Considerable Sounds / Byrne-ing Down The House »
Posted By Radiofreeeuropa 1 year, 1 month ago in Arts & EntertainmentA short story and an overview of The Talking Heads influence and influences in music. A glimpse of the 1980's.
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Radiofreeeuropa
All progress comes from unreasonable people.
Greetings fellow travelers! Thanks for stopping in. I'm a musician, educator, and writer. I am the music editor ...
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago
A short story (a day in the life of 1980), some opinion and review.
And where were you when you first heard these songs?
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago
Here's a challenge (for those who have wisdom). LOL
Our friend, DeathRay suggested a story on the Heads.
I put an obscure reference to his name in the story. Can you find it???
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mcgrievysr1 year, 1 month ago
Radiofreeeuropa---This takes me back to the early days of MTV when my kids were young. They insisted that I watch. I remember both "Talking Heads" videos of "Once in a Lifetime", and "Burning Down the House". David Bowie had a video called, I think, "Let's Dance", and Bryan Adams got a lot of play with,"Cuts Like a Knife". That goes back to around 1983(?).Where have the last 20-25 years gone? As with all of your music submissions, you have helped me to fondly recall past days. Again, Ben, thank you.
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trnscndr1 year, 1 month ago
This piece exhibits not only a knowledge of the music, but I sense a deeper emotional attachment and tone of excitement. Your writing is always good, but I think this was one of your more inspired articles.
I am glad to be reminded of this era, when, quite frankly, I was slam dancing and my hair was spiked. People younger than I were quite angry they had missed the sexual revolution prior to AIDS but there was still a sense of joie de vivre. Of course, you could still get into bars at 18 (but not for long as the Reagan movement gained ground). Formulaic disco had died and the music scene was electric.
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humemacdonald1 year, 1 month ago
Lol- sounds familiar- Yes , great article it was a lot of fun to "travel back"- I a mwith you radio that song "America is waiting" is a big fave of mine. This article also reminded me to look for some music I used to have- Brian Eno-John Cale, and the album Wrong Way Up. That first song, Lay my love is great!
Fantastic stuff!
Cheers!
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joeeddie1 year, 1 month ago
Their artistic stance is what made them great. I always hated to label them as "New Wave" or "techno" or "punk" or really any label. If I remember correctly, David Byrne was classically trained. He fused many styles together to create a sound that has not been matched. Kind of like Boston were studio magicians, The Talking Heads were fusion magicians who rarely missed the mark and was never "the same as it ever was". Thanks RFE and DR for recommending the subject to Duly Consider.
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jaern1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks Radio. I watched a special on VH1 this last weekend NY77 and I had just gotten Psycho killer qu'est que c'est to stop running thru my head and then I got your message on this submission!
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BronxBomber1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks once again RFE, as always, another good 'un! I have wondered about David Byrnes and the origins of Talking Heads. They're music always had a catchy beat, and melodic mantras that eased on one's moods. From last I heard, David, was exploring new sounds in the Latin music, and blending that with his repertoire of rhythm. The 80's new wave era were tops to say the least in those days. A lot of kick-@zz bands! Heck! I've seen a lot of them in the old CBGB's & Kenny's Castaways, etc. back in the day!
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HomerJS491 year, 1 month ago
Radio, Now you've got my attention! These guys were absolutely awesome. So much talent it couldn't be contained. I just bought my wife 'Sand in The Vaseline' she wasn't much of a Heads fan in the day but she can't stop playing it , now. The music is still VERY relevant especially 'Life During Wartime', it was kinda prophetic for NOW don'tcha think?
I remember seeing Bowie during the 'Let's Dance' tour. During the break they played some Heads ( the exact tune slips my mind) I was sitting in the auditorium looking down and it was AMAZING how many bodies started 'Bouncing' around. ' I never saw them but I musta watched 'Stop Making Sense ' hundreds of times.
Great post. Thanks!!!
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GWHayduke1 year, 1 month ago
I saw Byrne at a local small venue a couple of years ago - the brown suit tour.
He still has the energy and the presence to get everyone bopping around and chopping down on their arms!
The heads perfected the Art Rock scene that was by-and-large spawned by the Velvet Underground. Love them and Byrne - too bad the reunion at the R&R HOF was likely the last time we'll get to see them play together.
Good one RFE!
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bill-smith1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks for the memories! All those bands I was discovering in the late 70's and early 80's. The Clash, the Heads, the Ramons, the Sex Pistols, the Cure, Black Flag, Agent Orange, TSOL, Dead Kennedys, the list seems endless. Music was exciting, it was vibrant, it was dangerous. I miss feeling that way about music sometimes. Thanks for the diversion.
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jdhatl1 year, 1 month ago
there's a whole lot of bands now who are keeping the spirit of that era alive, with all those qualities. It is a different era, but it is a lot easier for people to find out about obscure music. Now that radio is almost completely dead, there is no shortage of exuberance, talent, as well as dangerousness. Just because there are a whole lot of terrible bands labeling themselves as "punk" when they are really just the current version of mainstream pop, if you just ignore them and realize there are just so many bands out there, you can find some really amazing music. And its easier than ever.
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bill-smith1 year, 1 month ago
jdhatl, I wasn't talking about the music, I was talking about me. I miss when it was all new and discovering a sound for the first time. That feeling of coming alive when I heard something that really touched me. It still happens but much less frequently now. This is what s**ks about getting older. There's still great music but it makes up a smaller and smaller percentage of all the music you know and love each year of your life. The time that RFE was writing about was when I really first discovered all those different sounds. And believe me, where I grew up none of it was on the radio. We learned about the music through word of mouth or taking a chance on an unknown album. That's how I was introduced to the Cure. Boys Don't Cry, I just bought it out of the blue. Thank God I did.
Enjoy the music, it's one of the best parts of life.
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klr601 year, 1 month ago
Hi Ben---Once Upon a Lifetime. I loved everything about your report, & it sure did bring back good memories, from the past. I personnaly think, you do your best, to enlighten people in the music scene. Keep up the great work, as, you are the best-have a great weekend-klr60
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david_nwpa1 year, 1 month ago
RFE, you touched on one of my favorite groups of all times, the B52s. Their music from Rock Lobster to Songs for a Future Generation and Good Stuff kept me going through some darker times in the 1980s. Another great artist though he was more jazzy than pop was Joe Jackson. I recall in high school how hot his "Stepping Out" was. I had no idea how prophetic it was either. Thanks for stirring up some strange but friendly memories.
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EarReverence1 year, 1 month ago
David Byrne is one of my favorite artists. I thought his collaborations with Brian Eno were particularly masterful, even genius. Byrne still has it though, I thought his last release "Grown Backwards" was creatively ambitious and fun!!!! Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was
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itsme21 year, 1 month ago
Thanks RFE!!! This is cool and interesting, I was 2 at the time and remember the music but not anything of substance about them.
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scott42611 year, 1 month ago
I think David Byrne is a genius. I listened to all of that music (and still listen to much of it). I would comment more, but I have company. I just wanted to get this comment in before the story is a day old.
RFE, you rock! Keep 'em coming!
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1basque11 year, 1 month ago
Thanks Ben,
I was in my early 20's and it was such a different time to be living in..When I read your articles from day's gone past, it just gives me a wonderful sense of how truly lucky that I was to have those musical legends as memories . Keep up the great work ! Very pleasing to me !!!
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dotsie_d1 year, 1 month ago
The Ramones, Blondie, the Sex Pistols and the Talking Heads were living proof that a basic three-chord progression, filled in with some creative background work, could work magic when it came to rock music and it revolutionized the way we all listened and played music yet again. I fell in love with the "Heads" from the subtle opening of "Take Me To the River." I was a Senior in college and editor of my campus newspaper and we were trying to keep the paper on-campus because of the sheer idiocy of my predecessor and my staff and I were under a lot of pressure to keep our noses clean, and that became our theme song. We wore the album out, we listened to it so much. Thanks for bringing me back, yet again, to another good time in my life when things were a little crazier and I could get away with it!
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GuruGurl1 year, 1 month ago
Now that takes me back and I'm loving it! Awesome writing as well!
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago
Yes, my research indicates (mostly from numerous interviews around the hall of fame performance) that we should not expect a reunion. The rift started right after "Remain In Light". And shows no sign of abatement.
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