WikiDevo

Beautiful World

Sign in to edit

Song Name: Beautiful World

Artist: 𝔻𝔼𝕍𝕆

Appears On: 

Beautiful World singles [1] [2]
New Traditionalists, E-Z Listening Disc
Greatest Hits, Hot Potatoes, The Adventures of the Smart Patrol Soundtrack, Recombo DNA, Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology, Live in Central Park, this is the DEVO box, Live 1981 Seattle (2013 release), Social Fools: The Virgin Singles 1978-1982, 50 Years Of De-Evolution (1973-2023) (2023 remaster)
and other compilationsDiscogs

Run Time: 3:32 (album/single version)

Year Released: 1981

Years Performed: 1981-1982, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, (2000) 2001, 2004-2005, *(2006) 2007 to 2014, 2019, 2021-present setlist.fm stats

Writing Credits: Mark Mothersbaugh/Gerald V. Casale

Sung By: Gerald V. Casale

Alternate Versions: EZ version, Booji's Beautiful World, TechnoDEVO Version, Devo 2.0 Version, Jihad Jerry's Beautiful World, Beautiful World (Redux Instrumental)

Demo Versions: Beautiful World (demo)

Trivia / Info:[]

  • The song's vocals were performed in a style to emulate Stan Ridgway of Wall of Voodoo.
  • Beautiful World was re-recorded for an television commercial for Target.
  • Beautiful World was re-recorded with "real drums & real bass in 2020"[3]and the tracks "Beautiful World (Redux)" & "(Redux Instrumental)" were issued on cassette and 7" vinyl.[2]
  • En EspaΓ±ol, "It's a beautiful world" is "Es un mundo hermoso".[4] and issued on cassette and 7" vinyl

Onstage Trivia:

  • Live versions often include the riff from the original version of Satisfaction.
  • Typically sung live by Booji Boy. (See "Booji's Beautiful World.")
  • In concert, G.V.C. may start the song but he lets Booji Boy finish it. Booji speaks his mind at the end of the song.
  • *In 2006, Jihad Jerry performed Beautiful World in concert.

Lyrics:

It's a beautiful world we live in
A sweet romantic place
Beautiful people everywhere
The way they show they care
Makes me want to say
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world
For you, for you, for you
It's a wonderful time to be here
It's nice to be alive
Wonderful people everywhere
The way they comb their hair
Makes me want to say
It's a wonderful place
It's a wonderful place
It's a wonderful place
For you, for you, for you
Hey β€” tell me what I say
(guitar solo)
Boy 'n' girl with the new clothes on
You can shake it to me all night long
Hey, hey
(guitar solo)
It's a beautiful world we live in
A sweet romantic place
Beautiful people everywhere
The way they show they care
Makes me want to say
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world
For you, for you, for you
It's not for me
It's a beautiful world
For you
It's a beautiful world
For you
It's a beautiful world
For YOU
It's a beautiful world
Not ME
It's a beautiful world, it's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world, it's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful, beautiful world
It's a beautiful, beautiful world
It's a beautiful, beautiful world

Video:

Short Film / Music Video
Appears on We're All DEVO, The Complete Truth About De-Evolution
  • Directed by Gerald Casale, this video notably uses dissonant imagery created by the cross-cutting of archival footage, enhancing the song's impact.   (YouTube)
  • Jerry said, it was decided to make a collage-style underground 60's film piece that would proceed smoothly from comedy to grim irony..."[5]
Live Video
"Beautiful World" appears on the official DVD Butch Devo And The Sundance Gig
and the semi-official streaming Live at the Observatory, Santa Ana, CA   (YouTube)


Notes and References:

https://www.tiktok.com/music/Beautiful-World-2023-Remaster-7290835820940429313
https://www.tiktok.com/music/Beautiful-World-2010-Remaster-6704938081587300354
https://www.tiktok.com/music/Beautiful-World-6704944035372484610
https://www.tiktok.com/tag/devobeautifulworld
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaellkerns_devo-beautiful-world-activity-6786472928977461248-YOnu
  1. ↑
    7-inch vinyl single first released by WB [ WBS-49834] and Virgin [ VS-470] in October, 1981.
    β€œBeautiful World” (3:32) / β€œEnough Said” (3:25)

    Limited edition picture disc released by WB in October, 1981. [ WBSP-49826]
    β€œBeautiful World” (3:32) / β€œNu-tra Speaks (New Traditionalist Man)” (2:16)
    "Beautiful World" (1981) personnel –
    Mark Mothersbaugh, Jerry, Alan, Bob 1, Bob 2
    https://www.discogs.com/master/52751-Devo-Beautiful-World
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1
    β€œBeautiful World (Redux)” (3:37) / β€œBeautiful World (Redux Instrumental)” (3:37)
    Personnel – Mark Mothersbaugh (keys), Robert Mothersbaugh (electric guitar), Gerald Casale (electric bass guitar), Robert Casale (keys), Jeff Friedl (acoustic drums). [1]
    https://www.discogs.com/master/3204423-Devo-Beautiful-World-Redux
    https://web.archive.org/web/20221208194242/https://devo-obsesso.com/html/news_pgs/devotional_2022/sat_7inch-black.html
  3. ↑
    Post by DEVO to Facebook, (2022, September 14).
    https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=643725183782467&set=a.198137455007911
    "We have our sponsor Golden Robot Records from Australia to thank for this!"
    https://goldenrobotrecords.com/products/devo-beautiful-world-7-vinyl-limited-edition
    https://goldenrobotrecords.com/products/devo-beautiful-world-cassette-limited-edition
  4. ↑
    "devo - beautiful world (subtitulado al espaΓ±ol)" uploaded to YouTube by Guillermo Soto.
  5. ↑
    Gerald V. Casale. "Devo: a video history. Optic Music. (1984, August).
      And then there's "Beautiful World." It is my personal favorite because it's simple, direct and effective β€” therefore ideal for repeat viewing. Everything followed logically from the decision to create a collage-style piece that would proceed smoothly from comedy to grim irony during the course of the song; against its lyrics and melody. It worked from start to finish as planned, based upon the footage Chuck Statler and I were able to gather on a budget.
    "Beautiful World" was finished long before Atomic Cafe was released and embodies a similar sensibility.
  6. ↑
    β€œBeautiful World” short film restored from the best available elements and posted, in stereo, at DEVOvision on September 17, 2025.
    Announcements –
    β€œBeautiful World is out in eye-popping high res on Monday.”
    β€œThis Monday brings a clearer view of Beautiful World. DEVO in high res, sharper, bolder, and ready for all Spuds to watch.”
    https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxr507c1yVf7dm3qKxPfkmhiEGwyyUqaJm
    https://www.facebook.com/ClubDEVO/videos/735160142885186/
    https://x.com/DEVO/status/1966612952351441083#m
    threads.com
     

Links:[]

"Beautiful World" (search) 45 Cat
"Beautiful World" (releases) MusicBrainz
"Beautiful World" (search) Discogs
"Beautiful World" (overview) AllMusic
"Beautiful World by Devo" Songfacts


Current Shows | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 | 1979 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973


DEVO
Mark Mothersbaugh | Gerry Casale | Bob Mothersbaugh
Bob Lewis | Bob Casale | Jim Mothersbaugh | Alan Myers
David Kendrick | Josh Freese
Jeff Friedl | Josh Hager
Record Labels / Publishers
Booji Boy Records | Warner Brothers | Enigma | Devo, Inc. 
Stiff | Virgin | Rykodisk | Infinite Zero | Restless | Discovery | Rhino 
MVD Audio | The Orchard | Superior Viaduct | Futurismo
Production
Brian Eno | Ken Scott | Robert Margouleff | Roy Thomas Baker | DEVO 
The Teddybears | Greg Kurstin | Santi White | John King | John Hill | Mark Nishita 
Studio Albums
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978) | Duty Now For The Future (1979) | Freedom of Choice (1980) | New Traditionalists (1981) | oh, no! it's Devo (1982) | Shout (1984) | Total Devo (1988) | SmoothNoodleMaps (1990) | Something for Everybody   (2010)
Compilations / Live Albums
B Stiff EP (1978) | E-Z Listening Disc (1987) | Now It Can Be Told: DEVO at the Palace (1989) | Hardcore DEVO Vol. 1 74-77 (1990) | Hardcore DEVO Vol. 2 1974-1977 (1991) | DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992) | DEV-O Live (1999) | Recombo DNA (2000) | Live In Central Park (2004) | DEVO Live 1980 (2005) | New Traditionalists: Live 1981 Seattle (2012) | Something ELSE for Everybody  (2013) | Miracle Witness Hour  (2014) | Live at Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977  (2014) | Butch Devo and the Sundance Gig  (2014) | Hardcore DEVO Live!  (2015) | Art Devo 1973-1977  (2023)
Filmography
In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution (1976) | The Men Who Make The Music (1981) | Human Highway (1982) | We're All DEVO (1984) | The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (1993) | DEVO Live (2004) | DEVO Live In The Land Of The Rising Sun (2004) | DEVO Live 1980 (2005) | Butch Devo and the Sundance Gig  (2014) | Hardcore DEVO Live!  (2015)
Related Articles
History | Bootlegs | Booji Boy | Devolution | Influence | The Wipeouters | Jihad Jerry & The Evildoers | Devo 2.0 | Akron, Ohio | Kent, Ohio | Music Videos | Cover Versions | Outfits
DEVO: The Brand / DEVO: Unmasked
U S E  Y O U R  F R E E D O M  O F  C H O I C E


Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.