Late last week we set off a firestorm by sharing a reader e-mail about Third Eye Blind’s “Non-Dairy Creamer,” a new song we agreed was “pretty much golden in all the worst ways” and wanted you to hear if only because it quoted M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.” We had never blogged about Third Eye Blind on this site previously, but are always happy to indulge in alt-rock nostalgia. So far the post has over 200 comments for and against the song! (Many of them written by two people, but still.) We got word the other day that lead singer/songwriter Stephan Jenkins even chimed in, though no one acknowledged him. So we invited Mr. Jenkins to set the record straight and clarify his intentions with regard to “Non-Dairy Creamer”…
The great thing about music is that it brings all types of people together, and I remain astonished at the capacity of lyrics to move things. Don’t know why 3eb’s lyrics have been so controversial in the past — they are about as racy as your current novel. Most importantly, I continue to be inspired by our audience, which is mostly college kids.
While we as a band try to move past politics, I personally had been on the campaign trail in a grass roots fashion for many months supporting Obama, which leads me to this song.
In regards to “Non-Dairy Creamer,” indeed humor is the intent, both musically and lyrically. I’ve felt provoked and poisoned by our politics and culture in the last few years. I wanted to amplify that provocation with some irony and take a knock at some of these fear-based phrases like “threat level orange.” All kinds of hypocrisy in current headlines then popped into my head and I rhymed em. I meant for it to be a hoot (though I know it has some teeth). Bombastic humor being the balm to move past a pretty nasty period.
Something like that. I’m not very good at talking about my own stuff. Wish I tossed some jokes in here as well, but my humor always tends towards too dry and dark. There’s no topping the KFC hat — they could have their own line!
Stephan
Thanks Stephan. Does that change anyone’s opinion of the song? What if we told you Third Eye Blind pals around with terrorists?
The Red Star EP is out now and you can stream the whole thing at MySpace.
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i think its a great song..just because it asnt the deepest song theyve made doesnt make it horrible there are plenty other bands to make fun of for making stupid songs…indulge
here’s the thing.
i think we all get that its a joke.
the lyrics are joking and trying to be witty and biting.
thats just it. its not. its nothing like dry british humor people are trying to relate it to.
its clumsy high school humor trying to provide a social commentary through unthought-out means. the shock value fails.
i heard it took them 3 years to work on this EP.
really? three years?
funny story about stephan jenkins.
you can hate the lyrics if you dont feel like having kfc and gay republicans in a song, but that tune is really something else.
I am an absolutely MASSIVE Third Eye Blind Fan. Have their albums, listen to them regularly, the whole shebang. And I actually like Non Dairy Creamer. Not to blow on anyones parade or anything but I think it’s a really good song. So yeah it’s not super poetic and it’s not some fantastic, complex, overtly dramatic, poignant, blah blah blah song and it doesn’t try to be. I don’t think it tries to be more than it is which is a nice, catchy song with fun lyrics that make you think if you actually pay attention to them. I’d think that if lyrics were so important to everyone they would actually stop to think about the lyrics as opposed to blasting on them because they’re not full of complex words and over the top symbolism. Granted that’s not why I listen to a song. And I like it. It is what it is and the band isn’t trying to make it anything else, though I’m not so sure about the majority of the audience.
dude, it’s very clear that you are rather unfamiliar with a lot of music. it’s cool that you like a certain kind of music rather exclusively, but it just means that you just aren’t gonna know what you’re talking about concerning certain stuff. someday you’ll realize there’s more music out there than indie music (i’m writing this as an indie fan!), and it’s going to be a great day for you. best of luck getting there.