Song for a Future Generation

"Song for a Future Generation" is the third single taken from The B-52's 1983 album Whammy!. It peaked at #63 on the UK Singles Chart and also reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with the album tracks "Whammy Kiss" and "Legal Tender." It is the first of two songs by the B-52's to feature all five band members singing lead vocals, the second being "Theme for a Nude Beach" from the album Bouncing off the Satellites.

The song's lyrical content has been speculated to be a satirical look at heterosexual coupling, evidenced both by the dating agency styled introductions of the band members, and by the repeated lyric: "let's meet and have a baby NOW!" The title of the song is not part of the lyrics, and was used as the title of a 1998 B-52's greatest hits compilation album, Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation.

A music video was filmed to accompany "Song for a Future Generation" for promotion on television. It features the band members performing the song on podiums, swings and in a Brady Bunch style split screen. The video also features some of the most extravagant, elaborate bouffant wigs that the female members of the band notoriously wore throughout their early career, including one made of golden tinsel, one with a chicken wire frame (nicknamed "the bird cage") and one bouffant atop which sat a giant bow made from wig-hair.

The B-52's sang "Song for a Future Generation" live over a backing track on the Whammy! tour in 1983.

Track listing

UK vinyl 12" single: Island Records

Side A

1. "Song for a Future Generation"
2. "Song for a Future Generation" (Instrumental)

Side B

1. "Planet Claire"

UK 2 x vinyl 7" single: Island Records

1. "Song for a Future Generation"
2. "Song for a Future Future Generation" (Instrumental)
3. "Planet Claire"
4. "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)"