UPDATED: Oklahoma House rejects Flaming Lips’ state rock song but governor intervenes
From left, Flaming Lips members Wayne Coyne, Kliph Scurlock and Michael Ivins at the state Capitol March 2 when the Senate Resolution naming the band’s “Do You Realize??” the state rock song. The House rejected the resolution today. (Photo by Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman)
Here’s a sad, sad story from The Oklahoman/NewsOK’s Capitol Reporter Michael McNutt:
The Oklahoma House rejected a resolution today to name The Flaming Lips’ song “Do You Realize??” the state’s official rock song.
The reason: Rep. Corey Holland, R-Marlow, argued against the resolution because one of the band members, Michael Ivins, wore a T-shirt featuring the hammer and sickle emblem associated with the Communist Party while at the state Capitol last month.
Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, also argued against the resolution, saying the band has a reputation for obscene language. Granted, Wayne Coyne has probably learned to love the F-bomb a little too much, but that really doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of the song, which is a meaningful – and profanity-free, Mr. Reynolds – song about valuing life.
You can read the full story by clicking here, but that’s the gist.
The measure passed the Senate 46-0 last month. In the House, the vote was 48-39, but it failed to get the minimum 51 votes to pass.
According to McNutt, many of the 101 members after working late Wednesday night left early this afternoon. Excuse me, but can the highly paid part-time state legislature not stay until the end and vote on all the bills?
McNutt also reports that since Senate Joint Resolution 24 was the last item brought up today, and because it was the last day for the House to vote on measures coming out of the Senate, the resolution is dead this year. Great.
Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, House sponsor of the resolution, said the Lips were scheduled to be at the state Capitol next week for a ceremony when the governor was to sign the resolution. National media members were invited to attend, and it’s very likely many would have at least reported on it, since many published the news when the Senate resolution passed in March.
The naming of the state rock song was to be in conjunction with the Oklahoma History Center’s “Another Hot Oklahoma Night” exhibit about the state’s rock music heritage. The exhibit opens March 2.
More than 21,000 people voted on the Oklahoma State Rock Song. The Flaming Lips song got more than 10,000 votes, Dorman told McNutt.
Apparently, their votes don’t mean anything to our legislators.
You can bet that we haven’t heard the last of this debacle.
Do you realize … Gov. Brad Henry has that whole executive order thing going for him?? (Associated Press photo)
UPDATE!!
Fortunately, the people’s votes do matter to Gov. Brad Henry, who issued a statement this afternoon that he is overriding the House’s decision and will sign an executive order making “Do You Realize??” the state song.
Here is the release that the governor’s office issued this afternoon:
Gov. Brad Henry will sign an executive order Tuesday, April 28, naming the Flaming Lips song, “Do You Realize??,” as the official rock song of Oklahoma.
In a statewide Internet vote held late last year, that song was the choice of 51 percent of more than 21,000 votes cast. Senate Joint Resolution 24 sought to codify that vote, but was narrowly defeated.
“For more than 20 years ago, Oklahoma’s own Flaming Lips have produced creative, fun and provocative rock music,” Gov. Henry said.
“The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world. A truly iconic rock ‘n’ roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state.
“They were clearly the people’s choice, and I intend to honor that vote.”
The signing of the executive order will held at 2 p.m. April 28 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
-BAM
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You better believe we haven’t heard the end of this! Call your legislator now. Jam the House Switchboard at 1-800-522-8502.
Unbelievably embarrassing for our state, but it’s what we’ve come to expect from the ignorant yokels at the state house. I’d bet 50 to one that those behind the move to block the state rock have never bothered to hear the Lips’ wonderfully life-affirming song “Do You Realize.” Afterall, it’s not about Jesus, so why bother.