Born in Suffolk, Eno studied painting and experimental music at the art school of Ipswich Civic College in the mid 1960s, and then at Winchester School of Art. He joined glam rock group Roxy Music as synthesiser player in 1971. After recording two albums with Roxy Music, he departed in 1973 to record a number of solo albums, coining the term "ambient music" to describe his work on releases such as Another Green World (1975), Discreet Music (1975), and Music for Airports (1978). He also collaborated with artists such as Robert Fripp, Cluster, Harold Budd, David Bowie on his "Berlin Trilogy", and David Byrne, and produced albums by artists including John Cale, Jon Hassell, Laraaji, Talking Heads and Devo, and the no wave compilation No New York (1978).
Eno has continued to record solo albums and work with artists including U2, Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, Slowdive, Coldplay, James Blake, and Damon Albarn. Dating back to his time as a student, he has also worked in media including sound installations and his mid-70s co-development of Oblique Strategies, a deck of cards featuring cryptic aphorisms intended to spur creative thinking. From the 1970s onwards, Eno's installations have included the sails of the Sydney Opera House in 2009 and the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank in 2016. An advocate of a range of humanitarian causes, Eno writes on a variety of subjects and is a founding member of the Long Now Foundation. In 2019, Eno was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.
Eno is frequently referred to as one of popular music's most influential artists. Producer and film composer Jon Brion has said: "I think he's the most influential artist since the Beatles." Critic Jason Ankeny at AllMusic argues that Eno "forever altered the ways in which music is approached, composed, performed, and perceived, and everything from punk to techno to new age bears his unmistakable influence." Eno has spread his techniques and theories primarily through his production; his distinctive style informed a number of projects in which he has been involved, including Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" (helping to popularize minimalism) and the albums he produced for Talking Heads (incorporating, on Eno's advice, African music and polyrhythms), Devo, and other groups. Eno's first collaboration with David Byrne, 1981's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, pioneered sampling techniques that would prove to be influential in hip-hop, and broke ground by incorporating world music into popular Western music forms. Eno and Peter Schmidt's Oblique Strategies have been used by many bands, and Eno's production style has proven influential in several general respects: "his recording techniques have helped change the way that modern musicians;– particularly electronic musicians;– view the studio. No longer is it just a passive medium through which they communicate their ideas but itself a new instrument with seemingly endless possibilities."
Whilst inspired by the ideas of minimalist composers including John Cage, Terry Riley and Erik Satie, Eno coined the term ambient music to describe his own work and defined the term. The Ambient Music Guide states that he has brought from "relative obscurity into the popular consciousness" fundamental ideas about ambient music, including "the idea of modern music as subtle atmosphere, as chill-out, as impressionistic, as something that creates space for quiet reflection or relaxation." His groundbreaking work in electronic music has been said to have brought widespread attention to and innovations in the role of electronic technology in recording. Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright said he "often eulogised" Eno's abilities.
Eno's "unconventional studio predilections", in common with those of Peter Gabriel, were an influence on the recording of "In the Air Tonight", the single which launched the solo career of Eno's former drummer Phil Collins. Collins said he "learned a lot" from working with Eno. Both Half Man Half Biscuit (in the song "Eno Collaboration" on the EP of the same name) and MGMT have written songs about Eno. LCD Soundsystem has frequently cited Eno as a key influence. The Icelandic singer Björk also credited Eno as a major influence.
Mora sti Fotia (Babies on Fire), one of the most influential Greek rock bands, was named after Eno's song "Baby's on Fire".
In 2011, Belgian academics from the Royal Museum for Central Africa named a species of Afrotropical spider Pseudocorinna brianeno in his honour.
1. "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More"
Brian Eno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet Regina's gone to China cross legged on the floor
Of a burning jet that's smoothly flying
Burning airlines give you so much more
How does she intend to live when she's in far Cathay
I somehow can't imagine her just planting rice all day
Maybe she will do a bit of spying
I guess regina's on a plane a Newsweek on her knees
While miles below the curlews call from strangely stunted trees
The painted sage sits just as though he's flying
Regina's jet disturbs his wispy beard
When you reach Kyoto send a postcard if you can
And please convey my fond regards to Chihhao's girl Yu-lan
I heard a rumor they were getting married
But someone left the papers in Japan
Left them in Japan
The song "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More" by Brian Eno is a complex and surreal take on the idea of air travel as a means of exploration and escape. The lyrics are reminiscent of a travelogue, describing a woman named Regina who has gone to China, an exotic and faraway land. The opening line reveals that Regina has left a message on the door of the singer's home, indicating that she has departed without any explanation or goodbye. The second line gives insight about how she left, "cross legged on the floor of a burning jet that's smoothly flying". This sentence is both surreal and alarming, as it describes a plane on fire because of the use of the word "burning," but at the same time, the flight is seemingly "smoothly flying" despite the implication of danger. This line could be interpreted as referring to Regina taking a flight on a breaking airline, but the surrealism of the line suggests a deeper significance.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Burning airlines give you so much more" multiple times. This line has provoked different ideas among the listeners, with some interpreting as a criticism of capitalism and the reckless way that corporations treat air travel, while others think it points to an idea of risk and adventure. The lyric "Maybe she will do a bit of spying. With micro cameras hidden in her hair" speaks to the idea of espionage and subterfuge, tying Regina's journey to a sense of intrigue and adventure. The verse continues with descriptions of the strange and captivating landscapes that Regina encounters during her travels, and mentions a rumour of marriage between two people named Chihhao and Yu-lan.
Line by Line Meaning
When I got back home I found a message on the door
Upon returning home, a message was left for the singer at their doorstep.
Sweet Regina's gone to China cross legged on the floor
Regina has traveled to China and is seated on the floor in a cross-legged position.
Of a burning jet that's smoothly flying
Regina is traveling on a smoothly flying airplane, which is on fire or has the word 'burning' in its name.
Burning airlines give you so much more
Air travel with airlines who have names associated with burning provides many unique experiences.
How does she intend to live when she's in far Cathay
The artist wonders about Regina's plans and livelihood in faraway Cathay (China).
I somehow can't imagine her just planting rice all day
The singer doesn't believe Regina will have a mundane life of just planting rice all day.
Maybe she will do a bit of spying
The singer suggests Regina might engage in some espionage while in China.
With micro cameras hidden in her hair
The espionage Regina may engage in would involve hiding micro cameras in her hair.
I guess Regina's on a plane a Newsweek on her knees
The artist assumes Regina is on a plane, reading a Newsweek magazine with it placed upon her knees.
While miles below the curlews call from strangely stunted trees
Far below Regina's plane, the artist hears the call of curlews from strangely small trees.
The painted sage sits just as though he's flying
A painted sage is depicted as sitting in such a way that it looks as though they are in flight.
Regina's jet disturbs his wispy beard
The sound or turbulence from Regina's plane bothers the painted sage's wispy beard.
When you reach Kyoto send a postcard if you can
The singer requests that if the message's recipient travels to Kyoto, they should send a postcard if possible.
And please convey my fond regards to Chihhao's girl Yu-lan
The singer asks that the recipient give their warm regards to Yu-lan, who is associated with Chihhao.
I heard a rumor they were getting married
The singer is aware of a rumor that Chihhao and Yu-lan are planning to get married.
But someone left the papers in Japan
Unfortunately, the papers related to Chihhao and Yu-lan's wedding plans were left behind in Japan.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind