from the EP Foster the People and the album Torches
B-side
"Pumped Up Kicks" (A cappella)
"Pumped Up Kicks" (Instrumental) (12")
Released
September 14, 2010
Recorded
2010
Genre
Indie pop[1]
psychedelic pop[2]
alternative rock[3]
alternative pop[4]
electropop[5]
Length
4:00 (album version)
3:38 (radio edit)
Label
Columbia
Startime
Songwriter(s)
Mark Foster
Producer(s)
Mark Foster
Foster the People singles chronology
"Pumped Up Kicks" (2010)
"Helena Beat" (2011)
Music video
"Pumped Up Kicks" on YouTube
"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the band's debut single in September 2010, and the following year was included on their EP Foster the People and their debut album, Torches. "Pumped Up Kicks" became the group's breakthrough hit and was one of the most popular songs of 2011. The song was written and recorded by frontman Mark Foster while he was working as a commercial jingle writer. Contrasting with the upbeat musical composition, the lyrics describe the homicidal thoughts of a troubled youth named Robert.
The track received considerable attention after it was posted online in 2010 as a free download, and it helped the group garner a multi-album record deal with Columbia Records imprint Startime International. "Pumped Up Kicks" proved to be a sleeper hit; in 2011, after receiving significant airplay on modern rock stations, the song crossed-over onto contemporary hit radio stations. The song spent eight consecutive weeks at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it the first Billboard Alternative Songs number-one single to crack the U.S. top 5 since Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" in 2009. The song was widely praised by critics, and it has been licensed for use in a wide range of popular media since its release. "Pumped Up Kicks" also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The song remains the band's most successful hit single to date.
^Gilman, Hannah (June 14, 2012). "Usher Covers Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks'". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
^"50 Best Singles of 2011 > 11. Foster the People, 'Pumped Up Kicks'". Rolling Stone. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
^Nattress, Katrina (November 22, 2019). "30 Alternative Rock Songs That Defined the 2010s". iHeartMedia. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
^Walthall, Catherine (March 16, 2022). "A Look Behind the Meaning of "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
^Molanphy, Chris (November 27, 2019). "Rolling in God's Royal Uptown Road Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
"PumpedUpKicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the band's debut single in September 2010, and the following...
musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. After Foster's song "PumpedUpKicks" became a viral success in 2010, the group received a record deal from...
Growing up, his and his family's celebrity status prevented him from having a normal childhood, something he has spoken on at length. He took up skateboarding...
musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. After Foster's song "PumpedUpKicks" became a viral success in 2010, the group was signed to Columbia Records...
Butch Clancy remix of Foster the People's PumpedUpKicks, is what propelled Scott to stardom. The PumpedUpKicks dubstep remix went viral, gaining 1.5 million...
following year. Around the fall of 2009, Mark Foster recorded the song "PumpedUpKicks" at his workplace and it was released as an early single for the band...
to become a school shooter", and "pumpedupkicks columbine high school" (a reference to the song "PumpedUpKicks"). On August 4, 2022, the prosecution...
3. Murphy did perform and produce a cover of Foster the People's "PumpedUpKicks", featuring Ralph Saenz, for the season. This was released as a single...
was promoted through various music videos with, "PumpedUpKicks (Like Me)" (A remix to PumpedUpKicks), was released on August 6, 2012. The music video...
"Cooler Than Me" as well as for his remix of Foster the People's single "PumpedUpKicks" (which currently has over 172 million plays on YouTube). Prior to...
Commentary With 'PumpedUpKicks' Video". Loudwire. Retrieved April 7, 2023. Kennelty, Greg (July 1, 2019). "3Teeth's Cover Of "PumpedUpKicks" Is A Slowed...
People's "PumpedUpKicks"". Revolver Mag. Retrieved June 18, 2022. Childers, Chad (June 28, 2019). "3Teeth Make Gun Commentary With 'PumpedUpKicks' Video"...
with a medieval-style instrumental version of Foster the People's "PumpedUpKicks", which Canadian YouTuber Hildegard von Blingin' (a play on the name...
first day of the "Bootcamp," stage of The X Factor where she sang "PumpedUpKicks" with Beatrice Miller. Of the 120 contestants who auditioned at bootcamp...
"Velcro" and Easy Life's "Antifreeze. He also featured on the track "PumpedupKicks" on the 10th anniversary deluxe edition of Foster The People's album...
watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 22, 2017. "Jaden Smith - "PumpedUpKicks (Like Me)"". Vice. August 6, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2017. "Jaden...
2016. "Love Is A Losing Game". bandcamp. Retrieved 18 December 2016. "PumpedUpKicks". bandcamp. Retrieved 18 December 2016. "Someone Like You". bandcamp...
Big Sean (featuring Chris Brown) – "My Last" Foster the People – "PumpedUpKicks" Kreayshawn – "Gucci Gucci" Wiz Khalifa – "Black and Yellow" Britney...
Mann, Camille (February 21, 2012). "Taylor Swift and Zac Efron cover 'PumpedUpKicks' on Ellen". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020...
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