Napalm Beach
1981 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Artist
- The Five
- Title
- Napalm Beach
- Release
- Napalm Beach / Excite Me
- Year
- 1981
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Genre
- Punk · Post-Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Post-Punk group formed in 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. They disbanded in 1987. Members included: Dave Doremus (bass), Brian Gillespie (drums), Tom Moran (guitar), Reid Paley (vocals). They released the song "Napalm Beach" (# 101031), which presumably is a reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party, displaying the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola. Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" on the loud speakers of his helicopter. Once on the ground, Kilgore strips of his shirt and scarf and prepares to go surfing with explosions and gunshots all around. As fighter jets bomb the forest behind the Vietcong village, Kilgore says happily "I love the smell of napalm in the morning…. smells like victory".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
Post-Punk group formed in 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. They disbanded in 1987. Members included: Dave Doremus (bass), Brian Gillespie (drums), Tom Moran (guitar), Reid Paley (vocals). They released the song "Napalm Beach" (# 101031), which presumably is a reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party, displaying the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola. Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" on the loud speakers of his helicopter. Once on the ground, Kilgore strips of his shirt and scarf and prepares to go surfing with explosions and gunshots all around. As fighter jets bomb the forest behind the Vietcong village, Kilgore says happily "I love the smell of napalm in the morning…. smells like victory".Dozens of songs are influenced by Apocalypse Now either in title or lyrics, especially the quote "smell of napalm in the moring". Here are a select few: "Charlie Don't Surf" by The Clash on Sandinista! (1980) "Napalm Beach" by The Five on Napalm Beach / Excite Me (1981) "Beach Party Vietnam" by The Dead Milkmen on Eat Your Paisley! (1986) "Rambo Rat" by The Queers on Grow Up (1990) "The War in Vietnam" by New Scene on Technomakinita 2 (1991) "Back to Nam EP" by Commando Alan Jamming Nam (1994) "Wa Wa Zat!!" by David Lee Roth on DLR Band (1998) "Vietnam" by Big Red on Big Redemption (1999) "New World Disorder" by Biohazard on New World Disorder (1999) "Napalm in the Morning" by Sodom on M-16 (2001) "Hysteria" by Knives Out! on Black Mass Hysteria (2012)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Dozens of songs are influenced by Apocalypse Now either in title or lyrics, especially the quote "smell of napalm in the moring". Here are a select few: "Charlie Don't Surf" by The Clash on Sandinista! (1980) "Napalm Beach" by The Five on Napalm Beach (1981) "Beach Party Vietnam" by The Dead Milkmen on Eat Your Paisley! (1986) "Rambo Rat" by The Queers on Grow Up (1990) "The War in Vietnam" by New Scene on Technomakinita 2 (1991) "Back to Nam EP" by Commando Alan Jamming Nam (1994) "Wa Wa Zat!!" by David Lee Roth on DLR Band (1998) "Vietnam" by Big Red on Big Redemption (1999) "New World Disorder" by Biohazard on New World Disorder (1999) "Napalm in the Morning" by Sodom on M-16 (2001) "Hysteria" by Knives Out! on Black Mass Hysteria (2012)