It's a pop song but it's profound. I remember playing it in 2005 . The opening riff, and then it starts talking about various things like the big house. When the song debuted, in the early 80s, having a fine automobile and big house were a big deal and the epitome of the American dream, but nowadays luxury cars and big homes have become so commonplace. An SUV will likely cost more than a luxury car brand. It shows how much society has changed. Now you need millions of dollars. Or a super-successful Substack or some other signifier of status.
Once in a Lifetime
31–40 of 41 posts
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
> kermits Commits?
And you may find yourself overlooking a pun
Possibly English is not his first language, and also humor does not transmit as well online or in text form. It's why stand-up is funny, but if you read a transcription of the jokes it would not be nearly as funny.
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#33When I saw that somewhat ambiguous title, I was hoping it was about that song. Now I have to watch all those videos! Stop Making Sense is one of the all-time great music movies (and I try to watch 'em all). Once in a Lifetime is a song where you just have to ask "where the hell did that come from?"
I've given Stop Making Sense an annual (and sometimes a bit more) watch every year since the 80's. I find it so evergreen and uplifting when I'm feeling a bit down.
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#34> That bassline might be simple and repetitive, just the notes F-sharp and A, but there is nothing dumb about it. For one thing, it’s the third and fifth of the droning D7 chord.
If this is referring to the original, it sounds like a Dsus4 atop the F-sharp/A ostinato in the bass. AFAICT the pitch class c doesn't show up until the guitar riff at the very end.
And that addition of c in that repeated guitar riff at the end is such a nice change. We should popularize a category of songs called "One Chord Substitution and the Truth." The Proclaimer's "I'm Gonna Be" is in that same category-- listen to it and see if you can spot the lone instance of a disco chord. :)
> Tina Weymouth never plays the tonic!
While I'm not sure exactly what Tina Weymouth was playing, somebody was generating the d a ninth above middle c and sustaining it literally the entire song.
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#35I never knew the meaning of the song, but I always though he talks/sings like an evangalist, so it seemed religous / spiritual to me (or maybe a parody of religion).
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#36I got the pleasure of meeting David Byrne and having a lunch with him at Affrah Mediterranean in Richardson, TX in the late 2000s. It was near the end of my stint at Hanson Robotics for the exhibition "Souls & Machines" at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, Spain. He voiced one of our robots singing. He was, without a question, the most down to earth celebrity I have met to this day. I left that lunch struck how genui…
Would love to hear/see more of your work nearly 20 years later (btw, big fan of the Reina Sofia Museum – to work with Bowie and exhibit at the Reina Sofia sounds like a dream)!
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
>this is one of the greatest songs written to date. That's very high praise. With all respect and sincerity, I'd love to know your age and music listening background. While I, too, enjoy the song, it's definitely not in my top 100 of greatest songs ever written. Perhaps you and I have nearly identical musical listening histories, in which case I 'high five' your pick for #1. Absent that, I can't help but think there…
I’m 69 years old and listen mostly to mother goose books on tape
I love this answer.
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#38This mashup with Tim Maia is amazing: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/aZzu6EpjtuMNDvmf8
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#39Happy to see another Talking Heads (TH) fanatic. Pull Up The Roots has been the most impactful TH song for me so far. I was obsessed with it for about 6 months. I literally listened to it probably 2-3 times a day for those 6 months. I was in a point of my life where I felt like I needed radical change so "pull up the roots" was a powerful message for me. Also I love how weird and chaotic the message is and the song i…
> That whole Speaking In Tongues album is quite good. Definitely my favorite TH album. Great name for an album and very attractive cover art. Byrne is featured singing on an Arcade Fire B side of the same name, which as a fan of both I find surreal to hear singing together. His part is towards the end of the song. https://youtu.be/dSfLHtzgAuI
Cool. I remember that song (because that album is phenomenal and definitely listened all the way through quite a few times) but it was before my obsession with Talking Heads kicked again. Deeper appreciation for it now.
Re: Once in a Lifetime
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
>this is one of the greatest songs written to date. That's very high praise. With all respect and sincerity, I'd love to know your age and music listening background. While I, too, enjoy the song, it's definitely not in my top 100 of greatest songs ever written. Perhaps you and I have nearly identical musical listening histories, in which case I 'high five' your pick for #1. Absent that, I can't help but think there…
Music appreciation is subjective, not objective.
Kind of...?
There are certain objective measures, e.g. Top 5/10/25/100 lists by critics and other credentialed people. There are record sales and polls and now, thanks to streaming, "listens". Yes, each of these have an element of subjectivity to them but also certain patterns become apparent, such that particular songs and artists show up again and again across the various measures.