Hey Stoopid (Hey Stoopid, 1991)

This week’s post focuses on the title track from the Hey Stoopid LP, released in 1991. This album redirected Alice’s focus back to a heavier sound – a more ‘Alice’ feel and vibe. He admitted that he felt good about this album and the direction music was heading at that time.

“When I listen to Guns N’ Roses or Skid Row or Jane’s Addiction, I hear ‘70s-influenced bands. They’ve got it down – ‘70s rock was very experimental and guitar-oriented. I’m a guitar freak, and it’s my record; that’s why there are monster players like Satriani, Vai, Slash, Vinnie Moore, and Mick Mars on this record.” – Alice Cooper

The artwork on the LP immediately grabs your attention. The cover features a grinning skull with protruding eyes and Alice’s signature makeup. Two arms are shown crossed beneath a skull with wads of cash, precious stones, spiders, hearts, and a snake wound around one of the arms.

During this time, Alice had also opened the door to a “whole new audience.” His role in the motion picture Wayne’s World propelled him into a new era, with people everywhere bowing and chanting, “We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy,” as seen in the film.

Alice amiably admits he told Mike Myers (Wayne) and Dana Carvey (Garth), “You stuck me with this for the rest of my life!”

The title track carries a light-hearted anthem about a much deeper issue. Like a few other tracks on this LP, this song tackles the subject of mental health. Specifically, “Hey Stoopid” focuses on addiction, depression, and suicide.

In this post, we will draw inspiration from two elements – a brief 2-minute interview with Alice and the title track, which features Slash and Joe Satriani on guitar with Ozzy Osbourne adding background vocals.

The interview talks about depression and society’s mental health, while the song continually questions the thoughts, actions, and motives of individuals struggling with addiction and suicidal tendencies.

This topic is complicated, especially with things as unsettling as they seem today. There’s a good deal of uncertainty, anxiety, and depression that is seeping its way into reality at this point. Still, while the circumstances may seem unique, they are nothing new to humanity.

Many say that “the Bible is ancient, and it has no bearing on life today,” but who can make such a claim after reading Psalms and Proverbs?

The peaks and valleys of David’s faith found in the first few chapters of Psalms are still applicable today, and the wisdom of Solomon et al. is as well. Those two books have much to say about life and how we should live it.

“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

So many verses, such as Psalms 37:23-24 (listed above), bring clarity when things seem murky or unsettling.

In a nutshell, ‘life is hard, but as mishaps and blunders occur, we must keep our faith intact and focus on Him.” When struggling with just about anything, Psalms and Proverbs often hold the answers to our questions and life’s struggles.

QUICK NOTE: If you’re finding it hard to find peace and rest, try diving daily into the Psalms and the book of Proverbs. So much of who we are and need to be are found within those two books.

In the interview, Alice speaks about depression. He admits that while he’s only dealt with it once (and has no idea what brought it on), it was a horrible experience. But Alice used that encounter as inspiration. He wrote “Hey Stoopid” and addressed mental illness as a philanthropist and a man of faith.

We all have stories that contain hardships and temptations. Every struggle has a silver lining – something positive to learn or gain. We must do our best to remember that while things seem dark and bleak.

Our stories, struggles, testimonies, and faith have meaning and purpose. They shape not only you but also those with whom you share it. A testament to “who God is” can be found in our individual lives. He is found laced within our stories – stories that teach others and stories that teach us that we are not alone.

Hope in Him renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). Focusing on the negative brings attacks from the enemy (1 Peter 5:8). All things work together for good through His Love (Romans 8:28).

His Spirit is with us as His plans unfold (John 14:26, Jeremiah 29:11). When we focus on the verses referenced in the previous paragraph, we weather life’s storms much better. We focus on Christ instead of the chaos (Matthew 8:23-27).

With such focus comes freedom. Along with that freedom, we find healing, love, and acceptance, all the things we don’t necessarily deserve – all the things His Grace, Mercy, and Love provide.

As we begin to see more of Him and less of ourselves, it is as if the Holy Spirit digs deep into our hearts – pulling out pile after pile of dirt and replacing that mud with His fruit. We must recognize the difference between the purity of His Love and how twisted the enemy can make things seem.

We often create our own misery – our own prisons. Suicidal or not, it’s easy to see what a slippery slope depression can be. The song’s lyrics shed truth and light onto this very dark subject.

“Hey Stoopid” is a war cry for us all to live by, a conversation we should be willing to have with anyone struggling, but sometimes it’s not someone else that needs to hear it. Sometimes it’s a discussion we should have with ourselves and, more importantly, one our Lord is trying to have with us.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey stoopid
What ya tryin’ to do

Your story ain’t so shocking
You know, I know

Wrapping this up, depression and mental disorders do not discriminate. The circumstances surrounding such things are different for each person. They can affect all walks of life – all races, wealthy, poor, believers, non-believers, and so on.

Many cases stem from horrible situations and dreadful acts of abuse; others may not. Our ultimate goal must be to love and support those that have been hurt without casting judgment or blame. We must know that it could just as quickly be one of us suffering from such things.

We find His Word revealed through our stories as we share and lift one another. We see a better, brighter approach – an eternal one. From our situations, we may help others open doors to what God is preparing them for and transforming them to be.

We are vessels and ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). That is a responsibility we should not take lightly.

Every one of us is essential. We are the body. We are His Children. We are a family.

In conclusion, “Hey Stoopid” is a thoughtful discussion that Alice is not afraid to have with the listener. It’s “a monster hit-sounding record” with a message, yet it’s a conversation from an unexpected source.

“I would hate anyone to think that Alice is preaching. That’s why the line, “This ain’t your daddy talkin’,” is in there….Hopefully, Alice saying suicide is stupid will get across to kids – “Alice says suicide is stupid.” Great, now we don’t have to do that.” – Alice Cooper

As Alice often does, he “hits the nail on the head.” The message is clear, and it’s masterfully shared with not only his long-time fans but also a new audience. A new generation of Alice fans had discovered him.

His newfound success was based primarily on the Trash LP’s success (especially the hit single, “Poison”) and his appearance in Wayne’s World (which introduced many to Feed My Frankenstein, the classic hit from the film, and the Hey Stoopid LP).

Alice was on a new path that would ultimately lead him to some of his most celebrated work. While many were finding their careers ending, he was hitting a new stride. New doors were continuing to open, and the resurgence of Alice Cooper had only just begun.

That’s it for this week. Be well, and catch you next Friday!

In the meantime, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!