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.
Dunwich Beach Autumn 1960
Brian Eno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein′n Brüdern Poker
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker (abow)
Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein'n Brüdern Poker
Sommer ′21, ich mach gut Kohle
Weil mein Clubbesuch aus Deal'n besteht wie 'n Fußboden (çüş)
Ja, Winter ′22, muss für Tour proben, ah
Leben ist befriedigend wie meine Schulnoten (abow)
Hatte nicht ma′ 'ne EP gedroppt, doch Sold-out-Show im Astra
Erstell mit Handy kurz vor Deadline selber meine Cover
Ich-ich geh nicht mit dem Trend und mach jetzt mehr Geld als mein Papa, ah
Business und privat hat sich getrennt wie meine Eltern, als ich acht war (ah)
Dacht mit dreizehn nur an Dingsbums (bums)
War im Stimmbruch, hatte eine Jelzin intus
Ging in die zehnte Klasse mit ei′m fetten Bubatz im Mund
Als wäre ich ein Handwerker, denn ich drehte den im Bus
Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein'n Brüdern Poker
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker (abow)
Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein′n Brüdern Poker
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker
Para yok, keine Patte in der Tasche, ja
Chill mit Lucas Prager Platz, hol'n Falafel auf sein′n Nacken
Klau 'ne Flasche Hartalk, ich hab starken Herzschlag an der Kasse
Nächster Tag verkatert, geh zu Hertha mit den Atzen
Ich hab aus Spaß gerappt, aber releaste keine Sachen (ne), eh
Adri meinte, ich soll's einfach machen (muah)
Einen Song gedroppt, dann wusst ich, so kann es klappen
Keine Kappe, ja, ich hatte die Vision wie in Mathe (uff)
(Au-au-) ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein′n Brüdern Poker
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker (abow)
Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein′n Brüdern Poker
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker (abow)
These lyrics are from the German song "Ausverkaufte Tour" by Rapper Kianush. Kianush expresses his unconventional journey to success in the music industry. He explains that even though he climbed over the fence to get into the club, he now performs sold-out shows in the same venue. The people he deals drugs with are his close friends and he warns others not to mess with them. He also reveals that he used to work in finance as a broker before transitioning to music. Kianush admits that he did not take music seriously at first, but with hard work and a little help from a friend, he was able to release his first song and become successful.
Overall, the lyrics describe Kianush's determination and rise to success in the music industry. He acknowledges his unconventional beginnings but is proud of where he has ended up.
Line by Line Meaning
Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona
Despite having sold-out shows, I have only been rapping since the pandemic began.
Ich bin übern Zaun geklettert in den Club, jetzt spiel ich Shows da
I snuck into the club and now I perform shows there.
Einer von uns dealt, doch spiel nicht mit mein'n Brüdern Poker
One of my friends is a dealer, but don't play poker with my brothers.
War nie an der Börse, aber ich war früher broker
I have never been involved in the stock market, but I used to be a broker.
Sommer ′21, ich mach gut Kohle
In summer of 2021, I am making good money.
Weil mein Clubbesuch aus Deal'n besteht wie 'n Fußboden (çüş)
Because my visits to the club involve a lot of dealing, like a busy footpath.
Ja, Winter ′22, muss für Tour proben, ah
Yes, in winter of 2022, I have to rehearse for my tour.
Leben ist befriedigend wie meine Schulnoten (abow)
Life is as satisfying as my grades in school.
Hatte nicht ma′ 'ne EP gedroppt, doch Sold-out-Show im Astra
I haven't even dropped an EP yet, but I had a sold-out show at Astra.
Erstell mit Handy kurz vor Deadline selber meine Cover
I create my own album covers on my phone just before the deadline.
Ich-ich geh nicht mit dem Trend und mach jetzt mehr Geld als mein Papa, ah
I don't follow the trend and now I make more money than my dad.
Business und privat hat sich getrennt wie meine Eltern, als ich acht war (ah)
Business and personal life have separated like my parents did when I was eight (ah).
Dacht mit dreizehn nur an Dingsbums (bums)
At thirteen, I only thought about thingamajigs (bums).
War im Stimmbruch, hatte eine Jelzin intus
I was going through puberty, and had a Jelzin (drink) in hand.
Ging in die zehnte Klasse mit ei′m fetten Bubatz im Mund
I went to tenth grade with a big bubble gum in my mouth.
Als wäre ich ein Handwerker, denn ich drehte den im Bus
As if I was a craftsman, I chewed the gum and blew bubbles on the bus.
Para yok, keine Patte in der Tasche, ja
No money, no cash in my pocket, yes.
Chill mit Lucas Prager Platz, hol'n Falafel auf sein′n Nacken
I hang out with Lucas Prager Platz, and we carry falafel on our backs.
Klau 'ne Flasche Hartalk, ich hab starken Herzschlag an der Kasse
I stole a bottle of Hartalk, and my heart was racing at the checkout.
Nächster Tag verkatert, geh zu Hertha mit den Atzen
The next day, I am hungover, and I go to Hertha (football club) with my friends.
Ich hab aus Spaß gerappt, aber releaste keine Sachen (ne), eh
I started rapping for fun, but I didn't release any songs.
Adri meinte, ich soll's einfach machen (muah)
Adri told me to just do it (muah).
Einen Song gedroppt, dann wusst ich, so kann es klappen
I dropped a song, and then I knew it could work out.
Keine Kappe, ja, ich hatte die Vision wie in Mathe (uff)
No cap, yes, I had the vision like in math (uff).
Writer(s): Moritz
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.