Debra (song)


"Debra" is a song by the American musician Beck. It was released on his album Midnite Vultures.

Background

Beck had originally attempted to record and release "Debra" with the Dust Brothers for Odelay, but he thought that it was too tongue-in-cheek. It was debuted mainstream in 1996, and, as Beck noted, "it became the centerpiece of the whole set. It was the song that people would react to more than the songs that they'd heard on the radio. So we kept playing it and playing it". The song finally made it on to Midnite Vultures in 1999.
The lyrics include a reference to the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain Zankou Chicken.

Composition

The song's lyrics are about meeting a girl named Jenny who works at the retail store JCPenney and wanting to "get with" her and her sister, Debra.

In popular culture

The song was used in the 2017 Edgar Wright film Baby Driver.

Cover version

The song was covered by German industrial artist Kompressor. Kompressor's version is called "Kompressor Want to Get with You".
Additionally, the song has been covered in recent live shows by the US band I Don't Know How But They Found Me. This version has not been released digitally.