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.
Ghettochip Malfunction
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes
Skeleton boys hyped up on purple
Smoke rings blow from across the disco
Bank notes burn like broken equipment
Looking for shelter, readjust your position
Thought control, ghostwritten confessions
Two dimensions, dumb your head down
Power is raunchy, rent-a-cops are watching
Make your dreams out of paper mache
Cliched wasted hate taste-tested
Hell yes, now I'm moving this way, I'm doing this thing (please, enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out, I'm switching my plates (please, enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct
Stretched to the limit, attention spans snap back
Retract, collapsing the laugh tracks
Noise response, applause and handclaps
Floodgates open to the sound of the rainbow
Breaking points on the verge of pointless
Fools anointed to the follower's fanfare
Look for the common, not superficial
Code red Cola War conformity crisis
Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles
With magic markers running out of their ink
Lives in White Out, turn the lights out
Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up
Hell yes, now I'm moving this way, I'm doing this thing (please, enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out, I'm switching my plates (please, enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct
Yes (hai) umisei, yeah, that's it
Yes (hai) umisei, yeah, that's it
Yes (hai) umisei, yeah, that's it
Yes (hai) umisei, yeah, yes
I like your bass, yes, your beat is nice, yes
Hell yes, hai, hell yes, hell yes, hell yes, yes, hai
The lyrics of Ghettochip Malfunction by Beck are a commentary on the state of the world and the effects of capitalism and conformity. The opening lines suggest a sense of being lost and searching for purpose, which is a common feeling in modern society where jobs are often menial and assembly line-like. The mention of "fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes" speaks to the idea of consumerism arising from destruction, and "skeleton boys hyped up on purple" suggests a society where people are numbed and distracted by drugs and entertainment.
The lyrics go on to critique the idea of thought control and the manipulation of people through propaganda and media. The idea of "two dimensions" and "dumbing your head down" suggest a lack of critical thinking and conformism, while the mention of "company missiles" and "rent-a-cops" speaks to the idea of corporate control over society. The chorus of "Hell yes" seems to be a rallying cry for rebellion against this oppressive system.
The second verse continues this critique of society, with references to the superficiality of celebrity culture and the pressure to conform. The line "Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles" suggests a lack of authenticity in modern culture, with people simply copying what they see around them rather than questioning or creating something new. The final lines, "Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up", suggest a kind of mindless conformity as people mindlessly follow trends and fads.
Overall, Ghettochip Malfunction is a powerful commentary on the issues facing modern society, calling for rebellion against conformity and the systems that control us.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking for my place on assembly lines
Searching for my role in a society driven by industry and production
Fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes
Material possessions hold a false sense of importance and value
Skeleton boys hyped up on purple
Youth who are stimulated by drugs and superficial entertainment are like empty shells
Smoke rings blow from across the disco
Vague, empty promises of escape and enjoyment are everywhere in society
Bank notes burn like broken equipment
Just like broken equipment, money eventually loses its usefulness and becomes worthless
Looking for shelter, readjust your position
We must adapt and find safety when faced with challenging circumstances
Thought control, ghostwritten confessions
The propagation of certain ideas is controlled by a higher authority, leading to manufactured opinions
Two dimensions, dumb your head down
Culture focuses on shallow, unimportant things and discourages deep thinking
Duck, don't look now, company missiles
Be cautious and aware of hidden threats from corporations and other powerful entities
Power is raunchy, rent-a-cops are watching
Power often leads to corruption, and even low-level workers like security guards may abuse their authority over others
Make your dreams out of paper mache
Your ambitions may be fragile or easily broken, or they may be hollow and ultimately meaningless
Cliched wasted hate taste-tested
Hate and negativity are popular among people despite their faults and drawbacks
Stretched to the limit, attention spans snap back
We can only focus on so much before our ability to pay attention becomes strained
Retract, collapsing the laugh tracks
We must reject the easy distractions and surface-level entertainment that are commonplace in our culture
Noise response, applause and handclaps
People will support or reject things that they hear and see based on emotion and popular opinion, rather than critical thinking
Floodgates open to the sound of the rainbow
Society is easily manipulated by flashy and emotionally-driven messages and imagery
Breaking points on the verge of pointless
We often expend enormous energy on things that do not matter, leading to burnout and exhaustion
Fools anointed to the follower's fanfare
People who blindly follow others without thinking for themselves are often given praise and attention
Look for the common, not superficial
We must seek out the substantive aspects of life and our world, rather than just the easy, shiny things that are readily apparent
Code red Cola War conformity crisis
The products and brands that we consume can limit our thinking and creative expression, leading to a lack of diversity and self-expression
Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles
Our heroes and role models often fail to live up to our expectations or are themselves flawed in damaging ways
With magic markers running out of their ink
Our tools and methods for change and transformation can be limited and fleeting
Lives in White Out, turn the lights out
We are constantly bombarded with bright, flashy imagery that distracts and blinds us to the underlying realities of our circumstances
Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up
Even communication and messaging can be diluted and superficial, leading to apathy and inaction
Yes (hai) umisei, yeah, that's it
An expression of satisfaction and agreement with the music and its message
I like your bass, yes, your beat is nice, yes
Appreciating the quality and craft of the music being performed
Hell yes, hai, hell yes, hell yes, hell yes, yes, hai
An emphatic expression of agreement and affirmation
Contributed by Oliver G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dchuricci
Looking for my place on assembly lines
Fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes
Skeleton boys hyped up in purple
Smoke rings blow from across the disco
Make notes, burn like broken equipment
Looking for shelter via juxtaposition
Thought control, those written confessions
Two dimensions, dumb your head down
Duck, don't look now, company missiles
Power is raunchy when the cops are watching
Make your dreams out of Papier-mache
Clinched wasted hate taste tested
Hell yes, now I'm moving this way
I'm doing this thing, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out
I'm switching my plates, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct
Hi, yeah, that's it, let me see
Yea, that's it, let me see
Yea, that's it, hi
Stretched to the limit, attention spared
Snap back the track, collapsin' the laugh tracks
Noise response, applause and hand claps
Floodgates open to the sound of the rainbow
Makin' points on the verge of pointless
Fools anointed to the follower's fanfare
Look for the common, not superficial
Code Red Cola? War conformity crisis
Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles
With magic markers running out of their ink
Lives and White Out, turn the lights out
Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up
Hell yes, now I'm moving this way
I'm doing this thing, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out
I'm switching my plates, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct
Yes, yes, hi, hi
I like your bass, I like your bass
Your beat is nice, your beat is nice
Yeah, that's it, yeah, that's it, yes, yes
Yes, now I'm moving this way
I'm doing this thing, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out
I'm switching my plates, please enjoy
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct
Hell yes
Charlie
Beck is a really underrated rapper, wish he would make some more songs like this
bobbygnosis
***** His catalog is deep.
This video is just the tip of the iceberg.
I'd say you have a nice search ahead of you.
Junkman Junior
+BandakaKush He's a singer not a rapper
Charlie
Junkman Junior He is an artist, he can do a lot of things.
MR MEAN
Not be a rapper is one of them, is your goal to communicate like Jaden Smith?
RaineOdanrot86
One of the sickest remixes EVER.
Jelly Donut
Agreed, the remix for Missing (Heaven's Hammer) is pretty damn good too
Normin
Please
Enjoy
jho
Hell Yes
warhols25
Beck is the essence of alternative Americana - just like David Bowie is the essence of alternative Englishness