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The Flaming Lips — Do You Realize??
Album: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1670









Released: 2002
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 3
1, 2, 3, 4

Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?
Do you realize we're floating in space?
Do you realize that happiness makes you cry?
Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do you realize? Ah-ah-ah
Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?
Do you realize?
Comments (200)add comment
As my days in this life continue to whiz by like the dotted lane markers  on  a highway, blending one with another, until they become a streak...this song becomes more and more relevant...***sigh***
still one of the loveliest songs rec0rded this century
Divides this household too, I'm for.
its a bit bloody obvious innit?

no-one get off this rock alive


C'mon folks.

This is a happy song.

Hey John (see below). I will work on making more dumb comments.  I want that award!!!!


These guys may be crazy as a bag of eels, but they do some interesting work.
I like this song. The comments about it are, uh, entertaining.
c.
 Hodgie wrote:


John,

You win!! You win The Dumbest Comment I've ever read on RP.

 
The song is about existentialism...which is really mind-expanding, fascinating stuff.


Explaining existentialism to you would be like showing a card trick to a dog. 


You should write for the "Comments" section of YouTube videos.You'd fit in nicely. Two types of folks generally write comments on YouTube:


1.) Pre-pubescents. They're excused

2.) Adults who have IQ's on a par with driveway gravel       
 
Haha.  I just finished making the same YouTube observation, albeit briefly, about a similar condescending comment about this song. 

Great minds....

As far as the lyrics go, they may seem shallow to enlightened minds, but most people live their lives in purposeful denial of the certain fact of death.  Any chance to hear a reminder I consider welcome.

"Practice as if your hair is on fire."

PS  Please don't insult dogs.  They live in the present, a mindset precious few of us ever achieve.  And love unconditionally, another goal for achieving Nirvana.  That's why they wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge.
 fredriley wrote:

That'll add another, intellectual level of loathing for the Flaming Lips, from my viewpoint. I do know existentialism, have read Camus and Sartre, and it is the most self-absorbed individualist bunch of bourgeois cobblers I've come across in philosophy. No wonder it's so popular amongst callow egocentric adolescents.
 
Five years later, I thought I was reading a comment on YouTube.
 rogermorley wrote:
Awful song {#Frustrated}
 
Not to me!  I've rated this an 8 since I first heard it....in fact, more folks should tell more folks that they are BEAUTIFUL.....LLRP!!
If you ever have the opportunity go see them live. Phenomenal show!
Awful song {#Frustrated}
My friend had someone sing this at her husband's funeral.  So many emotions. 
 Solanus wrote:
For those that would rip the line, "Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?":
1. Many women are faced with a lot of doubt about how beautiful they are. Our society throws a lot of signals saying that you can be prettier, you should lose weight, etc. People are often very cruel to each other, attempting to destroy our self-worth. (I am not a woman, but I'd like to think that I am correct on this point.)
2. Telling someone that line with the requisite sincerity means that you find them appealing, regardless if they meet some finite standard of what beauty is. You're not trying to compare them to Gal Gadot or some supermodel, just that you find them beautiful.
3. Also, telling someone that line with the requisite sincerity is an amazing boost of self-confidence to that person. As was demonstrated recently by a photographer who took pictures of people before & after telling them that they are beautiful, it has an amazing effect on their demeanor & facial expression.

I'm sure that there is plenty to find at fault in this song, but don't dismiss a well-intentioned compliment.

 
I completely agree. And 

4. Giving someone a compliment, and meaning it, has a very beneficial effect on the giver. We (should) feel great if we make someone else feel great. If you should feel low energy, grumpy, cynical — tell someone (perhaps also in doubt or struggling) that you appreciate them, find them lovely, and so on. Voila. It's a burst of magic.  Build someone else up, not this toxic endemic tear down nonsense.  

On the other hand, we make mistakes if we're always seeking the approval of others to feel good about ourselves. 
 thewiseking wrote:
maudlin and mawkish

 

Ohhhh...literature! 

"That's no vernacular...that's a derby!"  Jerome Howard. 

   
maudlin and mawkish
The video is just exquisite!  

Ya can't beat dancing rabbits. 
For those that would rip the line, "Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?":
1. Many women are faced with a lot of doubt about how beautiful they are. Our society throws a lot of signals saying that you can be prettier, you should lose weight, etc. People are often very cruel to each other, attempting to destroy our self-worth. (I am not a woman, but I'd like to think that I am correct on this point.)
2. Telling someone that line with the requisite sincerity means that you find them appealing, regardless if they meet some finite standard of what beauty is. You're not trying to compare them to Gal Gadot or some supermodel, just that you find them beautiful.
3. Also, telling someone that line with the requisite sincerity is an amazing boost of self-confidence to that person. As was demonstrated recently by a photographer who took pictures of people before & after telling them that they are beautiful, it has an amazing effect on their demeanor & facial expression.

I'm sure that there is plenty to find at fault in this song, but don't dismiss a well-intentioned compliment.
Well, it's sort of an ultimate feel good song. 
Sad. Happy. Real. And... pretty.  
Image
Like at first listen. It hits the sweet spot. 
Extra points for the lyrics alone. Especially poignant if you've recently lost someone close. 
mawkish
One of the most beautiful songs I know. Makes me cry every time.
 fredriley wrote:

That'll add another, intellectual level of loathing for the Flaming Lips, from my viewpoint. I do know existentialism, have read Camus and Sartre, and it is the most self-absorbed individualist bunch of bourgeois cobblers I've come across in philosophy. No wonder it's so popular amongst callow egocentric adolescents.

 


you guys r kiln it
And Stephan Hawkins says philosophy is dead!  {#Ass}
nature. 10/10
 fredriley wrote:

That'll add another, intellectual level of loathing for the Flaming Lips, from my viewpoint. I do know existentialism, have read Camus and Sartre, and it is the most self-absorbed individualist bunch of bourgeois cobblers I've come across in philosophy. No wonder it's so popular amongst callow egocentric adolescents.

 
Many would characterize Camus as absurdist rather than existentialist (including Camus himself).


I love this song.  That is all.
 Hodgie wrote:

The song is about existentialism...which is really mind-expanding, fascinating stuff.

Explaining existentialism to you would be like showing a card trick to a dog.      

 
That'll add another, intellectual level of loathing for the Flaming Lips, from my viewpoint. I do know existentialism, have read Camus and Sartre, and it is the most self-absorbed individualist bunch of bourgeois cobblers I've come across in philosophy. No wonder it's so popular amongst callow egocentric adolescents.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, life moves pretty fast. If you don' t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.
The opening "one..two..three..four" was enough to get me hitting PSD. I have never managed to 'get' the Flaming Lips, and almost certainly never will. I've been 'assimilated' by Radiohead after years of exposure on RP, but FL are just toooooo much.

Time flies when we're having fun...  love this song...
 
 johnjconn wrote:
Perhaps the stupidest premises for a song ever.

He's asking if you realize:
  - "that you have a beutiful face".  Every woman I've ever met know exactly where they stand on the Good Look chart.
  - "that everyone will die". Only a idiot doesn't know that.
 
stupid

 

John,

You win!! You win The Dumbest Comment I've ever read on RP.

 
The song is about existentialism...which is really mind-expanding, fascinating stuff.


Explaining existentialism to you would be like showing a card trick to a dog.      


You should write for the "Comments" section of YouTube videos.You'd fit in nicely. Two types of folks generally write comments on YouTube:


1.) Pre-pubescents. They're excused

2.) Adults who have IQ's on a par with driveway gravel       
So proud to be one of the 73 people who rated this song a 10.
 johnjconn wrote:
Of all the songs I've ever heard in my days , this might be the number one worst.
On almost every level this song sucks.
Break it down:
  - He ask a girl "do you realize you have a pretty face" ,,,duh,,, I've never met a girl in my life who does not know exactly where she is on the "cute face" list.  Ugly girls know they are ugly, hot chicks, know they are hot.
   - To accept all his questions (all the Do you realize, blah blah blah) is an insult to anyone's intellengence. For example, "Do you realize that one day you will die"  again, duh!
   - boring music
  - poor arrangement
 
Ha Ha!  Nice try, JohnJConn!

(or do you really have that much to learn in life?!!)


So proud to be one of the 40 people who rated this song a 1.
I miss Flaming Lips songs like this — melodic, sincere, innocent, a little philosophical, and even with some narrative on occasion. Whether drugs were involved is immaterial.  They sound more short-circuited lately, to my ears, although some may call it experimental.
 johnjconn wrote:
Of all the songs I've ever heard in my days , this might be the number one worst.
On almost every level this song sucks.

Break it down:
  - He ask a girl "do you realize you have a pretty face" ,,,duh,,, I've never met a girl in my life who does not know exactly where she is on the "cute face" list.  Ugly girls know they are ugly, hot chicks, know they are hot.

   - To accept all his questions (all the Do you realize, blah blah blah) is an insult to anyone's intellengence. For example, "Do you realize that one day you will die"  again, duh!

   - boring music

  - poor arrangement
 
 
 - It's just plain whiny.

 - The guys in the background on "do you realize" are painfully screechy.
I thought RP was commercial free. Is this not an auto ad?
john lennon doing satsang
What a bag of cliche-sodden barf. Next.
I'll just drink a bottle of syrup instead, thanks.
Never been a fan of key changes. Especially cheesy ones like in this song.  Flaming Lips can do better than this!
I thought it was going to be Polyphonic Spree.
Yes, I realize all of these things.
I first heard this song when I was pregnant with my two wonderful children. It always makes me think of how much I looked forward to getting to meet them in person and show them how life works on this big blue marble. {#Heartkiss}
 copymonkey wrote:


Sorry, but anyone who rates ANY Poe song above a 5 relinquishes all rights to criticize any other music.

Hey, it's not me sayin' this—it's in the rule book.

 

Yea, I usually avoid unequivocal statements like that regarding subjective musical taste, but you are correct, it is in the rule book.
 socalhol wrote:
vaska01 wrote:
     This song gives me goose bumps..

wilcogirl11 wrote:

Me too. Love this one. Love this whole album, but especially this song.

 
I agree with both of your statements!  This song is slightly quirky, but very heartfelt — it really resonates with me.  And because of this song I checked out the rest of the album, and I enjoy it as a whole, too.

 
{#High-five}

It gives me goosebumps too — because it is so frightfully awful.

 
socalhol wrote:
vaska01 wrote:
     This song gives me goose bumps..

wilcogirl11 wrote:

Me too. Love this one. Love this whole album, but especially this song.

 
I agree with both of your statements!  This song is slightly quirky, but very heartfelt — it really resonates with me.  And because of this song I checked out the rest of the album, and I enjoy it as a whole, too.

 

 jpstfx28 wrote:
shocked at the rating of this song
  Me too. How this song gets anything above a 3 just boggles my mind. This song is pandering drivel.

You realize the sun don't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Buckminster Fuller, brilliant is so many ground breaking and bizarre ways, insisted on saying earthrise and earthset.

vaska01 wrote:
     This song gives me goose bumps..

wilcogirl11 wrote:

Me too. Love this one. Love this whole album, but especially this song.

 
I agree with both of your statements!  This song is slightly quirky, but very heartfelt — it really resonates with me.  And because of this song I checked out the rest of the album, and I enjoy it as a whole, too.


Check this one out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEWViGmX8Lw&ob=av2n
 jpstfx28 wrote:
shocked at the rating of this song
 
Yeah, it's way too low!

Yep.  I already rated this a nine.  "Godlike" - I'll think about it...

The Flaming Lips by ~Moneypenny
Melissa Dow   ©2004-2010 ~Moneypenny



shocked at the rating of this song
 1wolfy wrote:
Oh really,  I like this one..maybe I should get the whole CD  DrGonzo wrote:
this is a fantastic album, but this is by far my least favorite song from it.. not sure why, but i just cannot get into this song - skip over it every time. rest of the album is 8 - 9 territory.. this one is a 5 imo.

/shrug
 
 
Yep, this isn't even the best song on there, I agree.

 Art_Carnage wrote:
Not so unbelievable. The Lips are from Tulsa.

 
toterola wrote:
Unbelievably enough, this is now the official state "rock and roll" song of Oklahoma. Good choice, Sooners!
 

Norman
, Oklahoma.  I had a girlfriend from there and that was Norman's claim to fame, along with the University of course

Not so unbelievable. The Lips are from Tulsa.

 
toterola wrote:
Unbelievably enough, this is now the official state "rock and roll" song of Oklahoma. Good choice, Sooners!
 


Such a great song every time I hear it.  8 -> 9.

Oh really,  I like this one..maybe I should get the whole CD  DrGonzo wrote:
this is a fantastic album, but this is by far my least favorite song from it.. not sure why, but i just cannot get into this song - skip over it every time. rest of the album is 8 - 9 territory.. this one is a 5 imo.

/shrug
 


this is a fantastic album, but this is by far my least favorite song from it.. not sure why, but i just cannot get into this song - skip over it every time. rest of the album is 8 - 9 territory.. this one is a 5 imo.

/shrug
 vaska01 wrote:
This song gives me goose bumps..
 
Me too. Love this one. Love this whole album, but especially this song.

Unbelievably enough, this is now the official state "rock and roll" song of Oklahoma. Good choice, Sooners!
So for "Fight Test" rating did you donate a point to Cat Stevens?

 
lawman wrote:

I'm rather older than that, and I just changed my former 7 to an 8 — added a point for extra-good song-writing.
 


to_the_eleven wrote:
I'm 37, must be why I'm not thrilled by any of them.


I'm rather older than that, and I just changed my former 7 to an 8 — added a point for extra-good song-writing.


 Deadwing wrote:
Wow I think you totally missed my point somehow. I love this song and this band. Check my rating on it (10) I was shakin a finger at all the people that cringe over Wayne's voice or Stephen's quirky arrangemants, and because of that, miss out on some incredibly beautiful, whimsical, life affirming, and at times surrealistically fun and silly music. Flaming Lips- there is no substitute
 

Thanks for putting that into words... you nailed what their appeal is to me.

I'm 37, must be why I'm not thrilled by any of them.

 
MediaGrrl wrote:
Just turned on RP in the office and was hoping for a set that would please the 40s and the late 20s. Bill nailed it:

Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?
Depeche Mode - Strangelove
Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground (Nellee Hooper Edit)
well done!
 


 copymonkey wrote:


Sorry, but anyone who rates ANY Poe song above a 5 relinquishes all rights to criticize any other music.

Hey, it's not me sayin' this—it's in the rule book.

 
Rules are made to be broken.


One of my all time favorites. These boys from Oklahoma City know how to write a wonderful song!

This song gives me goose bumps..
 copymonkey wrote:


Sorry, but anyone who rates ANY Poe song above a 5 reliquishes all rights to criticize any other music.

Hey, it's not me sayin' this—it's in the rule book.
 
Copymonkey, you CRACK ME UP!   {#Lol}
Folks, this is a beautiful song... here are the lyrics:

One, two, three, four -
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun don'-go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun don'-go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize
 2Hawks wrote:
Ok, how long can they keep singing about observations that everyone thought about when they were 12? It's boring, juvenile, and repetitious.

 

Sorry, but anyone who rates ANY Poe song above a 5 relinquishes all rights to criticize any other music.

Hey, it's not me sayin' this—it's in the rule book.

Oh dear.

Not one to leave negative comments, but this is quite horrible... Sorry, it's me I'm sure, but I just don't get it. :o(
To truely appreciate the Flaming Lips you must see them in concert. I think the recorded music is there to remind you of the live performances which are unforgetable. It's performance art.
 Excelsior wrote:
This band is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy overrated.
 

They are pretty fun live, have you checked out their shows?
More_Cowbell wrote:

Oh yeah, and so is chocolate.

Chocolate, unlike this band, does not sound like alley cats in heat.


 Excelsior wrote:
This band is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy overrated.
 
Oh yeah, and so is chocolate.

Just turned on RP in the office and was hoping for a set that would please the 40s and the late 20s. Bill nailed it:

Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?
Depeche Mode - Strangelove
Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground (Nellee Hooper Edit)
well done!


Deadwing wrote:
Love this song...

me too...though I'm not sure why.

This band is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy overrated.
Love this song...
Yet another tune and band for whom I have RP to thank! (Don't think I've ever heard Flaming Lips on WXRT or VH1!)
IIRC, this song was written in reaction to the death of a Japanese fan.
Actually the song "It's Summertime" was written for a friend of the band from Japan who died suddenly from a freak heart defect that no one realized that she had.
Deadwing is entirely too serious. This is one of the most fun songs I have ever heard.


Wow I think you totally missed my point somehow. I love this song and this band. Check my rating on it (10) I was shakin a finger at all the people that cringe over Wayne's voice or Stephen's quirky arrangements, and because of that, miss out on some incredibly beautiful, whimsical, life affirming, and at times surrealistically fun and silly music.

Flaming Lips- there is no substitute

Beautiful song.
Weak. Very weak.
The Flaming Lips like Radiohead rises above the title "band" or "group" and claims the prize of absolute fuckin genius... I have seen hundreds of live shows in my long life..and the Flaming Lips at Bonnaroo last year was the best...
grace6697 wrote:
this is one of the funniest things i have ever read on the internet.
Deadwing is entirely too serious. This is one of the most fun songs I have ever heard.
VERY GOOD CD, Oh, and I almost forgot to say, they are awsome Live! Go see them if you get the chance:)
Deadwing wrote:
I realize that many of you consider yourselves to be the ultimate critics of music and the Lords of all Creation as far as understanding the human condition but sometimes you should just shut up for a minute and just think about life as it is. It's not going to last long.
this is one of the funniest things i have ever read on the internet.
pope183 wrote:
funny you should think it sounds like a JL song - esp since it was followed by one yup I hear mind games... signed Johnathan Winston Legthigh
The first track on this CD, led to FL paying royalties to Cat Stevens for the riff.
Absolutley love this album and love this song. They kind of make the thought of everyone you know dying sound,well kinda happy. Love it :-) 8/10
Okay, the segue into Lennon was pretty brilliant, but this song just grates on my psyche.
Ok, how long can they keep singing about observations that everyone thought about when they were 12? It's boring, juvenile, and repetitious.
This song has no soul. Never cared for F.L. Sorry. SOunds like it was thrown together to fill CD space to me.
Deadwing wrote:
Wow this is actually quite nice and the segue into John Lennon's Mind Games is just wonderful. Gotta love RP I realize that many of you consider yourselves to be the ultimate critics of music and the Lords of all Creation as far as understanding the human condition but sometimes you should just shut up for a minute and just think about life as it is. It's not going to last long.
Well-said!
Wow this is actually quite nice and the segue into John Lennon's Mind Games is just wonderful. Gotta love RP I realize that many of you consider yourselves to be the ultimate critics of music and the Lords of all Creation as far as understanding the human condition but sometimes you should just shut up for a minute and just think about life as it is. It's not going to last long.
I love this album. Every single track is great...from beginning to end.
Sheesh...and George lost the suit brought over My Sweet Lord?
stet wrote:
madtowner11> I guess I'm a sucker for the "Do you realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round" since my favorite all-time lyric is in Pink Floyd's Time ("But you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking and racing around to come up behind you again: Also: The fool on the hill sees the sun going down But the eyes in his head see the world turning round
Very good.
madtowner11 wrote:
First few times I heard this song, I didn't like it at all. I guess I'm a sucker for the "Do you realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round" since my favorite all-time lyric is in Pink Floyd's Time ("But you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking and racing around to come up behind you again: Also: The fool on the hill sees the sun going down But the eyes in his head see the world turning round
IIRC, this song was written in reaction to the death of a Japanese fan. Anybody else get to see the Ronald version of the Lips play Mind Games live? Cody
masterhead wrote:
Let me guess...Vaseline? :iamwith:
:::sigh::: I think you mean "She Don't Use Jelly" . This album is in my car cd player right now...quite lovely.
Teri Hemmert (dj at WXRT in Chicago) describes this song as the "Imagine" of its time. Quite a complement as she is a rampant Beatlemaniac. (and then Bill follows with "Mind Games" - sweet)
I want to dislike these guys, but I just can't. 7
Few cuts actually make me switch music. This is one.
thermion7 wrote:
This is a great album. A really nice piece.
amen
Yashure wrote:
Does anyone else hear "Mind Games"! Hello, can you say ripoff? John Lennon must be spinning in his grave. Funny that you followed this with "Imagine"
funny you should think it sounds like a JL song - esp since it was followed by one yup I hear mind games... signed Johnathan Winston Legthigh
Oh MY!!!!! And some of my uploads were rejected? 8O
They forgot to squeeze the last 0.5 dB of dynamic range out of this song, keeping it marginally listenable :|
Mugro wrote:
Do You Realize?....... that this is the most annoying song ever made???
:nodhead:
First few times I heard this song, I didn't like it at all. Now I love it. I guess I'm a sucker for the "Do you realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round" since my favorite all-time lyric is in Pink Floyd's Time ("But you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking and racing around to come up behind you again: The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older, shorter of breath, one day closer to death.")
8) (bonus points for album title)
Do You Realize?....... that this is the most annoying song ever made???
Gotta agree with the "tedius" contingent. If the song actually had a memorable melody, I could escape the banal lyrics, but the overwrought, plaintative refrain sends me straight to the "mute"...