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.
Heart Is a Drum
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Circling around your iron will
See only what you feel
Keeps you turning when you're standing still
You tried to run from trouble when it comes
You followed the drum keeping time with everyone
High as the light of day
Pain - does it hurt this way?
To come so far to find they've closed the gates?
You've lost your tongue when you fall from the pendulum
Your heart is a drum keeping time with everyone
Everyone, if they drown from the undertow
Need to find someone to show me how to play it slow
And just let it go
Your eyes get stung by the rays of the sinking sun
You follow the drum keeping time with everyone
Going beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Beat beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Day after day, it's turning around
'Til all my days are drowning out
Beck's "Heart Is A Drum" is a song about staying true to oneself and moving forward in life, even in the face of pain and adversity. The first verse talks about being free, but still being under the influence of one's own iron will. The lyrics suggest that sometimes the only way to keep moving is to follow one's heart, even when it means standing still. The singer acknowledges that there will be trouble in life and the only way to survive it is to move forward with the beat and rhythm of one's own heart, while keeping time with everyone else.
The next verse speaks to the idea of falling down across one's own "lost highway." The lyrics suggest that sometimes in life we're led down the wrong path or we're lost, and it can be hard to find our way back. The pain of realizing we've gone down a dead-end road can be difficult, but we must keep moving forward. The singer acknowledges that sometimes we lose our voice, but we can always keep time with the rhythm of our own heart.
The chorus is about the universal human experience of feeling overwhelmed and needing help. The singer acknowledges that we all need someone to show us how to slow down and let go. The final verse speaks to the idea of time passing, and how it can feel like life is drowning us out. Despite this feeling, we must keep moving forward and follow the beat.
Line by Line Meaning
Free as a driving wheel
Your heart is unencumbered and unrestrained like a wheel that moves with great freedom.
Circling around your iron will
However, it revolves around a fixed point, which is your strong determination and unyielding purpose.
See only what you feel
You perceive the world around you only through the lens of your emotions, as your feelings greatly influence your perspective.
Keeps you turning when you're standing still
Your heart keeps you motivated and moving forward, even in times when you might feel stuck or stagnant.
You tried to run from trouble when it comes
You've tried to avoid facing difficult situations and challenges in the past by running away from them.
You followed the drum keeping time with everyone
Instead of confronting issues, you've tried to blend in with others and keep pace with their actions and behaviors.
High as the light of day
You feel elated and full of hope, like the bright light of day.
You're falling down across your lost highway
However, you're currently struggling and experiencing a setback, like being lost on a deserted highway.
Pain - does it hurt this way?
The pain you feel during this difficult time is so intense that it's hard to bear.
To come so far to find they've closed the gates?
You've made significant progress and endured hardships, only to find that the opportunity or reward you were seeking is no longer available.
You've lost your tongue when you fall from the pendulum
The stress and chaos of your circumstances have left you feeling tongue-tied and unable to express yourself.
Your heart is a drum keeping time with everyone
Despite your struggles, your heart continues to beat and motivate you to keep going, even if you're in sync with others.
Everyone, if they drown from the undertow
Others may also struggle and feel overwhelmed when faced with difficult situations and stressors that they can't control.
Need to find someone to show me how to play it slow
You may need guidance or support from someone else to help you slow down and take a step back from the chaos.
And just let it go
You need to release your attachment to outcomes or expectations and allow things to unfold naturally.
Your eyes get stung by the rays of the sinking sun
Despite the challenges and pain you're experiencing, you continue to face the harsh realities of your situation.
Going beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Your heart continues to beat and motivate you, but the constant rhythm is taking its toll on your emotional state.
Day after day, it's turning around
Despite the difficulties, time continues to pass, and you're moving forward, even if it feels like a struggle.
'Til all my days are drowning out
You feel overwhelmed and suffocated by the challenges you're facing, and you fear that they will consume your entire life.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BECK HANSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ijustdontknowguy842
Free as a driving wheel
Circling around your iron will
See only what you feel
Keeps you turning when you're standing still
You tried to run from trouble when it comes
You followed the drum keeping time with everyone
High as the light of day
You're falling down across your lost highway
Pain - does it hurt this way?
To come so far to find they've closed the gates?
You've lost your tongue when you fall from the pendulum
Your heart is a drum keeping time with everyone
Everyone, if they drown from the undertow
Need to find someone to show me how to play it slow
And just let it go
Your eyes get stung by the rays of the sinking sun
You follow the drum keeping time with everyone
Going beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Beat beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Day after day, it's turning around
'Til all my days are drowning out
@BigDaddy-vr2ut
Here are the Lyrics:
Free as a driving wheel
Circling around your iron will
See only what you feel
Keeps you turning when you're standing still
You tried to run from trouble when it comes
You followed the drum keeping time with everyone
High as the light of day
You're falling down across your lost highway
Pain - does it hurt this way?
To come so far to find they've closed the gates?
You've lost your tongue when you fall from the pendulum
Your heart is a drum keeping time with everyone
Everyone, if they drown from the undertow
Need to find someone to show me how to play it slow
And just let it go
Your eyes get stung by the rays of the sinking sun
You follow the drum keeping time with everyone
Going beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Beat beat beat beat, it's beating me down
Day after day, it's turning around
'Til all my days are drowning out! ✌🏼
@Nick-ku7xr
For me Morning Phase is a top 10 album ever made. Absolutely stunning. Deep. Emotional. Gorgeous. Serene. Peaceful. He has such beautiful layers to every song. So happy that the grammys went with a true artist and not the popular picks.
@dicktatortott
Beck is far beyond any one trying to criticize him. He’s a Genius who is not looking to be an Icon. He just is.
@ferenctoth2091
Agree. It's so beautiful and deep and resonant.
@marcelarey4661
I haven't heard of Beck before he won the grammy, I'm not a nineties kid, sure I heard some of his songs before but i didn't know him. I'm glad I know now... And people need a reminder that just bc an artist is not mainstream doesn't mean that he or she doesn't make good quality music..
@clipper2425
That's true... Except for in this case. Beck has been garbage since the 90s.
@JacobHarvietheSinger
You would have had to be an 80's kid to have been the right age in the 90's to get into Beck.
@marcelarey4661
***** except I did
@clipper2425
***** Those bands shouldn't be compared to Beck. It's an insult to them. Beck is Garbage and always has been.
@Brianpeckin
Cool Looking Idiots beck, had a couple catchy songs but never someone I'd go back to listen to. Also it wasn't a comparison beck is a very notable person from his Era as well as the one I named. Someone never hearing of this person baffles me. Shit, I've seen beck on a rap song with childish gambino.
@IVMRGREENXX
7 years later this still gives me goosebumps. One of the few albums where every single song is great. Thank you sir