Talking Heads remind me of Opera? "Life During Wartime" Vocal and Performance ANALYSIS.

[@youbertu]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate Tina holding down the bass line while doing a full aerobics routine? Arguably the best touring band the Talking Heads ever put together.

[@mikedellinger872]

In a suit!!!

[@AlanCanon2222]

She was the heart of that band, hands down.

[@FishManLA]

Even when they performed as a simple 4-piece, Tina was the island of calm and sanity in the middle of the unhinged chaos exhibited by the men (especially David Byrne). It's 100% NOT the Talking Heads without Tina.

[@zoeherriot]

She is such a good bass player. Her playing is so solid.

[@MrDoubled0000]

Her and the whole group! Wow. I've never seen this performance before but I love it.

[@metalmark1214]

And you might find yourself watching an opera singer analyzing The Talking Heads. And you may ask yourself "An Opera singer analyzing The Talking Heads?" And you may tell yourself "Yes, this is Elizabeth doing analysis of The Talking Heads."

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

I love this!

[@metalmark1214]

@@TheCharismaticVoice Glad you loved it. I didn't know if you recognized where I pulled this from. A Talking heads song "Once in a Lifetime" and put my spin on it for your YT channel.

[@youbertu]

​ @metalmark1214 Best.Comment.Ever. Stop making sense!

[@Hoopyfrood345]

Same as it ever was...

[@BionicleJackson]

Same as it ever was...

[@topofmurrayhill]

Watching Elizabeth's brain break while trying to wrap her head around a Talking Heads performance and David Byrne's antics. Priceless.

[@martharunstheworld]

I actually found it sad and couldn't watch it to the end. :(

[@topofmurrayhill]

@@martharunstheworld I get you. But I have faith that she will ultimately understand that the absurdities and non-sequiturs and earnest energy are part of the art and subtle message of David's songs. One day when Elizabeth comes to appreciate the romantic angst of "This Must Be the Place", her transformation will be complete. 🙂

[@giljensen1132]

David Byrne was a genius and honestly I feel like Cillian Murphy is a clone

[@zanzibart3]

I think to do a proper analysis of Byrne you first need to stop making sense.

[@umunhum]

Once you understand he is autistic, it becomes easier to understand his brand of art.

[@markstanley-adams4594]

It's not just a concert... it's theatre... and a work of art. Love this film.

[@heckler511]

100 what a show

[@sandywilson867]

Definitely , they spent a lot of time doing all the dance stuff to get it right , great visual . and a damned good effort . Mick Jagger never stopped running in all the Stones concerts and it was very effective . This is 'theatre , theatrical and entertaining .

[@sp-xq2id]

Yeah, except she's missing it so horribly it's kind of painful.

[@trevord9811]

You just have to watch the entire concert from start to finish. They literally build the stage up around David Byrne, increasing each musical element by adding the drummer, guitars etc. Simply mesmerising performance, especially his awkward yet cool moves. Just wait until you see him dancing in his oversized white suit. Simple yet brilliant.

[@jearpster]

I am 51 years old. First saw this movie in high school. Have watched it every couple of years since. Saw it in IMAX and cried. It never gets old. Watching this in its entirety is a must

[@jossbsure]

Listening party community on line request

[@jameslowery9925]

It is probably the smartest live performance to this day just on execution alone.

[@kittyhendriks4556]

YES! YES! YES!

[@Nick-Salv]

It’s no bold take to say this is a Top 5 music film (and maybe a Top 10 recorded performance) all time 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@shaftpunk84]

Most reactors with this song: “What a fun, energetic performance!” Elizabeth: existential crisis

[@MarcosElMalo2]

The lyrical content is strange and ambiguous and we’re not (or I’m not, anyway) sure who this person is. A revolutionary? A conspiracy theorist that has joined a clandestine movement? They’re on the run, but instead of being scared they’re exhilarated to be undercover while normal life goes on around them. They use normal life as camouflage for their subversive activity or subversive thinking. They’re so deep cover that they’ve lost their identity. The contrast between the lyrics and the uptempo music is itself subversive and frenetic. The lyrical delivery is frenetic. We never hear anything about the conspiracy or any ideology because the subject is in constant movement and has moved beyond such concerns. By the end of the song, I’m not sure what is real and what is delusional.

[@ozmaile7938]

@@MarcosElMalo2t from his and the band point of view of a post civil war where they are on the run hiding for the authoritarian victors.. CBGBs and the Mudd Club are the clubs they got their start in

[@althompson58]

​@@MarcosElMalo2that's a good synopsis. Thank you for that

[@karenkalweit6018]

We didn’t really have conspiracy theorists back then. At least not in any way resembling what we have now.

[@jdwoods2008]

It was uncomfortable watching her be so uncomfortable.

[@CaptainLog]

“The better the singer's voice is, the harder it is to believe what they're saying. So I turn my weaknesses into an advantage.” - David Byrne

[@NM5RF]

When I was 9 my dad brought home the Stop Making Sense VHS and so much about that afternoon has shaped me. This quote has been kicking in my head for 25 years, reminding me always that there's no sense in trying to be someone I'm not for so many reasons.

[@cmmosher8035]

​@@NM5RFI got to see the rerelease this fall and it was amazing to finally see it on the big screen.

[@wendymotogirl]

His voice is lovely on City of Dreams

[@FroggyTWrite]

she may not realize the lock jaw could have some other causes too

[@tomsgrexit]

​@@FroggyTWrite does this mean what I think it means? 😅

[@brbotko]

As someone who's been in a war (90s Bosnia), this is very accurate. Shelling and gunfire make you appreciate and live life to the fullest. No quiet moments, either explosions or parties. Some of my happiest memories are from the war, along with some of the saddest.

[@elaine5953]

Understand. Happiest because life was close and intense and real. One knew who was real and what was real. Everything became crystal. Sad because of the inhumanity and pain and senseless harm experienced.

[@StuckinMO]

Thank you for sharing this. Most people today, especially in the U.S., can only imagine the intensity of war. Both my parents were teenagers in Italy during WWII. Their village was occupied by the Germans and then the Allies. Of the few stories they told us as kids, only a few were about the horrors but most of them were about how normalized it became for them and how they just adapted. They were scarred nontheless.

[@StuckinMO]

Im glad you’re here to share your story. ❤

[@markknight6267]

Very profound

[@pauld.cullenjr.7934]

Your reaction to how odd this is, is exactly the reaction that made us weird/nerd/new wave kids love them. They didn't do what people expected or understood. Not that we did either! But we identified with it for the outsideness of it.

[@sorsha_sky]

Exactly!

[@EricaGamet]

This right here. It's weird to hear people analyze it (especially four decades later). Like we just gravitated to the weirdness, loved it, felt it in our souls. I never spent much time thinking about the lyrics more than at a surface level. TH were next level... I could watch the full movie every day and never be sad!

[@MarcIverson]

@@EricaGamet I've seen it referred to as the greatest concert video of all time -- and that means beating Martin MF'ing Scorcese!

[@darinwinebrenner6908]

Agreed! David Byrne made me feel OK, even cool to not be like everyone else.

[@stevegirard-voiceaudiopodcasts]

David Byrne is a visual artist who got into a band, and helped blow up music during that time. They were about far more than the music, it was about stringing out their messages across every possible input we have. They are absolutely beloved.

[@iDuckman]

DB didn't just "get into a band". The four of them graduated together from the Rhode Island School of Design (yes visual arts) and formed a band. Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz (drummer) were an item - and later married - but she didn't play an instrument so she learned the bass guitar and auditioned. IMO one of the best bass drivers of the period.

[@ZepeDebo]

I lived in Haiti from 1984 to 1986. I was there when Jean Claud Duvalier was overthrown. I was not there in any kind of military capacity. I was just a 20 year old who found himself in the middle of something he was not prepared for. This song really helped get me through it. Turning it up and being able to belt out the words, "This ain't no party! This ain't no disco!" was the perfect catharsis. 40 years later, if this song comes on the radio, volume goes to 11 and I end up horse.

[@Philmoscowitz]

So what were you doing there as a 20 year old? That sounds like there's an interesting story there.

[@spinyfish7242]

I was there in 1987. It was an insane place to be….scarier than Liberia in 1990, or Sierra Leone

[@TheBrenohan]

There's a book that captures some of what you're describing (though at a different time), and it even starts off with a young New Yorker who is there fronting a band as he gets somewhat caught up in the politics and violence. "Immaculate Invasion," by Bob Shacochis, a journalist who embeds himself with an American military unit that is sent there in '93, I think.

[@craigbrowning5196]

@@spinyfish7242 Explain more?

[@redceltnet]

"volume goes to 11 and I end up horse" You end up horse, not hoarse? I'd see a doctor about that. Or a vet.

[@yonkonomi5706]

I absolutely love the Stop Making Sense set. David Byrne is an absolute genius. Watching him stimming on stage is a joy to watch. The best part of this whole show is the fact that everyone genuinely looks like they're having fun and not just their doing their job. Also if I remember correctly this song is loosely about his life.

[@Nickel138]

This is from the movie “Stop Making Sense” directed by Jonathan Demme. It’s a concert, but it’s a movie. The first song is just one person. The second song is two people, third song is three people, etc. This is the full band in this song. It’s amazing. I’ve watched this movie over 100 times. It’s amazing. It will change your life. You definitely need to watch the whole thing. “Slippery People” is another great one from this concert. They run and jump through the whole concert. This was not the last song, it was the first or second with the full band. Pretty much middle of the concert. He sounds the same through the whole concert, they all do, so they must have amazing conditioning.

[@JamesRedekop]

Also -- Stop Making Sense was fully remastered this year by A24! The new version looks *amazing*. Definitely worth seeing, especially on a big screen.

[@dpixvid]

Time to rewatch SMS! Infectious dancing - hard to imagine standing still in the crowd. When you gotta move you gotta move!

[@russelltripp]

Came here to say essentially the same thing. Absolutely worth watching from beginning to end. There's a reason (well, multiple reasons) SMS is considered one of the best, if not *the* best, concert movies of all time.

[@JamesRedekop]

@@russelltripp My sister took me to a showing of the remastered version for my birthday. Very fun!

[@bagofcatsbagofcats1105]

'Stop Making Snese' is also a master class in making a concert movie. Demme was a very conceptual director (Silence of the Lambs among many others) and Byrne is the same for a singer/composer (one of the most articulate and clear-headed artists I know, his interviews are sooo worth). Together they design and make one of the most interesting music films ever. Regarding the songs, they should be considered as a part of a performance, they don't simply exist by themselves. The expression in painting would be 'field of contrasts' where dark and light, different juxtaposed colours create a visual tension. The whole concert/film is about that, contrasts and tension that resolve into not just emotion, or a state of mind, but also a narrative, a statement. And yes, it's the early 80s, when it appeared as if everybody was communing at the altar of the rat race and step on corpses to get that corner office and spend money, and more, more money. That is one part of 'Stop Making Sense'. The other part is in the title. I'd call this refined, distilled post-punk.

[@Kmaitland89]

This entire concert is fucking magical. There's nothing like it and it is such an experience. The Talking Heads are one of the most influential bands of that era. They are absolutely incredible.

[@genericsomething]

I wore out my VHS tape of Stop Making Sense when I was a teenager.

[@nidge3272]

Best watch of magic mushrooms 🍄. Just a few liberty caps 😊

[@notmyrealname1730]

A movie critic for the Deseret News (in Salt Lake) called this "a concert film made the way a concert film should be made." Yep. He was correct. Jonathan Demme did a fantastic job directing this film.

[@greg967]

The only concert film I have ever seen to rival it is Peter Gabriel "Secret World"... Also an artist who had a grasp of incredible rock concert stage theatrics. Also saw him live a couple times, the live performance lived up to the film.

[@dcg4mn]

@@greg967 Secret world tour is also FKG LEGENDARY it slays me that I missed it - it was ten years after this Stop Making Sense tour/movie.

[@landofsuchbeauty]

Elizabeth, your comment about how "people get used to being in wartime...nonchalance....a horrible thing to get used to" is absolutely bang on. This was the height of the Cold War, with young people questioning whether or not they'd reach 30 and also whether or not they really wanted to if they could. David Byrne really tapped into the weird mix of ennui/angst/anger/apathy that dominated youth culture in the West at that time.

[@panamafloyd1469]

@landofsuchbeauty , bingo. I still remember when the Berlin Wall fell..my old Punk/New Wave community were all on the phone with each other. Most of our conversations were, '..oh F!! We're gonna live! WTF do we do now?!?' I don't think any of us had even thought about life insurance or retirement planning before that happened. 😅

[@StoneDigitalArtCanada]

Also tapping heavily into the Theatre of the Absurd movement

[@wardkrause9022]

This was performance art at its best! The lyrics really had nothing to do with the performance. Watch the whole concert movie "Stop Making Sense" as it is my favorite. Great songs, great rhythms, great visuals. Just enjoy. It is made strictly to entertain. You are overanylyzing! Stop trying to make sense of it! Lighten up. Appreciate the visuals!

[@etontrifle]

Yes. But this was DB thinking about what it would be like to be the "other" side.

[@ezraharrigan-px2kw]

Just my two cents. I also think that many children grew up in their own war zones so the underlying emotions resonated.

[@Vraxx7]

Elizabeth: having her brain lock up in real time. Me: bopping along in my chair to Tina’s solid bass groove and trying my best to sing along with David. Blissfully enjoying one of my favorite Talking Head tunes. 😂 Kudos for tackling this!

[@matdrat]

The supporting band members were a collection of all-star funk players: keyboardist Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic, guitarist Alex Weir of the Brothers Johnson, percussionist Steve Scales, and backup singer-dancers Ednah Holt and Lynn Mabry, the latter of P-Funk and Sly and the Family Stone

[@hraefn1821]

PLEASE Elizabeth NEEDS to see "girlfriend is better" from the same 1983 "stop making sense" concert. That performance is a MASTERPIECE and the funk on that track is brain melting! XD

[@paulheinzejr6660]

That song is my favorite of theirs. I agree performance is awesome

[@JeffSmithbureau13]

100% cosign

[@jearpster]

This must be the place for actual vocal performance

[@geoffmerrill164]

One of the really good days of my life back in college was sitting in a theater watching this movie four times in a row. I believe I would do it again now, nearly forty years later.

[@Mannahnin]

Oh yes.

[@irishfergal]

This is my absolute favorite of all your reactions. We're confronting trauma in a new way in the history of music. No one else achieved this dizzying height of madness so that the traumatized might have a chance of bring understood. Funny enough I saw this concert film for the first time in Belfast, Northern Ireland. There had been a series of car bombs in the city a few days earlier. No wonder we got this. The audience was so excited, not knowing exactly why. We suspected that Talking Heads were an entertainment band, Then suddently, we saw that they are artists. It was as if Byrne had read our stories and said "Too many people think that life is about the next club night, DJ, drug, cool person, Andy Warhol, nihilist, when actual people are dying at every moment. For those of us who got searched by the British army on the way to the show, this song brought all of the history of violence into a single moment. The army were searching us for bomb devices and guns. We're trying to go to a rock and roll concert. I remember weeping at that moment nd not knowing why. Then I heard it loud and clear: ""He gets it. They get it. Finally somebody gets us." They are here to protect us from the madness of war. We want to sing and and dance to rock n' roll but we're stuck in this damned war, whether it's in Gaza, Syrian, Ukraine, Ireland. We want to taste life before we die.

[@Brighid45]

THIS. ❤

[@dynjarren8355]

Yes, music is a celebration of life! Which we need now more than ever with the madness going on in the world currently. I agree completely!

[@MarcIverson]

They were an amazing band, and this is an amazing song. And it's amazing what you lived through and how easily it was tolerated by the world at large. I think this song is very metaphoric as to the oppression and rigor of life in general, and the societal need to keep our problems to ourselves, for those hard-pressed by it, as well as specific to the experiences of war and subterfuge against oppression. It works on multiple levels, and I'm glad it had the power to make your experience feel validated and relatable.

[@ivanalaff5346]

This observation Now more than then; horrifying! Art reflecting reality.

[@hadleypleasanton8346]

I read it more like ABBA doing one of their uptempo breakup songs.

[@michaelbradley7704]

They were without dispute the greatest live performance of my generation. You went there to exhaust your body through dance to bypass your mental defenses to except a message of no matter what happens to you in life you have to "Go Forward, move ahead " Talking Heads answer is I think a homage to Devo because they were finished being cool which instead of destroying them, it made them great. You need to listen to the whole live album "stop making sense". I loved how the stage performance is just people playing music, no fancy lights or explosions or stage trickery, just people, lets go, let's do it.

[@christopherryan7178]

Absolutely the best live concert I have ever seen .. and yes I never stopped dancing the entire show

[@zappafan3473]

oh, look. one of the greatest songs ever written by one of the greatest musical geniuses of our lifetime, in the best live concert ever shot (by another genius, Demme), performed by the best musicians of their time. utterly, devastatingly, brilliant

[@johnkasprzak]

Bravo!

[@milthonmiranda4869]

Exactamente!!!

[@kevingouldrup9265]

YES!!!

[@Hasta-la-pasta]

It’s true

[@floodatube1]

This is, hands down, the greatest concert film ever made. This Talking Heads, the most creative band of their era, at the top of their game and delivering a killer show.

[@yinzertoyguy3678]

And she was trying to analyze And she could hear the vocals plainly And she could see the dance moves changing She's making sure she is not dreaming And she was

[@slcs369]

I can hear the melody in this comment!!

[@althompson58]

THAT made me laugh!

[@88wildcat]

I imagine reacting to this made her stay up late too.

[@goosebump801]

😂😂😂😂 Thank you for this! I hope Elizabeth will listen to more Talking Heads - enough to realize it’s not all dystopian 💐

[@atruex4164]

Lol awesome

[@jffrywad]

Talking Heads,stop making sense best band concert film ever.

[@AlexHandley-m3t]

This whole concert is a blast. They actually put the stage together during the first few songs

[@ejreiffenstein]

Which David sing accompanied only by a boom box

[@lawrenceschabell5740]

Never expect mainstream music or lyrics from this awesome band, they were one of a kind.

[@gregwhitcoe5411]

Man, I can't even imagine being a vocalist trying to "analyze" the Talking Heads... LOL Growing up listening to them, they've always been the "weird group that we all love..." The first song I ever heard from them was Psycho Killer... which was weird... and when MTV came out, "Once in a Lifetime" was on all the time (and that video was weirder)... LOL As someone mentioned above, they were performance artists turned musicians, I think.. David Byrne is a genius, in my opinion... yeah, you should definitely watch this concert in it's entirety!!! He might not be the best singer, but their concerts are epic!!!

[@LudusAurea]

I mean most vocalists can’t sing it’s weird to even pretend it matters.

[@annaphallactic]

Byrne is a genius but he's not the only one in the band! Let's not forget that he stole songwriting credit from his bandmates during most of their existence.

[@Pop-2870]

@@annaphallactic they all did OK in the end. I'm glad his oddness brought Tina's bass into our musical history.

[@dturasky19]

i remember burning down the house video , it was played all the time mid 80s

[@atruex4164]

Degreed musician here. Watched the entire show about 25 years ago and it completely changed my view on the possibilities of what live performance can be. Still love it.

[@graemehossack7401]

One of the best Talking Heads albums and concerts. The energy is amazing.

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

This was quite a spectacle.

[@mmattson8947]

26:50 "Whoa. Maybe that was the last song. That would be good, that would be a good choice" Only halfway through the concert. The energy IS amazing.

[@teknotony]

Stop making sense is a concert movie which is 40yrs old and is legendary ! The whole band got together recently on a talk show ( after acrimoniously splitting up many moons ago ) to promote the anniversary , one of my fav bands in the 80s

[@goreyfantod5213]

@@TheCharismaticVoice I think you would fall in love with the band if you watch, "Stop Making Sense." The film captured so much of what made Talking Heads unique & incredible, but it especially showcases their musicality, which got somewhat forgotten in all of the, "Art Rock," post-Punk hype. P.S. If you found this bizarre & theatrical, wait until you hear Screamin' Jay Hawkins. 😆

[@epistte]

@@TheCharismaticVoice Listen too "Burning Down The House."

[@OmniphonProductions]

_Stop Making Sense_ continues to be one of the best concert films ever made! If you haven't watched the whole show, I highly recommend it. The concert starts with _just_ David Byrne on stage and brings in the band piece-by-piece over the course of several songs. It's a great way to _see and hear_ what each member and instrument brings to the mix. Watching this number again has literally put tears in my eyes. I've loved this band since its heyday. (I was nine when this film came out.) Imagine how proud I am that they are one of my 19-year-old's favorite bands, too! As for aerobics _while_ singing, anyone who has done show choir, musical theater, etc. knows what kind of conditioning it can build...out of sheer necessity.

[@burntmarshwigglestudio597]

When you are going through some horrible things in life, there are few things as frustrating as someone telling you it's going to be ok when you known it isn't. That's why songs like this are important, because it digs up that part of the human spirit that still feels joy. That's why I love songs that are about troubling subject matter that also make me want to dance. Dance in the storm. It pisses off the storm

[@DJHolte]

I also think that when you have a song with really heavy lyrics, if you set those lyrics to music that is in itself very heavy, it comes across as "too much" and people may turn their heads away from the message (figuratively speaking). Sometimes that works, of course... but sometimes that dichotomy between words and music is what really gets people to "hear" the intent behind the words.

[@aretelivingarts]

I saw the restored 4K movie last night at a big theater in Brooklyn. Then the band came out and did a Q&A with Questlove. It was such a fun night. The whole way through the movie the audience was dancing and clapping and singing along.

[@heckler511]

Cool I've heard of people doing that and having a great time

[@Olvenskol]

That would be awesome!

[@benjaminmcdowell4071]

it cannot be said enough how much of a masterpiece Stop Making Sense truly is. Johnathon Demme perfectly captured this set on camera with his obsession with the lighting and making it match both David and the band's dynamic and their subtle nuances to convey David's lyrical intention throughout the performance. I think What a Day that Was or This Must Be The place best captures what i'm trying to point out. The lighting Demme used through those songs is captivating and brilliantly frames the band as they absolutely belt out those bangers . Byrne is an all time artist in all aspects. I also love how often you point out the funk every time the synth comes in, that's Bernie Worrell on keys, one of the founding funk masters of Parliment-Funkadelic and one of the greatest to ever touch the synth

[@carljwnc]

I attended the concert, not the film, October 18, 1983. THE best concert I have ever been to. I've seen the film and listened to the album countless times since then, timeless. Very much looking forward to this analysis.

[@danielharnden516]

Agreed. One of the 2 best I ever saw. They performed at Miami university just before filming in San Francisco. My ears rang for days but it was absolutely mesmerizing.

[@2Dutchy]

Me too

[@stotes57]

Saw one of their first shows with this lineup at the Heatwave Festival near Toronto in 1980. When they played this song, you could feel the earth move. Other acts included Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, B-52s, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Rumour, The Pretenders and local faves The Kings & Teenage Head.

[@jtlinard3627]

Oh dear lord. David Byrne is one of a kind. Hard to believe you missed these guys. This concert film was genius

[@TimEngle]

I love your facial expressions. It reminds me of the way I have felt over the years studying rock bands. It’s truly mind bending and can be mind expanding. Thank you for being an open minded, classically trained artist.

[@poleandholefishing5179]

Elizabeth: Looks like they're about to start running. Me: Hahaha...you have no idea. 😂

[@Chamomileable]

One of the greatest live performances ever honestly. The music, the accuracy to the studio recording, the theatrics of the band. It's just great.

[@Publius_Enigma]

I think it's been heavily overdubbed in the studio.

[@Bruthole]

@@Publius_Enigma they're just incredibly talented, and david byrne is a psycho about getting the right sound in any given space.

[@afrisv]

Absolutely love Talking Heads. Nobody else like them. This concert amazing from start to finish. "Psycho Killer".... And their version of "Take Me To The River" from this concert is one of my all time favorite covers.

[@RolandTumble23]

I actually prefer their studio version of _Take Me To The River,_ but the one from this concert is pretty cool. Definitely one of the best covers EVER.

[@ernesthakey3396]

I love their concert film "Stop Making Sense" - saw it in the theater, epic! Bought it on VHS tape...

[@lumpyfishgravy]

I was fortunate to be introduced to them in the mid-80s as a teen. Maybe about half a dozen in my school year liked them. But I was the only one who liked Joy Division lol.

[@afrisv]

@@lumpyfishgravy Same for me. Extremely occupied with music during the 80's and 90's, and mostly alternative. I have to admit I was a New Order fan before going back and checking out Joy Division though. Lucky enough to have friends and classmates sharing my tastes 😊.

[@Greg042869]

@@ernesthakey3396 In maybe 1986ish, there was a second-run theater in Denver that played this movie constantly. People would dance int the aisles. It was great.

[@Roannais]

This Talking Heads song was always one of my favourites, especially the 'Stop Making Sense' version, but having it analyzed like this makes me realize it's so much more than just a great tune; this review really makes me appreciate it even more!

[@joshs8685]

Omg yes!!! This is one of the most fun and inventive bands of all time! This entire live concert film is a masterpiece!

[@joshs8685]

Do yourself a favor and see the remastered film in theaters while you can! Playing now : )

[@Big_Tex]

@@joshs8685 oh crap not playing in my area

[@Relyx]

Honestly, I knew Burning Down the House, Once in a Lifetime, Psycho Killer, and Road to Nowhere before and thought they were great songs but never looked into Talking Heads more. Then I randomly came across an article talking about A24 remastering Stop Making Sense and how it's regarded as one of the best concert films of all time, and decided ah what the hell, I'll watch it. IT IS SO GOOD. I'm now a huge Talking Heads fan, and recently got Remain In Light and Speaking in Tongues original vinyl releases.

[@LEPersonal-pf5wz]

I've seen this concert 100 times and enjoy it every time. I saw it at IMAX a few months back to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this concert. You really need to watch it from the beginning that literally starts with an empty stage and continues to build with musicians as they perform each song. Lot's of fun.

[@iDontShareMyData]

I saw it on the anniversary as well. The single GREATEST live concert movie.... ever.

[@chupap1]

I also saw it in IMAX last year, first time seeing it in the cinemas since the initial run in the 80's when I watched it over and over again (was an usher at a cinema that played it for the best part of a year). I know it backwards and forwards, but it was still incredible to see and hear it in a new way. Was overcome with emotion, from the expression of the film itself to reconnecting with my 19 year old self watching it on the big screen. Very cathartic and amazing experience.

[@todradmaker4297]

@@chupap1 Did you work at the Skyway Theatre?

[@chupap1]

@@todradmaker4297 Nope. I worked at the Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge MA.

[@todradmaker4297]

@@chupap1Cool. Let me guess. You probably knew all the lines from Ghostbusters by heart as well. One of the great advantages of being an usher. I was the head usher at the Skyway Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. I remember seeing this obscure coming attractions poster of a torso shot of a man in a white suit and it just said; A film by Jonathan Demme and the Talking Heads STOP MAKING SENSE. I turned to the manager and said that this one was going to be BIG! We sold out every show for several months.

[@eoinddrumr]

Elizabeth, David Byrne is a musical genius. He breaks away from convention. He is unique. Check out his stage show, “American Utopia”, where the instruments are strapped to the band (unplugged), and everyone is performing complex dance choreography while they play! I think you’ll find it captivating and entertaining, and often very funny. Btw - David is now 71 years old and still performing. Loving your reactions. Keep them coming. Thank you.

[@lazuli93]

I second this recommendation! AmericN Utopia is amazing!!

[@markplattner5594]

@@lazuli93 Third it. In the same way but completely the opposite that this performance makes you uncomfortable, American Utopia will wrap you in a warm blanket of fuzzy and you'll really "get" what David's all about.

[@davidguthrie3739]

Your analysis is spot on. Unhinged is another word for avant garde. The music is so solid that it allows for some serious exploration. No, it’s not intended to be pretty. Like you said, it is performance, theater. A couple of things to note: First, the live performance is very faithful to the studio version and, second, David Byrne is on the autism spectrum. There is nothing in the world like Talking Heads.

[@StuckinMO]

He is a genius

[@peterzukowski]

​@@StuckinMOOh, he is definitely a genius. Absolutely amazing.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Elizabeth, that was absolutely fascinating and entertaining to watch you trying to wrap your brain around David Byrne and the Talking Heads for the first time. I've been a fan since their early days. I think most of us diehard T-Heads fans will agree that David is not the greatest singer, but yet he's made a career of it. And in certain ways with it, he's really really good. It's hard to explain but once you start to get the concept and the history of the Talking Heads, something just seems to click, and it works with his artistic tendencies, his scathing sarcasm, his whimsical sense of humor, and his eccentricity. And even with that really tight voice, he can also managed to create some things that are just absolutely beautiful and haunting at the same time. Check out "Heaven" from this same Stop Making Sense concert movie. In fact you could probably enjoy the whole thing. I saw this movie three times in theaters and every time a lot of us were in the aisles or down at front dancing throughout most of the show. And they turned the volume up really really loud, which I loved. With them, it's always going to be thought-provoking, it's always going to be a bit eccentric, and it's always going to be fun.

[@poleandholefishing5179]

Well said. I disagree with nothing stated.

[@jeffcampbell3369]

I mean this in the fondest way as I love your passion for music, but you just may be too literal for Talking Heads. 😁

[@bobbennett884]

Keep in mind that fans back in the day were subjected to elementary school air raid drills and grew up knowing that a mistake by the Soviet Union or SAC could mean the end of everything. The "wartime" that David sings about seems quaint in comparison.

[@cdlehner511]

One of the things that can get missed about the Heads…without context and hindsight…is they’re “Punk”. They’re totally DIY! 3 art-school dropouts. Tina, famously, couldn’t play bass. She was Chris’ girlfriend, and they needed some bottom. David is no great singer; but they’re smart, and they have that white-boy Funk. Preppy white kids, playing Al Green. Punk, Funk, New Wave. But once it took…they carved their place, by hooking up with Brian Eno and embracing African rhythms. Smart lyrics…and you can sing and dance. DB is more frontman/impresario than “singer”.

[@daledubell9256]

Who else is ready for a 5 hour analysis of the entire concert?

[@Mikalyaran]

This whole concert is so amazing! Always worth a watch/listen.

[@BroadwayBassGuitar]

The dream

[@panamafloyd1469]

[@JenniferinIllinois]

ME ME ME!!!

[@freefalldance]

The single greatest integration of film, theater and music. It captures the soul of this performance. Was lucky enough to see it live in the day. Recently saw the film (it’s got a new print) in a packed movie house, full of dancing and singing along. This film is the ultimate concert movie.

[@Seanontube1]

Talking Heads are unmatched in their quirky creative brilliance! Loved them for decades and decades. Never gets old.

[@ohnoZomBri]

Fingers crossed for more Talking Heads. I would freaking LOVE to see the full concert! Definitely would become patron just to watch it!

[@robertjames8220]

Astounding, isn't it, that this was released 40 years ago, and the genius of the Talking Heads is just as powerful today.

[@javnok9266]

The band was not THE Talking Heads, it was Talking Heads. ;)

[@KenRoerden]

Looking forward to this one! Glad you have dipped your toe into Talking Heads. Hope you dive in soon. This video is from their 1984 concert movie Stop Making Sense, one of the best ever made. Yes, it is 40 years old and was recently rereleased in theaters. I am expecting an analysis of the tension in David Byrne's neck. It's difficult to miss.

[@PadConnelly]

When the 40th anniversary restoration first came out, I saw it because I had a free ticket and a free weekday. I went back two more times that week. Simply the most incredible concert film I've ever seen. It's a transcend experience, and David Byrne is practically incandescent from start to finish.

[@bobfather7355]

Will she analyze the song or the performance more, like she did with won't get fooled again?

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

Kirk played a quick 15 seconds of another song and I realized that their sound is VERY different throughout their discography. So I'm intrigued. I'll definitely do more!

[@bobfather7355]

The reaction works better if you play the videos in the order of the concert. Maybe you could react to the full movie, then upload each video separately.

[@bobfather7355]

First song is just David Byrne alone. Each song add more members of the band and pieces of the stage. At one point the band switches to the Tom Tom club a side project of the bass player and drummer, and performs one of their songs then returns to the talking heads. Tony Scott, who directed Top Gun, Crimson Tide, Man on Fire and much more. Even if you can't react to it all, you could watch it for yourself.

[@raysalsa1]

Tina Weymouth puts down a killer grooving bassline. The performance as whole speaks for itself. I shared this some Facebook friends about 3 years I guess. They were the perfect type of band when MTV launched in 1981. So many possibilities musically and visually for David Byrne and talking heads to explore.

[@Jo-oc-0]

22:30 When you said this might be a song about someone trying to figure out how to deal with living through war, I got goosebumps. I think you nailed it.

[@GarrettMoffitt]

It was a generation trying to live through the Cold war. Poppy music with undertones if death was the 70s.

[@capitalist88]

So I'm about 30 seconds in, and I had to pause just to say...this is one of the few times that I'm glad you chose the live version. This performance is EPIC.

[@JoseSanchez-lk1ic]

Talking Heads and DEVO had a knack for upbeat dystopia

[@acerx203]

That is an excellent description of them.

[@iDontShareMyData]

We are not men....

[@gerryfisher5259]

Great comparison.

[@todradmaker4297]

I've had the chance to see both of them live.

[@skj91]

That is so true! And I love them both. Hrmm, wonder what that says about me, lol!

[@gordonpelto1069]

This was from their "Stop making sense " Tour. This whole concert is great. He starts off solo then builds the set and band around him. Song after song.

[@proscriptus]

*Hears the greatest performance of one of the greatest songs of all time for the first time* "I don't think I like this very much"

[@pashwayar]

I thought I was the only one thinking this lmaooo

[@maureenwagg5305]

You should watch this concert. I watched it, start to finish and could not stop smiling. It was so joyful and fun. Seriously. I never stopped smiling the whole time...and dancing.

[@emihatov]

LOL!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA, the look on your face... Awesome. DB is clearly a genius, Tina's subdued charisma and incredible bass work all while running a marathon, Chris is a rock-solid machine on the drums, the rest of the fabulous crew take it all in their stride, with seemingly no understanding of what an enigma this entire concert film is about to become. There was nothing like Stop Making Sense before, and there will never be anything like Stop Making Sense ever again. Thanks for this wonderful reaction, Elizabeth.

[@bicyclist2]

Welcome to the 80's. Welcome to my childhood. I love Taking Heads. Thanks.

[@TheopticnerveX]

I'm a huge Talking Heads fan... I really appreciate your reaction... It took me so long to understand the vocal nuances in this song but you summed it up perfectly here... Thank you...

[@PristineTX]

This concert,”Stop Making Sense” is widely considered one of the greatest concert films of all time. Talking Heads were originally visual artists, with three of the four original members forming their band at the Rhode Island School of Design. They paired with Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme (“Silence of the Lambs,” Married to the Mob,” “Swimming to Cambodia,” and “Philadelphia,” the movie that propelled Tom Hanks to his first Academy Award) to design and film this show. Some of the visuals of this concert, like David Byrne’s famous BIG SUIT, became culturally iconic at the time. Talking Heads created some of the most critically acclaimed albums of their time. Tina Weymouth (bass) and her husband Chris Frantz (drums) formed a very successful hip-hop/dance act called The Tom Tom Club while Talking Heads was still going. “Stop Making Sense” wasn’t Talking Heads’ only feature film. Byrne later directed a musical based on the album “True Stories.”

[@filtercommittee7863]

Not sure why nobody told her... you really should watch the movie. The opening four songs alone are transcendent. There really is no other concert film that captures such a fantastic event in such an engaging way.

[@laveyanist]

Not only Jonathan Demme, but the cinematographer for Blade Runner, Jordan Cronenweth as well. Two groundbreaking visionaries in film coming together with a groundbreaking band to make something truly unique

[@MarcIverson]

Tom Tom Club made a single, forget the name, that became absolutely huge, and even more huge over time. I have been hearing it on commercials for 30 years or more. It never dies. It must have made Tina and Chris SOOOOO much money by now.

[@georgeerhard1949]

This is part of a "Concert Film" that the Talking Heads did called "Stop Making Sense". It was directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, The Manchurian Candidate).

[@horsesasis4004]

David Byrne and The Talking Heads are full of this kind of thing. Super progressive, heavy messages with bouncy, and upbeat music. Just outstanding musicians.

[@g.victorpaulson8836]

In 1984 I was dating a California girl who wass sixteen years my senior (26/42). I arrived at her apartment in NYC on a Friday evening and she said there was a movie she wanted to see. We went to see 'Stop Making Sense', and it blew my mind. I had never heard of Talking Heads before that, but I've been a huge fan ever since.

[@alextinsley9117]

You absolutely must watch that full concert! That concert tour was probably Talking Heads at their zenith. It's well worth the time spent.

[@twodeepmatt]

Highly recommend the full concert!!

[@teknotony]

The movie concert is 40yrs old , the band reunited 2 months ago on a talk show to promote it after acrimoniously splitting up many moons ago . Legends

[@kurthockenbury]

It did a brief run in the theaters last year, and is going to be back in the theater the week of January 27th some places. Go see it if you can!

[@trholb]

Yes, it’s so great in a theater. I’d seen it hundreds of times on dvd and I watched it in a theater this summer and it’s such a different experience

[@davidrenner6112]

This is awesome! I love the confused looks. Welcome to the Talking Heads. 😅 Musical genius for sure. It is just so weirdly wonderful! I have tried to share their music with others over the years, and many people just don't appreciate it. Great job to your Patreon group!

[@j0hnn13K]

I do not often suggest watching an entire concert, but this is the exception to the rule (by a landslide!). This whole concert/performance is amazing, the way they open the show, build it up (literally) and portrait their songs is simply top-tier. Please do yourself a favor and watch the whole concert, if you also want to do us a pleasure, you can make a video about it hehehe. (you will love the show)

[@JamesRedekop]

It would be great to get a playlist of reactions to each song from the concert. It might be a little much to try it all in one video, especially given that this reaction is almost 5x as long as the song! :)

[@j0hnn13K]

@@JamesRedekop in full agreement, yet.. i'd till watch that 7 hour video lol ;)

[@JamesRedekop]

@@j0hnn13K I mean... I'd watch it, it'd just be easier broken up into bite-sized chunks. :)

[@j0hnn13K]

@@JamesRedekop true true ;)

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

We were disappointed to find out some overdubs were used, but its still a fantastic concert film.

[@benwilliamstv]

YES! First music reaction person I've EVER seen where you noticed the lyrics too! The lyrics are off the hook on this track, like a novel.

[@snegreid]

David Byrne is a true polymath. Brilliant: - musician - performer - composer - producer - designer - artist Etc etc Genius is a word that can be applied to few people but Byrne definitely deserves the honorific. This is my favourite Talking Heads song 😊

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

He is fascinating. If you listen to interviews he comes across as a smart, but quiet person. His persona as a performer is so strange. As a kid when I first heard his music and saw their videos I had no idea what to make of him, but was always fascinated by Talking Heads.

[@GernickKuik]

- author of How Music Works (A very worhtwhile and enjoyable read/ listen, not even just for Talking Heads/David Byrne fans))

[@pedrova8058]

@@ididthisonpulpous6526 He is autist ("mild aspergers" in his own words), if you look at his early interviews, he really struggle with cameras, the interviewers, even with the pace of speech. His lyrics also speak on some of that issues (metaphorically)

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

@@pedrova8058 I don't know that I've ever herd Byrne state that he is on the spectrum. Not a good idea to make diagnosis of people from the sidelines either.

[@SepticFuddy]

You forgot "powerpoint presenter"

[@Merzui-kg8ds]

Argued as the best concert film ever. Elizabeth might be upset to know about "Psycho Killer" and "Burning Down the House".

[@zippymacadoo6336]

I might still be traumatized from the video for "Burning down the house." MTV played the hell out of it.

[@macgonzo]

This whole concert is a once in a lifetime experience 😉

[@stefaniebrauer128]

Absolutely. A must see.

[@indycarcomplainer2304]

Ba doo doo-doo Ba doo doo-doo

[@vinzclorthokey3716]

One of the best bands ever. One of those unique, imposible and WOW!! Bands that really change music. With talking heads there is a before talking heads and after talking heads. It does not matter if its your type of music/art, you will know that they have something and you will love em.

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

Bless her heart, wouldn't it be interesting to watch her critique this entire concert video

[@USCTrojan2013]

Can we please take her to Cruel World ?! Her Musical soul might explode. :)

[@stompievision]

W the remaster blueray coming out that would be so great.

[@sirslice7531]

"Oh look. He's bringing out a boom box! I wonder what this is all about?"

[@roddiener1235]

No, not really, I couldn't make it through this.

[@mrz80]

@@sirslice7531 Hi. I have a tape I want to play.

[@TimnSteph1]

Years ago when I was a competitive bicycle racer I often would explode on moderate length but steep climbs that would take a long time to recover from. My coach cured this by having me sing to myself until I could see the crest of the hill. The singing would slow my desire to sprint the climb, keep me in a constant leg cadence and not put me into an anaerobic condition that would be difficult to recover from. Maybe David Bryne's running helped him keep his breathing and tempo in check.

[@bicyclist2]

As a cyclist I find this Very cool.

[@chrissherer2047]

David Byrne wrote a book about all of the cities he has cycled through...check it out

[@joncox1875]

Elizabeth: Oh patrons! what did you give me this time? Patrons: ✨Cognitive Dissonance!✨

[@DanFan2042]

Exactly! It's so fabulous.

[@bartlebyscrivener2980]

They seem to be seeking out the rock music they're most certain Elizabeth will be incapable of praising. Since she's very polite and doesn't want to offend viewers, and esp. patrons, who love the songs, it's a little mean to put her in these situations in which she has to struggle so hard to find something, anything, in them that she can honestly praise. And yet admittedly it's also fair, in that she didn't listen to rock her whole life and then structured her channel this way, to take it on a song at a time. (Personally I love the Heads, but I was always a rock fan and on board with them from the start.)

[@RedwoodGeorge]

You know, I was thinking "cognitive dissonance" the entire time as she's struggling to wrap her head around it all. (Next up: The Smiths - "Girlfriend in a Coma")

[@Clebardman]

​@@bartlebyscrivener2980It's probably more interesting as an artist to discover Talking Heads, than to discover X band that sounds like 20 bands which came before it. Wether you like it or not, it's something you never heard before.

[@Vraxx7]

@@RedwoodGeorge or “unhappy birthday.”

[@dancouver23]

Talking Heads are iconic, simple as that. Their influence is massive.

[@tomhartley9001]

The entire concert is unreal. I have never seen a band with such energy. “Stop Making Sense” is an incredible concert film.

[@MrT67]

Elizabeth!! I'm laughing sooo much at your reaction here 😂 The fact that you struggled a bit to "get it" makes perfect sense. These guys were like no one before and there's been no one like them since. I grew up on Talking Heads. My all time favourites.

[@oceanblue2doorjl961]

'Whoh! This is really different.' No truer words are spoken about The Talking Heads. One of the most unique and creatively genius bands ever. A sound all their own and punch in the gut messages hidden behind high energy music.

[@goosebump801]

At least a dozen times (perhaps even two!) during Elizabeth’s reaction, I found myself thinking “Yep, that’s the Talking Heads in a nutshell!” 😂😂

[@rodneymacomber6337]

I remember this time period in the record companies not being able to figure out what genre they were

[@sammather8295]

Byrne always looks, sings, and sounds like he’s on the edge of a nervous breakdown and I’m so here for it.

[@ImSumWhatMad]

I'm so happy to see you finally get to The Talking Heads! By far one of the most unique and strange (in a good way) bands of all time. This concert video is one of the best ever made for any band, and I would love to see more reactions to it!

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

This was totally unique, and I really am looking forward to seeing more of their catalogue!

[@davidcrandon2329]

@@TheCharismaticVoice Watch the concert from beginning to end. It is truly unique. Widely regarded as the best concert film ever and unlike all others. Audiophile hint: Only watch the new audio Dolby Atmos release if you have a Dolby Atmos system. If not, the audio quality is poorer, even through a good 2-channel system or great headphones. Listen to the previous 5.1 regular release.

[@epistte]

@@TheCharismaticVoice Your facial expression was priceless. There is no making sense of David Bryne. He is an art student who discovered music, so Talking Heads music is visual performance art.

[@thomashardman108]

@@TheCharismaticVoice try ‘Take Me To The River’ please. You will love it!

[@PadConnelly]

@@davidcrandon2329 After the 2023 restoration finished its limited run, they've now announced more 2024 dates for the film in theaters. It's playing at a number of independent cinemas around the country over the next three months. They're doing a midnight screening the last Saturday each month through March in my town. Highly recommended on the big screen. I'm not a religious person, but about halfway through "Once in a Lifetime" I found myself thinking, "Yeah, I get why people love church now."

[@philpaine3068]

The arrival of Talking Heads was a pretty significant event for me. Like everyone else, and like you, my first reaction was "This is really different." Listening to the My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, his album with Brian Eno, was like having a hundred birthday presents at once. David Byrne is breathtakingly brilliant, a master in several arts. He has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, among other well-deserved honours.

[@midi510]

Finally, Elizabeth picks the best version of a band for her first exposure. It's a blast watching her react.

[@andreiyy]

I've known this song and performance for years and loved it. But now, I watched it smoking a really fat one and absolutely rediscovered it together with you. I swear it might be the greatest song+performance combo in "pop" music history. There's one thing I wanted you to reconsider though: it's not that people get used to living in these situations as in becoming blasé or nonchalant, apathetic about it. It's about being joyful despite it all, and not because you have things, like records or speakers, but because you have yourself and that's enough and you can be joyful despite it all, because it has nothing to do with you, it's still your life to live. I think that's what the dancers in continuous motion are, the speed at which our lives pass and the attention and energy that all the little chores and various jobs and family disasters etc. demand from us. But since you need to give it anyway, you might as well give it away dancing, it's your choice. Bad things are going to happen outside anyway, it's your choice how you make your way through them 🕺🏻 Oh, and persevere/build stamina, it's a long ride and there's not much pausing 👍 Excellent video, thanks for taking me through a really fun high

[@kingkrimson8771]

Wow, that's deep man. Like something a stoner might say.

[@seandevine3695]

You need to just watch all of Stop Making Sense, beginning to end. The structure of the concert, the theatricality of the performances, the musical innovation, all of it is just stunning.

[@yvonnerathbone4261]

This is from the GOAT of concert movies, watch the whole thing. It's amazing. You cannot not dance to it. I've heard this song so many times before, but your analysis of what Byrne's doing with his vocals made me hear it anew. He's throwing so much anxiety and paranoia into his sound. And played against the fun, danceable rhythm is expressing some of the surreal quality of war being a kind of normal. Anyway, do listen to all of their albums. Have a dance party to the concert movie.

[@victorpineiro8727]

David Byrne has described himself as having mild Asperges and he has said this has influenced his art. Not knowing this makes his artistic individuality seem even more eccentric. This combined with his being a product of the post punk 70s underground art music scene really sets him apart from his contemporaries. His unique flavor can sometimes be an acquired taste but man he is incredibly creative and influential.

[@EdDunkle]

Right. The helps explain a lot of his work. "In 2012, he said that he felt that music was his way of communicating when he could not do it face to face because of his autism."

[@Wedgee]

I heard drummer, Chris Franz, once say “if you ever met David Byrne you wouldn’t envy him.” Beautiful art he shares with us.

[@francoisa5656]

Thanks for reviewing this 😘 One of the best live music performances EVAH

[@PowderedToastMan420]

It's just David being David! More Talking Heads, please. 🤞✌️

[@mandygarfitt5807]

OMGoodness is this the first time you've seen Talking Heads!?!?!? This is universally one of the greatest concert performances of all time. Quirky, wacky, eccentric can all be words associated with this performance and it's just one song of many. You need to watch the whole concert - it's non stop like this all the way through. No wonder it blew your mind! 😍

[@jasonnielsen9683]

"Stop Making Sense" is a complete work of genius. Watching from the beginning is a must.

[@garysmith9823]

One of the truly great concert films.

[@ragaloft]

Elizabeth, I feel so seen!😊When you said “I don’t get it yet….” THIS happens to me every time I hear opera/classical music 🤔 But I keep listening, and it makes sense. Then I can appreciate it. ❤ Thank you so much 🙏

[@Meee-ye7sr]

So glad your mind was blown here :-) Love your 'normal' rock analyses but Talking Heads were one of the most unique bands ever. Enjoy :-)

[@georgelyles467]

I think the driving gallop that runs through the song conveys the “always on the run” aspect of wartime. The lyrics convey the realities of wartime, the rhythm shows the drive to survive, and the “fun bounciness” shows that life, in spite of all that, still wants to find fun. This looks like it is from the movie “Stop Making Sense”. Brilliant concert movie, and a great watch from beginning (Byrne solo) to end. (The entire band joins in one section at a time each song, and the stage gets more complex with each song).

[@harrygato2582]

I saw this tour live and have been listening to the song for decades. This reaction has helped me understand it on a deeper level. Thanks.

[@SuperGuitarDude7]

First, thanks to the Patreon member who requested this. This is one of my favorite concert movies and when Life During Wartime came out on the radio I loved it so much I bought the album Fear Of Music and probably listened to that about a thousand times. I do think you're over analyzing the stage movements. Back in the day, there was something called "Performance Art" which I think was mostly in New York City and was all about doing some really weird, crazy stuff to shock and just be totally creative. I think David brought that to his stage movements a lot. As for the driving music I don't think that was so much a contrast. To me it represented the constant motion of having to always be on the move and on your guard in that futuristic life during wartime situation. Anyway, great analysis. You could do the whole movie and I would be happy! Thanks!

[@johnkluge3421]

The contrast between the upbeat music and the heavy lyrics makes the song surreal. I have always heard this song and wondered if this was really happening to the protagonist or is he just nuts. The frenetic nature of the music gives the feeling of someone who is about to crack. It is just a brilliant song on so many levels.

[@bbrasky]

The writhing on stage is supposed to evoke a poisoned rat, I always thought. I'm glad Eliz found it a little disconcerting, thats the point. The dark jubilation of wartime life has small joys mixed with harsh inescapable truths like love, food, despair, futility, and the mentions of disguises and haircuts and not recognizing himself reminds me of the French Resistance in WW2. The fun bounce on top of that dark lyrical imagery is messed up, but very accurate and weirdly real. Byrne is a genius and occupies his own space entirely in music. He is one of one.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

The song is about a CIA agent going around helping to start wars and causing chaos and destruction. It's why he mentions the passports and no longer knowing his own real name. The mention of the "transmit the message, to the receiver" and hoping for an answer some day, means he's trying to reach someone to find out his next mission or if the mission is over, but nobody responds. Ultimately, the song is about "endless war."

[@the-craig]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-Important I doubt that. A writer of the song said "I wrote this in my loft on Seventh and Avenue A. I was thinking about Baader-Meinhof. Patty Hearst. Tompkins Square. This a song about living in Alphabet City.“ The song also has lyrics "Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks? They won't help me survive" It's a young person subject to wartime, who had to stop their studies. Not someone who is going about destabilizing countries

[@daveconrad2836]

I always thought his jerking about on the ground, in time to the drums crashing, was him getting shot, and the strangled cry he makes right before he gets up again is him choking on his own blood as he dies. I agree with Elizabeth: the imagery David evokes in this song can be heavy, and downright disturbing. But I love him for it. The man is an absolute genius.

[@ericb4608]

The entire concert really needs a full review. it would be amazing how blown away she will be