Idiot Box

Album: S.C.I.E.N.C.E (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd is very artistic; he's much more likely to be painting or reading than to be watching reruns of Friends. The "idiot box" is television; the term started floating around in the 1950s.

    "'Idiot Box' is about TV culture," Boyd explained. "Television isn't good for your brain. In the song, I fantasized about a world without TV." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tim - Pittsburgh, PA
  • After releasing their debut album, Fungus Amongus, independently in 1995, Incubus signed with Epic Records in 1997, which had them tour with Korn before going into the studio. "Idiot Box" was one of the songs they played on that tour, road-testing it before recording. The album didn't get much attention but Incubus kept getting better, and by 2001 they had a huge hit with "Drive."

Comments: 5

  • Luke from Manchester, UkErika.
    Too many people are from English-speaking countries yet they watch a lot of TV which stops their education and learning capabilities.
    This stops them spelling simple words.
  • Brian from Winchester, Mahaha, funny. i stopped watching tv :P
  • Nate from Aurora, Ilyeah, I agree with you guys'thoughts...i really sometimes will be watching some television, when i stop to think, how do i do this..its like a false reality...too stupid. i wish i wasnt introduced into the television...it makes people turn into what they want, hear or see...
  • Tim from Pittsburgh, PaSubliminal messaging could be included here.
  • Erika from Yuma, Azmany people throughoutt the us seem to loose sight on the most important parts of their life and pretty much loose their peice of mind to tellivision and turn into zombie telivision controled robot freaks. thats what this song meens to me.its scary because the internet is probably next.lol
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.