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.
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 lyrics of Burning Airlines Give You So Much More by Brian Eno is a psychedelic commentary on the lifestyles of jet-setters, revolving around the character Regina. The track is carried forward by intersecting stories and Eno’s remarkable, eccentric touch. The first verse talks about Sweet Regina, who has apparently gone to China and is seated in a cross-legged position on the floor of a burning jet. The chorus, “Burning airlines give you so much more” is a recurring statement that reflects how even though travelling by air may be convenient, it has its risks.
The second verse describes the way Regina will live in far Cathay, it’s hard for the singer to imagine her planting rice all day - instead, he imagines her spying, with cameras hidden in her hair. The third verse introduces the character Chihhao’s girl Yu-lan, and the chorus is reprised with the additional line that someone has left their marriage papers in Japan. The track almost feels like a stream-of-consciousness monologue that flits around the world and explores different life experiences, represented through the character Regina and her friends.
This song, much like other tracks of the album, is devoted to ‘the beauty of life’ and present-day pitfalls of living – in this context, especially globally, it is relatable to the world of air travel that we live in. Through the flighty, trippy lyrics of Regina’s story comes forth a questioning of our lifestyles and priorities, and ultimately, what it all means.
Line by Line Meaning
When I got back home I found a message on the door
Upon returning home, the singer discovered a message on their door.
Sweet Regina's gone to China cross legged on the floor
Regina is in China, seated on the floor with her legs crossed.
Of a burning jet that's smoothly flying
Regina is on a smoothly flying jet that is also burning.
Burning airlines give you so much more
The dangerous and dramatic nature of flying on a burning airplane offers a unique experience that regular flights cannot match.
How does she intend to live when she's in far Cathay
The artist wonders how Regina plans to live in China.
I somehow can't imagine her just planting rice all day
The singer thinks that Regina is too active for a mundane job like planting rice all day.
Maybe she will do a bit of spying
The singer suggests that Regina might be a spy.
With micro cameras hidden in her hair
If Regina is indeed a spy, she may have hidden micro cameras in her hair.
I guess regina's on a plane a Newsweek on her knees
The artist imagines that Regina may be reading a Newsweek magazine on the plane.
While miles below the curlews call from strangely stunted trees
Meanwhile, outside the plane, the artist hears the curlews calling from stunted trees below.
The painted sage sits just as though he's flying
From Regina's perspective, the landscape appears as though the painted sage is flying alongside the plane.
Regina's jet disturbs his wispy beard
The painted sage's wispy beard is disturbed by the turbulence caused by Regina's jet.
When you reach Kyoto send a postcard if you can
The singer requests that if Regina reaches Kyoto, she should send a postcard.
And please convey my fond regards to Chihhao's girl Yu-lan
The singer asks Regina to send their regards to someone named Yu-lan, who is Chihhao's girl.
I heard a rumor they were getting married
The singer has heard a rumor that Chihhao and Yu-lan are getting married.
But someone left the papers in Japan
Unfortunately, the papers necessary for the marriage were left behind in Japan.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind