid.  Darn, now I want to get a turntable.


Did you get a turntable yet? If not, why not? Enjoy life now.
Posted 2 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
I'm actually singing along with this at work, man I hope nobody walks into my office
Posted 2 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
now more than ever we need this - DEVO must march on Moscow to teach Putin and Lavarov to dance and enjoy life instead of inflict misery .... oooops
Posted 2 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Just hilarious classic pop music.
Posted 2 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
Perform a rocking show
Posted 2 years ago by igotitmade2k    [ Reply ]
ahhh the sounds of my childhood
Posted 3 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
fun song and a fun band, you must hear their cover of "can't get no satisfaction" - best cover ever imo, love the video too.
Posted 3 years ago by lynn01    [ Reply ]
OMG I'm old.  How is this 41 years old? Definitely 'out there' at the time, there was nothing quite like Devo.
Posted 3 years ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
To those who know these are brilliant Conceptual Artists. Check out their deeper catalogue and collaborations with other artists like Bruce Conner
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Trying too hard.
Posted 3 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
This, and "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen were the very first 45s I ever owned as a kid.  Darn, now I want to get a turntable.
Posted 3 years ago by DaMoGan    [ Reply ]
 JeriF wrote:
Saw these guys at the Santa Monica Civic Center way back when, before I'd even heard of MTV (didn't own a television) and they were GREAT!  Still the only time I've ever bought scalped tickets- I was determined to see them no matter what.  And still the only time I've ever seen a band playing with each musician ('cept the drummer) on a running treadmill.  What a show!!


 
What a hoot!
Posted 3 years ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
Saw them live in 1980 at Birmingham Odeon. Was just the craziest gig, videos before it started when videos were not really invented, paper overalls that were ripped off by the mosh pit revealing hob-nailed boots and shorts and the red flower pot hats. 
Four of them wearing crazy fluorescent bibs (D - E - V - O) in complete darkness bobbing around the stage for 'Are we not Mean we are Devo'.  
Not particularly revolutionary now but was pretty out there then ... 
Posted 3 years ago by gbt    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by uksminas    [ Reply ]
love it!
Devo had a bunch of other very good songs that never get played... Girl U Want...Gates of Steel... (hint hint Bill!)
Posted 5 years ago by wtango    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:
Quaint now, but unbelievably subversive and ground breaking when it came out. We were listening to Muskrat Love and Afternoon Delight on the radio when Costello, Pretenders, Devo, Talking Heads and others came through as "New Wave" and gave us something more.

What a time that was...
 

Wouldn't you have been listening to Steely Dan on heavy late 70's rotation at that time? 

FM... no static at all.
Posted 5 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
 
 
Thank you. Now I know just WHEN to whip it (and when to whip it good).
Posted 5 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Saw these guys at the Santa Monica Civic Center way back when, before I'd even heard of MTV (didn't own a television) and they were GREAT!  Still the only time I've ever bought scalped tickets- I was determined to see them no matter what.  And still the only time I've ever seen a band playing with each musician ('cept the drummer) on a running treadmill.  What a show!!


Posted 6 years ago by JeriF    [ Reply ]
Maybe Rock Hall bound?  Short I-77 distance from their Akron hometown to the  CLE !!
Posted 6 years ago by mgtom    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:
Quaint now, but unbelievably subversive and ground breaking when it came out. We were listening to Muskrat Love and Afternoon Delight on the radio when Costello, Pretenders, Devo, Talking Heads and others came through as "New Wave" and gave us something more.

What a time that was...

 
Well maybe their cover of Satisfaction. Whip It was popular but only because it's funny. I don't think it got anyone thinking about its place in music history.
Posted 6 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Brilliant performance/collaborative artists and musicians. Enormous, very influential catalog. Pioneers of "electronica" and EDM. Enormous catalog, largely unknown to the masses who only recall this from MTV
Posted 6 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
This song is good for the ears and other parts of the body because it celebrates the joys of mastication...
Posted 6 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Yay! Christmas Music  {#Biggrin}     (I must whip it)
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 Sunbird94 wrote:
Reminds me of high school. The Mighty 690.(a border blaster Top 40 station out of Tijuana/San DIego).. would play this single to death.
 
Yes, along with Double Dutch Bus and Smoke Two Joints. All hail the Mighty 690, the pre-KROQ of Southern California.
Posted 7 years ago by Synth80s    [ Reply ]
nice... {#Wave}{#Whipit}
Posted 7 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Quaint now, but unbelievably subversive and ground breaking when it came out. We were listening to Muskrat Love and Afternoon Delight on the radio when Costello, Pretenders, Devo, Talking Heads and others came through as "New Wave" and gave us something more.

What a time that was...
Posted 7 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
 
 
I am so glad someone had "too much time" on their hands. I never would have thought of this but it sure gave me a good chuckle
Posted 7 years ago by bluejay08003    [ Reply ]
Saw them in Cleveland in 1983 - one of the best shows I've ever seen
Posted 7 years ago by maclochness    [ Reply ]
New Years resolution 1981. I will not buy a Devo album. 
Posted 7 years ago by smorgan    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 7 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
So much more from their Catalogue. Brilliant techno, way ahead of their time. Performance artists with a great sense of humor/irony and a point of view. Their live shows are Epic
Posted 7 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Love the video of this song! Weird early MTV.
Posted 7 years ago by daniel_rusk    [ Reply ]
Has a bit of a Talking Heads vibe to it…
Posted 7 years ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]
german wave ... in english ... better play original "fred vom jupiter" and so on ...
Posted 7 years ago by pixeli    [ Reply ]
Funny thing happened this morning - on the radio they said Donald Trump asked for the "Working Class" to rise up and vote for him against Hillary Clinton (who represents - as he sees it - the political elite).

The report said that he was trying to galvanize support from the "Industrial Mid West" of America.

I tried to visualize where the industrial mid west actually was and immediately Ohio came to mind and then Akron, Ohio and then logically to one of their most famous products - Devo,

And the first record played when I switched on RP this morning was... Devo "Whip it".

Yeah - synchronicity or what?

 
Posted 8 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
Where in hell is my spudhat? I haven't seen it since 1988.
Posted 8 years ago by darcand    [ Reply ]
https://doctorsardonicus.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/oh-that-alan.png?w=300&h=204
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 
Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of high school. The Mighty 690.(a border blaster Top 40 station out of Tijuana/San DIego).. would play this single to death.
Posted 8 years ago by Sunbird94    [ Reply ]
My first exposure to 'alternative' music while growing up in piss-ant central MN in the 80's.  Perhaps the first indication to me that there was a world outside of the farm.
Posted 8 years ago by freddyfender    [ Reply ]
{#Whipit}
Posted 8 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
great song!
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 8 years ago by yuel    [ Reply ]
they crack me up!
Posted 8 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
To think one of these guys went on to create a kids show.....Yo Gabba Gabba.
Posted 8 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
the video they made for this is just about the best video ever
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 Axelito wrote:
Oh come on... It this a fucking joke?! Make it stop... Pleaaaaaassseeeeee!!!

 
The joke must just be on you. 

At least it's a funny one.
Posted 8 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
YEAH DEVO!!!!! {#Clap} More More More!
Posted 8 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
this is mighty
Posted 8 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
How bizarre to hear Devo on here - they were definitely an 'aquired taste' at the time. I did buy a couple of their singles back then (but there was a lot of good competition for my saturday-job-money). Maybe you could dig out the Devo cover of the Stones 'Satisfaction' - thats a strange one. Actually on 2nd thoughts finding Devo on here explains the occurance of XTC on here too. 'whacky' i think is the word {#Laughing}
Posted 8 years ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
Oh come on... It this a fucking joke?! Make it stop... Pleaaaaaassseeeeee!!!
Posted 8 years ago by Axelito    [ Reply ]
Yes !  

Local boys make good !
Posted 8 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
music we deserve
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
I saw Devo in Kent Ohio before they became big. We were convinced they would be a failure.  Shows what we knew.
Posted 9 years ago by rwiggins    [ Reply ]
Yes!
Posted 9 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
Extremely strange band, extremely weird video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_QLzthSkfM 
Posted 9 years ago by pankman    [ Reply ]
This should have been the theme music to Fifty Shades of Grey.
Posted 9 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Pretty clean .... so I give it a 7.
Posted 10 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]
No. Just no.
Posted 10 years ago by shplody    [ Reply ]
RIP, Bob 2. : - (
Posted 10 years ago by bbgun    [ Reply ]