Classical Composer Reacts to Talking Heads (The Great Curve) | The Daily Doug (Episode 389)

#TalkingHeads #TheGreatCurve #TalkingHeadsReaction
In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm featuring a selection by our friend Kermit, who is our Guest DJ today. Kermit won this prize last month, and he has selected The Great Curve by the Talking Heads. We're listening to the studio recording, which is animated visually by the channel Anatomy of a Track. The song's looping and layering create an infectious vibe. Come groove along with me!
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[@jerkerjansson386]

Adrian Belew’s guitar playing on this record is pure greatness!

[@wallbangerreactions]

I forgot that was Belew. I've been listening for so many years. Thanks for the reminder.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Agreed. He hit it out of the park with this one.

[@yvesblues560]

Adrian Belews amazing guitar sound reminds me to Jeff Beck on Roger Waters 'What god wants", cool stuff

[@RolandTumble23]

Yes, Belew is unmistakable.

[@angeloronzoni]

What about Tina W

[@scottstevens7639]

Adrian Belew’s divebombing solos are what really drew me into this track initially. He was also in Zappa’s band in the late ‘70’s (specifically the album “Sheik Yerbouti”). But you really need to check out any track from the early ‘80’s trio of King Crimson albums, ‘Discipline’, ‘Beat’ and ‘Three of a Perfect Pair’. This was the ‘reformed’ lineup that featured founder Fripp, Belew, Tony Levin on bass and Stick and Bill Bruford on drums and percussion. Lots of polyrhythms and complex arrangements abound. The only problem with trying to react to any of this material is that Fripp is notoriously strict with copyright of anything Crimson related.

[@NewBritainStation]

He did a “Behind the Score” of “Discipline” (the song) on his Patreon.

[@stefanomaccheo]

He can't do King Crimson here because they're notorious blockers.

[@NewBritainStation]

@@stefanomaccheo Yes, although several have recently been approved. But for the moment he’s been doing Crimson analyses on Patreon.

[@seth5394]

king crimson is a secret society

[@paddyeason9677]

As a prog kid in the 80s (Genesis, Yes, Floyd, Crimson, Solstice), I stumbled across a 7 inch of ‘Houses In Motion’, the single off the same album as this track, and it rocked my world. Talking Heads are as prog as it comes, in their own way. Stupendous stuff.

[@smgoethe]

Talking bout prog... Maybe it's about time to have a bit of Genesis again in the channel. I just stumbled upon a little jewel, I hope the link does not get deleted, it is a live performance from 1973, rescued in HD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZSlm5yMfcxsf5o. Thanks to kzbin.infovideos

[@lanzdona]

YES!! Houses in Motion rocked my world, also. The whole "Remain in Light" album is one of my faves!

[@asharmstrong6730]

I would urge folks to give a listen to Byrne and Eno's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Just as Talking Heads had a song called Don't Worry About the Government, I'd say don't worry about the lyrics. Lyrics are not meant to be spoken aloud over the track.

[@pattardn]

And don't forget Tom Tom Club please.

[@wharpblast264]

DB often wrote lyrics from a contrary point of view. Hiding his real thoughts. Search YT for shine don't worry about the government for a really cool version of one of their early songs, So many hidden gems. Who are todays Talking Heads ?

[@there4im839]

I’ve always considered Remain in Light, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and Byrne’s The Catherine Wheel as a wonderful trilogy. Fantastic explorations and desert island discs for me.

[@devolve42]

@@there4im839 absolutely, and I would add King Crimson's "Discipline" to that.

[@ibanezman1025]

Seriously, it's one of the best albums ever made IMO!

[@bdharral]

TIL that this is a "one-chord song" - I've been listening to it for years (maybe a couple of years after it was released, so early 80's), and because of the rhythmic elements I literally never noticed that the harmonic structure is completely static...Talking Heads is one of my favorite bands, and this is a great introduction to David Byrne's infamously quirky lyrics. Thanks!

[@fran_xcy]

Tina is one of the greatest underrated bass players of all time...

[@johnmichaelson9173]

She is Mother Earth. It's made of loops, when this come out in 1980 it was Wow!!

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Talking Heads is one of those rare bands that just had it all: great melodies, rhythms, lyrics. They were very experimental, intelligent, and forerunners for much of that which came out of the New Wave / Punk scene that went on to influence musicians for decades to come. One of a kind. Those first six albums are just chock full of excellence, top to bottom, front to back. Worth a listen.

[@JamesRedekop]

After you've done a few more Talking Heads songs (I'd love to see you do "I Zimbra"), you'll have to go watch Stop Making Sense (directed by Jonathan Demme) -- one of the greatest concert movies ever.

[@DRRwine]

I Zimbra, yes.

[@stefanomaccheo]

Live in Rome 1980 would've been a good choice for a live performance, with Adrian Belew providing the solos.

[@theduppykillah]

Love that show watch it frequently Adrian Belew rocks out hard, Busta , etc…would have given a better sense of the track

[@garyfisher2246]

Doug, the 'she' is the sun arcing across the sky to (illuminate) describe the world - world of light

[@scifimonkey3]

Always considered Talking heads as the thinking mans dance band. It was impossible to sit or stand still at their gigs and everyone danced themselves into a sweaty puddle. Everyone should set aside time to watch the film ‘Stop Making Sense’. It was built around a specially choreographed live show and is simply stunning musically and as a performance.

[@MichelleVasquez55]

Perfectly said!

[@NicoDsSBCs]

I love Talking Heads. And more Adrian Belew. He played with King Crimson, David Bowie, Talking Heads, ... An amazing repertoire for a human.

[@georgerigberg4335]

And discovered by Frank Zappa!

[@Stemma3]

and he played with a guy named Frank Vincent Zappa

[@leoscone4036]

And Frank Zappa. Stunning resume.

[@nunestunes]

He played with Nine Inch Nails and Laurie Anderson too

[@tonydee9850]

Forty years old,and still sounds amazing,The great Talking Heads.

[@daicullinane7746]

Doug, Adrian Belew(Zappa, Bowie and King Crimson amongst others) plays the guitar solo.

[@ricolync]

Oh wish he would next hear King Crimson circa 1980's now!

[@richardtodd6843]

Belew is as versatile as you can get within the rock and pop genres... as guitarist, singer, composer and occasionally drummer. Work ethic is amazing.

[@bobcorbin3294]

@@richardtodd6843 I have tickets to see him here in Nashville in a couple of months, can't wait! The last time I saw him as a solo artist was back in 1992.( I've seen him with King Crimson several times since then)

[@amyhahn2046]

Please do the Adrian Belew Power Trio song "E"

[@markpotvin4505]

@@ricolync Yes!!!!!

[@DavidLazarus]

Adrian Belew's contributions to TH were fantastic. It's a shame he didn't stick around. He slid into a great career with King Crimson as well as released numerous solo albums.

[@Psychprogrock]

Easily the best song in the best album by the Talking Heads.

[@trentpmcd]

So, when I listened I said, "That is Adrian Belew! Nobody plays a guitar solo like Adrian..." I just went and checked. Yep, it was Adrian Belew , who had one of the most distinctive guitar sound out there. Although I think you need to do King Crimson Larks Tongue (unless you did and I missed it), you also need to do some 80s King Crimson when Adrian was in the band. Wild stuff!

[@MisterWondrous]

Outstanding! The display was perfection. So many great songs (yet to be reviewed by anyone)...from "Naked", "Stop Making Sense", "Forest" & "Life in the Bush of Ghosts", which is entirely composed of la musique concrete and found sound, oftentimes from places like radio stations in the "deep" south. "Hep me somebody!"

[@JoeVideoed]

Thank you for intro'ing me to Anatomy of a Track. Makes figuring out what's where easier to understand. On a track like this so much is going on its hard to tell the players w/o a scorecard. Yet I love it all the same.

[@erikmaronde2244]

My favorite album of Talking Heads. And of 1980. My favorite Adrian Belew solo, too. Especially in the "outro". Love it🎶🥰🖖

[@stoppropaganda2573]

What about Elephant Talk?

[@erikmaronde2244]

@@stoppropaganda2573 Okay, that one is great, too!

[@richpeltier9519]

Twang bar king!

[@stoppropaganda2573]

Have you guys checked out "kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYDMo3usadyCrJY&ab_channel=afterchab0n" good audio...

[@MDIman42]

Thank you, Doug and thank you Kermit! Talking Heads is a great band that I am so glad to see featured here. So nice to break out into different music.

[@getexis8685]

What an excellent guitarist. One note... and everything stays in our memory. Tastefully done. Talking Heads... the name sings it all.

[@richpeltier9519]

Talking Heads are amazing. So fortunate to have seen them when I did. To have a visionary like Byrne, surround himself with such talented musicians and collaborate with them to share his vision... is an impossible thing. Add to that his incredible lyrics and yeah, legend. Bernie Worrell worked with them as well on some of their more popular offerings. Another stone cold musical genius, I have no qualms bragging about having seen numerous times and in vastly different settings. Rich the Ancient Metal Beast 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@jamespuleo3269]

Eno transformed the Talking Heads' earlier new wave vibe by introducing them to the Afro-Pop of Fela, a Nigerian musical & political dynamo who produced dozens of albums thru the 70's and 80's. They would jam for an hour, easily, on one song/one chord and keep a crowd inspired and in motion.

[@Maztuhmind]

Omigod I hope you dive more into their catalog. Easily my favorite rhythm section of any band.

[@mirkotc67]

You got it right! She is the feminine symbol of the world, mother earth, gea, whatever you may want to call her. Remain in light is a masterpiece! And the Talking Heads are the thinking man's rock band! You should watch the movie Stop Making Sense, a live performance of the Heads at their peak.

[@NotOnYourLife]

I saw them in concert in 1983, it was the best concert of my life. Thanks for bringing this awesome memory back to me.

[@DavidLindes]

I saw David Byrne in Seattle in February of 2009, and... it was a very fun show. I didn't know this song before going in, so I can't say for sure if they played it, but I'm pretty sure there was stuff like this, at least (and very possibly this song) -- along with the usual suspects of Talking Heads popular favorites. The house was dancing for Burning Down the House, for example. Good times. Thanks for reviewing this. And indeed, cool and somehow fitting visuals on the vid! Will give that a watch, too, to see it bigger and give it some love. :)

[@similimum66]

The entire album is incredible. With 'Discipline' from King Crimson the 2 most outstanding albums of the eighties. These two albums should be seen as two sides of the same creative force

[@KlausDrewing]

Nice review, thank you very much! I enjoyed it and as a huge fan of this album I also enjoyed the graphic and your instant detection that it is played all through just on one key! I never really realised this after thousand of listens. It’s so full of sound and rhythm elements I hardly couldn’t imagine such a simple fact. An incredible album and a mind blowing song that will stay forever, thrilling and moving ❤️ Best regards from far away Germany

[@blitztim6416]

It was cool to see them perform this live. Since you've heard it already, try a live version. The 'live from Rome' version is great. Belew on guitar and the crowd going crazy.

[@christerfurberg6538]

Their concert film Stop Making Sense is one of the greatest ever made. There are clips from it on KZbin if you want to react to it, like Life During Wartime. Highly recommendable!

[@mikehersh9798]

I interpret the lyrics: “The Great Curve” is the curve of the Earth, also referred to as “A woman’s hip,” so “She” is Mother Earth. With that context much of the rest of the lyrics make sense. “She loves the world and all the people in it.” Also, “She shakes them up….” would be an earthquake, setting up a paradox. “She” might also refer to all women, or a specific woman. There’s enough ambiguity in the lyrics to suggest those alternatives as well.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

Agree, my first thought was Mother Earth (Gaea).

[@axolotl8694]

That was a fun one! that complexity of rhythmic layering in the days before Pro Tools is quite something. It has been commented on already but gotta mention that the guitar solos are by Adrian Belew. had to be, right? nobody else sounds like that. :-) following the Belew connection, I'll also give a shout-out to your Patreon as I see several comments by folks who might not know and would probably be interested... Mr Daily Doug tackles Crimson's track Discipline -- with a transcription! -- in an episode of Behind The Score. great stuff. your channel continues to surprise and delight... thank you!

[@christopherwelsh7008]

I read the comments before listening, and can't wait to see how frustrated Doug will be reviewing a song that never changes key!

[@sagitt1856]

Together with the Ramones, the Talking Heads (three of their albums were produced by Brian Eno) defined the musical genres that were the fleeting "New Wave" (which electro music would recover to the point of accelerating its disappearance) and the surviving "Punk" (still existing although in slow extinction, mainly because of a metal rock that captures everything to serve it up again in its different sauces: "old school", "black", "doom", "death", "folk" , “epic”, “symphonic” and others). Thank you, Master Helvering.

[@TheLocalZeroChannel]

Remain In Light stands out among Talking Heads records. i like most of their output, but this one in particular had such a vibe to it. All those long interlocking grooves. Adrian Belew joined the rebooted King Crimson after playing on these sessions and maybe Fripp was moving in this direction already, but it sure feels like Belew brought some of this juice over to KC.

[@chadsekeras9747]

The Talking Heads was very inventive and creative for the time. I grew up listening to them in my pre-teens and still love them now. Check out some of their other songs you won't be disappointed. Also love how you dig into the lyrics and see a message from them. Keep it up sir.

[@jtsiren1676]

Sure I'm not the only one to point this out, but this whole album's concept was to have many layers over a repeating base that doesn't change. Great choice for an intro to the Heads!

[@painovoimaton]

It's an amazingly lush and hypnotic song with incredible rhythmical richness! Very cool.

[@isakri9459]

Great album and probably the greatest song in their entire catalogue

[@ianp9086]

I remember the day Remain in Light came out and it has remained a clear top five album for me ever since - a masterpiece!

[@there4im839]

SO glad you got a chance to give this a listen, Doug. Go back and listen again. I’m mildly surprised you didn’t catch the major third in the backing vocals over the minor bed.

[@MARIO-uf1no]

Adrian Belew with the killer guitar solo, too!

[@sandstronaut]

Absolutely love this record and would love to see you dig more into it. Great video! You might dig Fela Kuti too, who's a big influence here. And as I always do on your videos, I'm gonna request Reba by Phish, the version from 10/31/94! Please!

[@sandstronaut]

And Phish ties into this song because they covered this album in it's entirety on Halloween 1996.

[@fords_nothere_100]

Fantastic tune Doug! Love the whole album "Remain in Light" and hope you'll dig deeper.

[@stephencolligan]

“World moves on a woman’s hips “ …could be my favourite lyric of all time

[@ExcellentChalsTransit]

One of the best songs of the early 80's, for real

[@ditmavic]

Absolutely hypnotized by the animation of the music and lyrics. Plus the song is brilliant, like talking heads but not heard this one before. Nice one Kermit.

[@minxlabrada]

The guitar solo in The Great Curve is what you want to play if you have to wake people up at 3am for no reason. Makes me want to trade in my Fender Twin Reverb for a full Marshall stack.

[@piperofsimms]

Wow ! What a lead, what a great creative tab/track visual. what a cool tune ! You're my hero Doug ! Tina wasn't bad either.🎸

[@michaelfrank2266]

Wasn't familiar with this Talking Heads tune. Happily surprised. Well chosen and well presented.

[@1968djw]

First time off really hearing talking heads was 87. A mate put them on while travelling to a club in stoke on Trent from wrexham. The herb was in our heads. It totally blew my mind. Hooked on talking heads from then. I knew of brian Eno and was a big fan of his work as a solo artist and with David bowie. "My life in the bush of ghosts" was a dream album for me.

[@richpeltier9519]

Yeah, Eno is not above tapping someone like Belew to round out something incredible like this. After all he brought in Fripp on Heroes. Rich tAMB

[@similimum66]

Doug, the album 'Remain in light' was strongly influenced by the lead guitarist Adrian Belew, who also dominated the King Crimson album 'Discipline', whose title song you reviewed recently as well. This album is multi layered, but if you see their live shows from that period, it is even more intricate and unbelievably groovy

[@scottgjerdingen]

What a great band to see live, huge energy, always keeping you on you heels. David & band (Tom Tom club) are amazing … check out the Tom Tom club! Saw these guys about half a dozen times, never got stale. Small venue was special. Always high energy, great music & great environment

[@pulamusic]

The static minor 7th harmony is similar to Fela’s compositional style: a long plateau modal groove that sets the stage for slowly evolving instrumental and vocal performance. And as for she, I think he’s referring to Goddess. The work moves on a woman’s hips after all.

[@MarkTitus420]

"She' is mother earth

[@cliffordwaterton3543]

love this song - you can't help but dance. great visuals and insightful analysis as always.

[@gregorybolton1840]

Saw them live - a great show indeed. Lets go slippery people

[@Bryman1970]

So many great artists involved with Talking heads. David Byrne is an extremely creative guy. Reminds me of Bowie a bit.

[@huskerdonut]

My favorite TH song from my favorite TH record with one of my favorite (and there are a lot) Adrian Belew pieces of genius. ETA that I never understand why a guitar soloist would not get song writing credit for something like this. Understandable when the song writer or producer dictated what the soloist would do, but that's almost certainly not the case here.

[@TheRealTomWendel]

Adrian reinvented the electric guitar according to Zappa. His work with , Zappa, TH, Bowie, King Crimson, and his own group… outstanding! Eno and Byrne were so into Fela Kuti’s groove. Live versions of this track and others from “Remain in Light” are groundbreaking. Thanks

[@BuckyNugget]

One of my favorite songs and I never noticed it was only one chord. 🎹

[@brianvernon249]

You can hear-the Bowie Berlin trilogy and the formation of the 80’s tier King Crimson style. I Zimbra & Cities: must listens

[@Erickchicas]

You forgot to mention Adrian Belew on guitar which is actually one of the main players and one of the main contributors to the sound of the whole album, so much that he actually was part of the composition but the Talking Heads F**** him and didn't gave him credits.

[@sallocurto1571]

It would be great for you to start including more music from this 76-81 era, Television, Ultravox, (also produced by ENO), Magazine, early Peter Gabriel and more Talking Heads.

[@drfoxcourt]

It will be worth it for you (Daily Doug) to hear or read Brian Eno's comments on how the album was put together. The T-Heads came to the studio without any music written beforehand and most tunes fell from innovative jamming. As to who "She" is: I have come to understand her as the divine goddess motif, femininity in nature. Why else would "she shakes them up when she starts to walk."?

[@chrislegner4816]

When this album dropped, it felt like new musical territory. An important album statement.

[@asharmstrong6730]

Absolutely right!

[@jeanninedoyle9523]

My 52 year old son’s favorite band in the 80’s

[@ganazby]

Two of the all time great guitar solos in one song. One of Frank Zappa’s guys, no less.

[@maxamgilbert]

The Heads, one of my favorites of all time, genius!

[@chandlersmith7689]

My favorite Adrian Belew guitar solo if from King Crimson's Indiscipline live at spectrum 1984! Love to see a reaction

[@rensback]

Yeah!! Way to go! An awesome album indeed! How about some UK from the Danger Money album? Pieces like Carrying no cross or Rendez-vous 6:02 or The only thing she needs… those are masterpieces as well (although a different mood and genre than Talking Heads 😊)

[@johannesswarts1440]

Doug - listen to the entire album - no interruptions. One of the best rock/alt/whatever albums ever recorded. Produced by Brian Eno. Oh - and listen to it LOUD!!!

[@P.Galore]

Absolutely excellent....guitar solo is very Bowie/Carlos Alamar ...LOVE IT

[@MARIO-uf1no]

Outstanding release! As an old school Metal head, this is a fave of mine, which says alot.

[@RolandTumble23]

I've been STRONGLY considering joining your Patreon, just to recommend an Extended Play session of this album (or perhaps their concert film Stop Making Sense). I'm writing this during your intro... really looking forward to the reaction.

[@RolandTumble23]

Finished now, so.... Great job! A couple of other points: All of those descriptions apply. Back in the day, they were frequently called "the thinking man's dance band". The Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo heard this album & said to herself "That doesn't just borrow from African music, it IS African music." So she covered the whole album. worth looing up, as well.

[@dvanmartin9842]

The Talking Heads' greatest record.

[@11thEarlOfBlah]

The whole album's great, Doug

[@TheVirtualWatcher]

You need to look at some of Brian Eno's solo work ...

[@stuarthastie6374]

Eno and Byrne also made the startling album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Also Eno did the synths and distortion on the firet two Roxy Music albums whuch ´...blew my mind` ¿>

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Great song - it's the masses of counterpoint that get to me every time - up to five separate voices going... plus Adrian Belew on guest lead guitar. His work with King Crimson is exceptional too (another complex art-prog band in their 1980s incarnation - it's would be worthwhile you listening and reacting to something like "Elephant Talk" by King Crimson).

[@PuggetronicsPioneer]

You should give "Love Juice" by Owane a shot. He's an multi-instrumental prog artist, and he is absolutely AMAZING

[@dogmaticpyrrhonist543]

"I doug this" lawl... Stupiidly, mostly because of era, this reminded me of Ultravox Vienna, even though it's totally a different song.

[@stanleyguarnelo1101]

Doug, you need to see Stop Making Sense. It is an amazing live performance, directed by Jonathan Deme. It's an amazing concept film and sounds fantastic.

[@studiothrills]

What about analysis of a song from the King Crimson Discipline or Beat album. "Two hands", "Frame by frame". "Elephant Talk". "Discipline". "Neal and Jack and me".

[@nicoladolby2154]

Amazing piece! Guitar & keyboards almost acting as the bass rhythm. Drums are like a cross between African folk rhythms and South American tribal rhythms. The brass section provides the musical punctuation. You should listen to Rhythm Of The Saints by Paul Simon. An album worth of music just like this (without the guitar solos!)

[@singerofsongss]

David Byrne’s solo work is full of Latin American influence, so it doesn’t surprise me that you hear South America in there!

[@alanstuart8397]

Hi Doug. Love your channel. Isn’t it about time that you checked out another track from Talking Heads? And Gong? Looking forward to your next Radio Gnome installment. Cheers in advance from NZ

[@nodaysback1]

That guitar solo was very King Crimson!

[@Arsonist75205]

Adrian Belew on fretless guitar.

[@patriciastewart2239]

As far as I've always been concerned regarding the issue of compartmentalizing, the Heads are the Heads. There is not really anything like them.

[@Pablopax4]

The Divine feminine, My favourite Talking Heads song, I was very impacted as a Guitarist when I heard Adrien Belew's solo' on this, It made me question how I played Guitar and made me try to break out of the conventional soloing I had previously been trammelled into.

[@BonnMacy]

Failed to mention Adrian Belew on lead guitar, with a couple great solos.

[@TheRealKenAllen]

Doug! Do Cardiacs! I would love to hear your thoughts on them, perfect for a weird Wednesday. Love your channel.

[@PK1971PK]

If you really want experimental, you have to listen to Byrne and Eno My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (as a few others on here have recommended)--start off with "Jezebel Spirit". Then another exploration into very non-standard music would be Eno's collaboration with Robert Fripp on No Pussyfooting.

[@sylvanm4216]

Love Talking Heads! And if this sort of thing is of any interest to you, I would strongly recommend dialing up some Fela Kuti. Try "Confusion", a truly epic masterpiece that builds up with aching slowness into one of the mightiest grooves ever put to tape.

[@grahamnunn8998]

Show Biz Kids by Steely Dan sits on Dm7, another great one chord song. Possibly the only song to mock their own fans in their "Steely Dan t-shirts".

[@thembill8246]

Anything that Brian you know helped to write, you really shouldn't bother trying to interpret the lyrics. His writing style, which he shared greatly with David Bowie and David Byrne, was to come up with the musical group first, then sing gibberish along with it trying to improvise a Melody until eventually those gibberish bits turned into words. There is a really good outtake from fear of music called "dancing for money" that demonstrates this kind of in the mid process. That said, this is probably my favorite album ever. The production, the rawness, the amazing vocal tracking, the complexity and polyrhythm, the churning synth in some tracks. It's just all bloody brilliant. I would absolutely love for you to react to this entire album. It is a masterwork.