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.
Lemonade
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the flavor freedom fag
Get up early, do your chores
Chase the murder with the rancid pores
The thyroids with friendly blade
The haunted beast with faces flayed
Silver chicken make a fuss
Favorite patrons crack their death
With arteries and tinsel breath
Revolution purple fist
Pummeling your angel piss
Sour powered wussy soul
Solid darkness goddess show
Weaving heirlooms through the hour
From the cradle monster cowered
Waking up delicious ghost
They'll eat themselves from coast to coast
Dancing in their bandages
The victims grow leaving messages
Hear the commune cocaine blast
Earthly mothers with flattened chests
Sloping gardens, mystic hours
Fried vibrations overpowered
In the mangles of their hair
Shrouded spirits and underwear
Crazy wires fuse their brains
Drinking water sugar cane
Playing drums and broken flutes
Homeless gods and iron boots
Flying wicked love control
Circus storm and demon skull
Entering the solar sphere
Planets meld crystal clear
Thrashing in the astral glow
Flashing in their fleshly show
Waking up delicious ghost
They'll eat themselves from coast to coast
Dancing in their bandages
The victims grow leaving messages
Beck's song Lemonade is a dizzying array of surreal imagery and nonsensical phrases that create a unique atmosphere of chaos and confusion. The lyrics seem to follow no coherent narrative or theme, instead presenting a series of disconnected images and ideas that invite interpretation and exploration. The opening verse sets the tone with the lines "Kiss the girl slay a hag / Feel the flavor freedom fag," which suggest a world where anything is possible and nothing is quite what it seems. The rest of the song continues in a similar vein, presenting a series of bizarre and often grotesque images that challenge the listener's expectations and assumptions.
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that they are a commentary on the absurdity of modern life, with its emphasis on materialism and consumerism. The repeated references to "lemonade" could be seen as a symbol for the sweet, artificial pleasures of modern society, while the grotesque and disturbing imagery represents the darker side of this culture. The lines "Reveling in molten puss / Favorite patrons crack their death / With arteries and tinsel breath" could be interpreted as critiques of the excess and decadence of contemporary society, while the references to "homeless gods and iron boots" and "crazy wires fuse their brains" suggest a sense of chaos and disorder that underlies modern civilization.
Ultimately, the meaning of Beck's song Lemonade is open to interpretation, and different listeners may find different themes and ideas that resonate with them. What is clear, however, is that the song is a bold and uncompromising exploration of the limits of language and meaning, and a testament to the power of music to inspire and challenge our perceptions of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiss the girl slay a hag
Engage in the act of kissing a girl while also killing a witch, potentially referencing themes of love and power dynamics.
Feel the flavor freedom fag
Experience a sense of liberation and enjoyment, potentially directed towards someone who identifies as LGBTQ+.
Get up early, do your chores
Encouragement to start the day productively and complete one's responsibilities.
Chase the murder with the rancid pores
Pursue the act of killing someone, potentially with intense and unpleasant feelings present.
The thyroids with friendly blade
Use a weapon to attack or affect the thyroid gland, potentially related to physical health and wellness.
The haunted beast with faces flayed
A creature that is being tormented or haunted by having its faces (plural) removed, potentially referencing themes of mutilation and horror.
Silver chicken make a fuss
A chicken of a shiny color creates a commotion, potentially referencing something that is attention-grabbing or unusual.
Reveling in molten puss
Enjoying the experience of being covered or surrounded by heated, liquid-filled abscesses, potentially referencing themes of disgust and revulsion.
Favorite patrons crack their death
People who are well-liked or important meet their demise, potentially referencing themes of loss and sadness.
With arteries and tinsel breath
Breathing that contains glittery, metallic particles and/or related to the circulatory system.
Revolution purple fist
A forceful uprising or change represented by a fist that is colored purple, potentially referencing themes of rebellion and individualism.
Pummeling your angel piss
Physically attacking someone's urine that is associated with an angel, potentially a reference to challenging religious beliefs or authority figures.
Sour powered wussy soul
A weak or cowardly soul that is influenced by unpleasant or acidic sensations.
Solid darkness goddess show
A performance or display of a female deity associated with intense darkness or negativity.
Weaving heirlooms through the hour
Creating or incorporating important memories and traditions into one's daily life, potentially referencing family values and legacies.
From the cradle monster cowered
An unknown entity or creature that is hiding or fearful from infancy, potentially referencing themes of fear and vulnerability.
Waking up delicious ghost
The act of awakening a spirit that is pleasant or enjoyable in some way.
They'll eat themselves from coast to coast
People will consume themselves or one another, potentially referencing themes of greed or self-destruction.
Dancing in their bandages
Moving or celebrating while still being wrapped in medical wrappings or coverings, potentially referencing themes of recovery or freedom.
The victims grow leaving messages
People who have been harmed or hurt in some way create a lasting impact or impression, potentially referencing the power of words and communication.
Hear the commune cocaine blast
The sound associated with a group of people using or consuming cocaine, potentially referencing themes of rebellion and hedonism.
Earthly mothers with flattened chests
Women who are mothers but have breasts that do not protrude, potentially referencing a stereotype or expectation regarding body image.
Sloping gardens, mystic hours
A peaceful and serene environment that is connected to spirituality, potentially referencing a specific setting or atmosphere.
Fried vibrations overpowered
Feeling overwhelmed or affected by intense sensations or emotions, potentially referencing drug use or other altered states.
In the mangles of their hair
Entangled or messy hair that can potentially contain hidden or trapped objects, potentially referencing the need to pay attention to small details.
Shrouded spirits and underwear
Ghosts or spirits that are concealed or hidden, potentially referencing themes of secrecy or invisibility.
Crazy wires fuse their brains
Intense and chaotic energy or emotions that affect one's mental state, potentially referencing themes of instability or loss of control.
Drinking water sugar cane
Consuming a drink that is made from sugarcane or related to the production of sugar, potentially referencing themes of agriculture and industry.
Playing drums and broken flutes
The act of creating music using percussion instruments and flutes that are damaged or broken, potentially referencing themes of resourcefulness and survival.
Homeless gods and iron boots
Deities or powerful beings that are without a permanent residence or place to call their own, potentially referencing themes of displacement and identity.
Flying wicked love control
A feeling or emotion that is both intense and malevolent, potentially referencing themes of desire and power dynamics.
Circus storm and demon skull
An event or situation that is chaotic and otherworldly in nature, potentially referencing themes of fear and uncertainty.
Entering the solar sphere
Moving or traveling towards a source of light or energy that is related to the sun, potentially referencing themes of rebirth or rejuvenation.
Planets meld crystal clear
Celestial bodies that are merging together in a transparent or translucent manner, potentially referencing themes of harmony and unity.
Thrashing in the astral glow
Experiencing intense and erratic movements in a supernatural or spiritual setting, potentially referencing themes of transcendence and transformation.
Flashing in their fleshly show
A dramatic or impressive display of physical sensations, potentially referencing themes of sensuality or exhibitionism.
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