Oklahoma Officially Rocks
Travel Blog • Sophia Dembling • 03.03.09 | 10:55 AM ET
Like I’ve been telling you, Oklahoma rocks. “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips has been voted the state’s official rock song, beating out other Oklahoman-written rockers “Heartbreak Hotel,” “After Midnight,” “Never Been to Spain” (but, if you will recall, “I’ve been to Oklahoma”) and others. Read about the finalists, then listen to the winner on the Flaming Lips’ website or in concert video after the jump.
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Dallas-based writer Sophia Dembling is co-author of the Flyover America blog and author of "The Yankee Chick's Survival Guide to Texas." She would love to hear your tales of America, so drop her an email.
Eric C 03.03.09 | 1:02 PM ET
It’s funny you point this out, because my observation is that somewhere around 95% of the population of the state has no idea who the Flaming Lips are or what they do, much less heard any of their music. While I’m a casual fan and I might attend one of their shows if it weren’t on my kids’ school nights (sigh), most of my fellow Okies will get more excited about the latest news on Toby Keith (double sigh).
The Lips do have a small nod from the city of OKC, in Bricktown, near the baseball stadium. An entire alley. Almost 200 yards long, even. Between Mickey Mantle Drive and Joe Carter Ave.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode;=&q=N35+27.922+W97+30.462&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr
Sophia Dembling 03.05.09 | 3:51 PM ET
Yeah, I imagine it’s college kids who voted in numbers online ... it is an unusual choice for the state and that’s what’s refreshing about it, I think. I wonder what state officials thought—I bet they were a little startled.
TR 03.10.09 | 2:39 AM ET
I live here and anyone who reads a newspaper knows who the Flaming Lips are. When it was announced they were performing for the annual downtown New Year’s eve city-sponsored celebration - the tickets sold out immediately. Wayne and his band have been celebrated in every conceivable local publication that exists here. He is a much locally beloved local celebrity. Please don’t let Oklahoma’s well publicized voting record fool you.