Foster the People’s ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ Also Pulled From Radio Stations Following Newtown, Connecticut School Shooting
Foster the People's biggest hit to date is taking a hit in terms of radio airplay. Though 'Pumped Up Kicks' is almost two years old, the debut single from the Los Angeles-based band still had some residual airplay on Top 40 stations. However, it's dwindling much faster following the Newtown, C.T. school shooting on Dec. 16.
Like Kesha's 'Die Young,' 'Pumped Up Kicks' is being pulled from radio stations following the horrific tragedy that left 26 dead, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary.
Unlike Kesha's track, which is basically a call to "carpe diem," Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' is actually and explicitly about school violence: "He found a six-shooter gun in his dad's closet, with the box of fun things / I don't even know what, but he's coming for you. Yeah, He's coming for you! / All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run, better run, outrun my gun / All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run / Better run / Faster than my bullet."
TMZ reports that Los Angeles' biggest Top 40 radio juggernaut, 102.7 KIIS FM, is pulling the song indefinitely in light of the massacre. Foster has said previously that the song was inspired by the Columbine High School shooting of 1999 and was written to promote awareness of school violence.
Foster the People have yet to comment on the pull, but they have been vocal about the actual shooting. On Dec. 17, frontman Mark Foster tweeted, "It's funny to me that nudity isn't allowed on American television but watching people get violently murdered is glorified." On Dec. 16, Foster wrote, "Donating $ will help these families endure all the unexpected costs that come with death, but prayer will help in ways we can't imagine."
The singer also promoted petitions in favor of reforming federal gun laws and of revoking the Westboro Baptist Church's tax exempt status, claiming the group, which protests at funerals of soldiers and now the Newtown victims, is a hate group and not a religious organization.
Watch the Foster the People 'Pumped Up Kicks' Video