La dernière chanson de Peter Gabriel (qui sera sur son prochain album "I/O") est consacré à une expérience qu'il a faite avec des singes Bonobo: jouer de la musique ensemble). Un petit film en a été tiré, mais surtout cette "rencontre" a donné lieu à une chanson sur le regard de l'homme sur l'animal et vice-versa.

Des théoriciens (Skinner, Chomsky) sont dénoncés par Gabriel dans la chanson pour avoir mal orienté notre conception de l'animal, que ce soit un dauphin, un chat, un élephant,...

"Animal nation" (de Peter Gabriel)

I didn't meet you in the jungle swinging from a tree
I sat down at the piano, you were playing with me
I couldn't believe all the things you could do
The apes I'd seen were in the zoo

They say we are unique with this language that we speak
But you have proved them wrong
Skinner and Chomsky how could they be so blind
With evidence this strong?

Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us

When you watch King Kong and the Planet of the Apes
Upon your video screen
When the animals die tears fill your eye
And you question what you've seen

Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us

Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Look in your eyes, that's where I come from
Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Talk to me now, I am listening

You can search the internet you can use your video phone
To call another friend
If we give you all the tools you can do whatever you want
Who knows where this will end

Intelligent life is all around us

Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Look in your eyes, that's where I come from
Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Talk to me now, I am listening

Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Look in your eyes, that's where we come from
Hey Bonobo woman, hey Bonobo man
Talk to us now, we are listening

Bonobo calling me now
Bonobo calling me now...

Starting to hear the things you said
Getting to know what's going on in your head
There's no humans on the line
But there'll be plenty more there in good time
Dolphins, Cats and Elephants
This is not some wild romance
Just look in their eyes and say it's not true
Look in their eyes they're checking out you

Communication with the Animal Nation
We are in communication with the Animal Nation
We are in communication with the Animal Nation
We are in communication with the Animal Nation...
At the piano you were playing with me
I couldn't believe all the things you could do
The apes I'd seen were in the zoo

They say we are unique with this language that we speak
But you have proved them wrong