Matthew Modine (song)

"Matthew Modine" is a 2005 song by Montreal band Pony Up!, from their 2005 self-titled EP. The song describes the life of actor Matthew Modine, and the band members' sexual desire for him. It is the first song they ever recorded.^[1]

Reception

CMJ New Music Monthly lauded "Matthew Modine" as "hilarity" with "salacious lines" that "ultimately leave (listeners) wanting more", comparing it to Toni Basil's "Mickey".^[2] The Village Voice described it as "deceptively simple", with "kicky naughtiness" in its lyrics and "'50s girl-group ooohs and ahhhhs and 'Surfin' Bird' papa-oom-mow-mows" in its vocals.^[3]

Exclaim! called it "infectious", stating that listeners may "want to hate" it, but that it is nonetheless "hard to resist";^[4] similarly, NOW categorized it as "bubble-gum" and "a perfect popcult novelty hit."^[5]

PopMatters, however, found the song to have "forehead-smacking lyrics", and to be "the most obvious" example of the album's "over-cuteness".^[6] The Indiana Daily Student faulted the song's vocals as "Mates of State-esque" and "(unable to) pass the first round of American Idol", further stating that the "Yoko Ono-esque orgasmic shrieking" at the song's conclusion is "obnoxious", and that the lyrics' description of female sexual arousal is "yucky".^[7]

Modine's reaction

In a 2006 interview, the band's co-vocalist Laura Wills reported that Modine's manager had contacted them and offered to arrange a meeting — "If you're ever in the New York area, let us know. He'd like to meet you," — but specified that no such meeting occurred; however, Wills emphasized that Modine "definitely heard (the song) and apparently thought it was funny".^[8]