Nomi moved from Germany to New York City in the mid-1970s. He began his involvement with the art scene based in the East Village. After a chance meeting in a nightclub, David Bowie hired him and Joey Arias as back-up singers for a performance on Saturday Night Live on December 14, 1979. Nomi also collaborated with famed producer Man Parrish.
Nomi is remembered for his bizarrely theatrical live performances, sporting heavy make-up, unusual costumes, and highly-stylized hairdos. His songs were just as unusual, ranging from synthesizer-laden interpretations of classic opera to covers of songs like Chubby Checker's The Twist.
In the 1990s, Nomi was frequently mentioned in Dennis Miller's monologues as one of his favorite obscure references.
Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh will often play Nomi's cover of Lesley Gore's You Don't Own Me on his program (as introductory music for news items regarding homosexuality).
A cartoon called "The Venture Brothers" had Klaus with David Bowie.
Episode 213 26 "Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part II)"
Aired October 15, 2006 (2006-10-15)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showdown_at_Cremation_Creek_%28Part_II%29
Born: January 24, 1944; Immenstadt, Germany
Died: August 6, 1983 (aged 39); New York, NY, U.S.
Years active: 1977-1983
Death
Klaus Nomi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On thy bosom let me rest
More I would, but death invades me
Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble
In thy breast.
When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble
In thy breast.
Remember me,
Remember me,
But aaaaah
Forget my fate,
Remember me!
But aaaaah
Forget my fate.
Remember me,
Remember me,
But aaaaah
Forget my fate,
Remember me!
But aaaaah
Forget my fate.
Klaus Nomi's "Death" is a heart-wrenching and sorrowful aria from the opera "Dido and Aeneas" by Henry Purcell. The lyrics are spoken from the perspective of the character Dido, who is dying and bidding farewell to her beloved handmaiden Belinda. The lines "Thy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me / On thy bosom let me rest / More I would, but death invades me / Death is now a welcome guest" reveal Dido's acceptance of death and desire for comfort in her final moments. She acknowledges that death has come to take her, but she embraces it as a "welcome guest," perhaps indicating that her life has been filled with hardship and pain.
The second half of the song is a haunting repetition of the phrase "When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create / No trouble, no trouble / In thy breast." Dido is essentially begging Belinda to remember her in a positive light, despite any wrongdoing she may have committed. She longs to be remembered, but she also wishes for her legacy to be one of peace and without any burden on those who loved her.
Overall, "Death" is a beautiful and tragic song about coming to terms with one's own mortality and seeking a peaceful legacy after death.
Line by Line Meaning
Thy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me
Belinda, please offer me comfort as I face my impending death in the dark.
On thy bosom let me rest
Let me find peace and solace in your embrace.
More I would, but death invades me
Although I wish to live longer, death is swiftly approaching and taking over.
Death is now a welcome guest.
I have accepted death as my fate and no longer fear it.
When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create
After I have been buried, I hope that the wrongs I have committed in life will not cause any trouble or distress.
No trouble, no trouble
May my mistakes and sins cause no pain or disruption.
In thy breast.
May my memory remain in your heart and find comfort there.
Remember me,
Please do not forget me even after I am gone.
But aaaaah
I know that this is inevitable and I accept it with a heavy heart.
Forget my fate,
Do not focus on my death and instead remember me for who I was.
Remember me!
Hold onto my memory and cherish it.
But aaaaah
Even though I am gone, my legacy will live on.
Forget my fate.
Do not dwell on my death or pity me, but celebrate my life and what I stood for.
Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Williams Postoronnim
Полный текст и мой перевод:
Thy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me,
on thy bosom let me rest;
More I would, but Death invades me,
Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid, am laid in earth,
may my wrongs create
no trouble, no trouble in thy breast.
Remember me, remember me, but ah!
forget my fate.
Белинда, руку дай! Вот сумрак на пороге.
Дай на груди твоей найти покой;
Хотела б большего, но Смерть, но Смерть приходит,
Смерть - гость теперь желанный мой.
Когда в сырую землю, в землю лягу, Боже!
Пусть прегрешения мои на твой покой,
Души твоей покой тень не наложат.
Ты помни, помни обо мне, но всё же,
Увы и ах! - забудь про жребий мой!
Сравнивал с иными исполнителями Dido's Lament. Нет, Номи самый лучший!!
Angela Heiterbiswolkig
Klaus Nomi war ein Gesamtkunstwerk. Neben seiner optischen außergewöhnlichen Erscheinung hat er, ganz besonders bei Arien wie diesen und ruhigeren Songs, so unglaublich viel an Gefühl transportiert und das ist nicht erlernbar, das ist eine Gabe und ein Geschenk. Ich denke, dass er vielen Menschen die Tür zur Klassik geöffnet hat bis heute, so wie bei mir auch. We remember you, Klaus Sperber
Andrzej Kłak
I've heard quite a few performances of this song, and I think his performance is the best one. It's true he's a little out of tune, but I find it an advantage, not a drawback of his interpretation! I think he did that on purpose. Thanks to a higher tune of his singing, the whole song sounds much more dramatic. Like if a lonely demon of death sung it, not a human. When you think about the fact he was recording this song actually awaiting his own death, it becomes one of the most touching songs.
JUB38
Oh yes, you're so right..!!!
cattycorner
I agree that this version of "Thy hand Belinda" is the best I've ever heard. I can't believe it took me all these years to hear it as I just discovered Klaus Nomi moments ago.
f.w.
Dame Janet Baker
Guy Montag
Klaus, please come back. Earth needs you. "Remember me, Remember me". We do, after 40 years, we Remember you. Such a beautiful soul.
jordan castaneda
I would love to see everyone commenting bad technique to show any evidence that they have ever taken a single singing lesson in opera. To go up so smoothly, to enunciate to meticulously, to project so resonantly, thats a master class of technique and most importantly nerve. Which is why after what, 30 years and no press coverage, that were all here listening to him
Kevin Osborne
Most don't know that Klaus WAS trained in operatic technique .
Lisa Anselmo
I'm a trained opera singer and have done this role. This version gives me chills. It's perfection and very in keeping with the era. I'd take two wild notes from Klaus Nomi over 100 "perfect" notes from Renee Boring as F*ck Fleming.
R.J. Paul
Thanks for that Jordan, well said. Anyone who can listen to this without getting goosebumps ain't got a pulse.