Any Talking Heads fans here?

[Mellow Yellow]

Hi everybody, I recently returned to America from Japan. Re-adjusting hasn't been easy, because TBQH I really got comfortable with life over there, and I've never had an experience where I've had to change my daily life and leave so many friends behind as when I left Japan.

But anyways, enough about that. I haven't been keeping up with the topics here for a long time, but recently I got into Talking Heads. They're now one of my favorite bands. Anybody know if there are any PWR connections with them or their music?

[eyesbleed]

I guess I'm more of a "semi-fan". The 1st 3 albums are the only ones I really really enjoy still. I need to invest in the remasters of those albums one of these days. Anyway, I would highly recommend that you check out the concert dvd "Stop Making Sense" It's probably one of these best live dvd's ever made.

[B]

Mellow Yellow wrote:
"Anybody know if there are any PWR connections with them or their music?"

Back when we were at TKIN and BeatlePaul was saying that Paul and Sylvie Vartan were having an affair,
and that Johnny Halliday wasn't thrilled with it, I had speculated that "Psycho Killer" might be about Paul.

TALKING HEADS - psycho killer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zFsy9VIdM

I haven't been able to put my finger on it, but there seems to be some sort of connection of the PID/PWR mystery with 'psycho killers'
like Jack the Ripper or the Zodiak killer.

[Mellow Yellow]

Interesting way to look at Psycho Killer.

Honestly, what I'm picking up alot in TH lyrics is stuff about spiritual possession.

Take for example the song Naive Melody
Hi yo We drift in and out
Hi yo sing into my mouth
Out of all those kinds of people
You got a face with a view
I'm just an animal looking for a home
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me till my heart stops
Love me till I'm dead
Eyes that light up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the head Ah ooh

Seems like it's about two entities sharing one body if you ask me.

If you think that sounds like an off-the-wall interpretation, you don't even want to hear my take on Burning Down the House, you'd recommend me be committed or something

[P(D)enny La(i)ne]

Jul 13, 2009 0:35:33 GMT -5 B said:

Mellow Yellow wrote:
"Anybody know if there are any PWR connections with them or their music?"

Back when we were at TKIN and BeatlePaul was saying that Paul and Sylvie Vartan were having an affair,
and that Johnny Halliday wasn't thrilled with it, I had speculated that "Psycho Killer" might be about Paul.

TALKING HEADS - psycho killer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zFsy9VIdM

I haven't been able to put my finger on it, but there seems to be some sort of connection of the PID/PWR mystery with 'psycho killers'
like Jack the Ripper or the Zodiak killer.

The French part of Psycho Killer:

"What I did that evening
What she said that evening
Fulfilling my hope
I rush towards glory."

[B]

Let's hear your take on "Burning Down the House", Mellow Yellow.

[Mellow Yellow]

Ok, here goes... I put my imagination to the test to make sense of these lyrics ;D

Most people cite BDtH as being completely nonsensical, but I think otherwise.

Heres your ticket pack your bag: time for jumping overboard
The transportation is here
Close enough but not too far, maybe you know where you are
Fightin' fire with fire

I feel this is from the perspective of a non-human being addressing his fellow spirits, telling them that the chance has now arrived to escape their current location via possessing human bodies. Thus, fighting fire (man) with fire. This is their ticket out of the spiritual plane and into our world. It's "close enough" as the only way back into our world is via a human body. They don't have bodies of their own (anymore).

All wet
Hey you might need a raincoat
Shakedown
Dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hun-dred six-ty five de-grees
Burning down the house

He's pointing out that they may not be used to how it feels here in the material world (things like rain). It's a "shakedown," a "hijacking" if you will. "Dreams walking in broad daylight," because whatever they are, they walk among us freely.

It was once upon a place sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work baby what did you expect
Gonna burst into flame

From the perspective of a spirit who is not used to the material world, and fellow spirits (via their hosts body's on their way to work) are asking him "what did you expect when you signed on to come here?" basically.

My house
Is out of the ordinary
Thats right
Don't want to hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house

This particular spirit is sympathetic to humans, he doesn't want to hurt them. Some things sure sweep him off his feet because he apparently really likes some things about the material world.

No visible means of support and you have not seen nuthin yet
Everything's stuck together
I don't know what you expect staring into the tv set
Fighting fire with fire

Again, addressing the spirits still in the spiritual plane, telling them about how weird the material plane is. Everything is stuck together, etc. It must be dramatically different from wherever they come from. He then addresses those who are possessed who are probably watching the music video, and he realizes they are probably dumbfounded, but he explains that they are "fighting fire with fire." or using human bodies for some goal against humans.

I feel the music video backs up my analysis.


We see things in the video that correspond to two minds or beings sharing one body. First we see Talking Heads playing, then we see other people (representation of the spirits) playing in their place. Later we see their faces being "superimposed" upon the faces of the band members. Towards the end of the video you have things like the kid jumping onto David Byrne's back and controlling his arm to strum his guitar FOR HIM.

Lastly, the "white lines" going up Byrne's nose at the end of the video may just give a clue as to how one can put their body into a state that allows for the possession to occur. Cocaine? Drugs in general?

*runs away before they try to put him in the straight jacket*

[B]

Thanks for that analysis, Mellow Yellow. Very interesting, and I'm inclined to somewhat agree
with your take on it.