PEARL JAM – Do The Evolution (1998)

“Do the Evolution” is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, “Do the Evolution” is the seventh track on the band’s fifth studio album, Yield (1998). Despite the lack of a commercial single release, the song managed to reach number 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003). It was the first of the band’s songs to receive a music video since “Oceans”, the final single from the group’s 1991 debut Ten.

When speaking about “Do the Evolution”, Vedder stated, “That song is all about someone who’s drunk with technology, who thinks they’re the controlling living being on this planet. It’s another one I’m not singing as myself.” Pearl Jam has stated that the novel Ishmael influenced the writing of Yield. and according to the novel’s writer, Daniel Quinn, this song comes the closest to expressing the ideas of the book.

The animated music video for “Do the Evolution” was co-directed by Kevin Altieri, known for his direction on Batman: The Animated Series, and Todd McFarlane, better known for his work with the popular comic book Spawn and Korn’s 1999 “Freak on a Leash” video. The video was produced by Joe Pearson, the president of Epoch Ink animation, and Terry Fitzgerald at TME. It was written and developed by Pearson and Altieri with input from McFarlane and Vedder. The total production time on the music video was 16 weeks. The animation pre-production was produced by Epoch Ink Animation at their studio in Santa Monica. Under Altieri and Pearson’s supervision the Epoch team boarded and designed the short in less than six weeks. Once McFarlane, Vedder, and Sony gave their final approvals, the designs were outsourced at Seoul to be animated at Sunmin Image Pictures and Jireh Animation. Over a four-week period, a team of over one hundred artists worked to deliver the finished animation.

Woo I’m ahead, I’m a man I’m the first mammal to wear pants, yeah I’m at peace with my lust I can kill ’cause in god I trust, yeah It’s evolution, baby, yeah

I’m at peace, I’m the man Buying stocks on the day of the crash, yeah On the loose, I’m a truck All the rolling hills, I’ll flatten ’em out, yeah It’s herd behavior, uh huh It’s evolution, baby, good

Admire me, admire my home Admire my son, he’s my clone Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah This land is mine, this land is free I’ll do what I want but irresponsibly It’s evolution, baby, uh

I’m a thief, I’m a liar There’s my church, I sing in the choir Hallelujah Hallelujah

Admire me, admire my home Admire my son, admire my clones ‘Cause we know, appetite for a nightly feast Those ignorant Indians got nothin’ on me Nothin’, why? Because it’s evolution, baby

I am ahead, I am advanced I am the first mammal to make plans, yeah I crawled the earth, but now I’m higher 2010, watch it go to fire It’s evolution, baby, ugh It’s evolution, baby Ah, do the evolution Come on, come on, come on