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" Stupefaction" is a song written by rock musician Graham Parker and performed by Graham Parker and the Rumour for their 1980 studio album The Up Escalator. Inspired by Parker's time spent in Los Angeles, the song features sardonic lyrics that were based on an observation by Parker and his manager in the city.
"Stupefaction" was released as the debut single from The Up Escalator, though it did not chart. It has since seen praise from critics and appeared on multiple compilation albums.
Parker said of the record company's decision to release the song as a single, Stupefaction' to me sounded like a poppy, uptempo, 'fun' song that could on the radio. And Jimmy Iovine thought so. He said, 'You know, it's great, this guy's saying 'Stupid, stupid, stupid! Just imagine people listening to the radio going, 'Hey, listen to him.' It's like Beavis and Butt-head or something! does: 'Hey, that guy's saying stupid!' Jimmy had that scenario of what would be going on in the outside world ... the record company thought it was good fun."
Comedian Adam Carolla praised the song in his book In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks, writing of radio during the 1980s, "We could be hearing 'Clubland' by Elvis Costello or 'Stupefaction' by Graham Parker, but instead we get 'The Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats."
The song was covered by the Health & Happiness Show on the Parker tribute album Piss & Vinegar: The Songs of Graham Parker.
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