His music is typically labeled as power pop, though he doesn't completely agree. His major musical influences include The Cars, David Bowie, Electric Light Orchestra, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Robyn Hitchcock, Paul McCartney, and Todd Rundgren.
His debut album, One Mississippi, was released in 1996 on Virgin Records. The album featured several contributions with Jason Falkner and gained many favourable reviews in the music press but failed to sell in sufficient numbers and Benson was dropped by Virgin.
It would be another six years until Benson issued the follow-up, Lapalco. Again the critical plaudits poured in but this time the record enjoyed a certain degree of commercial success.
While touring this record Benson played the Reading and Leeds Festivals and finished his Leeds set with a performance of the track "Jet Lag" featuring guest appearances from Meg White of The White Stripes along with members of The Datsuns and Soledad Brothers.
In 2003 Benson re-released his debut album along with bonus tracks including the unreleased six track extended player, Welfed Boy EP, featuring songs from a demo session with Falkner.
Also in 2003, Benson released an EP, Metarie, with his then band, The Wellfed Boys. The EP featured a cover of Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It". This was the first song written completely by another artist to be featured on a Benson release. Another cover, this time "Strong Boy", from Gram Parsons International Submarine Band's 1968 album, Safe at Home, was released as a b-side in 2005.
In 2005, Benson released his third album, The Alternative to Love, and toured extensively in the US, UK and Europe with his new touring band, The Stiff Tissues.
Benson is also a member of The Raconteurs, a collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes and two members of The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. The group's debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, was released in the US on May 16th, 2006, with "Steady, As She Goes" the first single.
Brendan currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
He has also worked as a producer for The Greenhornes, The Nice Device, The Mood Elevator (a permutation of The Welfed Boys), and Stiff Tissues member Dean Fertita's former band, The Waxwings.
In 2008, his song "What I'm Looking For" was used in an Apple iPod Touch television ad, propelling sales of that particular song on iTunes and other online music retailers.
Benson's fourth full-length record, My Old, Familiar Friend, was released on August 18, 2009. This was followed by What Kind of World (2012), and You Were Right (2013).
You're Quiet
Brendan Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't talk
You're shut down
And closed off
You're like me
We're the same
I'm Brendan
What's your name
Been a little bit down on my luck
I think you know where I'm coming from
I need a pick up and I don't mean truck
I want to know where to get some
You make me
want to ask you
A lot of questions
Get to know you
I like you
You can tell
I'd like to
Know you well
The lyrics of Brendan Benson and the Wellfed Boys's song "You're Quiet" describes a situation where the singer encounters someone who is also quiet and closed off. There is a connection, and they are described as being similar or the same. The singer wants to get to know the person better, a person who makes him want to ask a lot of questions. This is an almost romantic desire to connect, to know and be known by the other, which is reflected in the assurance that the singer would "like to know you well."
Line by Line Meaning
You're quiet
You are not speaking or making noise
You don't talk
You are not engaging in conversation
You're shut down
You are not responding or interacting with me
And closed off
You are emotionally inaccessible or reserved
You're like me
You share some commonality with me
We're the same
We are alike in some way
I'm Brendan
My name is Brendan
What's your name
Please tell me your name
Been a little bit down on my luck
I have been experiencing some bad fortune recently
I think you know where I'm coming from
I believe you understand my situation
I need a pick up and I don't mean truck
I need something to make me feel better and I am not referring to a vehicle
I want to know where to get some
I want to know where to obtain what will make me feel better
You make me
You cause me to feel or do something
want to ask you
Desire to inquire about something from you
A lot of questions
Several inquiries or curiosities
Get to know you
Learn more about you and understand you better
I like you
I am fond of you or enjoy your company
You can tell
It is evident or obvious
I'd like to
I would appreciate the opportunity or desire
Know you well
Get to know you intimately or completely
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRENDAN BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bobservo
it symbolizes the human condition
Elisa Herzog
I'm not quiet, CAN'T STOP laughing out loud, thanks!
J G
Best Video on Youtube, right here.
Matthew Ai
can someone please explain why this version is not on the album ? its a million times better the vocal take, the tempo, everything care to respond brendan ??
lilcoffeebandit
i'll see that gif in my mind forever now. love this version as much as Lapalco one! thanks for posting =)
Dean Connolly
There are so many instances where it looks like he's singing one part of the song or another. Definitely a new angle on a song I've loved for a long time but I'm weirdly ok with it haha
Alejandro Caro
I remember seeing this on the way from Venezuela to the USA 9 years ago
Andrew
that was the most thought provoking music video I've ever seen
Alexei
LOL. I love that face he makes it gets funnier every time!
Smalex
I love this! Hehehe!