I dearly loved the Talking Heads! I went for a job interview several years ago at a company I really wanted to work for. I walked into the owner's office for my interview and noticed that he was obviously a fan of the Talking Heads. Suddenly, he put out his hand and asked how things were going. I smiled and did the chop move across my forearm, signifying "Same as it Ever Was." He loved it and I was hired.
No doubt hired as much for your keen eye to detail as much as your shared fandom. Those with whom T.H. lyrics resonate tend to be a bit smarter than the average bear, and would highly value such skills. I bet you were a great asset to his team!
I think this song is more of an indictment of materialism and that we should take stock of the moments that come once in a lifetime, and will never return.
I think of it as an offshoot of that, but close. To me, more about trying to figure out the meaning of life, what's important to you. To do that, there is an indictment of materialism because that's not going to lead to a really happy life for most people, though they think it will.
That's probably why it's called once in a lifetime. Because everyone has a shocking moment in their life where chasing the dreams of their childhood isn't fulfilling as an adult. We get caught in the flow of the plans we set and have to find a way to tread a little slower and take breaks to enjoy what we have or go seek out sources of happiness.
I think of this song as a person wondering how he came to be born in a place and time that he enjoys , and at the same time he realizes that many people don't have the same benefits of birth as himself .
snag is, it's long. Suggest just first 5 songs in one sitting (short reaction breaks after each song) due to the way is composed. Saw this in a cinema in '94 and the audience was up dancing - never seen that before!
More from Talking Heads: Burning Down The House, Girlfriend Is Better, Nothing But Flowers Also check out the TomTom Club: Genius Of Love (Tina Weymouth plays bass and sings lead on this one)
You can hear her pretty well on "Road to Nowhere." She does a great job as lead singer for the Tom Tom Club. "Femme Fatale" is one of my favorites. And they are so much fun in concert.
Tina Weymouth plays bass. She scored a hit on her own, "Genius of Love", with Tom Tom Club, the side group she formed with her husband Talking Head's drummer Chris Frantz. If you want to hear her voice check out the 7 minute long dance hall version of that when you can.
@@johnsmith-wx5fb Even if you don't like the show, his performance was awesome. You should check it out, and maybe comment on that instead of deriding my taste. It's all just personal taste after all.
@@johnsmith-wx5fb Also I have Aspergers, and I like the sameness that I can expect from SNL which is comforting to me. I can see people liking it or not.
@@matiasportfolio that's okay, everyone can have their own reaction to a song. One might think a song is a happy one, when in fact another person might think it's extremely sad. A good example is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.
When this was first played on MTV, it caused much discussion in homeroom. Seeing this nearly 40 years later isn’t anything like the impact it had back then.
I love how you really listening to the songs in their entirety and your analysis and conclusions are so spot on. Talking heads are one of my favourite bands and I had the biggest crush on David Byrne when I was younger 😁
You should see the live version from "Stop Making Sense". Greatest live documentary of a band, ever... Tina Weymouth on bass, for all their songs. Think of it this way, kinda like "Sex, Lies and Videotape". I've been in this skin my whole life and I don't know how I got here. You may see your path clearly or the past may be a foggy haze, doesn't matter. Underneath it all, water's gonna do what it do. The universe is gonna be there, unfazed by your clarity or indifference. The only impact you can make is on your own life and those around you. That has to be enough.
Wow, I so rarely see anyone reference that movie ("sex, lies, and videotape"), yet it was hugely influential. And I remember being rather stunned when my art school friend took me to see SMS - I rarely went to concerts and certainly hadn't seen anything as artful and thought out as that show. I was really charmed by Byrne's "True Stories", as well, and was disappointed that it didn't get a better reception than it did.
I always think of “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” when I hear this song. A bit like the movie, I think it’s about waking up to the experience of your own life, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Omg the talking heads are one of the best bands ever, love their music favorite album is true stories lol played the hell out of that piece of vinyl. Great choice...♡
This song was a bit of a phenom, back in the day. One of the most interesting early MTV videos. Welcome to a very creative band. Never tried to understand it. For me, it was enough that it was funny.
This video was in heavy rotation back when MTV used to play music videos. It was very weird. My parents would see me watching this and just shake their heads.
As I remember it he was inspired by watching some street preacher. I vaguely remember him saying that you might not agree with the message but you had to admire the intensity of the "performance". ..... your reaction came close at times!
I grew up with the Talking Heads and still love them as much as I did back then. They're kind of a Postmodern band so don't try to make much sense of their lyrics. They changed some of the band members over the years but all of them have been extremely skilled. If you're looking for a song of theirs with lyrics that make a bit more sense check out This Must be the Place (Naive Melody). To me, it's one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. If you do, watch the live performance from Stop Making Sense (the one with the lamp). Love your vids India!
Very insightful, India. I think you are looking beyond what most people think when they hear this classic pop-rock hit. I will back you up ... the lyrics portray a guy who seems to have made it all, but now wonders ... what happens next? Where do I go from here? Where have I been and was it good to do what I've done? Thanks, India, you're lookin' good!
Love this song. I have it as the ringtone on my phone. As for what it means, I always thought it was a guy having a midlife crisis, examining how he started out as an idealistic youth and ended up as a typical middle-class suburban dude - with a large automobile, and a beautiful house, and a beautiful wife, etc. Not a bad situation, but not what he set out for. Just sort of "found himself" there.
David Byrne came up with the idea in writing 'Once In A Lifetime' when he would watch Televangelists on TV the way they did their preaching to their followers.
The Talking Heads were huge in geek (computer) culture back in the 80s. There are a ton of great songs by them... And She Was, Wild Wild Life, Psycho Killer, Girlfriend is Better, Nothing But Flowers, Road to Nowhere, Life During Wartime, etc. Burning Down the House, etc.
Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" -- Now you're talking! This song takes me back, way back. I remember how different it sounded the first time I ever heard it -- and yet how infectious! And how quirky the singer in the video was. This song landed like a bomb, even after hearing "Take Me To The River" all over the radio for years. "Remain in Light" is a great album. Check out "Crosseyed and Painless" when you can.
Glad you brought this back. Truly a genius and cutting his own path. I have to agree with others....Burning Down the House (I can't get that drum beat out of my head, especially at the end).
Can't get enough of Talking Heads. Great reaction to a great song! I always thought the video was quite symbolic. He's doing what everybody else is doing. Even if it makes no sense. Don't we all do that at some point in life? Then reality hits and you think, "how did I get here?"
The Talking heads are phenomenal. I believe that live video is actually from the concert film, Stop Making Sense, which was directed by Jonathan Demme, (best known for The Silence Of The Lambs and Philadelphia.) I highly recommend watching the whole thing. Look out for the late Bernie Worrell on the keyboards, (Worrell was known for his work with Funkadelic & Parliament.) Worrell passed away in 2016 from lung cancer exacerbated by America’s pathetic healthcare system, (Healthcare ought to be treated as a human right and we need a Single-Payer system NOW!) Efforts to raise money to cover the cost of his treatment were made, including a benefit concert, but in the end it wasn’t enough. The guitarist Buckethead, (dude wears a KFC bucket on his head,) wrote a tribute song to Worrell called “Space Viking.” Tina Weymouth is the Talking Heads’ bassist, but she was also the lead singer for the band Tom Tom Club, (check out their song “Genius Of Love”.) David Byrne is the lead singer for the Talking Heads, he is incredibly prolific and I highly recommend checking out his body of work: he has collaborated with St. Vincent, the album “Love This Giant” and the single from that album “Who,” (has a video); Byrne has also collaborated with Brian Eno, specific albums called “My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts” and “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” check out songs from those albums “The Jezebel Spirit” & “America Is Waiting” and “Strange Overtones” & “Home” (respectively.) Byrne has several art projects: He brings a collapsible bicycle with him on tour so when he is in a new city he can ride around and check out the town, because of his love of riding he designed several bicycle racks in NYC, (search “David Byrne’s Bike Racks” on UA-cam and you’ll get a Wall Street Journal video telling you all about the racks.) That video also mentions another art project called “Playing The Building,” and for more on that project check out the video by WIRED on UA-cam called “David Byrne: Playing The Building,” (the building is a building, and he turned that building into a building-sized instrument.) David Byrne also worked with color guards for a project called Contemporary Color, which also included performances by Zola Jesus, St. Vincent, & Nelly Furtado.
I always felt that here is a man experiencing a moment of enlightenment. Byrne has a touch of Asbergers, and this song rather captures the sudden attacks of disengagement, a sudden stop in time where he asks, What is all this stuff around me? If I woke up right now, and got off the repetative rat race, what would I be then? The water flowing underground contains the basis, the narrative of his life, the secret of his real purpose, which is far different from the stolid suburban (and highly regulated) life he has built for himself. So, it is more than just a swipe at materialism. It is a moment of divine madness. BTW, David Byrne now has white hair, and an absolutely captivating voice. You might want to check out some of his more recent releases in your own time. Love your honest reactions, India.
One of the first videos I ever saw on MTV, definitely my first Talking Heads track, and my fave along with WILD WILD LIFE. Although David Byrne came from the UK, the band itself formed at the Rhode Island School of Design. Another great music act of my home State😎
He talks about "you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack and you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile and you may ask yourself am I right or am I wrong and you may ask yourself my God! What have I done? Like you do what society expects you to do and chase the American dream and find no happiness.
You should also try their song Road To Nowhere. Or if you want to hear David Byrne solo, he did a great song called A MIllion Miles Away. It was never a hit, but it was used as the theme song for a forgotten TV show called Flying Blind.
The dances he does is based off of other cultural dances from around the world. Choreographed by Toni Basil, famously known for the Mickey song. And of course, the song is about one who experiences a mid-life crisis. Something we all relate to.
My take on the lyrics is about awareness of things that don't otherwise stand out. Like when you go somewhere in a routine manner and before you notice the features, you are done with the journey, barely conscious of the trip. Awareness of the moment. David Byrne purposely based his voice to be like a TV preacher. BTW-The "girl" is Tina Weymouth, and she plays the awesome bass line that grounds the whole song.
I’m into all sorts of music; metal, neo classical, punk, funk, rock, folk, progressive, drum & bass, house, etc....but Talking Heads are always my go-to if I’m not sure what to listen to. They’re bloody brilliant.
According to Wikipedia: David Byrne said the song was about the unconscious: "We operate half-awake or on autopilot and end up, whatever, with a house and family and job and everything else, and we haven't really stopped to ask ourselves, 'How did I get here?'
The song is about how many of us go through life on autopilot, half awake and don't realize what we've got or how we got it. That everything becomes repetitive and how so many become desensitized, never questioning the things around us. Love your reactions and your wide love of music. Would love to see you do The Cars - Drive or Candy-O, Madness - Our House or Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams if you haven't done them yet. Keep up the great content.
I think it's about people stopping and taking a look at where they're at and the things they have achieved with a realisation that it's as good as it's going to get. One tends to question themselves and their surroundings in the middle of the journey of life. In the meantime, the water still flows and it's the same as it ever was... the next generation will find themselves asking the same questions, and their children will have their day too....
"Girlfriend Is Better" from "Stop Making Sense" is a great song and video if for no other reason than Davids dance in that big suit. The best part of the dance is when he's doing it with other band members. The music is great too. Sure is funky and weird.but that makes it better.
Tina Weymouth (the bassist) also does background vocals on a couple songs like The Lady Don't Mind, along with others like Nona Hendryx (ex. The Great Curve, Slippery People). But as for lead vocals, I don't think so.
This song was in a movie called “Mr. Destiny” in the mid 80’s. About a man who gets to experience an alternate timeline of his life in order to help him make the right choices. really fits with the song. Also I think when he’s singing about water it’s about a wellspring of joy which is untapped when we do not see our blessings.
I know this song was also part of a movie down and out in Beverley Hills. Funny 80's movie. On another note you can wake up or sit at your workplace and the lyrics How did get here spring to mind, on a bad day at work you may say to yourself where does that highway go to. Whether you are in a good place or not the lyrics can aptly fit.
Talking Heads is a Rock group, based in New York City. They are a unique band, in the sense that they were a "mainstream" Rock band at a time in the 1970s, when Punk Rock, New Wave, and Disco music was the rage in the clubs. Talking Heads held on to their musical vision, and had a number of hit songs in the early-to-mid-1980s. Some other Talking Heads music videos that I would like to see you react to, are "Burning Down The House", "Road To Nowhere", "Wild Wild Life", "And She Was", and "Girlfriend Is Better" (from the "Stop Making Sense" concert film soundtrack).
My take on it is that life goes by so quickly ( " how did I get here?) and that we often find ourselves in certain circumstances in the blink of an eye. I like that unlike most reaction channels,you have a better understanding of the meaning of each song. I can't tell you how many reaction videos I've seen where the hosts either laugh or get a puzzled look on their face
Did you say "time waits for no one" because you heard the song ? the Rolling Stones have a song called exactly that ! If you never heard it, listen to it here. I love this video so much. David Byrne has a great sense of humor. This is my favorite Talking Heads song and video . Every song Ive ever heard from this group are FUN .
This was their breakout song, a big hit on MTV and put Talking Heads on the map. They have made a lot of great music, and some of their members went solo and created a group called the Tom Tom Club. Their first album was really great, you should check out some of their songs Genius of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, L'elephant and Lorelei. Kind of techno music, quirky, cryptic and hypnotic.
Oh yeah! Same here. The second British Invasion, gender-bending, and cross pollination between music genres. Blondie, Duran Duran, the Police, U2, New Order, and so many others.
The title of the song is talking about how each of us has that moment in life where we are convinced we know the score! Then life wakes us up, and we learn that we don't know everything. Our choices are shaped by what we know at a point in time. We learn more, our choices change. It's not his beautiful house because the man that wanted it so badly doesn't exist anymore. "Into the blue again" is letting go and finding out what the universe wants from us. Fun tune, heavy message.
Love your energy !! you really enjoy and take from this musical journey a lot of different point of views .. I really enjoy learning and sharing this musical journey with you.
In this song I feel he is a man trapped in a life he has made for himself! He wants to escape his life! He is not living his best life! He is basically unhappy!! Amazing band!❤️
The Talking Heads really are a great example of the musical change and experimentation that was happening in the early 80's. Some referred to it as "weird shit" but that's how progress happens. "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" - George Bernard Shaw.
This was my favorite video when MTV debuted, and nobody has been able to top it. You did mention that there's a woman in the group, and you are correct: their bassist, Tina Weymouth. She does not sing with Talking Heads (that I know of) but she has with side projects, most notably the Tom Tom Club.
You might also take a listen to the Talking Heads’ “And She Was”, and “This Must Be The Place”. At first, I wasn’t a Talking Heads fan, but they’ve grown on me over the years...
"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads, "Come Dancing" by The Kinks, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles" (rhymes with 'snuggles') "Drive" by The Cars, "Cradle of Love", "Eyes Without a Face" and "White Wedding" by Billy Idol, "Strip" and "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant, "California Dreaming" by The Mamas & The Papas.
David Byrne was recently the musical guest on SNL and he was brilliant! He also performed on John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch Netflix special. So amazing!
I’m a huge fan of the Talking Heads, and I was really young when they came out. I’m not sure what his lyrics meant to him whn he wrote this, but it seems as if he’s saying that the “you” of you- the pith of who you are- can end up being born anywhere , and under any conditions. Almost like the luck of the straw. The part of a person that “is” can basically end up anywhere, anytime . Just a guess. David Byrne is as brilliant as he is entertaining, and no other bands or singers can come close to his most interesting, singular way of producing music. He was pretty shocking, back then- and still an odd original today!!
My interpretation is this guy who lived his life listening to what others said he should be instead of trying to figure out who he really is. The world is so complex there is so much to discover, beautiful weirdness that you don’t know about, yet we keep living the same life as a million other people and at some point we can’t even make sense of existence. And he doesn’t even know where he is or more importantly what makes him unique as a human being, what makes him distinctive.
I grew up watching Talking Heads thanks to my dad. My whole life he did one dance move and after he passed, I saw this video and realized where it came from. So good!
I always saw it as saying you can go along doing everything perfectly to plan and get that beautiful house and wife and car and realize your whole life has passed and you've done none of the things you'd hoped or that all these opportunities may have passed while you were pursuing this perfect life
Just one of the great songs from the Talking Heads!! Burning Down The House , Road To Nowhere, And She Was are great songs as well!! Also 2 of the members of Talking Heads were married. And started another group called The Tom Toms. They put out a awesome on hit wonder called .... 'Genius Of Love' Mariah Carey did some kind of remake of the song! You should check it out!
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I dearly loved the Talking Heads! I went for a job interview several years ago at a company I really wanted to work for. I walked into the owner's office for my interview and noticed that he was obviously a fan of the Talking Heads. Suddenly, he put out his hand and asked how things were going. I smiled and did the chop move across my forearm, signifying "Same as it Ever Was." He loved it and I was hired.
No doubt hired as much for your keen eye to detail as much as your shared fandom.
Those with whom T.H. lyrics resonate tend to be a bit smarter than the average bear, and would highly value such skills.
I bet you were a great asset to his team!
Is that true?
@@KandKs_GG ASSet?👀
If he was real he would have alerted you to the name of the band - The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
@@cahillgreg yes .david byrne and his incredible talking heads
The emotions expressed on your face are direct, honest and unfiltered. It's addictive to watch them.
I think this song is more of an indictment of materialism and that we should take stock of the moments that come once in a lifetime, and will never return.
I think of it as an offshoot of that, but close. To me, more about trying to figure out the meaning of life, what's important to you. To do that, there is an indictment of materialism because that's not going to lead to a really happy life for most people, though they think it will.
That's probably why it's called once in a lifetime. Because everyone has a shocking moment in their life where chasing the dreams of their childhood isn't fulfilling as an adult. We get caught in the flow of the plans we set and have to find a way to tread a little slower and take breaks to enjoy what we have or go seek out sources of happiness.
I think of this song as a person wondering how he came to be born in a place and time that he enjoys , and at the same time he realizes that many people don't have the same benefits of birth as himself .
Romona Brown Bingo!👍🏻☮️❤️
True. Material things can be replaced, but moments in time are gone forever. The water keeps flowing underground.
Please watch Talking Head's film concert "Stop making sense" one of the best live concert videos of all time
snag is, it's long. Suggest just first 5 songs in one sitting (short reaction breaks after each song) due to the way is composed. Saw this in a cinema in '94 and the audience was up dancing - never seen that before!
Love that album - Slippery People was my getting ready to go out song :-D
She did already _Life During Wartime_ from that movie. But I agree it is superb and everything from it is great.
Yes, one of the best recorded live concerts ever. Talking Heads made the 80s bearable.
Better still the Channel 4 film Once in a Lifetime - Live at the Wembley Area.
The subject of the song is basically "mid life crisis". And yeah, the bass player was female.
And she was amazing. :)
@@zoeherriot IS amazing.
@@georgeerhard1949 fair point :)
More from Talking Heads: Burning Down The House, Girlfriend Is Better, Nothing But Flowers
Also check out the TomTom Club: Genius Of Love (Tina Weymouth plays bass and sings lead on this one)
You should do their "Burning Down the House"
ALL WET...
HERE, YOU MIGHT NEED A RAINCOAT...
Crowvamp1979 - Uber jam
@Michael Mathers Shakedown! Dreams walking in broad daylight
Please react to wild wild life its a very interesting video to be sure
Tina Weymouth played bass for Talking Heads. She's also in the Tom Tom Club (Genius Of Love).
You can hear her pretty well on "Road to Nowhere." She does a great job as lead singer for the Tom Tom Club. "Femme Fatale" is one of my favorites. And they are so much fun in concert.
Wasn't she also in Modern Romance?
@@Chatta-Ortega I don't know.
Tina Weymouth plays bass. She scored a hit on her own, "Genius of Love", with Tom Tom Club, the side group she formed with her husband Talking Head's drummer Chris Frantz. If you want to hear her voice check out the 7 minute long dance hall version of that when you can.
That and "Wordy Rappington".
and pleasures of love
Fun trivia: Tom Tom Club had a platinum album before The Talking Heads scored their first million seller.
He did this recently on SNL and it was BRILLIANT.
YES
You still watch that crap?!?*
@@johnsmith-wx5fb Even if you don't like the show, his performance was awesome. You should check it out, and maybe comment on that instead of deriding my taste. It's all just personal taste after all.
@@johnsmith-wx5fb Also I have Aspergers, and I like the sameness that I can expect from SNL which is comforting to me. I can see people liking it or not.
"Road to Nowhere" next! Talking Heads were a band that was way ahead of their time. Each song is unique.
YES! Although i dont know why i feel depressed with that one. The power of the 80s i guess
@@matiasportfolio that's okay, everyone can have their own reaction to a song. One might think a song is a happy one, when in fact another person might think it's extremely sad. A good example is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.
And She Was!
@@Mark-zu6oz that's another good song of theirs
@@matiasportfolio - It's got the ring of truth. Many of us feel that way.
When this was first played on MTV, it caused much discussion in homeroom. Seeing this nearly 40 years later isn’t anything like the impact it had back then.
Watch his SNL performance....just a few months ago. Brilliant....
Laura you are so right....love that performance!
And he doesn’t age.....
I love how you really listening to the songs in their entirety and your analysis and conclusions are so spot on. Talking heads are one of my favourite bands and I had the biggest crush on David Byrne when I was younger 😁
Talking Heads ....Life in Wartime Live. Need to watch for pure energy.
You should see the live version from "Stop Making Sense". Greatest live documentary of
a band, ever... Tina Weymouth on bass, for all their songs.
Think of it this way, kinda like "Sex, Lies and Videotape". I've been in this skin my whole
life and I don't know how I got here. You may see your path clearly or the past may be a
foggy haze, doesn't matter. Underneath it all, water's gonna do what it do. The universe
is gonna be there, unfazed by your clarity or indifference. The only impact you can make
is on your own life and those around you. That has to be enough.
Wow, I so rarely see anyone reference that movie ("sex, lies, and videotape"), yet it was hugely influential. And I remember being rather stunned when my art school friend took me to see SMS - I rarely went to concerts and certainly hadn't seen anything as artful and thought out as that show. I was really charmed by Byrne's "True Stories", as well, and was disappointed that it didn't get a better reception than it did.
I always think of “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” when I hear this song. A bit like the movie, I think it’s about waking up to the experience of your own life, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Omg the talking heads are one of the best bands ever, love their music favorite album is true stories lol played the hell out of that piece of vinyl. Great choice...♡
This song was a bit of a phenom, back in the day. One of the most interesting early MTV videos. Welcome to a very creative band. Never tried to understand it. For me, it was enough that it was funny.
I thought the visuals were gonna be a bit crazy for you..then you started grooving and I knew you were good. Lol
My favorites are "PsychoKiller", "Life During Wartime", and "Burning Down the House". David Byrne also made an album with Brian Eno which I like.
This video was in heavy rotation back when MTV used to play music videos. It was very weird. My parents would see me watching this and just shake their heads.
As I remember it he was inspired by watching some street preacher. I vaguely remember him saying that you might not agree with the message but you had to admire the intensity of the "performance". ..... your reaction came close at times!
I grew up with the Talking Heads and still love them as much as I did back then. They're kind of a Postmodern band so don't try to make much sense of their lyrics. They changed some of the band members over the years but all of them have been extremely skilled. If you're looking for a song of theirs with lyrics that make a bit more sense check out This Must be the Place (Naive Melody). To me, it's one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. If you do, watch the live performance from Stop Making Sense (the one with the lamp). Love your vids India!
Very insightful, India. I think you are looking beyond what most people think when they hear this classic pop-rock hit. I will back you up ... the lyrics portray a guy who seems to have made it all, but now wonders ... what happens next? Where do I go from here? Where have I been and was it good to do what I've done? Thanks, India, you're lookin' good!
2:05 when you unironically dance like this irl
Love this song. I have it as the ringtone on my phone. As for what it means, I always thought it was a guy having a midlife crisis, examining how he started out as an idealistic youth and ended up as a typical middle-class suburban dude - with a large automobile, and a beautiful house, and a beautiful wife, etc. Not a bad situation, but not what he set out for. Just sort of "found himself" there.
Love your t-shirt!!! Poor Chris Farley!!! I really miss him. RIP
David Byrne came up with the idea in writing 'Once In A Lifetime' when he would watch Televangelists on TV the way they did their preaching to their followers.
Tina Weymouth plays bass in the talking heads and is married to the drummer.
Jesus Of Cool did not know that about the drummer. Are they still married?
@@bettygreenhansen yes I believe so heard that they were married around when their first album started so that would make it 40+ years or so. I think
The Talking Heads were huge in geek (computer) culture back in the 80s. There are a ton of great songs by them... And She Was, Wild Wild Life, Psycho Killer, Girlfriend is Better, Nothing But Flowers, Road to Nowhere, Life During Wartime, etc. Burning Down the House, etc.
Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" -- Now you're talking! This song takes me back, way back. I remember how different it sounded the first time I ever heard it -- and yet how infectious! And how quirky the singer in the video was. This song landed like a bomb, even after hearing "Take Me To The River" all over the radio for years. "Remain in Light" is a great album. Check out "Crosseyed and Painless" when you can.
A minor masterpiece of a pop song. So glad that you picked it to review. You are doing a great job India.
Glad you brought this back. Truly a genius and cutting his own path. I have to agree with others....Burning Down the House (I can't get that drum beat out of my head, especially at the end).
HUGE MTV hit. As kids, we were all doing that cutting up our arms move lol.
Dance replica in: The Breakfast Club, Clerks, Ted 2 and maybe more than I know.
Can't get enough of Talking Heads. Great reaction to a great song!
I always thought the video was quite symbolic. He's doing what everybody else is doing. Even if it makes no sense. Don't we all do that at some point in life? Then reality hits and you think, "how did I get here?"
The Talking heads are phenomenal.
I believe that live video is actually from the concert film, Stop Making Sense, which was directed by Jonathan Demme, (best known for The Silence Of The Lambs and Philadelphia.) I highly recommend watching the whole thing. Look out for the late Bernie Worrell on the keyboards, (Worrell was known for his work with Funkadelic & Parliament.) Worrell passed away in 2016 from lung cancer exacerbated by America’s pathetic healthcare system, (Healthcare ought to be treated as a human right and we need a Single-Payer system NOW!) Efforts to raise money to cover the cost of his treatment were made, including a benefit concert, but in the end it wasn’t enough. The guitarist Buckethead, (dude wears a KFC bucket on his head,) wrote a tribute song to Worrell called “Space Viking.”
Tina Weymouth is the Talking Heads’ bassist, but she was also the lead singer for the band Tom Tom Club, (check out their song “Genius Of Love”.)
David Byrne is the lead singer for the Talking Heads, he is incredibly prolific and I highly recommend checking out his body of work: he has collaborated with St. Vincent, the album “Love This Giant” and the single from that album “Who,” (has a video); Byrne has also collaborated with Brian Eno, specific albums called “My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts” and “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” check out songs from those albums “The Jezebel Spirit” & “America Is Waiting” and “Strange Overtones” & “Home” (respectively.)
Byrne has several art projects: He brings a collapsible bicycle with him on tour so when he is in a new city he can ride around and check out the town, because of his love of riding he designed several bicycle racks in NYC, (search “David Byrne’s Bike Racks” on UA-cam and you’ll get a Wall Street Journal video telling you all about the racks.) That video also mentions another art project called “Playing The Building,” and for more on that project check out the video by WIRED on UA-cam called “David Byrne: Playing The Building,” (the building is a building, and he turned that building into a building-sized instrument.)
David Byrne also worked with color guards for a project called Contemporary Color, which also included performances by Zola Jesus, St. Vincent, & Nelly Furtado.
I always felt that here is a man experiencing a moment of enlightenment. Byrne has a touch of Asbergers, and this song rather captures the sudden attacks of disengagement, a sudden stop in time where he asks, What is all this stuff around me? If I woke up right now, and got off the repetative rat race, what would I be then? The water flowing underground contains the basis, the narrative of his life, the secret of his real purpose, which is far different from the stolid suburban (and highly regulated) life he has built for himself.
So, it is more than just a swipe at materialism. It is a moment of divine madness.
BTW, David Byrne now has white hair, and an absolutely captivating voice. You might want to check out some of his more recent releases in your own time. Love your honest reactions, India.
What I love about your reactions is that you enjoy doing them and you're also sincere and so down to earth.
Keep doing it!
One of the first videos I ever saw on MTV, definitely my first Talking Heads track, and my fave along with WILD WILD LIFE. Although David Byrne came from the UK, the band itself formed at the Rhode Island School of Design. Another great music act of my home State😎
I think it means more about materialism, and what we are "supposed" to want, and then, in reality, just being born, and living is good enough.
He talks about "you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack and you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile and you may ask yourself am I right or am I wrong and you may ask yourself my God! What have I done? Like you do what society expects you to do and chase the American dream and find no happiness.
The Law of Existentialism in the time of COVID19!
Thanks India! Another enjoyable reaction! If you do more talking heads, try”Burning Down The House”
You should also try their song Road To Nowhere.
Or if you want to hear David Byrne solo, he did a great song called A MIllion Miles Away. It was never a hit, but it was used as the theme song for a forgotten TV show called Flying Blind.
The dances he does is based off of other cultural dances from around the world.
Choreographed by Toni Basil, famously known for the Mickey song.
And of course, the song is about one who experiences a mid-life crisis. Something we all relate to.
My take on the lyrics is about awareness of things that don't otherwise stand out. Like when you go somewhere in a routine manner and before you notice the features, you are done with the journey, barely conscious of the trip. Awareness of the moment. David Byrne purposely based his voice to be like a TV preacher. BTW-The "girl" is Tina Weymouth, and she plays the awesome bass line that grounds the whole song.
Tina Weymouth was the bassist for Talking Heads and she also did backup vocals.
This was my song! I was privileged to hear this in my youth!
Tina Weymouth is the Bassist of Talking Head, she's also in the band The Tom Tom Club.
Girl, I love how you beakdown the meanings of what you see in videos and the music. It's hard to find someone like you. I wish we could hang out!
The bass player for Talking Heads was Tina Weymouth. That''s the girl in the band. he was married to the drummer
I’m into all sorts of music; metal, neo classical, punk, funk, rock, folk, progressive, drum & bass, house, etc....but Talking Heads are always my go-to if I’m not sure what to listen to. They’re bloody brilliant.
According to Wikipedia: David Byrne said the song was about the unconscious: "We operate half-awake or on autopilot and end up, whatever, with a house and family and job and everything else, and we haven't really stopped to ask ourselves, 'How did I get here?'
I LOVE your positive attitude about life, India....and well you read things. You would make a great counselor or therapist!
If you liked this song, you’d probably like “Train In Vain” by The Clash. It has a very similar energy about it.
FYI: This classic video was choreographed and co-directed by Toni Basil. She is known for her song "Mickey." Check it out!
Crosseyed and Painless from the "Stop Making Sense" movie is awesome.
That's my favorite track in that concert.
There is a live in Rome version that I think is even better.
Their biggest hit on pop radio was "Burning Down the House" from 1983.
Talking Heads Take me to the river!!! More heads!!
The song is about how many of us go through life on autopilot, half awake and don't realize what we've got or how we got it. That everything becomes repetitive and how so many become desensitized, never questioning the things around us.
Love your reactions and your wide love of music. Would love to see you do The Cars - Drive or Candy-O, Madness - Our House or Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams if you haven't done them yet. Keep up the great content.
This must be the place is another great one from the talking heads
That's one of my all-time favorite songs.
I think it's about people stopping and taking a look at where they're at and the things they have achieved with a realisation that it's as good as it's going to get. One tends to question themselves and their surroundings in the middle of the journey of life. In the meantime, the water still flows and it's the same as it ever was... the next generation will find themselves asking the same questions, and their children will have their day too....
David Byrne is a genius! React to Devo’s Freedom of Choice, please.
"Girlfriend Is Better" from "Stop Making Sense" is a great song and video if for no other reason than Davids dance in that big suit. The best part of the dance is when he's doing it with other band members. The music is great too. Sure is funky and weird.but that makes it better.
You have to watch life during wartime live by the talking heads.
Incredible energy by the whole band.
Great song. I've never seen the video. Byrne's dancing reminds me of They Might be Giants.
Tina Weymouth (the bassist) also does background vocals on a couple songs like The Lady Don't Mind, along with others like Nona Hendryx (ex. The Great Curve, Slippery People). But as for lead vocals, I don't think so.
Love Talking Heads! Landed in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 🧡
This song was in a movie called “Mr. Destiny” in the mid 80’s. About a man who gets to experience an alternate timeline of his life in order to help him make the right choices. really fits with the song. Also I think when he’s singing about water it’s about a wellspring of joy which is untapped when we do not see our blessings.
I know this song was also part of a movie down and out in Beverley Hills. Funny 80's movie. On another note you can wake up or sit at your workplace and the lyrics How did get here spring to mind, on a bad day at work you may say to yourself where does that highway go to. Whether you are in a good place or not the lyrics can aptly fit.
Talking Heads is a Rock group, based in New York City. They are a unique band, in the sense that they were a "mainstream" Rock band at a time in the 1970s, when Punk Rock, New Wave, and Disco music was the rage in the clubs. Talking Heads held on to their musical vision, and had a number of hit songs in the early-to-mid-1980s. Some other Talking Heads music videos that I would like to see you react to, are "Burning Down The House", "Road To Nowhere", "Wild Wild Life", "And She Was", and "Girlfriend Is Better" (from the "Stop Making Sense" concert film soundtrack).
My take on it is that life goes by so quickly ( " how did I get here?) and that we often find ourselves in certain circumstances in the blink of an eye.
I like that unlike most reaction channels,you have a better understanding of the meaning of each song.
I can't tell you how many reaction videos I've seen where the hosts either laugh or get a puzzled look on their face
Did you say "time waits for no one" because you heard the song ? the Rolling Stones have a song called exactly that ! If you never heard it, listen to it here. I love this video so much. David Byrne has a great sense of humor. This is my favorite Talking Heads song and video . Every song Ive ever heard from this group are FUN .
Psycho Killer, long version.
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa better.... run run run away!
Old grey whistle is a good version.
@@ronaldpoddig6188
Yeah. That base line.
This was their breakout song, a big hit on MTV and put Talking Heads on the map. They have made a lot of great music, and some of their members went solo and created a group called the Tom Tom Club. Their first album was really great, you should check out some of their songs Genius of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, L'elephant and Lorelei. Kind of techno music, quirky, cryptic and hypnotic.
I LOVE the way you feel and understand this MUSIC! All of this MUSIC!
One of my favorites from the early 80's. I grew up with this. New Wave and Punk.
Oh yeah! Same here. The second British Invasion, gender-bending, and cross pollination between music genres.
Blondie, Duran Duran, the Police, U2, New Order, and so many others.
My mom LOVED this song! She was born in 1938. She'd say "play the same as it ever was song" LOL!!
The title of the song is talking about how each of us has that moment in life where we are convinced we know the score!
Then life wakes us up, and we learn that we don't know everything.
Our choices are shaped by what we know at a point in time. We learn more, our choices change.
It's not his beautiful house because the man that wanted it so badly doesn't exist anymore.
"Into the blue again" is letting go and finding out what the universe wants from us.
Fun tune, heavy message.
Love your energy !! you really enjoy and take from this musical journey a lot of different point of views .. I really enjoy learning and sharing this musical journey with you.
In this song I feel he is a man trapped in a life he has made for himself! He wants to escape his life! He is not living his best life! He is basically unhappy!! Amazing band!❤️
I love your reactions - it's amazing you listen to the lyrics so deeply.
David Byrne is a superbly creative and highly original musician.
Tina Weymouth is one of the most innovative bassists in rock. She is the spine behind this music. Also check out her work with the Tom Tom Club.
Awesome Band!!! Love this song. Well done India🙏
The Talking Heads really are a great example of the musical change and experimentation that was happening in the early 80's.
Some referred to it as "weird shit" but that's how progress happens.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" - George Bernard Shaw.
This was my favorite video when MTV debuted, and nobody has been able to top it. You did mention that there's a woman in the group, and you are correct: their bassist, Tina Weymouth. She does not sing with Talking Heads (that I know of) but she has with side projects, most notably the Tom Tom Club.
You might also take a listen to the Talking Heads’ “And She Was”, and “This Must Be The Place”. At first, I wasn’t a Talking Heads fan, but they’ve grown on me over the years...
"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads, "Come Dancing" by The Kinks, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles" (rhymes with 'snuggles') "Drive" by The Cars, "Cradle of Love", "Eyes Without a Face" and "White Wedding" by Billy Idol, "Strip" and "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant, "California Dreaming" by The Mamas & The Papas.
I just love that you taste all different genre's of the music scene. Love what you do! Thank you.
One of the top 5 greatest musical achievements of the 80's. A once in a lifetime song.
David Byrne was recently the musical guest on SNL and he was brilliant! He also performed on John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch Netflix special. So amazing!
Please react to Talking Head's "Wild Wild Life"
Yeah... good video for that one too.
I’m a huge fan of the Talking Heads, and I was really young when they came out.
I’m not sure what his lyrics meant to him whn he wrote this, but it seems as if he’s saying that
the “you” of you- the pith of who you are- can end up being born anywhere , and under any conditions.
Almost like the luck of the straw.
The part of a person that “is” can basically end up anywhere, anytime . Just a guess.
David Byrne is as brilliant as he is entertaining,
and no other bands or singers can come close to his most interesting, singular way of producing music.
He was pretty shocking, back then- and still an odd original today!!
My interpretation is this guy who lived his life listening to what others said he should be instead of trying to figure out who he really is. The world is so complex there is so much to discover, beautiful weirdness that you don’t know about, yet we keep living the same life as a million other people and at some point we can’t even make sense of existence. And he doesn’t even know where he is or more importantly what makes him unique as a human being, what makes him distinctive.
I grew up watching Talking Heads thanks to my dad. My whole life he did one dance move and after he passed, I saw this video and realized where it came from. So good!
Girl, you've just been blessed with the genius that is David Berne. That best is dope.
Tina Weymouth, bass and vocals. Love this band.
I always saw it as saying you can go along doing everything perfectly to plan and get that beautiful house and wife and car and realize your whole life has passed and you've done none of the things you'd hoped or that all these opportunities may have passed while you were pursuing this perfect life
Speaking in Tongues and Stop Making Sense are two of my favorite 80s albums.
Just one of the great songs from the Talking Heads!! Burning Down The House , Road To Nowhere, And She Was are great songs as well!! Also 2 of the members of Talking Heads were married. And started another group called The Tom Toms. They put out a awesome on hit wonder called .... 'Genius Of Love' Mariah Carey did some kind of remake of the song! You should check it out!
This song was used as the title track on the movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills.