True. It suddenly came into my brain to search for Pixies reactions. OK, we've got where is my mind, where is my mind and where is my mind. Oh and The Happening? Great song. Really didn't expect to see a reaction to this song from a classical harp player. Good stuff.
Funny that you picked up the Bossa Nova vibe, That's the name of the album this song is from! Also feel like this is a good jumping off point into more experimental stuff like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. Both of those bands are a bit of work to listen to but I really enjoyed them once I was able to get it and understand it.
@@EstebanAlvarez_This was actually the first pixies app on my bot just because it was the only one I could find at the time. A friend of my mom's had Doolittle and I was obsessed with it but they wouldn't let me have it. Sure it's probably not their best, But I still enjoy it quite a bit.
It's probably the best access point to Pixies too. This album was so well written and produced; it kind of put off some "hardcore" fans. IMHO it's their best album
Such a fantastic intro song to Pixies. My favorite band, and I have no clue what one song I'd pick for an intro. Maybe Hey or Bone Machine. But The Happening is also a cool choice.
I love this song and think that Bossanova is a criminally underrated album. As someone who has been listening to the Pixies since the jump, I don't think the Happening is even the most emblematic or interesting song on Bossanova--let alone in the Pixies early discography. But Vlad's gonna Vlad on this channel and I get that too. Truly.
What a fantastic surprise! I love the Pixies. I didn't expect someone to request them this early, but I definitely have no complaints. They truly have their own sound and style. From David Bowie, I recommend Space Oddity for the first song to react.
Possibly the worst choice of Bowie song. Much better options would be: Under Pressure with Queen as she is familiar with Queen. Let's Dance. Heroes Ziggy Stardust Fame Changes Hallo Spaceboy
@@chrisbradley1192 Except avoid Space Oddity! That song put me off listening to Bowie for years. Then I eventually found out how much better his other work is.
The Pixies were an incredible band, and their influence cannot be understated. The Happening is from the album Bossanova which you should listen to in its entirety for your own pleasure. Thank you for your excellent commentary. Please react to their song Hey from the album Doolittle. Incidentally, the backing vocals in the chorus are by the bassist Kim Deal who went on to form the band The Breeders.
They are still together with the classically trained Paz Lenchantin on bass (replacing Deal) and have put out three albums with her. They are all very good and worth a listen.
Your analysis of the Pixies is spot on! My all time favorite band. While tastes are subjective, one cannot argue against their unbelievable staying power and success. And they're excellent live
A touch of Brazil in the tight punky drumming, a surf influence in the intro and the harmonies (which are both sweet and dissonant, in a punk way), a garage-rock simplicity in the "power" guitar parts (a bit like The Cramps), an underlying pop heart: nice choice of song, it showcases Pixies' patchwork of elements. Amy did a great job dissecting all these and more (and being spot on about the vibe of the lyrics too)! Other Pixies' songs I'd love to see you analyze are Hey, Monkey gone to heaven or Wave of mutilation.
@@barnigranero5882 You're right about Area 51. IMHO Pixies always play around with their lyrics, creating an almost nonsensical vibe that puts you in a certain mood, rather than being storytellers trying to convey a certain meaning. I felt that Amy got their overall feeling, their mood - not the meaning per se. Of course it might be just me!
A little lyrical decoding - the ranch they call number 51 is a reference to Area 51. The story is basically about the singer on a long drive (by the shores of great salt lake, in Nevada), when the "news" saying "they're going to put it down, right on the Vegas Strip - meaning a UFO is landing, and aliens are announcing themselves. The story goes further, saying they were getting interviewed by "a good man whose name was Bill", and he describes how this landmark event made everyone feel (everyone was remembering to forget they had the chills). The song ends with the singer expressing the desire to just go and be a part of this landmark historic event. I know the lyrical angle isn't what Amy is focused on, but I thought, since it's actually an odd story-song, I'd help to open up the song by way of mentioning elements of the story. I always enjoy her reactions to these songs that I've been so familiar with since their release, and this being a favorite Pixies song, I was honestly pleasantly surprised this was her first foray into their world
Thank you for adding this context. I had the urge to jump in myself and just say "It's about a UFO sighting!" but you gave a much more meaningful run down of the story line than that would have been, so thank you.
Great Salt Lake is in Utah. So the driver hears the message that a craft has appeared, and books it to Vegas, over 400 miles away. Along the way, more and more are flocking to see this event themselves in Vegas, so he starts driving off road. Rain turns the sand desert to mud. So it's quite the trek to get to this amazing event. the visitors are getting interviewed by "a good man whose name was Bill" which is a reference to Billy Goodman, who had a talk radio show out of Vegas called The Billy Goodman Happening, that covered UFO/Aliens/Paranormal subjects. So the title of the song is a reference to Billy Goodman and his radio show. ua-cam.com/video/ELWputhYSNk/v-deo.htmlsi=4IrO4ozt_Z84hgnG
Thank you. I really enjoyed this video but I felt compelled to comment in response to the complete misinterpretation of the lyrics. The lyrics are amazing, and the monologue at the end is the most perfect depiction of how someone might respond to a UFO landing
Hurrah for the Pixies and your reaction Amy! I hope to hear you analyze more of their songs as they are one of my absolute all time favourite bands. Monkey Gone to Heaven would be an obvious next choice (probably their most famous song), No 13 Baby is a personal favourite, Nimrod's Son is a biblical epic like no other... Such a unique combination of raw power, cathartic screams, speed, dynamics, supreme melodic beauty, wonderfully weird and evocative lyrics. They're till touring and making albums but their initial run with Kim Deal in the line up is where the real magic lies. Frank Black also has many interesting solo albums and Kim Deal founded the Breeders, another great band. They, together with Throwing Muses and others are part of a specific American scene of the late 80s/early 90s represented well on a rather famous UK label: 4AD... 4AD was special, because it was curated strictly with quality in mind by founder Ivo Watts-Russell, this goes for the whole presentation (album covers etc).
Oh, thank you! The Pixies are amazing. I'm so happy to get to more 90's music. No, Amy, you have not yet heard Punk rock. I have been waiting for that, I think it will be hilarious.
Great song from an amazing band. They were really good songwriters and they worked extremely hard. I have nothing but good things to say about the Pixies. When they were starting out in Boston I saw many of their early shows playing to ten or twenty people. They were an opening band for those three bands a night rock bars. I’ve had a casusual conversations with all four of them and I remember talking about their song Sam Hill which was perhaps their first single. I thought it was going to break them out, it didn’t but they became quite popular and acclaimed in Boston and the Northeast US but they seemed to hit a ceiling and after a while called it quits. I’ve seen many incredible bands that should have been huge never emerge above the club circuit. The Zulus for instance were a phenomenal live band but many bigger bands didn’t want them to open a show because you can’t go on after their performance and because their style was not easily marketed as it wasn’t genre specific. Same with the Pixies and the replacements and the Wipers and Mission of Burma and many many others. Nirvana finally broke out with that sound and that opened the gates for alt rock commercially but by then most of the earlier pioneers were already gone. Great analysis Amy, I hope the Pixies see this video.
Doggerel, the Pixies's latest album is really, really good. It's got several tracks that throwback to their early sound and would fit well on Bossanova. Vault of Heaven is just one fantastic example. Highly recommend.
When I saw the Pixies I thought of you. Not because I specifically remember you talking about them before, but I do remember you talking about the Boston music scene before.
@@LeeKennison thank you Lee. The Pixies came out with a sound and songs that were accessible but not commercial, I thought surely they would become a huge band and they should have been. Thing is they were another band that the execs had trouble pinning them into a market genre, they weren’t big rock and they weren’t soft or folk rock or punk, they were kinda like the velvet underground and a sharp contrast to the loud fast thrash of the day. Sometimes artists need some kind of social context in which they can be perceived by a potential audience. They went from ratty little bars to headline large clubs and then large theaters but without a box to put them in they were thought of as a quirky band that most people just didn’t get.
@@Hartlor_Tayley Reminds me of one of my favorite performers that I have probably seen more than anyone else over the years (starting in the 70s) named Jerry Riopelle. He was very popular in Phoenix and has been known for his New Year's Eve concerts. He had a following in Arizona and Southern CA, but never made it on the national scene. He had his own record label, and created some of my favorite albums. He played everything from mid-sized venues, to outdoor festivals, to bars and clubs. It was rumored at one point that he would take over as lead singer (with piano and guitar) for Little Feat, but as far as I remember nothing ever happened with that. They had similar styles.
I want to say as a songwriter without much theory background, your musical investigations of rock tracks are fascinating and illuminating. I really appreciate them. So thank you. The Happening is not a track I'd pick for a first-time Pixies listener. It's a bit of a deep cut for sure. I would suggest their song Bone Machine to give you a better idea of their classic sound and song structure that influenced so many alternative rock bands in the 1990s. Bone Machine has some interesting rhythmic interplays you might also enjoy on a musical level. But they have so many hits, you can probably close your eyes and throw a dart at any song off Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, or Come On Pilgrim and find something interesting and exciting (Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde are good too, but more uneven and start to diverge in sound from the "classic" earlier albums). Also, you mentioned not having heard any David Bowie yet. Are you in for a ride! His musical pantheon from the early 1970s to his death a few years ago is vast, chameleon-like, and always dynamic and engaging.
I love the Pixies, been a fan for 30 years and they have lots of influence on modern music. Also, a great analysis. I would love to hear "Wave of Mutilation" on harp!❤
Just saw the Pixies a few weeks ago and they were stunning as usual. I love the author wanting to determine more of the Pixie's style but the remarkable thing is that although you can always tell a Pixie's song almost every song holds unanticipated surprises that you didn't see coming. Loved this author's analysis.
Great introduction to the Pixies Amy. If you like this then you've gotta get into Talking Heads. They are strange cousins in many ways. Both bands use eclectic sonic colour palettes, yet they never stop feeling like real humans, playing real instruments, in a real and emotional world.
Great reaction (as always). Pixies were, as you read, a hugely influential band and you should definitely do more songs by them in order to firmly get a feeling of their sound. For other songs I suggest one or more of the following (in chronological order): - Where Is My Mind (from debut album Surfer Rosa) - Gigantic (from Surfer Rosa; one of the few songs NOT written by frontman Black Francis and certainly one of their most iconic songs) - Hey (from their most famous album, Doolittle) - Wave Of Mutilation (Doolittle) - No. 13 Baby (Doolittle) - Gouge Away (Doolittle) - Is She Weird (Bossanova - from which "The Happening" was also from) - Hang Wire (Bossanova) - Alec Eiffel (Trompe Le Monde) - Motorway To Roswell (Trompe Le Monde) The band split up after Trompe Le Monde (1991) but reunited again many years later and have released new albums since 2014. Most Pixies fans (me included), however, believe their first run to be the "real" Pixies and so I haven't included any suggestions from their latter period.
Funny thing about the Pixies. They started out, as another commenter said, playing to audiences of ten or twenty people. They put out, like, four albums then broke up. During the time they were broken up, their fame grew to legendary status. When they got back together over a decade later, every concert venue was selling out within minutes, and they were playing to crowds that went on, literally, as far as the eye could see. All the way to the horizon in all directions. This can be seen plainly on their reunion DVD.
I just stumbled upon your channel and adore your approach at taking time to listen to these songs of my youth(Pixies, Jane's Addiction, etc.). Your videos are kind of addictive. Keep listening to this good music. You may wind up with tattoos and black t-shirt before you know it. Haha Thank you
Fantastic! The Pixies and Frank Black carved such a unique recipe that was and still is incredibly influential! I'd love to see how you would analyze Frank Black's "Los Angeles". Please also consider Radiohead (Paranoid Android), The Police (Every Little Thing She Does is Magic), Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle), The Cure (Just Like Heaven), Faith No More (Midlife Crisis), Bee Gees (How Deep is Your Love), Sting (Shape of My Heart), and Fugazi (Waiting Room) would be an interesting intro to creative punk rock/post-hardcore.
Such an interesting pick for your Pixies introduction. However, it actually seems to me like a great choice to go with a bit of a deeper cut like this, rather than what would be the usual. This is one that didn’t really catch me when I first heard it, but it ended up growing on me a lot. By the way, before 1998, if you asked the “ranchers” about “Paradise Ranch”, they would refuse to officially acknowledge its existence (even if you provided photos of it). 😉
I saw the Pixies for the first time in 1989 when they opened up for Love & Rockets! I've seen them 8x over the past 30 years. They put on a fabulous show and sound amazing live. Silver is my favorite ❤
I would have never thought to suggest the Pixies or "the happening" as the introduction to them. Interesting. But there are definitely songs I love that I think Amy would cringe at as a first listen.
Great reaction as always! Some weekend reactions (2-3 songs) with Bowie and with Radiohead (and Dylan) would thus be suitable and also appreciated. And perhaps also a punk-weekend with for ex Clash and Sex Pistols. To get a glimpse and a scratch the surface of those huge musical treasure chests 😃🍀✨
The Pixies have a very wide spectrum of sounds and dynamics but you will always identify them. They can sound very groovy, very scratchy, very harsh and chaotic, very childish, very beautiful, cool, funny, raw... it is great for their albums are a journey. I can imagine for classical ears it's not always nice and beautiful but it's an experience and the songs are special and I guess even for classical listeners inspiring. I love the pixies a lot. When I was a youth I was getting so much out of the songs and got a lot of inspirations - fantastic band.
Interesting choice to start with The Happening. Not a bad song at all, but certainly not one that stands out in my mind when someone mentions the Pixies. Still, I'm glad you're listening to them. I found them in High School and they are one of the few bands that I still revisit periodically from that time in my life. Maybe try something from Surfer Rosa or Doolittle for your next listen.
Merci pour cette superbe explication d'un titre que j'adore !!! Je suis français, et même si je lis plutôt bien l'anglais j'ai beaucoup de mal à le comprendre à l'oral. J'ai donc dû utiliser les sous-titres automatiques de UA-cam, avec les paroles de la chanson "The Happening" qui se mélangent avec celles de Madame qui nous propose cette vidéo. Je pense avoir compris l'essentiel et j'en suis heureux ! Merci énormément ! Je me suis abonné, évidemment !
If "Alien Surf Rock" is a genre, The Pixies invented it. Interesting you should note the bossa nova-esque rhythm in this song; the album is called "Bossa Nova."
This is from probably the most accessible of their 1st 3 albums. I'd be interested to see what you make of something like Debaser, or pretty much anything from Surfer Rosa
I very much enjoyed this reaction to a really good song from a very good and influential late 80s and early 90s band. You can hear some elements of punk in this one, with that influence being even stronger in some of their other songs. I think punk is one key genres that you haven't touched on much yet. It would be useful for you to hear from some of those bands that helped establish this genre, such as The Clash and The Sex Pistols. That way you will start to notice those elements in bands like the Pixies, who use elements of punk in their alternative rock sound. Good job by Amy in noticing the bossanova rhythm in the drums, which is probably no accident on their part since Bossanova is the name of the album this song is on.
The Stooges were probably the ground zero proto punk band. Velvet Underground and the MC5 too. The Stooges albums Funhouse and Raw Power really hit the spot. Sixties garage rock !
@@Hartlor_Tayley Sorry, I completely missed that you replied to this, which is ironic since I actually expected you to reply with the Velvet Underground reference, since I have seen your comments on them in the past I guess I should have expected the Stooges reference and MC5 references. I knew you would provide further enlightenment on the history of punk. Hopefully my grade wasn't lowered too much for missing the Stooges and MC5. I'm a fan of the Velvet Underground, but I have listened to Lou Reed's solo work a lot more. I'm sure this disqualifies me from the cool kids club. 😉
@@Hartlor_Tayley You are far from that, being probably the most polite person on this channel. I hope my comment didn't imply that since that is certainly not what I meant. It was just my goofy way of trying to pay you a complement for being probably the most knowledgeable about rock and rock history who frequents this channel. By playing the role of the student to your teaching (providing good information) I was just acknowledging your contributions. Sorry if my intent didn't come across, since my weird sense of humor can be easily misinterpreted.
A welcome selection of a deeper cut from the typical Pixies reactions. Doolittle is great, but Bossanova is a gem. I enjoyed watching this broken down.
Radiohead- Paranoid Android is a great song. David Bowie- Ashes to Ashes is a good song to start with, though there are hundreds of Bowie songs, you really could start anywhere.
For all their punk influences, sonically textural complexity and songwriting originality, Pixies always had that sixties air about them. Amy, you mentioned bossa nova. Also, check out Manfred Mann's tune Do Wah Diddy Diddy. I am pretty sure that at least someone in the Pixies likes it.
As a man who puts great lyrics very high on my list of things I require in the music I listen to, I always have a caveat that goes "But sometimes I love a totally nonsensical song or lyric, that as long as it seems very important to the writer and sung passionately I love it." And with that, I say "JEFREY WITH ONE F JEFREY! JEFREY WITH ONE F JEFREY! ONE F!"
The were their own genre, which describes the biggest influence on Frank Black, which is Tom Waits when he released “Swordfish Trombones,” the album that blew Black’s mind and encouraged him to do whatever he wanted, the world be damned.
The song is about an alien visitation in Las Vegas, landing on the Strip. And the hypnotic outtro is about everyone being drawn to that event - almost like a pilgrimage. The thing about the Pixies, for me, is how they use all four members and their instruments in such a meaningful, impactful way (and this includes the voice as an instrument). No one is just making up the numbers or providing a backing texture - they're all an integral and unmistakable part of the sound of the song. Not many bands do it like that. And the other thing is the almost tongue-in-cheek irreverence of the lyrics. He's definitely storytelling throughout, but it's such a strange blend of history, mysticism, dream and actual story that it takes on a very surreal character. All these things combine to make the Pixies the most unique and creative band of their era, and probably one that will last forever.
Seeing the Pixies here makes me very happy. I'm actually surprised at the song choice (I would've guessed their "hit" Where is My Mind, or maybe Hey), but I honestly don't know what I would've chosen as a first Pixies song for Amy.
This band consistently received high acclaim by people close to music, the critics/journalists, other musicians and people working in the music industry. I particularly like their lyrics, quirky provocative, poetically mysterious and so so expressive of mindsets of the 1990's youth. Their music, at times, I find to be experimental and different for the sake of being experimental and different. A bit pretentious in that way, not always musical. I like this song, I like the energy, the good recording, musically quirky in just the right proportion and what the lyrics express to me. Amy, I don't, in my comments ever urge you to cover a particular artist because it happens to be one of my favorites. When your channel was new and rock music was new to you I urged you/Vlad to cover different songs by an artist that you had already chosen but not which artist to cover next. I am now going to make an exception and urge you to an artist you mentioned twice in this video with some defensive language, I acknowledge ahead. After more than a year into this wonderful channel isn't it time that you look into an artist who trend sett'd the industry, was a trend setter for the social lives of youth the world over for more than 4 decades, an artist who's portfolio of music has a breadth and is vast at a level unparalleled by any other. David Bowie (can you ask Vlad the correct pronunciation of his stage name) WAS NOT INFLUENCED BY THE PIXIES, HE INFLUENCED THE PIXIES. Bowie himself would oppose this statement and, in fact, has said that The Pixies impressed him and influenced him. In honor he has covered a Pixies song (they should feel honored) and early on in The Pixies career, Bowie has mentioned them and promoted them publicly when he was aware of the weight of his statements. I can very clearly hear Bowie influence in their music and The Pixies's music clearly became better once Bowie involved himself in their album productions. David Bowie did not make music for music's sake, he didn't even want to be a music star, he wanted to be an actor (and he was), David Bowie made music as one part of a social expression, acting, fashion, immersion into culture, story telling and socialization, helping other artists of all sorts of disciplines and giving cause to his own life were all part of his persuasion. With each era change or album he brought movement in the music and art world, giving countless people their inspiration to enter the world of expression themselves and to follow. David Bowie's music is not rock music (some songs are) but rather a form of pop music that was always innovative, daring and reaching, yet extremely accessible and commercially viable. Amy, please consult with Vlad, Is it time that you look into an artist of this kind of acclaim?
There was a local Boston band called the Bentmen. Bowie made them his band. I saw the Bentmen in a smallish club and being sort of a freakout band they wore costumes and had stage effects, I could not see the singers face but I told my friend that he sounds just like Bowie and maybe he is Bowie. My said something like “why would Bowie sing in this dump.” Well a few months later Bowie shows up with a new band Tin Machine and the Bentmen guitarist Reeves Gabrels is in it with the Sales brothers (Iggy Pop), so Maybe it was Bowie under the mask idk
@@Hartlor_Tayley That is incredibly interesting. Bowie was keen and sympathetic to the business end of music and had a great relationship with his label. He also made moves which effected the industry, he was a trendsetter. Perhaps like any good business he sought for ways to pilot test his important ideas before full execution, this is pure speculation on my part. I have both Tin Machine CDs, I have seen video clips of live performances and I like Tin Machine, Bowie would later describe it as a sort of "anti work burn-out" project.
@@WindmillChef it makes sense if he was looking for a new start then the Bentmen would help with that. Bowie would have joined them for this performance to see how it feels working with these guys. The Sales brothers left Tin Machine but Gabrels stayed on and I think the Bentmen drummer also played with him for a while. I think Gabrels could play all the parts all the previous guitarist invented but in a new way.
Love to hear Pixies on this channel! I wouldn't say this particular song is terribly representative of their style though. Most of their classic songs are shorter and less bluesy than this. I'd like to see reactions to I Bleed, Hey, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Debaser, Ana, or Alec Eiffel!
No imagine the concert crowd moving in sinc bopping up and down with five or six kids crowd surfing in perfect unison with the sound. It was really incredible how the kids reacted to the sound
You probably *shouldn't* listen to David Bowie until you've had some pop music history. Bowie's Berlin period was a high point, and roughly a zillion things were contextual to produce Bowie's work then and after that time. What Bowie took from Connie Plank and what he did with it are great artistic achievements.
The woman doing background vocals and bass guitar is Kim Deal. She is also a legend for the 90s. Her band, The Breeders (also featuring her twin sister, Kelley Deal) was a mix of surf rock and alternative-country. I recommend The Breeders' "Divine Hammer."
I don't have the album on hand right now, so I can't check the song-by-song credits, but it is quite possible that Kim Deal was also singing during the higher/softer parts.
If you enjoy deep dives into concept albums, The Dear Hunter is a band that is in my opinion is second to none…when it comes to concept albums. Your hubby will have some major homework to do to introduce you to their deep “Acts” and “color” albums.
I was scrolling your reviews to see if you ever reviewed a song called Zombie by The Cranberries. It's relevant to current events in another part of the world. I would like to write more but I don't want to influence your take on the song. I found this rewiew, so here I am.
The Happening it's so emotional with it's own chords and chorus, funny enough I dont know if Frank Black (the composer) was intentionally thinking about this detail but sounds like what your digital/electric devices would react according to what the alien machinery can do: distortion and enraging its functionality, this song makes you first intrigue: something is going to happen curious sounds and voices; fear, fear leads to anger and/or desperation sounds and tones, then it comes realisation calm and angelic tones, like something its going to happen, whatever it is, is relaxing is going to slowly end (alien abduction), for me it's about how it's going to end ones life, everyone is scared about death and unknown/unexplainable things, wether it is about aliens or God itself, pacifically, its going to end. I'm addicted to this song, good to see that the YT algorithm suggested me to this channel, analizis.
Finally got to see Pixies perform this live a few weeks ago in Manchester, UK. Prior to these recent Bossanova/Trompe Le Monde shows the band hadn't performed this song live since 1992! Here's video of them performing The Happening live in Manchester. ua-cam.com/video/MpbKRo2VXQ0/v-deo.htmlsi=K3yDNu7BvDyDdjae
You alluded to Loud Quiet Loud, which was a signature element of the Pixies. It was literally the name of a documentary that followed them on their first reunion tour.
MY FIRST with this band/song.... so, so I suppose, but nothing out of the ordinary, one of the many to my taste, I guess that is why they are not on the radio waves, or mass media.
![STARCHASER - A Melody Within A Dreamcasted Realm (Full Album + Bonus) [Power Metal]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nkKcoFq0EcA/mqdefault.jpg)
It’s about an alien in a ufo in the desert and finally gets to Vegas
Great song choice. Most Pixies review/listens usually use the ol’ tried and true hits they had. Kudos.
I can't say it better. A truly good choice, unlike others made here.
True. It suddenly came into my brain to search for Pixies reactions. OK, we've got where is my mind, where is my mind and where is my mind. Oh and The Happening? Great song. Really didn't expect to see a reaction to this song from a classical harp player. Good stuff.
for real. random pixies song but like most of them as great as any of them
Funny that you picked up the Bossa Nova vibe, That's the name of the album this song is from!
Also feel like this is a good jumping off point into more experimental stuff like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.
Both of those bands are a bit of work to listen to but I really enjoyed them once I was able to get it and understand it.
@@EstebanAlvarez_This was actually the first pixies app on my bot just because it was the only one I could find at the time. A friend of my mom's had Doolittle and I was obsessed with it but they wouldn't let me have it.
Sure it's probably not their best, But I still enjoy it quite a bit.
It's probably the best access point to Pixies too. This album was so well written and produced; it kind of put off some "hardcore" fans. IMHO it's their best album
I've been listening to the Pixies and Frank Black for 30 years and had no idea that bossanova was a style until she commented on it!
Such a deep cut to start with. It shows their incredible song writing talent.
Such a fantastic intro song to Pixies. My favorite band, and I have no clue what one song I'd pick for an intro. Maybe Hey or Bone Machine. But The Happening is also a cool choice.
Cactus
I love this song and think that Bossanova is a criminally underrated album. As someone who has been listening to the Pixies since the jump, I don't think the Happening is even the most emblematic or interesting song on Bossanova--let alone in the Pixies early discography. But Vlad's gonna Vlad on this channel and I get that too. Truly.
@@jeremiahraggie464Cactus is full power💯
No.13 baby
N°13
Omg The Pixies live was a life changing experience. I'm so lucky to have had the privilege to see them, soooo good! ❤
What a fantastic surprise! I love the Pixies. I didn't expect someone to request them this early, but I definitely have no complaints. They truly have their own sound and style.
From David Bowie, I recommend Space Oddity for the first song to react.
Possibly the worst choice of Bowie song. Much better options would be:
Under Pressure with Queen as she is familiar with Queen.
Let's Dance.
Heroes
Ziggy Stardust
Fame
Changes
Hallo Spaceboy
By David Bowie I have to recommend at least two songs:
All the Madmen
Width of a Circle
David Bowie is a journey; from Space Oddity to Blackstar.
@@chrisbradley1192 Except avoid Space Oddity!
That song put me off listening to Bowie for years. Then I eventually found out how much better his other work is.
Life on Mars? Is my recommendation for the first contact with Bowie.😊
The Pixies were an incredible band, and their influence cannot be understated. The Happening is from the album Bossanova which you should listen to in its entirety for your own pleasure. Thank you for your excellent commentary. Please react to their song Hey from the album Doolittle. Incidentally, the backing vocals in the chorus are by the bassist Kim Deal who went on to form the band The Breeders.
Probably Black Francis sings the high part and Kim Deal the lower part, or at least that's what I always like to imagine :)
They are still together with the classically trained Paz Lenchantin on bass (replacing Deal) and have put out three albums with her. They are all very good and worth a listen.
Thank you for the update. Have a nice day.@@petersattler22
Your analysis of the Pixies is spot on! My all time favorite band. While tastes are subjective, one cannot argue against their unbelievable staying power and success. And they're excellent live
Hey is amazing 🤩
You really can’t predict where a Pixies song is going to go.
A touch of Brazil in the tight punky drumming, a surf influence in the intro and the harmonies (which are both sweet and dissonant, in a punk way), a garage-rock simplicity in the "power" guitar parts (a bit like The Cramps), an underlying pop heart: nice choice of song, it showcases Pixies' patchwork of elements. Amy did a great job dissecting all these and more (and being spot on about the vibe of the lyrics too)!
Other Pixies' songs I'd love to see you analyze are Hey, Monkey gone to heaven or Wave of mutilation.
I'm not sure she got the lyrics. It's about Area 51! But unless you are familiar with the subject matter then it is very difficult to spot.
@@barnigranero5882 You're right about Area 51. IMHO Pixies always play around with their lyrics, creating an almost nonsensical vibe that puts you in a certain mood, rather than being storytellers trying to convey a certain meaning. I felt that Amy got their overall feeling, their mood - not the meaning per se. Of course it might be just me!
@@noother964 Their lyrics do have meaning , it's just not obvious. It took me years to get the Pixies. But once you do. Oh My Golly!
Oh, PLEASE more Pixies... This was wonderful. Thank you.
The band that restored my faith in music 😊
The only band I discovered that my older sisters liked. It was a big win for me. 😂
A little lyrical decoding - the ranch they call number 51 is a reference to Area 51. The story is basically about the singer on a long drive (by the shores of great salt lake, in Nevada), when the "news" saying "they're going to put it down, right on the Vegas Strip - meaning a UFO is landing, and aliens are announcing themselves.
The story goes further, saying they were getting interviewed by "a good man whose name was Bill", and he describes how this landmark event made everyone feel (everyone was remembering to forget they had the chills).
The song ends with the singer expressing the desire to just go and be a part of this landmark historic event.
I know the lyrical angle isn't what Amy is focused on, but I thought, since it's actually an odd story-song, I'd help to open up the song by way of mentioning elements of the story.
I always enjoy her reactions to these songs that I've been so familiar with since their release, and this being a favorite Pixies song, I was honestly pleasantly surprised this was her first foray into their world
Thank you for adding this context. I had the urge to jump in myself and just say "It's about a UFO sighting!" but you gave a much more meaningful run down of the story line than that would have been, so thank you.
Great Salt Lake is in Utah. So the driver hears the message that a craft has appeared, and books it to Vegas, over 400 miles away. Along the way, more and more are flocking to see this event themselves in Vegas, so he starts driving off road. Rain turns the sand desert to mud. So it's quite the trek to get to this amazing event.
the visitors are getting interviewed by "a good man whose name was Bill" which is a reference to Billy Goodman, who had a talk radio show out of Vegas called The Billy Goodman Happening, that covered UFO/Aliens/Paranormal subjects. So the title of the song is a reference to Billy Goodman and his radio show. ua-cam.com/video/ELWputhYSNk/v-deo.htmlsi=4IrO4ozt_Z84hgnG
And Velouria is about a furry Lemurian gal Frank encountered near Mount Shasta :)
Thank you. I really enjoyed this video but I felt compelled to comment in response to the complete misinterpretation of the lyrics. The lyrics are amazing, and the monologue at the end is the most perfect depiction of how someone might respond to a UFO landing
I can't believe how you explained this song so well... Truly astounding! One of my favorite songs ever, and you made it even better 😊 thanks!
Hurrah for the Pixies and your reaction Amy! I hope to hear you analyze more of their songs as they are one of my absolute all time favourite bands. Monkey Gone to Heaven would be an obvious next choice (probably their most famous song), No 13 Baby is a personal favourite, Nimrod's Son is a biblical epic like no other...
Such a unique combination of raw power, cathartic screams, speed, dynamics, supreme melodic beauty, wonderfully weird and evocative lyrics. They're till touring and making albums but their initial run with Kim Deal in the line up is where the real magic lies. Frank Black also has many interesting solo albums and Kim Deal founded the Breeders, another great band.
They, together with Throwing Muses and others are part of a specific American scene of the late 80s/early 90s represented well on a rather famous UK label: 4AD... 4AD was special, because it was curated strictly with quality in mind by founder Ivo Watts-Russell, this goes for the whole presentation (album covers etc).
Best song off the album. That outro is euphoric.
Pulling on my heart strings with a pixie reaction .. so many others you could have done but i'm happy just the same !!! Black Francis is my hero.
I put him up there with Dylan, Morrison, Jarrett, and only a few others. Rare to see him appreciated this much.
Wow! I didn't think you would get to the Pixies this early in the journey...
Oh, thank you! The Pixies are amazing. I'm so happy to get to more 90's music.
No, Amy, you have not yet heard Punk rock. I have been waiting for that, I think it will be hilarious.
I would be glued to the screen if she did a deep dive into Bad Brains.
I would recommend
The Damned: New Rose,
Dead Kennedys: Ill in the Head,
Ramones: Rockaway Beach.
@@elevenseven-yq4vu All good choices, but you really have to start with the Sex Pistols.
@@TheSpanishInquisition87 Ramones
The Jam...."Down in the Tube Station at Midnight".
Monkey Gone To Heaven is my favorite Pixies song.
I enjoy your enthusiasm for learning.
I enjoy your channel.
Thanks.
Great song from an amazing band. They were really good songwriters and they worked extremely hard. I have nothing but good things to say about the Pixies. When they were starting out in Boston I saw many of their early shows playing to ten or twenty people. They were an opening band for those three bands a night rock bars. I’ve had a casusual conversations with all four of them and I remember talking about their song Sam Hill which was perhaps their first single. I thought it was going to break them out, it didn’t but they became quite popular and acclaimed in Boston and the Northeast US but they seemed to hit a ceiling and after a while called it quits. I’ve seen many incredible bands that should have been huge never emerge above the club circuit. The Zulus for instance were a phenomenal live band but many bigger bands didn’t want them to open a show because you can’t go on after their performance and because their style was not easily marketed as it wasn’t genre specific. Same with the Pixies and the replacements and the Wipers and Mission of Burma and many many others. Nirvana finally broke out with that sound and that opened the gates for alt rock commercially but by then most of the earlier pioneers were already gone. Great analysis Amy, I hope the Pixies see this video.
Doggerel, the Pixies's latest album is really, really good. It's got several tracks that throwback to their early sound and would fit well on Bossanova. Vault of Heaven is just one fantastic example. Highly recommend.
@@tayloryoung8336 all their stuff is really really good. I was very happy to see them get back together and be more popular than ever.
When I saw the Pixies I thought of you. Not because I specifically remember you talking about them before, but I do remember you talking about the Boston music scene before.
@@LeeKennison thank you Lee. The Pixies came out with a sound and songs that were accessible but not commercial, I thought surely they would become a huge band and they should have been. Thing is they were another band that the execs had trouble pinning them into a market genre, they weren’t big rock and they weren’t soft or folk rock or punk, they were kinda like the velvet underground and a sharp contrast to the loud fast thrash of the day. Sometimes artists need some kind of social context in which they can be perceived by a potential audience. They went from ratty little bars to headline large clubs and then large theaters but without a box to put them in they were thought of as a quirky band that most people just didn’t get.
@@Hartlor_Tayley Reminds me of one of my favorite performers that I have probably seen more than anyone else over the years (starting in the 70s) named Jerry Riopelle. He was very popular in Phoenix and has been known for his New Year's Eve concerts. He had a following in Arizona and Southern CA, but never made it on the national scene. He had his own record label, and created some of my favorite albums. He played everything from mid-sized venues, to outdoor festivals, to bars and clubs. It was rumored at one point that he would take over as lead singer (with piano and guitar) for Little Feat, but as far as I remember nothing ever happened with that. They had similar styles.
I want to say as a songwriter without much theory background, your musical investigations of rock tracks are fascinating and illuminating. I really appreciate them. So thank you.
The Happening is not a track I'd pick for a first-time Pixies listener. It's a bit of a deep cut for sure. I would suggest their song Bone Machine to give you a better idea of their classic sound and song structure that influenced so many alternative rock bands in the 1990s. Bone Machine has some interesting rhythmic interplays you might also enjoy on a musical level. But they have so many hits, you can probably close your eyes and throw a dart at any song off Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, or Come On Pilgrim and find something interesting and exciting (Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde are good too, but more uneven and start to diverge in sound from the "classic" earlier albums).
Also, you mentioned not having heard any David Bowie yet. Are you in for a ride! His musical pantheon from the early 1970s to his death a few years ago is vast, chameleon-like, and always dynamic and engaging.
I love the Pixies, been a fan for 30 years and they have lots of influence on modern music. Also, a great analysis. I would love to hear "Wave of Mutilation" on harp!❤
Oh yeah, Wave of Mutilation on the harp, please! Good call.
Just saw the Pixies a few weeks ago and they were stunning as usual. I love the author wanting to determine more of the Pixie's style but the remarkable thing is that although you can always tell a Pixie's song almost every song holds unanticipated surprises that you didn't see coming. Loved this author's analysis.
Great introduction to the Pixies Amy. If you like this then you've gotta get into Talking Heads. They are strange cousins in many ways. Both bands use eclectic sonic colour palettes, yet they never stop feeling like real humans, playing real instruments, in a real and emotional world.
Thanks for reminding me the best Hypnotic coda of all times ! ; )
Great reaction (as always). Pixies were, as you read, a hugely influential band and you should definitely do more songs by them in order to firmly get a feeling of their sound. For other songs I suggest one or more of the following (in chronological order):
- Where Is My Mind (from debut album Surfer Rosa)
- Gigantic (from Surfer Rosa; one of the few songs NOT written by frontman Black Francis and certainly one of their most iconic songs)
- Hey (from their most famous album, Doolittle)
- Wave Of Mutilation (Doolittle)
- No. 13 Baby (Doolittle)
- Gouge Away (Doolittle)
- Is She Weird (Bossanova - from which "The Happening" was also from)
- Hang Wire (Bossanova)
- Alec Eiffel (Trompe Le Monde)
- Motorway To Roswell (Trompe Le Monde)
The band split up after Trompe Le Monde (1991) but reunited again many years later and have released new albums since 2014. Most Pixies fans (me included), however, believe their first run to be the "real" Pixies and so I haven't included any suggestions from their latter period.
Funny thing about the Pixies. They started out, as another commenter said, playing to audiences of ten or twenty people.
They put out, like, four albums then broke up. During the time they were broken up, their fame grew to legendary status.
When they got back together over a decade later, every concert venue was selling out within minutes, and they were playing to crowds that went on, literally, as far as the eye could see. All the way to the horizon in all directions. This can be seen plainly on their reunion DVD.
The Pixies! Yes!! More, please. Lots to dive into.
Amy, that top is super stylish. Very nice! :)
I just stumbled upon your channel and adore your approach at taking time to listen to these songs of my youth(Pixies, Jane's Addiction, etc.). Your videos are kind of addictive.
Keep listening to this good music. You may wind up with tattoos and black t-shirt before you know it. Haha
Thank you
Fantastic! The Pixies and Frank Black carved such a unique recipe that was and still is incredibly influential! I'd love to see how you would analyze Frank Black's "Los Angeles". Please also consider Radiohead (Paranoid Android), The Police (Every Little Thing She Does is Magic), Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle), The Cure (Just Like Heaven), Faith No More (Midlife Crisis), Bee Gees (How Deep is Your Love), Sting (Shape of My Heart), and Fugazi (Waiting Room) would be an interesting intro to creative punk rock/post-hardcore.
Such an interesting pick for your Pixies introduction. However, it actually seems to me like a great choice to go with a bit of a deeper cut like this, rather than what would be the usual. This is one that didn’t really catch me when I first heard it, but it ended up growing on me a lot. By the way, before 1998, if you asked the “ranchers” about “Paradise Ranch”, they would refuse to officially acknowledge its existence (even if you provided photos of it). 😉
I saw the Pixies for the first time in 1989 when they opened up for Love & Rockets! I've seen them 8x over the past 30 years. They put on a fabulous show and sound amazing live. Silver is my favorite ❤
love the band and the song, thanks for that :)
I would have never thought to suggest the Pixies or "the happening" as the introduction to them. Interesting. But there are definitely songs I love that I think Amy would cringe at as a first listen.
My favorite band!!! Yay!!!
Another wonderful job Amy!!!
Great reaction as always! Some weekend reactions (2-3 songs) with Bowie and with Radiohead (and Dylan) would thus be suitable and also appreciated. And perhaps also a punk-weekend with for ex Clash and Sex Pistols. To get a glimpse and a scratch the surface of those huge musical treasure chests 😃🍀✨
This was great thanks again for your thoughtful *thoughts* 🙂
That was two voices. Black Francis (vocals/guitar) and Kim Deal (Bass)
The brilliant Kim Deal
Love this band. 👽
Heading to Vegas, and then back to Vega. Need a lift? 🛸
David Bowie...SPACE ODDITY!!!! Another great reaction, Amy.
The Pixies have a very wide spectrum of sounds and dynamics but you will always identify them. They can sound very groovy, very scratchy, very harsh and chaotic, very childish, very beautiful, cool, funny, raw... it is great for their albums are a journey. I can imagine for classical ears it's not always nice and beautiful but it's an experience and the songs are special and I guess even for classical listeners inspiring. I love the pixies a lot. When I was a youth I was getting so much out of the songs and got a lot of inspirations - fantastic band.
This song puts me in a trance everytime I crank it up. The chorus is just mesmerizing.
Interesting choice to start with The Happening. Not a bad song at all, but certainly not one that stands out in my mind when someone mentions the Pixies. Still, I'm glad you're listening to them. I found them in High School and they are one of the few bands that I still revisit periodically from that time in my life. Maybe try something from Surfer Rosa or Doolittle for your next listen.
But it's a perfect song for Beginners who come from classical. ; )
@@gillescoin2374 yes I agree. Great choice
Space aliens, the LoudquietLoud parts, a salty body of water… It’s almost a prototypical Pixies song.
One of the favourite tracks of a favourite band of mine.
This is from the Bossanova album. Great call!
Interesting first song to hear by the Pixies. They have so much greatness to choose from.
Merci pour cette superbe explication d'un titre que j'adore !!!
Je suis français, et même si je lis plutôt bien l'anglais j'ai beaucoup de mal à le comprendre à l'oral. J'ai donc dû utiliser les sous-titres automatiques de UA-cam, avec les paroles de la chanson "The Happening" qui se mélangent avec celles de Madame qui nous propose cette vidéo.
Je pense avoir compris l'essentiel et j'en suis heureux !
Merci énormément ! Je me suis abonné, évidemment !
If "Alien Surf Rock" is a genre, The Pixies invented it.
Interesting you should note the bossa nova-esque rhythm in this song; the album is called "Bossa Nova."
This is from probably the most accessible of their 1st 3 albums. I'd be interested to see what you make of something like Debaser, or pretty much anything from Surfer Rosa
Haha, or even Wave of Mutilation. Though the lyrics are really the kicker on that one so, yeah... Debaser might be more interesting to Amy.
Cactus or Hey, next please!!
I very much enjoyed this reaction to a really good song from a very good and influential late 80s and early 90s band. You can hear some elements of punk in this one, with that influence being even stronger in some of their other songs. I think punk is one key genres that you haven't touched on much yet. It would be useful for you to hear from some of those bands that helped establish this genre, such as The Clash and The Sex Pistols. That way you will start to notice those elements in bands like the Pixies, who use elements of punk in their alternative rock sound. Good job by Amy in noticing the bossanova rhythm in the drums, which is probably no accident on their part since Bossanova is the name of the album this song is on.
The Stooges were probably the ground zero proto punk band. Velvet Underground and the MC5 too. The Stooges albums Funhouse and Raw Power really hit the spot. Sixties garage rock !
In relation to the Pixies perhaps a song by Camper Van Beethoven like maybe “ the Eye of Fatima” ?
@@Hartlor_Tayley Sorry, I completely missed that you replied to this, which is ironic since I actually expected you to reply with the Velvet Underground reference, since I have seen your comments on them in the past I guess I should have expected the Stooges reference and MC5 references. I knew you would provide further enlightenment on the history of punk. Hopefully my grade wasn't lowered too much for missing the Stooges and MC5. I'm a fan of the Velvet Underground, but I have listened to Lou Reed's solo work a lot more. I'm sure this disqualifies me from the cool kids club. 😉
@@LeeKennison Lee I can sound like an absolute jerk sometimes. Nobody is right. It’s all conjecture really. I’m not even sure I know what punk is.
@@Hartlor_Tayley You are far from that, being probably the most polite person on this channel. I hope my comment didn't imply that since that is certainly not what I meant. It was just my goofy way of trying to pay you a complement for being probably the most knowledgeable about rock and rock history who frequents this channel. By playing the role of the student to your teaching (providing good information) I was just acknowledging your contributions. Sorry if my intent didn't come across, since my weird sense of humor can be easily misinterpreted.
A welcome selection of a deeper cut from the typical Pixies reactions. Doolittle is great, but Bossanova is a gem. I enjoyed watching this broken down.
Makes sense to be here, since they were talking "all across the Amy band" :)
Radiohead- Paranoid Android is a great song. David Bowie- Ashes to Ashes is a good song to start with, though there are hundreds of Bowie songs, you really could start anywhere.
I love your study and analysis of this great song
For all their punk influences, sonically textural complexity and songwriting originality, Pixies always had that sixties air about them.
Amy, you mentioned bossa nova. Also, check out Manfred Mann's tune Do Wah Diddy Diddy. I am pretty sure that at least someone in the Pixies likes it.
Yes sixties bands like Velvet Underground and the stooges etc.
As a man who puts great lyrics very high on my list of things I require in the music I listen to, I always have a caveat that goes "But sometimes I love a totally nonsensical song or lyric, that as long as it seems very important to the writer and sung passionately I love it." And with that, I say "JEFREY WITH ONE F JEFREY! JEFREY WITH ONE F JEFREY! ONE F!"
Whoa, you believe in space, too? I believe in space. We should hang out some time.
The were their own genre, which describes the biggest influence on Frank Black, which is Tom Waits when he released “Swordfish Trombones,” the album that blew Black’s mind and encouraged him to do whatever he wanted, the world be damned.
You haven't heard any Bowie or Radiohead. You are in for a treat when you get to those.
Can't wait for you to hear Paranoid Android.
What a lovely video on one of my fav songs
Some more Pixies songs you might be interested in.
Gigantic
Dig For Fire
Trompe Le Monde
Break My Body
Debaser
Love your videos ❤ from spain
Awesome! I wondered if you would ever get to The Pixies. They are one of my fav. bands. They helped me survive the 1980's! lol Cheers.
I am so chuffed Vlad and you chose this song rather than the obvious hits! ❤
Vlad
@@flyingardilla143 how on earth did I get that wrong? Oops! Vlad, sorry :)
Now that you've heard the Pixies, you'll have to listen to The Breeders and their song Cannonball. 😊
Or Frank Black and his song I Heard Ramona Sing 😉
The song is about an alien visitation in Las Vegas, landing on the Strip. And the hypnotic outtro is about everyone being drawn to that event - almost like a pilgrimage. The thing about the Pixies, for me, is how they use all four members and their instruments in such a meaningful, impactful way (and this includes the voice as an instrument). No one is just making up the numbers or providing a backing texture - they're all an integral and unmistakable part of the sound of the song. Not many bands do it like that. And the other thing is the almost tongue-in-cheek irreverence of the lyrics. He's definitely storytelling throughout, but it's such a strange blend of history, mysticism, dream and actual story that it takes on a very surreal character. All these things combine to make the Pixies the most unique and creative band of their era, and probably one that will last forever.
Bossanova is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies. It was released on August 13, 1990
Seeing the Pixies here makes me very happy. I'm actually surprised at the song choice (I would've guessed their "hit" Where is My Mind, or maybe Hey), but I honestly don't know what I would've chosen as a first Pixies song for Amy.
How about River Euphrates?
Someone else suggested Cactus.
She needs to hear something from the first two albums, before Charles lost his muse.
This band consistently received high acclaim by people close to music, the critics/journalists, other musicians and people working in the music industry. I particularly like their lyrics, quirky provocative, poetically mysterious and so so expressive of mindsets of the 1990's youth. Their music, at times, I find to be experimental and different for the sake of being experimental and different. A bit pretentious in that way, not always musical.
I like this song, I like the energy, the good recording, musically quirky in just the right proportion and what the lyrics express to me.
Amy, I don't, in my comments ever urge you to cover a particular artist because it happens to be one of my favorites. When your channel was new and rock music was new to you I urged you/Vlad to cover different songs by an artist that you had already chosen but not which artist to cover next. I am now going to make an exception and urge you to an artist you mentioned twice in this video with some defensive language, I acknowledge ahead. After more than a year into this wonderful channel isn't it time that you look into an artist who trend sett'd the industry, was a trend setter for the social lives of youth the world over for more than 4 decades, an artist who's portfolio of music has a breadth and is vast at a level unparalleled by any other.
David Bowie (can you ask Vlad the correct pronunciation of his stage name) WAS NOT INFLUENCED BY THE PIXIES, HE INFLUENCED THE PIXIES. Bowie himself would oppose this statement and, in fact, has said that The Pixies impressed him and influenced him. In honor he has covered a Pixies song (they should feel honored) and early on in The Pixies career, Bowie has mentioned them and promoted them publicly when he was aware of the weight of his statements. I can very clearly hear Bowie influence in their music and The Pixies's music clearly became better once Bowie involved himself in their album productions.
David Bowie did not make music for music's sake, he didn't even want to be a music star, he wanted to be an actor (and he was), David Bowie made music as one part of a social expression, acting, fashion, immersion into culture, story telling and socialization, helping other artists of all sorts of disciplines and giving cause to his own life were all part of his persuasion. With each era change or album he brought movement in the music and art world, giving countless people their inspiration to enter the world of expression themselves and to follow.
David Bowie's music is not rock music (some songs are) but rather a form of pop music that was always innovative, daring and reaching, yet extremely accessible and commercially viable.
Amy, please consult with Vlad, Is it time that you look into an artist of this kind of acclaim?
Bowie’s admiration of Pixies really says a lot. He had such a keen sense for creativity, wherever he found it.
There was a local Boston band called the Bentmen. Bowie made them his band. I saw the Bentmen in a smallish club and being sort of a freakout band they wore costumes and had stage effects, I could not see the singers face but I told my friend that he sounds just like Bowie and maybe he is Bowie. My said something like “why would Bowie sing in this dump.” Well a few months later Bowie shows up with a new band Tin Machine and the Bentmen guitarist Reeves Gabrels is in it with the Sales brothers (Iggy Pop), so Maybe it was Bowie under the mask idk
@@Hartlor_Tayley That is incredibly interesting. Bowie was keen and sympathetic to the business end of music and had a great relationship with his label. He also made moves which effected the industry, he was a trendsetter. Perhaps like any good business he sought for ways to pilot test his important ideas before full execution, this is pure speculation on my part. I have both Tin Machine CDs, I have seen video clips of live performances and I like Tin Machine, Bowie would later describe it as a sort of "anti work burn-out" project.
@@WindmillChef it makes sense if he was looking for a new start then the Bentmen would help with that. Bowie would have joined them for this performance to see how it feels working with these guys. The Sales brothers left Tin Machine but Gabrels stayed on and I think the Bentmen drummer also played with him for a while. I think Gabrels could play all the parts all the previous guitarist invented but in a new way.
The whole Doolittle album is a masterclass👍
Love to hear Pixies on this channel! I wouldn't say this particular song is terribly representative of their style though. Most of their classic songs are shorter and less bluesy than this. I'd like to see reactions to I Bleed, Hey, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Debaser, Ana, or Alec Eiffel!
No imagine the concert crowd moving in sinc bopping up and down with five or six kids crowd surfing in perfect unison with the sound. It was really incredible how the kids reacted to the sound
You probably *shouldn't* listen to David Bowie until you've had some pop music history.
Bowie's Berlin period was a high point, and roughly a zillion things were contextual to produce Bowie's work then and after that time. What Bowie took from Connie Plank and what he did with it are great artistic achievements.
I love this Pixies song every time I listen to it!
The woman doing background vocals and bass guitar is Kim Deal. She is also a legend for the 90s. Her band, The Breeders (also featuring her twin sister, Kelley Deal) was a mix of surf rock and alternative-country. I recommend The Breeders' "Divine Hammer."
My favourite Pixies's song!!!!!!
I am the man I am today because of my obsession with Pixies.
I don't have the album on hand right now, so I can't check the song-by-song credits, but it is quite possible that Kim Deal was also singing during the higher/softer parts.
That's definitely kim
Yeah Kimmy singing backup.
Thanks!
Pixies and all the individual creations by members are my favorite of all time
Mahler also used that semitone thing to great effect in "Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n". It's the crying of a parent whose children have died.
First i was wishing you picked a song i know but i do know and love this song, just forgot the name, excellent video
If this was genuinely your first listen it was very insightful. ❤
What The Beatles did for rock in the 60's Pixies did for rock in the 90's. Almost.
More like what the Velvet Underground did in 60s....
If you enjoy deep dives into concept albums, The Dear Hunter is a band that is in my opinion is second to none…when it comes to concept albums. Your hubby will have some major homework to do to introduce you to their deep “Acts” and “color” albums.
They played this on this cuttent bossanova and tlm tour. Brilliant.
I was scrolling your reviews to see if you ever reviewed a song called Zombie by The Cranberries.
It's relevant to current events in another part of the world.
I would like to write more but I don't want to influence your take on the song.
I found this rewiew, so here I am.
The Happening it's so emotional with it's own chords and chorus, funny enough I dont know if Frank Black (the composer) was intentionally thinking about this detail but sounds like what your digital/electric devices would react according to what the alien machinery can do: distortion and enraging its functionality, this song makes you first intrigue: something is going to happen curious sounds and voices; fear, fear leads to anger and/or desperation sounds and tones, then it comes realisation calm and angelic tones, like something its going to happen, whatever it is, is relaxing is going to slowly end (alien abduction), for me it's about how it's going to end ones life, everyone is scared about death and unknown/unexplainable things, wether it is about aliens or God itself, pacifically, its going to end.
I'm addicted to this song, good to see that the YT algorithm suggested me to this channel, analizis.
Well...this song is from their album album Bossanova...
Finally got to see Pixies perform this live a few weeks ago in Manchester, UK. Prior to these recent Bossanova/Trompe Le Monde shows the band hadn't performed this song live since 1992! Here's video of them performing The Happening live in Manchester. ua-cam.com/video/MpbKRo2VXQ0/v-deo.htmlsi=K3yDNu7BvDyDdjae
One of my favorite Pixies songs
You are gifted
One of my fav songs
The sound is perfect. Listen to Gouge away. I think that song inspired Nirvana. Kim deal is also singing
It's my first time visiting this channel. Jane Hathaway critiquing Pixies. Very cool. And it's only Thursday.
You alluded to Loud Quiet Loud, which was a signature element of the Pixies. It was literally the name of a documentary that followed them on their first reunion tour.
I wouldn't have started with this specific song. I'd have started with Debaser, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Where Is My Mind...
Great stuff!
MY FIRST with this band/song.... so, so I suppose, but nothing out of the ordinary, one of the many to my taste, I guess that is why they are not on the radio waves, or mass media.
Another call for the song "Travel" by The Gathering, the TG25 live version. "I wish you knew your music was to stay forever".
Love this track
Fun breakdown