| Getting Down the Germs | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Gerard Way |
| Released: | November 15, 2018 |
| Genre: | Indie rock |
| Label: | Reprise |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Baby You're a Haunted House |
| Prev Year: | 2018 |
| Next Title: | Dasher |
| Next Year: | 2018 |
"Getting Down the Germs" is a solo track by Gerard Way, released as a single on October 26, 2018. The song was written in collaboration with Ray Toro.[1] Flutist Sara Andon and producer Doug McKean are also listed as collaborators.[2] [3]
In a statement Way said, “I had really been wanting a song that featured the flute prominently for quite some time. It sits in there perfectly, like it was made to pay the song a visit. The whole song reminds me of wiggling squiggling wormy germs. It’s a very calm affair that shows a peek into where I may be heading musically.”[4] [5]
In an interview Way explained, "‘Getting Down The Germs’ means getting down, or swallowing the harder things in life. But in a positive way — taking the bad with the good. I find it interesting how a phrase can mean a whole other thing in the context of a song."[6]
Graham Hartman of Loudwire stated the song was a "stripped-down, feel-good song reminiscent of ’60s psychedelic music and new school indie rock."[7] Billboard released a review on Friday stating Way "stays true to his punk rock roots", while giving the listener tastes of "the great rock-music flute solos of the '60s and '70s".[8]
The lyric video, directed by Claire Marie Vogel, was released on November 15, 2018. It shows puppets fashioned as germs dancing to the song.[9]