Intelligent Design, Evolution and Darwin Get The Rock Treatment From a Newly Reformed New York Dolls
Well you knew it had to happen sooner or later. The song is “Dance Like a Monkey” a catchy pop-punk bit from the legendary New York Dolls — their first new recording in nearly 30 years. It has a clever animated video to go along with it. Expect to hear a lot more about this as the song is going into rotation on the radio and the band was recently on Conan O’Brien.
The New York Times put it this way:
“The new record’s best song, “Dance Like a Monkey,” is a rock ‘n’ roll answer to a timely theological question. Trying to woo a “pretty creationist,” the singer invites her onto the dance floor. “Evolution is so obsolete,” Mr. Johnansen shouts like a leering old bluesman. “Got to stomp your hands and clap your feet.”
What the Dolls get wrong — they mistakenly confuse biblically based YEC with intelligent design.
What they get right — their chorus is right on target proclaiming “Evolution is obsolete.”
(if the video doesn’t load properly view it here at Youtube.com)
The jury is still out on what it all means about their views on evolution and ID.
Mr. Johansen, who laughingly described himself as “a Catholic Taoist,” isn’t exactly born again. But his perspective has clearly broadened over the years. “I don’t know if it’s more spiritual,” he said of the new Dolls record. “But it’s more worldcentric, y’know what I mean? It’s not as colloquial as when we first came out. We were really just entertaining the neighborhood at that point. We were the band of the East Village that everybody danced to.”
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“I mean, I have my ideas about music and rock ‘n’ roll and all that kind of stuff,” he added. “I don’t know if it’s actually necessary for the species, but it sure makes life fun. It sure made my life fun. And I like to show other people that.”