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.
The Secret
Brian Eno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it me? You don't know, don't worry
Just get your teeth back
Just keep doing your thing don't worry
The sun ain't shining
Why are people still crying?
Pace through the morning you feel my mind
And I miss you so much
But you're not on your side
Cause I'm still breathing
In my secret life, in my secret life
Hold on, hold on my brother
My sister hold on tight
Finally found my whole life
Soldiers marching through the morning
Marching through the night
Moving across the borders of our secret life
Of my secret life
I see it clearer you made yourself like that
But I your part that call was mine
Hold on, hold on my brother
My sister hold on tight
Finally found my whole life
Soldiers marching through the morning
Marching through the night
Moving across the borders of our secret life
The lyrics to Brian Eno's song "The Secret" evoke a sense of uncertainty and reflection on personal experiences. The opening lines, "You don't know, don't worry, Is it me? You don't know, don't worry, Just get your teeth back, Just keep doing your thing don't worry," suggest a state of confusion and reassurance. It seems as though the singer is talking to someone who is unsure or feeling lost, offering encouragement to stay true to themselves and not be concerned about what others think.
The lines "The sun ain't shining, Why are people still crying?" convey a sense of disillusionment or disappointment towards the world. Despite the absence of positivity, there remains a question of why people continue to suffer or express sadness. It could be interpreted as a commentary on the undercurrents of struggle and pain that exist even in seemingly bright and optimistic times.
The chorus, "And I miss you so much, But you're not on your side, Cause I'm still breathing, In my secret life, in my secret life," suggests a longing for someone or something, perhaps a lost connection or a missed opportunity. The idea of a "secret life" gives the impression of a hidden existence or internal world that only the singer is aware of. It creates a sense of mystery and introspection, hinting at the complexity of the human experience and the layers of emotions we may carry within us.
Overall, "The Secret" captures a feeling of uncertainty, reflection, and the hidden aspects of one's personal journey. It invites the listener to explore their own secret life and find solace in their individual experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know, don't worry (hold up)
You may lack knowledge and understanding, but there is no need to be concerned (wait a moment)
Is it me? You don't know, don't worry
Could it be my fault? You are unaware and should not be preoccupied
Just get your teeth back
Recover your resilience and determination
Just keep doing your thing don't worry
Continue pursuing your own path without anxiety
The sun ain't shining
The world may not be experiencing brightness or positivity
Why are people still crying?
What is the reason behind people's continued sadness and tears?
Pace through the morning you feel my mind
Walk briskly during the morning and sense the workings of my thoughts
Tasting to feel it this the time?
Are you attempting to discern and experience the present moment?
And I miss you so much
I deeply long for your presence
But you're not on your side
However, you are not supporting your own interests
Cause I'm still breathing
Because I am still alive and surviving
In my secret life, in my secret life
Within the concealed aspects of my existence, in my hidden reality
Hold on, hold on my brother
Maintain your grip, persevere, my male sibling
My sister hold on tight
My female sibling, grasp firmly and endure
Finally found my whole life
I have ultimately discovered the completeness of my existence
Soldiers marching through the morning
Warriors moving forward during the early part of the day
Marching through the night
Advancing and progressing throughout the darkness of night
Moving across the borders of our secret life
Transitioning beyond the boundaries of our clandestine existence
I see it clearer you made yourself like that
I perceive it more vividly, you have shaped yourself in that manner
But I your part that call was mine
Yet, I hold ownership over the role you played
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
billyx67
Wasn't this in the movie " The Lovely Bones " ? .....Well if I'm wrong it's still a very cool ambient track !
Wilson Reyes
Yes this is, I see this movie six hours ago, five times, ¡GREAT! :D