Shake Hands With Beef
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Shake Hands With Beef" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Primus | ||
| from the album Brown Album | ||
| Released | 1997 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock Funk metal Alternative Metal |
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| Length | 4:02 | |
| Label | Interscope Records | |
| Writer(s) | Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia | |
| Producer(s) | Primus | |
| Primus singles chronology | ||
| Southbound Pachyderm 1995 |
Shake Hands With Beef 1997 |
Over the Falls 1997 |
Shake Hands With Beef is the first of two singles off the album Brown Album by the band Primus, the other being Over the Falls. The song incorporates very straightforward bass and guitar riffs that follow each other, something Primus was not known for, which turned many fans off, as did Brown Album in its entirety. They're played over a strange, creative drum beat.
[edit] Music Video
The video features Les Claypool, Ler LaLonde, and Bryan Mantia dressed in orange and brown playing atop a garbage can while a trailer-trash family has a dinner of hamburgers. At certain points, Les and Ler grow fly-like wings and fly around the family as they swat at them. Les directed the video. The video was recorded at a slower pace and sped up, making the band members appear to be making strange, jerky motions.
Though no true meaning of the song is immanent, many suggest that "shaking hands with beef" is a euphemism for masturbation, though Claypool has claimed that he wrote the song in an attempt to get a few laughs out of some vegetarian friends.
Currently the song has become a hit with fans, much like John the Fisherman. Most fans are requesting to hear it during Primus' live shows but the band had previously stated that they refuse to play Brown Album and Antipop material. However, the song was indeed performed live for the first time with Tim Alexander on drums on November 4, 2006. An extended version of this song appeared on Primus' best of album, They Can't All Be Zingers: The Best of Primus.
