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Talking Heads
Published on Dec 10, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Talking Heads
Music as Performance Art
Talking Heads are one of the most influential bands of the 20th Century not just because of their songcraft and production values but because they transformed musical performance to something more than just live recordings.
stop making sense
Concert as Cinema
Stop Making Sense is well known for being the, 'Citizen Kane of concert movies' but what exactly does that mean?
The performance itself tried to do more than present the latest album, Speaking in Tongues. The concert was designed to have an explicit narrative structure, something only really seen in theatre. It poses a question of the difference between 'concert' and 'theatre' - is there a difference? Is Stop Making Sense 'performance art'?
The performance itself tried to do more than present the latest album, Speaking in Tongues. The concert was designed to have an explicit narrative structure, something only really seen in theatre. It poses a question of the difference between 'concert' and 'theatre' - is there a difference? Is Stop Making Sense 'performance art'?
Choreographed Performance
The performance of the band on this tour is heavily choreographed and that wasn't just standard 'dance moves'. The musicians are placed in specific places and lighting plays a vital role in revealing different parts of the songs.
The performance is very kinetic yet the camera is relatively still.
The performance is very kinetic yet the camera is relatively still.
david's vision
- No distractions
- Limited Audience Shots
- Long Takes
- Music Performance as Narrative
David Byrne, the principal songwriter of the band, had particular ideas about what he wanted to the performance to look and feel like on film. He worked with director Jonathan Demme to produce the film.
He didn't want many audience shots, after all, who wants to see the audience when you go to see Talking Heads?
He probably wondered if there was a way viewing the film could be like actually seeing the concert for real?
He didn't want many audience shots, after all, who wants to see the audience when you go to see Talking Heads?
He probably wondered if there was a way viewing the film could be like actually seeing the concert for real?
stop making sense
tells the story of the band
The structure of the performance and the film tells a story, the story of the band. This is a radical idea for a concert movie or even just for a concert.
Why would you even want to do that? Just play the songs, already!
Talking Heads were more about just presenting the songs. They needed to 'say' something. It might be relevant to note that they were known as an 'art rock' band. What does 'art rock' mean? Are we saying that rock music is art?
Certainly, rock music is a creative expression but art? Perhaps that's going too far. Maybe. Maybe not.
Why would you even want to do that? Just play the songs, already!
Talking Heads were more about just presenting the songs. They needed to 'say' something. It might be relevant to note that they were known as an 'art rock' band. What does 'art rock' mean? Are we saying that rock music is art?
Certainly, rock music is a creative expression but art? Perhaps that's going too far. Maybe. Maybe not.
Untitled Slide
- Each song reveals a new band member
- The stage slowly develops
- Expressive lighting
- Use of stage props
The film opens with just David Byrne on stage with a guitar and a tape player. He performs the first song Talking Heads ever wrote, Psycho Killer, and then one by one, other band members appear until there is about nine people on stage.
The stage is filled with expressive lighting that is more than the standard flashing lights. Lighting is used to help tell the story.
The stage is filled with expressive lighting that is more than the standard flashing lights. Lighting is used to help tell the story.
talking heads
never toured again
After Stop Making Sense they had their biggest commercial breakthrough with the album, Little Creatures, and this helped them score a top ten hit in the UK with Road to Nowhere.
Their last album was in 1988 with the Naked album but this was not supported with a tour.
They continued to produce innovative music videos however, such as for Road to Nowhere and And She Was.
Talking Heads never performed as part of Live Aid, which is a shame as it could have led to them being more well known.
Their last album was in 1988 with the Naked album but this was not supported with a tour.
They continued to produce innovative music videos however, such as for Road to Nowhere and And She Was.
Talking Heads never performed as part of Live Aid, which is a shame as it could have led to them being more well known.
nothing new to say
But they never toured again as a band. David Byrne said they'd tour again if they had something new to say to audience.
David Byrne went on to direct his own feature film, True Stories, and even made a feature length documentary. But never again toured with Talking Heads. However, he has toured as a solo artist and with others such as St Vincent. With each new tour he tried to say something new to an audience.
David Byrne went on to direct his own feature film, True Stories, and even made a feature length documentary. But never again toured with Talking Heads. However, he has toured as a solo artist and with others such as St Vincent. With each new tour he tried to say something new to an audience.
david byrne
- Solo Career as musician, artist, director, writer
- 'Modern dance' in his Everything That Happens Tour
- St Vincent album/tour - very choreographed
- Here Lies Love & other collaborations
- How Music Works
David Byrne continued after Talking Heads to push the envelope in terms of performance.
He has worked on several theatre pieces including The Forest and The Knee Plays with Robert Wilson as well as his own stage musical, Here Lies Love.
He has worked on several theatre pieces including The Forest and The Knee Plays with Robert Wilson as well as his own stage musical, Here Lies Love.
How Music Works
is an insightful look
at how the music industry works & how it's changed
You can find his book, How Music Works, in all good bookshops and online places.
It features a detailed look into how the music industry works as well as delving into some personal history.
It features a detailed look into how the music industry works as well as delving into some personal history.
playing the building
he turned a building into a musical instrument
This project is one DB has installed in a few different locations across the world, including New York and London. In Playing the Building, Byrne allows you to operate a machine, a musical instrument, that turns the physical building into a giant instrument.
Whilst you probably can't make it sound like conventional music you might be able to make the building 'sing' in a way it never has. The project poses questions about what is music and what constitutes a musician because anyone can play it.
Whilst you probably can't make it sound like conventional music you might be able to make the building 'sing' in a way it never has. The project poses questions about what is music and what constitutes a musician because anyone can play it.
Links & Research
- http://davidbyrne.com/ - official website, blog, radio
- http://lovethisgiant.com/ - most recent album
- How Music Works - essential reading
- http://herelieslove.com/ - musical with Fatboy Slim
- Bicycle Diaries - he wrote a book about cycling
