Wynona's Big Brown Beaver
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Wynona's Big Brown Beaver is the first single off Primus's 1995 album Tales From the Punchbowl.
| "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Primus | ||
| from the album Tales from the Punchbowl | ||
| Released | 1995 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock Funk metal Alternative Metal |
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| Length | 4:23 | |
| Label | Interscope Records | |
| Writer(s) | Claypool/LaLonde | |
| Producer(s) | Primus | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Primus singles chronology | ||
| Mr. Krinkle 1993 |
Wynona's Big Brown Beaver 1995 |
Mrs. Blaileen 1995 |
[edit] Music and lyrics
The song epitomizes Primus's musical eccentricities, whereby the group's signature funk metal stylings are comically inflected with a sound vaguely reminiscent of bluegrass and southern rock. During the song's final guitar solo, Ler LaLonde's playing brings to mind bottleneck guitar technique and banjo-style finger-picking (though neither of these techniques is actually used). The song's lyrics constitute an absurd, rambling tale about Wynona's "beaver." They combine crude sexual double entendre with a more purely nonsensical silliness typical of the band (e.g., strange references to baboons, Taco Bell, carnies, and porcupines).
[edit] Music video
The band also filmed a video for "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver," centered around the band dressed as comical-looking, shiny latex-suited cowboys. The costumes bore a strong resemblance to those used in a popular Duracell advertising campaign at the time which featured a family of battery-powered, toy-like people. The video jumps between shots of the band playing in a barn and of the band engaged in parodies of cowboy activities. The "Wynona..." video also features some air brushed drawings done by bandleader Les Claypool. The video's live action sequences were filmed at Claypool's home, known as "Rancho Relaxo."
Since the band's cowboy suits were so cumbersome, they played along to the track slowed down significantly to more easily coordinate their actions to the music. The final product is sped up back to "normal" speed. The video appeared on Primus's 2003 EP/DVD release Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People, along with an in-depth making-of feature.
[edit] Trivia
- In the video, Tim Alexander's bass drum reads "Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys." This was meant as a tribute to the man, Buck, a close friend to the band, who had died in 1992.
- Claypool has denied any connection between the song's heroine and actress Winona Ryder.
- The video marks the 2nd video appearance of les' Red and white jazz bass.
