The Handshake - MGMT - Album

[bestplayabk09]

2 seconds in and i was already in a trance

[marubmdq]

I'm on a quest to find those 7 ppl who dislike this song and make them suffer!!!

[spottedleaf116]

Foster the People and MGMT are my favorite bands and from 2:12 on, if each band sang that part till the end I think i'd have a real hard time telling who was singing which one. Andrew's voice sounds so similar to Mark Foster's at that part. <3 i love them both!

[patwalshacoustic]

I live for music. I'm a musician and take music very seiously. I have never been able to compare any band to the amazing music the Beatles have made. But there is something about MGMT that reminds me of a new-age Beatles. It's real music.

[elangiscool]

@patwalshacoustic that's fasho

[TheKidninja]

best song on the album maybe

[AlexANDMackenzie96]

this song is so good, that it gives me the chills 

[Brabant07]

so fucking good i cant believe humans created this beautiful music

[Zell666Dincht]

favortite song from this album

[baseball6154]

Great Band.Great album.Great song. Thank you MGMT.

[halfxbloodxprincess]

this song is referring to in insane asylums when the patients are given antipsychotics ("handshake" being the slang term for an antipsychotic) and they would hide their pills under their tongues so they didn't have to take them, thus staying crazy. some schizophrenics and other "psychotic" individuals describe being on meds as similar to being in a zombie-like trance. the rest of the song makes sense if you think of it in terms of this.

[zlobnix]

@halfxbloodxprincess The song is actually referring to acid and tripping in general.

[halfxbloodxprincess]

@zlobnix i disagree.



[halfxbloodxprincess]

@zlobnix here's the quote i was looking for - "The handshake is the deal," VanWyngarden says. "I was thinking about a mental asylum, when a patient tricks the nurse by keeping the pills under his tongue, then spits them out when she walks away." sorry for the first comment, i didn't want to argue without having a fair point.

[zlobnix]

@halfxbloodxprincess You're right, it's in spin magazine. But he is only referring to that line, not the whole song.. Besides, their songs are generally open to different interpretations, and in this case tripping still makes perfect sense too :)

[brrnay]

@halfxbloodxprincess it's actually about them becoming superstars.. singing a contract with record producers 'the handshake' and about staying true to themselves.. not changing even though they've signed their lives away.. and know who your true friends are.

[jolulada]

I thought it was

"We got the handshake of the hot tub"

[hojokoify]

i shagged my boyfriend to this song.

[Jadasicoles]

LSD



[Razinskie20162]

White smoke, but mines purple, an the marlbles coverd with kief from where i spelt my 3 stage grinder. After that I cleand out my bubbler pipe to get all the resin out, got alittle on my hands, tried to wash it from my hands but it wont go... seriously it must take lava soap to get this shit off.

[THEfhcnoipea]

C'est trop underground c'trop fou

[NickoManiak]

this is music

[Villeishott]

Words cannot express how much I fucking love this song and album.

[lolarosehudson]

<3

[TheTGcritic]

I tought the song represented the the journey to obtaining a record deal they most likely had to talk to men all in black and all that

great song it can mean anything you want ^^

[DJKillerTrance]

So high. 

[californialovinful]

"I know I can feel it underneath my missing left shoe!" - Andrew VanWyngarden @ the US Open of Surfing xD

[litemiifire]

love this

[raphaelhdds]

any comparation with "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd?! i'm crazy?

[OddballTube]

The lyrics are a lot more literal than what people overthink them to be.

[Musikaddikt69]

LSD IS AMAZING

[jhill6294]

this song is magic

[Missdoc021]

If it's a good song, just jam out to it. Don't be overly critical about the lyrics. This song is worth jamming out to :)

[sassyhipster]

Hey, what's this song abo- OH WAIT, I DON'T FUCKING CARE.

[jross006]

no body knows what this song is about because your not andrew and ben . just shut up.

[KillaMobsta420]

@jross006 ur fucking stupid man, listen to da lyrics dey explain wat dey r talking about...god gave u ears so fucking use dem, n it talks about LSD n if u dont believe me listen closely u ignorant bitch!!!!

[nodelin]

" I'll try not to let them take everything they can steal. People always told me said don't forget your roots, I know I can feel them underneath my leather boots"

The Handshake is about signing a record deal and the perils that come with it. And yes a BIG part of that includes drug usage. But for the most part the song is about the bands skepticism about the record label really caring about their music or wanting to take their creative control so they can make money off of them.

[FriedBlubber]

2:30 and on is basically saying "we're taking acid" over and over again

[21BJay]

The Handshake is about record deals. Under our tongue represents how mental patients would hide pills under their tongues and spit it out when administrators weren't looking. The lyrics say, "the handshake's UNDER the tip of my tongue." The handshake is the deal that was made with the record industry. The woman they are describing is a Columbia Records rep. Look it up and stop attributing everything to drugs. Especially to a band who has claimed they don't really do them.

[KillaMobsta420]

@21BJay Ur stupid this song does talk about LSD,of course they're guna say they dont do them they're not stupid, if u listen closely it talks about an LSD trip "a curse on all creation, every single thing u know" wat does that mean to u hu... THINK!!!!n also listen.

[21BJay]

@killamobsta420 You obviously have no idea how ironic and intelligent MGMT's lyrics are. You could easily attribute any song to drugs based on surface reference and metaphors, but just as basic metaphors are constructed to hide drug language, the opposite can be cooked up to confuse and confound in order to expose a different meaning in an intelligent way. MGMT is much nerdier than you probably gather and Oracular Spectacular pokes fun at the phony facade and elemenets of being a rock star.

[KillaMobsta420]

@21BJay to me it sounds like they r telling me of an LSD trip n if not tell me sum lines dat sais otherwise!

[KillaMobsta420]

@21BJay prove it n tell me wat sum lines means den if not den ur just talking bullshit

[celebrant9]

No matter whether the song is about their record deal or LSD, it's very beautiful. I love how old school this band is.

[PastaCheifFilms]

We need acid, as a world, its what everyone needs, well, that, or just if everyone opened their minds and let it all flow through

[Caterina981]

From 0:50 - 1:10 , I thought my speakers were broken. FUCK. I was ready to go to the store to get some new ones.

[anothervirtamundo]

This song always reminds me of Brutal Legend.

[samastardust]

I've been a Hardcore MGMT fan for awhile now, but I have to say... You cannot say you are a hardcore MGMT fan without listening to stuff other then Electric Feel, Time To Pretend, and Kids. Just saying. But, MGMT is amazing. And, this is my favorite song by them. This Flash Delirium, Of Moons Birds and Monsters, Brian Eno, It's Working, We Don't Care, and many more.

[SmileChelseaSmile]

@samastardust cool story bro

[Kippyan]

@samastardust Don't forget Metanoia and Siberian Breaks, my personal favs.

[MaxxHilll]

@samastardust the kids quartet is by far their best song

[SmileChelseaSmile]

@samastardust lol thats cool.

[Ggerminator]

2:08-2:35! <3

[waterbottleboy1]

People always told me, don't forget your roots

I know I can feel them underneath my missing left shoe.

[mmorr011]

@waterbottleboy1 YES! US OPEN FTW

[teasdalea1]

@waterbottleboy1 US open

[BlackTeddies]

This is probably one of the current bands that have a really unique sound and great potential. These guys are gonna release a classic album I can feel it.

[bones2063]

am i the only mgmt fan who has never done drugs and is unfamiliar with its slang outside of the friendly classroom setting?

[Pythagoras181]

@bones2063

haha, no not really. I've never done any drugs either. It's kind of obvious what the songs are about, but who cares? It's good music, regardless.

[haleighannexo]

does it really fucking matter what the song is about? just shut up, sit back, light up, and ENJOY



[haleighannexo]

does it really fucking matter what the song is about? just shut up, sit back, light up, and ENJOY

[audreysrk]

I don't think its a song only about drugs.. I think they are talking about the reality of fame and records labels.. how they know that no matter how great they tell them they are they know that all they want is money..

[Kankuro1216]

@audreysrk You're so wrong.

[sourskully]

IT'S ABOUT LSD. CALM DOWN.

[zacheyp]

I dont give a fuck what its about, Its good... Maybe it doesnt have a meaning? Or mayyybeee, you guys can just enjoy the song? Its mgmt, be chill.

[coldoatmeal326]

actually i think the first verse is about the record deal and then he turns to acid for support. listen to the lyrics and the music changes to different moods with different lyrical themes

[PennyroyalTeaBagger]

this song is like an adventure though an artery as a narcotic.

[jbailey9688]

could be extacy too. It says parachute binge which parachuting is a way to take extacy and it really tastes bad.

[ashleyinshockPrdctns]

Aw, i feel bad for the 7 deaf people who disliked this video..

[bolinho0987]

i always imagined it beeing about drugs, but it can def be about other things as well. Actually, the same thing can have a different meaning for each person, that´s kind of a big point in art

[AlinaMusicLover]

One of my favourite bands!!!)))

[C00Lcat69]

soooo good. sooooooooo good

[TheEmptyCorner]

I feel like the song should be longer, so i play it 1,321,473,892,740 times to compensate for that.

[Electr1cWaffles]

i got the handshake

[pizzaboysam]

i am a carrot

[jtpruzz]

@pizzaboysam NANANANANA BATMAN!

[LacsiraxAriscal]

@pizzaboysam Well said.

[PsychedeliccUniverse]

groovy

[conorwith2ns]

This song is extremely under appreciated.

[Kaaaaaattiiee]

@conorwith2ns Couldn't Agree With You More.. My Fave Off Oracular...

[wc1980]

yeah..paper acid definitely has no taste.

[TORONTOld4]

all is one and all is love, we just are confused :)

[romo111213]

@Gymnastforever7 wtf?

[AwsomeALEC72]

this song takes me somewhere away from all the crap goin on

[Groal95]

I'm so glad they put the evil music corporation on blast.

The decline of the music business sucks.....

[GetItSarah]

Best part - 0:00 to 3:40

[Pjuker]

I really like 1:15 too

[tmf211]

meanwhile in your fantasies....

[trexx1930]

this song is about the record deal and drugs.

but people shouldnt be arguing about this. they make their music purposely to make it harder to interperate it, not just be like a song by bruno mars where its about girls. people arent supposed to get it for a while.. thats the brilliance.

[MrOmgdude9]

the most epic start ever

[rypeTmato12]

piss myself with happiness during 2:12 - 2:30

[MrOlavjwh]

@thisrifle4993 Why is everyone trying to make some clever comment on what seconds of the song is "the greatest part". It's not a concerto, it does't last for 20+ minutes with distinct structural differences.. There's no reason to start patronizing this song by acting like some 19th century upper-class Brittish person with a top hat who is at the opera talking to his acquaintances like:"Oh, I must say I enjoy this part far more than the beginning" This piece of music is 4 min. long, deal with it.

[dorothychann]

there are 420 likes :}

[CosmicBass3000]

"People always told me, don't forget your roots.

I know I can feel them underneath my leather boots."

Love it!

[verriefunnie]

6 people don't have the handshake. 

[calvinblinkee]

@thisrifle4993 Wordd. Fuckin love it.

[rachfatcat]

Incredible live!!

[skaterdudes2020]

you wash the blood from your hands but it won't go

[ninjaunicon2727]

Best part 0:00-3:40

[SNIP3RLOV3R]

1:12 - 3:40 best part :)

[Kaaaaaattiiee]

One Of My Faves By Them.. Amazing Live :D

[FORD5000solo2001]

Best Part 0:22 - 0:49. Love it. Actually not too fond of the rest of it :P

[theshortguy411]

2:14-2:30 = best 16 seconds of music ever!

[qwsxcdeedcxswq]

For all you people saying this song is about the masonic handshake, record deals and suicide pills ARE IDIOTS!!! This video is about Acid. Handshake is another term for L$D. "The Handshake's stuck on the tip of my tounge." Dissolving acid tabs taken oraly are the most common form of acid ingestion. and by the way, acid does "taste like death" but what you see definitly "looks like fun."

-Drop Acid Not Bombs!

[Deathbydsm]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq lol its more simple then that........ its about "handshakes" in general...... lol we make deals everydaya nd dont keep them. In relationships......family members....governement..... 

[rougestr]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq i think the songs about both things but thats just my opinion

[Dirtysanz69]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq id go with pills over acid any given day acid is the devils piss.

-drop pills not bombs

[LOLURCATS]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq Your retarded. The song is about a record deal, even MGMT said it.

[qwsxcdeedcxswq]

@LOLURCATS Yes thank you for politley informing me that i am "retarded." Why don't you take a listen to the song again and think about the heavy references to LSD.

[rep420raleigh]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq

real acid doesnt have barely any taste, if any

had some great liquid last night given to me on sweet tarts. all i tasted was sweet tart lol

[dragons135791113]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq Youre the idiot. theyre songs are highly allegorical and designed to function on many levels. its even more genius that they would imply psychedelic experiences in talking about other ideas like the masonic handshake or life in general because psychedelic experiences are mathematically self similar to other life experiences or life in general (i.e. fractalization of human experience). also lysergic acid diethylamide 25 is a colorless odorless tasteless drug

[coldoatmeal326]

@dragons135791113 i guess you could interpret it like that but its definitely giving some strong hints toward acid. "We got the handshake under our tongue"

[qwsxcdeedcxswq]

@dragons135791113 Hurray!!!! Way to sound like an incredibly pretentious and pompous ass. I bet you had the dictionary right by you and a Wikipedia page about LSD open while you wrote it. First of all, while i believe the song is up to interperetation, it is patently ignorant to state that there is not heavy references towards LSD. And while PURE LSD is tasteless odorless and colorless, any form you can buy for recreational use is based from melted powder and tastes like rusted metal.

[ak40kevn]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq maybe the first verse is about acid and the second is about the record deal?

[qwsxcdeedcxswq]

@ak40kevn Entirley possible. And I thank you for being civil about your response. I'm not saying it isn't up to interperetation and perception, but i think it's plain ignorant to assume that this song doesn't reference heavily to LSD.

[Undead1036]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq ya and in the official video the take it.....so yea

[liveslowlivesimple]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq actually it is about their record deal. if you were a true fan, you would know that not every fucking song MGMT writes is about drugs. yes, they use drug references in many songs, but its probably to add some flavour and attract the attention of feeble minds such as yours.

[janin101]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq Just smoke weed. Don't drop acid kids!

[nakedspaniard]

@janin101 dumb ass weed is more useless than lsd

[janin101]

@nakedspaniard I know it is. I don't smoke myself. I'm just saying it's better if you do that which makes you feel more calm and chill rather than doing something low like pill popping OR something even lower like heroine, which has been mentioned in another MGMT song.

[MCRCRAZYIZME]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq record deals would be really logical.dont forget your roots,bring me happiness and wealth,handshake

[TheCurryater]

@qwsxcdeedcxswq This is song is about how they're comparing their record deal to a big label and their fear of selling out to drugs. (Acid)

[LarryTheMuffinman]

Best part 0:00-3:40

[xxxAlesanaFan4everxx]

@LarryTheMuffinman yeah but my least favorite part was 3:41 :/

[synth3333]

one of my favorite mgmt songs. not extremely into the ending tho truthfully

[mummiku]

I want this to be my wedding's song ... really !

[ninjaunicon2727]

@mummiku me too. and i plan to marry andrew. lol

[patar49]

You convince yourself that you want it, but you don't know

You keep trying to wash the blood from your hands, but it won't go

We're gonna keep you on the run ~ so amazing that i jizzed my pants!

[JaysEatingWorld]

how could people not like their new album? this reminds me of it. so does the youth and 4th dimensional transition and weekend wars

[YouGotSubbed]

soo fucking good..

[superbelladonna]

I love this album .. but I lost it and can't find it anymore :(

[airsoft622]

@superbelladonna its called buy another one or downloaded it from teh internets

[superbelladonna]

@airsoft622 no thanks, i'll find it!

[ZonyPk]

@superbelladonna 1.11 owns

[superbelladonna]

@ZonyPk ??

[platypae333]

@superbelladonna I think if you've already bought it, it's excusable to illegally download it. Although, MGMT deserves the money.

[superbelladonna]

@platypae333 I guess I could download it, but I like having the cd too and I'm gonna search for it until I find it :)

[patsyd80]

I get a really special meaning from the words in this song telling me to do things. And right now their telling me to go get a large bowl of coco pops.

[Rinnkazul]

The five people who voted dislike are physically afflicted and cannot shake hands :( So please don't be angry at them for being envious.

[danielrosasvargas]

@Rinnkazul lol good one

[freeviber]

gee there are 5 retarded people who've watched this...

[BeyondHell55]

This song is fucking sick. mgmt just plain rapes

[budheavy85]

the question is can a song get any better??

i think NOT.

[ronstero]

God i love the beginning..

[TheGreatAvocado]

@ronstero agreed. (:

[StudioStar]

Best part 0:00 - 3:40

[newyorklover277]

best freakin band ever <3

[Daalek]

2:35 till the end - eargasm

[taylorreddam]

@Daalek 0:00 till 3:40 - eargasm...

[Speak2U2]

I'm pretty sure I heard Andrew or Ben say in an interview once that they didn't like that people wanted to analyze lyrics all the time. They think people should just listen to the music, so it's hilarious you're all arguing over the words. haha.

[monaxikoalani]

@Speak2U2 can you please find me this interview?

[meotoko77]

@Speak2U2 I like that, because it allows you to express yourself freely without reason. Do you know where I can find that interview.

[SirBarneyGumble]

What an amazing song.

[CarlosBeans55]

Oh my god. This seems to be one of the best songs to pull an all nighter to. Genius.

[howarewesocool]

MGMT is the shiznazzle

[waveskatekrew]

Best Part 2:14-2:30

[Gangsterabc]

@waveskatekrew you fuckin bastard im high as fuck right now and listen to when he says "NNNNNHHHHHGGGGYOU confess yourself but you want but you dont know" lmfao that shit sounds so fuckin inspiring and fuckin powerful that you gotta sing it lol this song is a straight trip high

[TehDauvs]

@Gangsterabc

You convince yourself that you want it but you don't know.

[snaybird1000]

@waveskatekrew The climax

[xiodkev]

@waveskatekrew you meant the best part is 0:00 - 3:40

[paigexjean]

i couldnt agree more

[GDlax3]

@waveskatekrew correction, best part 0:01-3:40