Tulsa World: Henry steps in after House blisters Lips

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Henry steps in after House blisters Lips

Some lawmakers were offended by the T-shirt that Flaming Lips bassist Michael Ivins wore at the Capitol on March 2. Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer and BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 4/24/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 4/24/2009 9:41 AM

“Do You Realize... this is one boneheaded move.”: James D. Watts Jr. blogs on the Oklahoma House turning down “Do You Realize??” by the flaming lips.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House on Thursday killed a measure to make “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips the state's official rock song. But Gov. Brad Henry will sign an executive order Tuesday, naming the Flaming Lips song as the official rock song of Oklahoma.

On Thursday, the House voted 48-39 on SJR 24, with 14 members absent. It takes 51 votes to pass a measure in the House. Thursday was the deadline for the measure to get out of the House. That meant the measure was dead for two years, said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, who worked to get a state rock song established.

“An executive order is not ceremonial, but it falls short of actually being a law,” said Phil Bacharach, press secretary and chief writer for Henry's office. “It does have the effect of law, however. In this case, it certainly has the effect of law in that it will definitively make 'Do You Realize' the official rock song of Oklahoma.”

Henry praised the band for their stewardship to the state.

“For more than 20 years ago, Oklahoma's own Flaming Lips have produced creative, fun and provocative rock music,” Henry said in a press release Thursday evening. “The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world. A truly iconic rock 'n' roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state. They were clearly the people's choice, and I intend to honor that vote.”

Some legislators believe that a shirt worn by Flaming Lips bassist Michael Ivins when the vote winner was announced at the Capitol on March 2 was offensive. Ivins wore a red T-shirt with a yellow star-and-sickle logo, underneath a blazer. “I don't know why he made the choice to do that,” said Rep. Corey Holland, R-Marlow. “The great thing about this country is he has the right to make whatever statement he wants to make. I have the right to be offended by that.”

Holland said the choice of attire was not appropriate.

“I felt that the consequences of that were that I would not be able to support that as our state song,” Holland said.

Holland wasn't alone in that sentiment.

“We have better things to do at the state capitol than waste our time voting for a group that can wear a communist T-shirt in the House of Representatives,” said Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “I have no use for honoring the Flaming Lips. It is a total waste of time. It is not what the taxpayers sent us to do, to honor some group that we might find their lyrics less than acceptable.”

Those from the Flaming Lips camp were devastated by the news.

“This is heartbreaking,” said Warner Bros. publicist Rick Gershon in a phone call Thursday. Gershon has worked with the band for years.

The song, from the Grammy-winning 2002 release by the Flaming Lips, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” defeated nine state rock song finalists chosen by a panel working with the Oklahoma History Center.

More than 21,000 people voted, and the song won by a two-to-one margin, said a Thursday press statement from Dorman's office. “If all it takes to undo a democratic vote of the people is to be offended by something a person says or wears, then we are in grave danger,” Dorman said in the statement. “They may as well have burned Flaming Lips albums on the House floor today.”

Said Flaming Lips tour drummer Kliph Scurlock from his Twitter online social networking web site soon after the resolution failed: “Scared Oklahoma Republicans just stripped the Flaming Lips of the State Rock Song honor,” he wrote in one post, then continued, “I really shouldn't be amazed when Republicans do something bafflingly stupid, but I somehow still am.”

Scott Booker, the band's manager and CEO of the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, said to media Thursday evening, “As many people around the world know, the Flaming Lips are proud to be from Oklahoma. We want everyone to understand that only a minority of the representatives voted against this law,” he wrote. “Regardless of what the minority in the House of Representatives wish, the Flaming Lips remain proud ambassadors of the state.”

During the 2008 legislative session, the Legislature approved House Concurrent Resolution 1047, which established a selection process. Oklahomans nominated 454 songs. A panel narrowed that to 10.

“It is nonsense that that is the will of the people,” Reynolds said. “It is ridiculous to claim it went to a vote of the people. It didn't go to a vote of the people at the polls.”

Longtime Chicago music journalist and Flaming Lips biographer Jim DeRogatis weighed in during a phone interview with the Tulsa World on Thursday. “I think the irony here is that the legislators forget that Oklahomans are renowned for blazing their own paths,” said DeRogatis. DeRogratis has followed the Flaming Lips for more than 20 years, and his book, “Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips,” was published in 2006.

“The legislators that vetoed this didn't consider Oklahoma's history and people like Woody Guthrie and Will Rogers. Both of those guys had ideas and notions that rubbed some people the wrong way.

“But what's so unique that the Flaming Lips are like Woody and Will. This makes me think of the Marx Brothers and their famous quote,” he said. (“I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member,” said comedian Groucho Marx.) The bandmembers “are probably asking themselves if they'd really want to belong to any club that would consider having them as a member, anyway,” he said, then laughed. The selection of the official Oklahoma rock song is part of a greater effort of the Oklahoma Historical Society to celebrate the state's rock 'n' roll heritage with an exhibit entitled “Another Hot Oklahoma Night,” slated to open May 2 at the Oklahoma History Center.

Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, said lead singer Wayne Coyne is a constituent in his district.

Rice said the House action is troubling because the public voted on the song. Second, soldiers fight to uphold right to express oneself, Rice said.

“To vote against it because they didn't like their t-shirt is hypocritical,” Rice said, adding that the band was warmly embraced in the Senate when the resolution passed.

“We are proud to have them here,” Rice said. “It is too bad this message is being sent.”

Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346, Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
Jennifer.Chancellor@tulsaworld.com, Barbara.Hoberock@tulsaworld.com By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer and BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Henry intervenes on House's decision over state rock song," which was published on 4/23/2009.

	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (4/23/2009 3:18:42 PM) Do You Realize - a good decision was made. now please make Home Sweet Oklahoma by Leon the state rock song
	Report Comment This Town Needs the Boz , tulsa (4/23/2009 3:20:43 PM) this is a good thing as this song has no mention of Oklahoma in it, the state of Oklahoma needs its offical state song to have something mentioning Oklahoma in it.
	Report Comment nunyerbisness, (4/23/2009 3:26:48 PM) Don't our legistlators have anything better to do with their time?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (4/23/2009 3:29:06 PM) Yes. Let's at least have a song that has something to do with Oklahoma.
	Report Comment moogle, Tulsa (4/23/2009 3:30:46 PM) I agree with other comments that the song should be Oklahoma oriented. That being the case .... 19th Nervous Breakdown - Rolling Stones Rain - The Beatles Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road - Loudon Wainwright
	Report Comment This Town Needs the Boz , tulsa (4/23/2009 3:46:08 PM) Here is a thought how about let me see , I got it OKLAHOMA DUH
	Report Comment allsum, Tulsa (4/23/2009 3:46:13 PM) song sucks
	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (4/23/2009 3:47:37 PM) But i still like Yoshimi
	Report Comment Moses, Jenks (4/23/2009 3:50:57 PM) SS_Hippy said it better than I could! Home Sweet Oklahoma by Leon, "sweet!"
	Report Comment Paperjunkie#1, (4/23/2009 4:16:31 PM) Although I was very excited to hear that the FLips won in march, I understand that the song should probably say something about oklahoma. Maybe Wayne will make a song about oklahoma over this.
	Report Comment billw001, Tulsa (4/23/2009 4:21:51 PM) This whole thing is a waste of tax payer money. If I could fire everyone involved in this I would.
	Report Comment toyourdismay, Tulsa (4/23/2009 4:24:51 PM) Jim Watts said it PERFECTLY in his blog entry.
	Report Comment zaphod, Owasso (4/23/2009 4:25:34 PM) KC, "I Shot the Sheriff" was a Bob Marley song. Clapton merely stole it.
	Report Comment MikeinTulsa, Tulsa (4/23/2009 4:29:03 PM) I wanted Leon Russel's "Home Sweet Oklahoma" to be the official state rock song and voted for it. At the time, I thought it could have a hard time winning just because the chorus says "I'm going back to Tulsa" and our brethren in OKC would never go for that. That being said it is stupid beyond all usual metrics to measure stupid that the legislature would decide to subvert the will of the people on such a trivial matter. I originally typed that this was unbelievable, but after the other insanity coming out of the capitol this session, nothing surprises me. If the flaming lips had done a song called "Jesus loves guns and the ten commandments and hates Mexicans and gays" it would have sailed through.
	Report Comment Have that, America (4/23/2009 4:33:55 PM) this list is just lame to say the least... since when do we need an oklahoma rock song anyway...do we already have a country song? how about If I ever get back to Oklahoma by jason boland and the stragglers?
	Report Comment wardog, Miami (4/23/2009 4:42:35 PM) I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING... THE F. LIP PLEASE GOOD LORD AND A STATE SONG THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS? NOBODY ASKED FOR MY VOTE. THERE SHOULD BE NO QUESTION. LEON RUSSELL, LIVES HERE AND IS ONE OF THE GREATEST, TO GIVE THIS HONOR TO ANOTHER, WHY NOT JUST GO SLAP HIM IN THE FACE! DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU DIE AREOUND HERE TO GET SOME RECOGNITION??? HE IS HONORED ALL THE TIME (and should be). HE RECORDED IN TULSA FOR MANY YEARS WITH MANY GREAT MUSICIANS. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???? YOU PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MUSIC. 'Do You Realize' at least this title fits those who even nominated that song and voted for it.YOU REALIZE NOTHING!!!!! P.S how many state song do we need, not one in each catagory I hope. lol
	Report Comment BabaBooey, (4/23/2009 4:42:51 PM) HA HA HA! It's time to fire all these silly legislators. Then again, the song sucks.
	Report Comment BabaBooey, (4/23/2009 4:44:45 PM) By the way people, it was announced the general public could vote on-line from a number of proposed songs. I guess, like everything else in Oklahoma, people are just misinformed and then claim they weren't asked to participate. Ha Ha.
	Report Comment BabaBooey, (4/23/2009 4:46:11 PM) How about an "Okie from Muskogee" for a state song? I know it isn't "rock" but neither is the Lips' song.
	Report Comment God Bless our Troops, Small town (4/23/2009 4:47:11 PM) WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? This is what our tax payer dollars are being spent on???????
	Report Comment billybob74135, Broken Arrow (4/23/2009 5:01:30 PM) I would rather remember the Flaming Lips like they were in 1993. Now if it had been the Chainsaw Kittens, it would have been a whole different story!
	Report Comment DowntownDan, Tulsa (4/23/2009 5:15:01 PM) How did our legislature find a way to make an issue out of a rubber-stamp symbolic gesture?!?!?!?! IT'S A FRIGGIN SONG!!! WHO CARES WHAT HE IS WEARING!!!!! Geez, every day it becomes harder and harder to claim to be an Oklahoman.
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (4/23/2009 5:34:20 PM) Would it be too much to ask for this news source to provide just the tiniest bit of information on what exactly the shirt said that was offensive? Aside from that, I agree that the song has nothing to do with Oklahoma and it is silly to make it something officially recognized by the state. On top of that, while the group may enjoy some current popularity, I seriously doubt they will be as well remembered as some of the legendary performers that were the source of other Oklahoma-oriented choices. That particular song is certainly never going to be on anyone's "classic" list 10-20 years from now.
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (4/23/2009 5:35:46 PM) Oh good heavens! While I was typing that, Brad Henry put on his buffoon hat!
	Report Comment Scritchner, Tulsa (4/23/2009 5:39:08 PM) Forget the song. I think the Reps are a waste of tax payer money.

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