American indie pop band, Foster the People, announced their consideration to put an end to playing their hit song “Pumped Up Kicks.” The debated song has dealt with criticism towards the provocative themes allegedly in regard to school shootings, and the band has seemed to have decided to put an end to the song.

“I wrote that song in eight hours, and for me it wasn’t necessarily more special than any other song,” said front man, Mark Foster. “The thing that made that song special was the public, and the fact that people thought it was special, and it resonated, and it created a conversation.”

“Pumped Up Kicks” was released in 2010, and has spent eight consecutive weeks at the number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also received a Grammy Award and the nomination for the Best Pop Dup/Group Performance.

Foster also address the growing number of mass shootings after the initial release of the track, and how the song might have been a trigger of something painful the fans might have experienced. Foster continued to say he is proud of the song as it has created conversation that is worth talking about.

“I think that every artist dreams of making something that holds its value,” said Foster. “I really feel like I made the earth pause for a second and bend down to hear what I was saying.”

Photo Credit: Owen Ela