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.
Do You Realize
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you
Think about the nights
We spend from here
Do you
I do
Endless ways
That we could go from here
Hard to see the coast when
You're alone
Don't want to know why
I don't want to know why
Looked around to only
Find your coat
Don't want to tell you
I don't want to tell you
Feel as though these times
Must cut my throat
Don't want to see you
I don't want to see you
Just want to know you would Think about me still
Do you think
Of me
Sometimes I feel though
Our plans are ties
And that it don't get any easier
But the love you take
Is the love you make
Don't get caught in
Someone else's fate
It's a point of view
That I'm not used to
If the times must change
You must let them change
But I don't want to be
In someone else's dreams
I just want you here
I just want you here
All alone again with my old
Best friend
All alone again with my old
Best friend
All alone again, all alone again
All alone again, all alone again
Hard to see the coast
When you're alone
Don't want to know why
I don't want to know why
Looked around to only
Find your coat
Don't want to tell you
I don't want to tell you
Feel as though these times must Cut my throat
Don't want to see you
I don't want to see you
Just want to know you would
Think about me still
Do you think
Of me
All alone again
With my old best friend
All alone again
With my old best friend
All alone again
All alone again
All alone again
All along again
All alone again
With my old best friend
The song Do You Realize by Beck is a reflection of the intricacies and confusion of human relationships. The lyrics are laden with emotions of nostalgia and uncertainty, and it explores a variety of themes such as lost love and longing for someone who is no longer present. The song predominantly revolves around the question of whether the person in question still thinks about the singer and the times they spent together. The lyrics are open-ended, and the tone is melancholic, as though the singer is trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation.
The song's opening lines are reflective of the underlying message of the song. The singer asks if the person still thinks about the nights they spent together, highlighting the fact that the singer is still holding on to memories of the past. The lyrics refer to the endless possibilities and ways that the two of them could have gone, suggesting that the singer still harbours some hope for a reunion or a rekindling of their relationship. However, as the song continues, the singer's doubts and fears become more noticeable. The lines "Hard to see the coast when you're alone," and "Feel as though these times must cut my throat" showcase the singer's sense of isolation and despair.
Overall, the song is a profound exploration of the depths of human emotions, a reflection of the singer's struggles with lost love and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you
Asking if the listener still remembers and thinks of the moments shared together
Do you
Repeating the question to emphasize its importance
Think about the nights
Asking if the listener remembers the specific nights spent together
We spend from here
Emphasizing that the artist and listener have shared a significant amount of time together
Do you
Reiterating the question, this time saying that the artist himself thinks about those moments
I do
Confirming that the singer himself does think about their shared memories
Endless ways
Acknowledging that there are many paths that the singer and listener could have taken or could still take in the future
That we could go from here
Suggesting that there is still potential for their relationship or future experiences together
Hard to see the coast when
Acknowledging that it can be difficult to focus on the present when you're feeling lonely
You're alone
Emphasizing that loneliness can make it hard to be in the present
Don't want to know why
Preferring to avoid considering the reasons for loneliness
I don't want to know why
Reiterating that the artist doesn't want to delve into the reasons why he's feeling lonely
Looked around to only
Implying that the singer has been searching for something in his environment
Find your coat
And found a tangible item of the listener's, perhaps reminding him of their shared memories
Don't want to tell you
Preferring to keep the singer's emotions and thoughts to himself
I don't want to tell you
Reiterating that the artist doesn't want to burden the listener with his feelings
Feel as though these times
Acknowledging that the artist is experiencing difficult emotions
Must cut my throat
Imploring that the pain feels unbearable
Don't want to see you
Preferring to avoid the pain of seeing the listener again
I don't want to see you
Reiterating the artist's reluctance to see the listener again
Just want to know you would think about me still
Acknowledging that even amidst the pain, the artist still yearns for the listener's attention and memory
Do you think
Asking again if the listener thinks of the artist
Of me
Specifically asking if the listener thinks of the singer, not just their shared memories
Sometimes I feel though
Introducing a new thought, suggesting that their plans or relationship may not be as stable as they thought
Our plans are ties
Implying that the singer and listener are tied to one another and to their plans
And that it don't get any easier
Acknowledging that maintaining the status quo is exhausting
But the love you take
Referencing The Beatles lyric 'The love you take is equal to the love you make', suggesting that taking love from the relationship is just as important as giving it
Is the love you make
Emphasizing that the love you give is just as important as the love you take from a relationship
Don't get caught in
Warning against getting too wrapped up or attached to someone else's desires, goals, or plans
Someone else's fate
Referring to a shared destiny or future that the singer may not agree with
It's a point of view
Emphasizing that this is simply an opinion, not necessarily a fact
That I'm not used to
Acknowledging that the artist has a different perspective than what he's suggesting
If the times must change
Asserting that sometimes change is necessary, even if it's difficult
You must let them change
Suggesting that it's important to allow change to happen and not resist it
But I don't want to be
Admitting that the singer has reservations about change
In someone else's dreams
Referencing a shared vision or dream for the future that the artist doesn't share
I just want you here
Contrasting the previous line, expressing that ultimately the singer just wants the listener to be present
All alone again with my old best friend
Reminiscing about spending time alone with oneself
All alone again with my old best friend
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
All alone again, all alone again
Emphasizing the feeling of loneliness once again
All alone again, all alone again
Repeating for emphasis
Hard to see the coast
Reiterating that loneliness can make it hard to focus on the present
When you're alone
Acknowledging that loneliness can be isolating
Don't want to know why
Reiterating the artist's desire to avoid thinking too deeply about their loneliness
I don't want to know why
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Looked around to only
Reiterating that the artist has been searching for something in their environment
Find your coat
Recalling the tactile memory of finding the listener's coat
Don't want to tell you
Preferring to keep the artist's innermost thoughts and feelings to himself
I don't want to tell you
Reiterating that the singer doesn't want to burden the listener with his thoughts
Feel as though these times must
Reiterating that the singer is going through a rough patch
Cut my throat
Describing the pain as intense and visceral
Don't want to see you
Reiterating the artist's desire to avoid seeing the listener again
I don't want to see you
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Just want to know you would
Emphasizing the singer's desire for connection
Think about me still
Ending with a reiteration of the opening question, suggesting that the central focus of the song is the singer's desire to know if the listener still thinks of him
Do you think
Repeating the opening question
Of me
Repeating the final line for emphasis
All alone again
Reiterating the pervasive feeling of loneliness throughout the song
With my old best friend
Suggesting that in the end, the only true companion one can have is oneself
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Seth Beck
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kennyarchey
I wish Deck was my bad.
@thecoolerTK421
Excuse me?
@mylescoyne1
I wish Beck was my dad as well haha
@rockeyrocket1224
Meanwhile Beck's kid is like "I wish Beck was my dad".
@gabriellajolie9214
I too wish Beck was my father.
@JM-co6rf
I bish weck das my mad.
@VoodleBand
I wish Dad was my Beck
@processred2858
i fantasize about the concept of Bek David Campbell having fathered me.
@andrewbarker7848
I fish Meck bas dy wad
@iamthebyron
Do you realize, Beck, that I wish you were my dad?