Tag Archives: Talking Heads

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Song of the Day #6,267: ‘Once in a Lifetime’ – Talking Heads

The second most underrated song of the 1980s, according to Chris Dalla Riva’s analysis, is ‘Once in a Lifetime’ by Talking Heads. This was the first single from the band’s celebrated 1980 album Remain in Light.

This song has the same jam-heavy Afrobeat aesthetic as the rest of the album, but its soaring chorus and disarming spoken-word verses made it stand out as something close to a hummable hit. It reached the top 20 in the UK upon its release despite not breaking into the Hot 100 in the United States. A live recording from the Stop Making Sense concert film did crack that list several years later.

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Song of the Day #5,617: ‘Television Man’ – Talking Heads

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…

#4 – Little Creatures – Talking Heads

Like The Smiths, Talking Heads’ influence far outpaces their longevity and output. The band recorded for 15 years and released eight studio albums, but that was enough to achieve legendary status.

Little Creatures is the band’s sixth record, and its first after the successful concert album Stop Making Sense. It became their biggest hit, going double platinum in the U.S.

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Song of the Day #5,013: ‘Burning Down the House’ – Talking Heads

Maybe the Random iTunes Fairy was spooked by my suggestion last week that I should consider culling the dead weight from my music library. Once again, she has served up a great song by one of my favorite artists.

When ‘Burning Down the House’ popped up, I was sure I’d featured it before. But turns out I had only posted the live version from Stop Making Sense, two years ago on another Random Weekend. Shockingly, that was my first SOTD from the classic concert album. And I’ve only posted one more since.

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Song of the Day #4,934: ‘Life During Wartime (Live)’ – Talking Heads

Continuing my look at 1984, first by counting down my own top five albums of that year.

#2. Stop Making Sense – Talking Heads

The greatest live album ever recorded, and the greatest concert film, Stop Making Sense finds Talking Heads in peak form. Touring in support of 1983’s Speaking in Tongues, my favorite of their albums, the band tears through songs from that record and its predecessors, bringing new energy and warmth to already exhilarating material.

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Song of the Day #4,571: ‘This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Live)’ – Talking Heads

Continuing the chronological presentation of my 25 favorite songs…

‘Magic’ – Olivia Newton-John (1980)

We move into the 80s now, but starting with a song that has one foot firmly planted in the 70s. The 1980 film Xanadu, with its cheesy effects and kitschy “Greek muse on roller skates” vibe, was widely panned, brought down by the anti-disco movement (and the fact that it’s an awful movie).

But despite the movie’s failure, the Xanadu soundtrack was a critical and commercial hit, going multi-Platinum and earning praise for both Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra.

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