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David Byrne and Brian Eno — Strange Overtones
Album: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3173









Released: 2008
Length: 4:15
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I wake up every morning
I hear your feet on the stairs
You're in the next apartment
I hear you singing over there--

This groove is out of fashion
These beats are 20 years old
I saw you lend a hand to
The ones out standing in the cold--

Strange Overtones
In the music you are playing
I'll harmonize
It is strong and you are tough
But a heart is not enough-

Put on your socks and mittens
It's getting colder tonight
A snowball in my kitchen
I watched it melt before my eyes--

Your song still needs a chorus
I know you'll figure it out
The rising of the verses
A change of key will let you out--

Strange overtones
Though they're slightly out of fashion
I'll harmonize
I see the music in your face
That your words cannot explain

Strange Overtones
In the music you are playing
We're not alone
It is strong and you are tough
But a heart is not enough--
Comments (327)add comment
I just can't love David Byrnes voice, I have tried.  BUT but but - I will listen to it on this track just to lose myself in the  INCREDIBLE bass line
One of my favorite bass lines! 
pompous byrne, so tedious
 tgrier wrote:

Overplayed to death here. The whining vocals are worse than me whining about it being overplayed.



No, your whining is worse.
Overplayed to death here. The whining vocals are worse than me whining about it being overplayed.
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:

David Byrne and Talking Heads are fine i.m.o. but far overplayed at RP.  This morning I hear DB for the second time in 3 hours!



That's only 1.5 DBs per hour... I think I could handle at least 5 DBs/hr given the wide variety of music he has produced over the years. 
 texastimr wrote:

I don't know what it is about this song, but I absolutely love it. Crank it up every time I hear it. 10

I'm a fan of this song as well.  It's gotta be the 20...er 35 year old beats.  

that album cover looks awfully simish.
I don't know what it is about this song, but I absolutely love it. Crank it up every time I hear it. 10
Wonderful intro Bill.
David Byrne and Talking Heads are fine i.m.o. but far overplayed at RP.  This morning I hear DB for the second time in 3 hours!
I just changed my rating from 6 to 1. I can no longer endure his awful voice, post talking heads.
 KPC1 wrote:

This entire album was AWESOME.



Still is!
This entire album was AWESOME.
 frisbeepilot wrote:

This may be a weird take, but... while the actual singing and musicianship on this is decent enough, this song sounds amazing. The production on it is top-notch.



Not remotely weird, it's Eno we're talking about here. Also, this rules
 arserocket wrote:

This is just so good - when I'm head down milking the pigs it gets me right into the groove - by the way, try Tuscan Pigs Cheese the way mamma used to make it... you'll never look back.



ummmmm, that's a boy pig!.......are you sure, you know what you are doing??
 DustWings5 wrote:

I wonder know more about this cover that really intrigues me by David Byrne when we remind about "Perfect life" often considered in lyrics. Because i always think of a graphic house made with the Sims 1 game and find the comparing more interesting... Or maybe it's just late this night and i begin to be tired :)



I understand...a few pints into the late evening and everything is interesting! ;D
 Shesdifferent wrote:

Anything David Byrne deserves a 1 or 2 Painful indeed.



and yet 7.2 rated overall hmmm your in the minority bummer lol 
 ExpatLarry wrote:

This is cute. Milking pigs for "Tuscan Pigs Cheese"?  Trying to be David Byrne level weird I guess?



Milking pigs? While listening to David and Brian?!? Wow... sounds like drunken cheese for sure... ;D
Sorry David Byrne, I gave it all I could, there is no 11  'supergod like' available. I hope you will understand.
Excellent!!
 BSartiste wrote:

exceptional. Love how it goes from muffled to crisp at first. I can picture David in his apartment kitchen, maybe having a coffee. He puts you there. Artist




Great observation!!
This may be a weird take, but... while the actual singing and musicianship on this is decent enough, this song sounds amazing. The production on it is top-notch.
For this song the ratings scale needs an additional 'beyond words' level of 11.
exceptional. Love how it goes from muffled to crisp at first. I can picture David in his apartment kitchen, maybe having a coffee. He puts you there. Artist
Whoa, seeing Byrne's Wikipedia photo for a moment I thought I saw graham lindsey! oh my it gave me a scare.
Just realized that I previously rated this gem with 7. Fixed it now to 10 because that's what it is. There was a time last year when I would listen to it in a loop at least 5 times. Absolutely incredible rhythm there.
I wonder know more about this cover that really intrigues me by David Byrne when we remind about "Perfect life" often considered in lyrics. Because i always think of a graphic house made with the Sims 1 game and find the comparing more interesting... Or maybe it's just late this night and i begin to be tired :)
This song is goddamn *transcendent*!
 victory806 wrote:
These 2 can do no wrong when they get together. 9 on this one!
 
And such a range! Hard to believe they also did 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts', which is one of my favorites.
 Punkysoup wrote:
I just like David Byrne's voice. Every time I hear Talking Heads, it just makes me happy. 
 

and yet his high school teacher said he sang flat. made a ton of money with his flatness.
 ziggytrix wrote:

I heard a great* cover of this song just the other day on KCRW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYhxLR1vts


There's also a remix that's nice too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c--bSmUEgs




* Actual greatness of cover varies based on listener preference, some terms and conditions apply. Not responsible for unhappy listening.
 

you forgot "Your Mileage may vary."
These 2 can do no wrong when they get together. 9 on this one!
 pousso wrote:
Painful!!   Byrne's voice just pains me..... I'm just waiting for someone to cover this song, maybe then I'll like it! 
 
I heard a great* cover of this song just the other day on KCRW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYhxLR1vts


There's also a remix that's nice too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c--bSmUEgs




* Actual greatness of cover varies based on listener preference, some terms and conditions apply. Not responsible for unhappy listening.
 2020sk wrote:
One of the best either of them has done in the last decade or so, perhaps ever (though time will decide that), such a mysteriously simple and invasive combination. It puts most other "duets" (by which I mean collaborations) in the shade too. These guys obviously respected each other too much to just cobble together something for a quick buck.
 

The work that Brian Eno's done with Underworld's Karl Hyde is pretty damned cosmic.  'Someday World' in particular is a cracking album!
that bass sound reminds me a little of stevie.
 VV wrote:
Not half-bad... a "7" from me.
 
I'm going 7 to 8 today (cuz everything that happens will happen today) and agree it's not half-bad...it's not even a quarter-bad....Long Live RP!!
An odd sound. Not for me.
I just like David Byrne's voice. Every time I hear Talking Heads, it just makes me happy. 
Not half-bad... a "7" from me.

Some collaborations work better then the sum of their parts.  That was the case with the previous album from these two... "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" which I thought was fantastic.

In my opinion they could not replicate that special something second time around.

 


This was great in Wall Street II.
 jmkate wrote:
For the record (whoops, sorry), and if it hasn't been mentioned already, Brian Eno and John Cale made an weirdly excellent album called Wrong Way Up..
 
Agree 100% Much like this album, Wrong Way Up is an odd, but excellent album.
Herbert the Pervert from Family Guy"Hi, Chris!"


makes you move your nates... love it
That beginning is a cousin of Boogie On Reggae Woman.
GREAT 100% album
 lemmoth wrote:

Psycho Chicken - I like that title {#Angel}
As a New Yorker of a certain age and musical bent, I too have been into the Head's since 1977.  Fondest memory is New Year's Eve 1979 at the Beacon Theater.
 
I went to see DEVO that same night, about ten blocks down Broadway at Avery Fisher Hall. 
..... this is sooooooooo good 
Good god this is the jam.
Good god this is the jam. 
Self please reply.
I like...{#Dance}
For the record (whoops, sorry), and if it hasn't been mentioned already, Brian Eno and John Cale made an weirdly excellent album called Wrong Way Up..
One of the coolest tracks they ever made together.
This makes me so happy - despite the somewhat sad lyrics. Love the version with St. Vincent!
This is just so good - when I'm head down milking the pigs it gets me right into the groove - by the way, try Tuscan Pigs Cheese the way mamma used to make it... you'll never look back.
 hempmandan wrote:
Is that Brian Eno or Neil Young singing
?
 
surely DB?
 2020sk wrote:
One of the best either of them has done in the last decade or so, perhaps ever (though time will decide that), such a mysteriously simple and invasive combination. It puts most other "duets" (by which I mean collaborations) in the shade too. These guys obviously respected each other too much to just cobble together something for a quick buck.

 
The Talking Heads' best work came out of that Byrnes-Eno collaboration. I haven't followed David's solo career that closely (mostly because what I've heard of it is boring), but when he works with Eno his songs have more bite and the lyrics have more of a point to make. 
Byrne seems to drag down everything he "influences."

See also "St. Vincent" 
Is that Brian Eno or Neil Young singing
?
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Nice seggie from Sound & Vision!

 
Agree...very nice. 
I like this song... how's the rest of the album?
it's cold outside and i'm working . a few seconds ago i thought "i have to listen Strange Overtones" and then it started. Shocked! Hugs from Ä°stanbul :) 
no tocar PSD {#Stop}
Me likey like very mucho!
Nice seggie from Sound & Vision!
Huh. I like Talking Heads, I like Eno, and I really wanted to like this. But it comes off as two great tastes that don't taste great together.
One of the best either of them has done in the last decade or so, perhaps ever (though time will decide that), such a mysteriously simple and invasive combination. It puts most other "duets" (by which I mean collaborations) in the shade too. These guys obviously respected each other too much to just cobble together something for a quick buck.
Bah!

Insta-PSD. 
 Thin_Air wrote:

Grammar corrections are pedantic  - something Eno and Byrne are not guilty of IMHO.

 
You're just so fantastic! Thanks for this. No. Really.

Regarding the tune, it's a problem that the original Byrne/Eno album was go iconic and ground-breaking. I was certainly expecting something similarly challenging this time around.

Unfortunately, it's some songs, and not very good ones at that. Byrne's creativity is something that he wears like a badge, but aside from his street creed, he hasn't done much lately that's truly innovative or even entertaining.
 
Nice, thought I heard Eno in there somewhere.
 
Very nice tune!
 Augustus wrote:
does the cover remind anyone else of paperboy?

 
yes! love the old school games!
 three_crows wrote:
Huh. I'm a little surprised at the comments from so many who don't like David Byrne's voice. Though, beauty is certainly in the ear of the beholder.  Maybe I'm fond of him because I was turned on to Talking Heads right from the beginning. Their prominence during the New Wave music scene led to great memories of riding around in my sister's car while we sang along to Psycho Chicken or Take Me to the River. And me and my friends had more than a couple of crazy house parties with people dancing on the tables to Burning Down the House and Swamp.

 {#Bananapiano}

 
Psycho Chicken - I like that title {#Angel}
As a New Yorker of a certain age and musical bent, I too have been into the Head's since 1977.  Fondest memory is New Year's Eve 1979 at the Beacon Theater.
 kingart wrote:

Grammar correction: Maybe YOU'RE listening to the wrong radio station. 

Perhaps you're half right.  I could do without some TH/Byrne -- pretentious? a bit too affected? too '80s NYC eccentric? -- but Eno has done some fabulous work, not to mention he's gotten it with and from many others. 

 
Grammar corrections are pedantic  - something Eno and Byrne are not guilty of IMHO.
 nickt1 wrote:
Great song from a collaboration of 2 the most influential and original artists in living memory.
To all you wingers and knockers-Maybe your listening to the wrong radio station.
 

 
Grammar correction: Maybe YOU'RE listening to the wrong radio station. 

Perhaps you're half right.  I could do without some TH/Byrne -- pretentious? a bit too affected? too '80s NYC eccentric? -- but Eno has done some fabulous work, not to mention he's gotten it with and from many others. 
does the cover remind anyone else of paperboy?
Great song from a collaboration of 2 the most influential and original artists in living memory.
To all you wingers and knockers-Maybe your listening to the wrong radio station.
 
Love this tune!
{#Drummer}
 Proclivities wrote:

Perhaps it's possible that he (or anyone else) may actually like this tune.
 
I do.  I've not been wowed by most of Byrne's solo efforts, but this track really grooves for me.  Some of his too-self-consciously world music stuff doesn't work for me.  
Sorry, only Neil Young can get away with that off-key warbling.
 Proclivities wrote:

Perhaps it's possible that he (or anyone else) may actually like this tune.
 
I'm one of them... I always feel like dancing when listening to this one!!! {#Bananapiano}
 MJMJ wrote:

If I had to guess, and my apologies to Bill, who has terrific taste in music generally, but I've always assume that that kind of nostalgia might be the source of his interest in all things Byrne. The Heads were a voice in the wilderness for a while, and I am grateful to them. And Eno is an important person in music. But this tune just sux :-)
 
Perhaps it's possible that he (or anyone else) may actually like this tune.
Bill loves Byrning down the house.
I agree MJMJ...so glad this is over 

MJMJ wrote:

If I had to guess, and my apologies to Bill, who has terrific taste in music generally, but I've always assume that that kind of nostalgia might be the source of his interest in all things Byrne. The Heads were a voice in the wilderness for a while, and I am grateful to them. And Eno is an important person in music. But this tune just sux :-)
 


 three_crows wrote:
Huh. I'm a little surprised at the comments from so many who don't like David Byrne's voice. Though, beauty is certainly in the ear of the beholder.  Maybe I'm fond of him because I was turned on to Talking Heads right from the beginning. Their prominence during the New Wave music scene led to great memories of riding around in my sister's car while we sang along to Psycho Chicken or Take Me to the River. And me and my friends had more than a couple of crazy house parties with people dancing on the tables to Burning Down the House and Swamp.

 {#Bananapiano}
 
If I had to guess, and my apologies to Bill, who has terrific taste in music generally, but I've always assume that that kind of nostalgia might be the source of his interest in all things Byrne. The Heads were a voice in the wilderness for a while, and I am grateful to them. And Eno is an important person in music. But this tune just sux :-)
David Byrne and Brian Eno are gods among men!  I'm so grateful for their gift!
Huh. I'm a little surprised at the comments from so many who don't like David Byrne's voice. Though, beauty is certainly in the ear of the beholder.  Maybe I'm fond of him because I was turned on to Talking Heads right from the beginning. Their prominence during the New Wave music scene led to great memories of riding around in my sister's car while we sang along to Psycho Chicken or Take Me to the River. And my friends and I had more than a couple of crazy house parties with people dancing on the tables to Burning Down the House and Swamp.

 
 fredriley wrote:

Yep, I'm with you and Bill the Cat on Teletubby's voice

Bill the Cat going
 
I'll see your, " Ack." and raise you a, " Blech!"
Cool beat, but once that whiny, awful, cat-strangling voice kicks in it's over for me.
Mute and wait for next song.
 sieversfam wrote:
This song makes me want to dress up like Cher and dance in front of my Bay Window, looking down upon the line of impressed onlookers waiting patiently for their Venti Chai Lattes outside of the Starbucks across the street.
 
Well, as long as you are not a 35 stone hairy bloke then please go ahead.
This song makes me want to dress up like Cher and dance in front of my Bay Window, looking down upon the line of impressed onlookers waiting patiently for their Venti Chai Lattes outside of the Starbucks across the street.
 kcar wrote:
Great, great segue from Halloween Alaska's "Call it Clear."

Perhaps we could take up a collection for David Byrne's singing lessons.  
 
Upon further review...Dave's not sounding so bad this time 'round. I'm in the "grows on you" crowd. Love Eno's stuff for the most part. 

Agree 100% 


wlpendley wrote:
A great example of a song that "grows on you".  My RP rating goes up every time I hear it.
 


Why would Brian Eno make such a poor choice?
A great example of a song that "grows on you".  My RP rating goes up every time I hear it.

This voice is so bad, so nerving - it could be called an instrument of torture on the level of water-boarding!

What a fucked up song, on top of it!


 hackbraten wrote:
Full ACK!
 
Yep, I'm with you and Bill the Cat on Teletubby's voice

Bill the Cat going "Ack!"
Great, great segue from Halloween Alaska's "Call it Clear."

Perhaps we could take up a collection for David Byrne's singing lessons.  

Didn't Eno collaborate on that Album with Bowie (or was it just Sound and Vision?) But yes I was working out, half-listening and the sound perked up my ears and thought the lead-in was a Bowie song. apd wrote:

ohh, good catch - that would be an excellent seque.
 


 ThePoose wrote:
I am hearing elements of the other David (Bowie)'s Sound and Vision.
 

Brian Eno appears on that track as well.
makes me want to dance!{#Dancingbanana}
You pedants are not here for the music are you?

 AvoidingWork wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks this song is about a stalker?

Just asking. 
 
Yes you are. Seek therapy :)
 
 ThePoose wrote:
I am hearing elements of the other David (Bowie)'s Sound and Vision.
 
ohh, good catch - that would be an excellent seque.

 AvoidingWork wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks this song is about a stalker?

Just asking. 
 
nope - it's about DB talking to BE about the process of writing the song. Eno sent Byrne the music and asked for lyrics.

typically brilliant from THESE two...
The best thing about this song is the Sims 3 looking house on the cover. 

Not a DB fan at all.
I am hearing elements of the other David (Bowie)'s Sound and Vision.


Nothing new :(
 kweegolee wrote:
Not the most inspired song from these masters , but as he says himself " these beats are thirty years old"! Still great to hear their musical journey come together in this song !
 

 
20 years actually, don't want to feel any older than I already am....   :)

I think that is why I like this song, they kind of make fun of themselves and the sounds of their music today....but I also find it strangely catching....nice mid-afternoon kind of beat.

Nooooooooooooooooo, when this starts it will not end
Not the most inspired song from these masters , but as he says himself " these beats are thirty years old"! Still great to hear their musical journey come together in this song !
 

I am liking me some Strange Overtones!
this song must be about me... i am strange out of fashion overtones    {#Motor}
Love David Byrne...but please play to old talking heads...gets me into my 'heady' days...if you know what i mean...
Am I the only one that thinks this song is about a stalker?

Just asking. 
 Sjaaks wrote:
What a horrible song for DB to sing... I don't like DB at all but even he manages to out-do himself with this incredible piece of crap...

-4
 
Hahahahah I agree DB should never have been a "singer"{#Puke}
 Sjaaks wrote:
What a horrible song for DB to sing... I don't like DB at all but even he manages to out-do himself with this incredible piece of crap...

-4
 
Interesting.  I'm not a DB fan but paired with Eno, he is more palatable to my ears.  To each their own.  I admit an adoration for Eno helps.


What a horrible song for DB to sing... I don't like DB at all but even he manages to out-do himself with this incredible piece of crap...

-4