Velouria
"Velouria" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, written and sung by the band's frontman Black Francis. "Velouria" was released as a single in July 1990 and was the band's first UK Top 40 hit. It was included as the third track on their album "Bossanova" released a month later. The song features extensive use of theremin. It featured on the influential 1990 Madchester compilation album "Happy Daze". Lyrics. Black Francis said of the lyrics to the song in an interview with "SongFacts", "It's folklore based; the Rosicrucians of 1920s San Jose California  had some pretty interesting ideas." Composition. The song has been labeled as surf rock and punk rock by critics. Video. As "Velouria" was climbing up the UK Top 40, the band was offered a spot on "Top of the Pops". However, a BBC rule stated that only singles with videos could be performed on the show. To counter this, a cheap video was made with the band being filmed running down a quarry. In the video, 23 seconds of footage (the time needed for the band members to reach the camera) is slowed in order to last for the duration  of the song. However, the effort in filming the video was in vain; Pixies did not play "Velouria" on "Top of the Pops" while the single was in the charts. In media. "Velouria" is played in the AMC show "Halt and Catch Fire" during season 3, episode 9, 'NIM'.