Beck was born in Los Angeles, California, to David Campbell (a musician and son of a Presbyterian minister) and Bibbe Hansen (a former dancer for The Velvet Underground, founding member of the satirical band Black Fag, and visual artist). When his parents separated, Beck stayed with his mother and brother in Los Angeles, where he was influenced by that city's diverse musical offerings—everything from hip-hop to latin music—and his mother's art scene – all of which would later reappear in his recorded and published work.
Although Beck's work defies easy description, his eclecticism and genre experiments have sparked comparisons with Prince, though Beck was undoubtedly a less prolific artist, and drew on an absurdist, free-flowing lyrical style totally original when first exposed to mainstream audiences (indeed, some critics labeled him and his breakthrough single Loser as novelties - see below). Despite this individualism, Beck's music was very much a product of the 90s and the media age in general, with hip hop, indie/underground rock, electronic music and genre-benders like the Beastie Boys as notable touchstones; in addition, some critics could not resist likening his head-spinning lyrical aesthetic to a post-modern Bob Dylan sensibility.
After dropping out of high school in the mid-1980s, Beck educated himself and traveled widely. In Germany, he spent time with his grandfather, fluxus artist Al Hansen. His artistic relationship with his grandfather may have influenced both his album art and sense of musical collage. He began the musical activity in 1988. The late-80's found him in New York City as part of the punk-influenced anti-folk music movement.
Beck returned to Los Angeles at the turn of the decade, destitute but motivated. During this time, Beck sought out (or snuck onto) stages at venues all over Los Angeles, from punk clubs to coffee shops. Some of his earliest and most thought-provoking recordings were achieved by working with Tom Grimley at Poop Alley Studios, a part of WIN Records.
In this atmosphere of heady creativity the founders of Bong Load Custom Records discovered Beck. Their 1993 12" vinyl Loser, from an initial run of 530 copies, created a sensation on college and alternative radio that led to a furious bidding war between labels to sign Beck. Eventually, he chose Geffen Records, who offered him terms that included an allowance for the release of independent albums while under contract (he may have owed Bong Load another album or two).
In 1994, Geffen's official debut release of Mellow Gold made Beck a mainstream smash success; it also led to his iconic status as the "slacker" representative of the alternative rock scene, although the title of the song had been ironic.
At the same time, he released Stereopathetic Soulmanure on Flipside Records and One Foot in the Grave on independent K Records. Beck took his act on the road with the 1995 Lollapalooza tour. Still, some critics panned him as a one-hit wonder. Audiences' (especially at Lollapalooza) familiarity with Loser only, and their general disinterest in his other work only reinforced his image as a one-hit wonder. It's been said said that Beck released Stereopathetic Soulmanure and One Foot in the Grave to shake the Gen X-ers that associated themselves with him and made "Loser" their slacker anthem.
The one-hit wonder label was put to rest with the release of 1996's Odelay, a collaborative effort with The Dust Brothers, producers of Paul's Boutique. The lead single, "Where It's At", received heavy airplay and its video was in constant rotation on MTV. Within the year, Odelay had received perfect reviews in Rolling Stone and Spin magazines, having been listed on countless "Best of" lists (it topped the Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for 'Album of the Year'), receiving double-platinum status, and earning an impressive number of industry awards, including two Grammys.
Odelay was followed in 1998 by Mutations. Produced by Nigel Godrich of Radiohead fame, it was intended as a stopgap measure before the next album proper. Recorded over two weeks, during which Beck recorded one song a day, the sessions produced 14 songs. Mutations was a departure from the electronic density of Odelay, and was filled with folk and blues influences. Songs on the album consisted of older tracks, some even dating back as far as 1994.
In 1999, Geffen released the much-anticipated Midnite Vultures, an orgy of sexual and culinary innuendo supported by a world tour. For Beck, it was a return to the high-energy performances that had been his trademark as far back as Lollapalooza.
After Midnite Vultures came Sea Change in 2002, another airy and emotional album with producer Nigel Godrich, which became Beck's first U.S. Top 10 album, reaching # 8. Sea Change was conceptualized as an album with one unifying theme—the stages following the end of a relationship. The album also featured string arrangements by Beck's father and a sonically dense mix reminiscient of Mutations. The Sea Change tour featured The Flaming Lips as Beck's opening and backing band.
In September 2003, Beck returned to the studio to work on his sixth major-label album. Guero was produced by the Dust Brothers and Tony Hoffer and features a collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes; it marked a return to Odelay-era sound. The album was released in March of 2005 and despite critical acclaim, the album received a more lackluster response from Beck's indie-oriented fanbase.
Beck married Marissa Ribisi in April 2004, shortly before the birth of their son, Cosimo Henri Hansen. 2004 also saw the release of "10 Years of Mellow Gold," a short documentary about Beck's first album.
Beck's next album, The Information was released on October 3, 2006. It is a largely electronic and ambient, filled with blips and beeps. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, who worked on "Sea Change" and a longtime Radiohead and Thom Yorke producer. The first single was Nausea, an acoustic rock hip hop song. The next single was Cellphone's Dead, and the third single was Think I'm In Love.
His next single, Timebomb, was released on iTunes on August 21, 2007, and the limited edition vinyl 12" was released on November 2, 2007, with an instrumental version of the song on the B-side. In December, 2007, it was announced that Timebomb had been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.
Modern Guilt was the eighth studio album by Beck. It was released on July 8, 2008. The album fulfilled Beck's recording contract with Interscope Records. Outside of North America, the record was released by XL Recordings. Its three singles were Chemtrails, Gamma Ray, and Youthless.
Modern Guilt features two contributions by Cat Power and was produced by Beck and Danger Mouse.
The album entered both the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart at number four, and gave Beck his first ever Top 10 placing on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number nine. The album has also been Beck's best charting album in Australia, reaching 13. It sold 84,000 copies in its first week. Although successful, this does not match the first week sales of The Information, which were 99,000. In December 2008, Modern Guilt was nominated for Best Alternative Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.
Song Reader, a project Beck released in December 2012, is 20 songs presented only as sheet music, in the hopes that enterprising musicians will record their own versions. The idea of Song Reader came about nearly fifteen years prior, shortly after the release of Odelay. When sent a book of transcribed sheet music for that album, Beck decided to play through it and grew interested in the world before recorded sound. He aimed to keep the arrangements as open as possible, to re-create the simplicity of the standards, and became preoccupied with creating only pieces that could fit within the Great American Songbook. In 2013 Beck began playing special Song Reader concerts with a variety of guests and announced he was working on a record of Song Reader material with other musicians as well as possibly a compilation of fan versions.
In the summer of 2013, Beck was reported to be working on two new studio albums: one a more self-contained acoustic disc in the vein of One Foot in the Grave and another described as a "proper follow-up" to Modern Guilt. Beck expects to release both albums independently. He released two standalone singles over the course of the summer: the electro ballad Defriended and the chorus-heavy I Won't Be Long. A third single, Gimme, appeared on September 17.
In October 2013, it was announced that Beck signed to Capitol Records. Beck released his twelfth studio album entitled Morning Phase on 21 February 2014. For the recording of Morning Phase, Beck reunited with many of the same musicians with whom he had worked on the critically acclaimed 2002 album Sea Change. On January 20, 2014, the album's first single Blue Moon was released. Beck released the second single, Waking Light, on February 4, 2014.
4 years later, on October 13th, 2017, Beck released the second album that was supposed to come out alongside Morning Phase. This album was called Colors. Colors is very different from Beck's previous albums, in which he takes a stab at pop music. Beck's expertise, mixing genres, works in this album when he mixes Alternative Rock, hip hop, and a lot of Pop. The album's earliest single, "Dreams", was released in June 2015, and three more ("Wow", "Dear Life", "Up All Night") were released between June 2016 and September 2017. The title track was released as a single in April 2018. The album won the Best Alternative Music Album and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classic) at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
After a short wait, Beck released Hyperspace on November 22, 2019. There was little marketing for this album. The whole album is a collaboration with Pharrell Williams, as he produced almost every song on the album. The album's first single was "Saw Lightning" released on April 15, 2019, and had a folk-pop sound to it. It doesn't fit with the rest of the album's synth lo-fi sound. Other singles were "Hyperlife" and "Uneventful Days" on October 17, 2019, and "Dark Places" on November 7, 2019.
2) BECK can refer to a fictional rock band from the Japanese Anime series BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad. The fictional BECK's songs feature in the BECK Original Sound Track. BECK's style and members are highly influenced by various different artists. From vocals in the style of Zack De La Rocha from Rage Against the Machine, guitar influenced by Tom Morello of the same band, the band is highly influenced by rap-rock.
As the series develops, other influence appear, including guitar in the style of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, and Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante. During the series, the band covers a famous The Beatles song, 'I've got a Feeling'. The name BECK could have possibly been influenced by the first artist Beck, mentioned above. Harold Sakushi, the original author of the series, has confirmed that BECK is generally based around the Red Hot Chili Peppers, being his favourite band.
Cell Phone's Dead
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I put a dollar in my pocket
And I threw it away
Been a long time
Since a federal dime
Made a jukebox sound
Like a mirror in my mind
To comb my worries
Throw my hopes
Like a juggernaut walks
Now let-down souls
Can't feel no rhythm
Sorry entertainers
Like aerobics victims
Hybrid people
Light a wooded matchstick
Toxic fumes from the
Burning plastic
Beats are broken
Bones are spastic
Robots talkin'
With a southern accent
Voodoo curses
Bible tongues
Voices comin'
From the mangled lungs
Give me some grit
Some get-down shit
Don't need a good reason
To let anything rip
Radio's cold
Soul is infected
One by one
I'll knock you out
God is alone
Hardware defective
One by one
I'll knock you out
Mr. Microphone making
All the damage felt
Like a laser manifesto
Make a mannequin melt
There's people phonin' in
Like it's unlimited minutes
Going through the motions
Just to say that they did it
Treadmill's running
Underneath their feet
So they feel like they're going somewhere
But they're not
So let's put boots
On the warehouse floor
Comin' to you
Like a rope on a chain store
Throwing equipment
From a moving van
Grab a microphone
Like a utility man
Now fix the beat
Now break the rest
Make a kick drum sound
Like an S.O.S.
Get a tow-truck
Cause it's after dark
And the dance floor's full
But everybody's double-parked!
Cell phone's dead
Lost in the desert
One by one
I'll knock you out
Eye of the sun
Is out of its socket
One by one
I'll knock you out
One by one
This jam is real, that's right
Eye of the sun
Eye of the sun
Eye of the sun
Ah
Beck's song Cell Phones Dead is a commentary on the dehumanizing effects of technology on modern society. The song paints a picture of a world where people are alienated from each other, unable to connect on a deeper level due to the pervasive influence of cell phones and other devices. The opening lines suggest that something strange is happening in the world, perhaps a type of social upheaval or insidious cultural shift. The singer is depicted as being frustrated and disillusioned with the state of society, as evidenced by his tossing a dollar away and the subsequent line about the lack of federal dimes. He remembers a time when music provided a mirror for his own thoughts and emotions, but now it seems as if he is surrounded by people who have lost touch with the rhythms of life. The lyrics also touch on themes of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, with the singer feeling let-down and unable to find solace in the entertainment industry.
The second half of the song sees the singer becoming more proactive and determined to change the situation. He urges listeners to get up and dance, to "throw some equipment from a moving van," and to "grab a microphone like a utility man." The message is one of empowerment and individualism, with the singer insisting that he doesn't need a good reason to let loose and be himself. The closing lines about the "eye of the sun" being out of its socket are perhaps a reference to the disorienting effects of modern life, with people feeling lost and adrift in a sea of technological distractions.
Overall, Cell Phones Dead is a powerful commentary on the damaging effects of technology on modern society. The lyrics are at times humorous and satirical, but there is a deeper message to be found in the song about the importance of human connection and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange ways coming today
Weird and unusual things are happening today
I put a dollar in my pocket
I carried some money in my pocket
And I threw it away
But I wasted my dollar
Been a long time
It's been a while
Since a federal dime
I haven't seen a ten-cent coin in a while
Made a jukebox sound
The music from the jukebox made me feel a certain way
Like a mirror in my mind
It was like reflecting on my own thoughts and feelings
To comb my worries
I tried to alleviate my worries
Fix my thoughts
I tried to improve my mental state
Throw my hopes
I abandoned my hopeful aspirations
Like a juggernaut walks
I carried on relentlessly like an unstoppable force
Now let-down souls
People who are disappointed and disillusioned
Can't feel no rhythm
They can't sense any synchronization or flow
Sorry entertainers
Entertainers who have failed to live up to expectations
Like aerobics victims
They are like victims of '80s-era workout fads
Hybrid people
People who are a combination of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds
Light a wooded matchstick
When someone lights a wooden matchstick
Toxic fumes from the
Dangerous smoke produced by the
Burning plastic
Burning plastic material
Beats are broken
The rhythm is disrupted and unsteady
Bones are spastic
My movements are uncontrolled and shaky
Robots talkin'
Artificial intelligences communicating
With a southern accent
Speaking as if they're from the southern US, despite being machines
Voodoo curses
Hexes and curses invoking supernatural powers
Bible tongues
Languages from religious texts
Voices comin'
Sounds that I can hear
From the mangled lungs
From people's damaged, ruined organs
Give me some grit
I want some tough, unrefined music
Some get-down shit
Some groovy and funky tunes
Don't need a good reason
I don't require justification
To let anything rip
To rock out and let loose
Radio's cold
The music on the radio is uninspired
Soul is infected
The music is not moving me emotionally
One by one
Individually
I'll knock you out
I'll defeat you or put you to sleep
God is alone
A higher power is isolated and removed
Hardware defective
Machines are not operating properly
Mr. Microphone making
The Mr. Microphone brand is making
All the damage felt
Causing real harm and pain
Like a laser manifesto
Making a strong and ultimately destructive declaration
Make a mannequin melt
To make something fake or superficial disappear or be destroyed
There's people phonin' in
People are calling in
Like it's unlimited minutes
As if there's no time limit on their calls
Going through the motions
Without any real intention or passion behind their actions
Just to say that they did it
Just for the sake of being able to say they did it
Treadmill's running
The rat race is in full swing
Underneath their feet
Beneath the individuals caught up in it
So they feel like they're going somewhere
So that they have a sense of progress or momentum
But they're not
Even though it's an illusion
So let's put boots
Let's take action and do something about it
On the warehouse floor
In the midst of our work or labor
Comin' to you
Approaching you
Like a rope on a chain store
Like something that is hanging or dangling
Throwing equipment
Discarding various tools and instruments
From a moving van
While in transit
Grab a microphone
Pick up the mic
Like a utility man
In the role of a handyman or multi-use gadget
Now fix the beat
Correct the rhythmic structure
Now break the rest
Disrupt the remaining elements
Make a kick drum sound
Create an impactful booming noise
Like an S.O.S.
Like a distress call
Get a tow-truck
Acquire assistance or support
Cause it's after dark
It's nighttime
And the dance floor's full
The club is packed with people
But everybody's double-parked!
But everyone is waiting or procrastinating at the same time
Cell phone's dead
The mobile device lacks battery
Lost in the desert
Without communication in a remote area
Eye of the sun
The center or most powerful part of the sun
Is out of its socket
It is no longer where it's supposed to be
This jam is real, that's right
This music is authentic and genuine
Ah
An indefinite exclamation
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beck Hansen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@satchelsatchel
you dare to casually dismiss this videos
i. lack of risibly-overcompensational narcissistic cinematography
ii. dearth of expensive jewelry
iii. absence of dancers executing synchronous moves that Bob Fosse first choreographed 60 years ago
this video is nothing more than heresy and nothing less than iconoclasm
i have never seen such a shameless case of an artist not making the exact same video that ten thousand other artists have made a hundred thousand times before
in the entire film i did not see one single person posturing and flexing in a pitiful attempt to represent himself as having an exponentially greater state of coolness than he could even recognize if he ever saw it
@seancomrie4714
"People phone it in like it's unlimited minutes" is still the greatest ever tongue twister rap line in a song that only the right people love. Beck is criminally under rated, to a point where you have to wonder what the politics are behind that or is it just that he got lost in the tide? All I hear is genius, the man can lace words together like the best of the greatest. Tupac would absolutely love Beck in a different timeline where he is still alive and rap music was looking a lot more fun.
@yankee666187
Norms like cookie cutter shit. Beck is too next level for the masses to comprehend.
@jiggyy
It's tragic how most people have only heard "Loser". Beck has so many cool songs.
@danielwood4808
Yes it is. Sadly beck isnt a global megastar he has probably only sold about 10 million albums world wide. Thats still a lot but nothing compared to a popular musician.
Its still enough though for plenty of people to know how cool he is and spread the word :P
He is easily the best musician america has produced in the last 25 years.
@christopher399
Daniel Wood Only?
@feonixo
And that is the one Beck song I can't listen to lol
@xeskimoex
Fero
@chrisperrien7055
That "Mellow Gold" album is one of them "regulation" rock albums that any collection should have(if you still actually have albums/CD's LOL) . Kind of like the first Boston album or Led Zep 1 and 4, Back in Black, etc. It is up there with those.
@momo_genX
Best instrumental kickdown ever. This Jam is Real..
@ritchl3262
I arrived on your comment on the exact moment! It is cool.