Laura Phillips Anderson was born June 5, 1947, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States. She attended Mills College in California, and eventually graduated from Barnard College magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, studying art history. In 1972, she obtained an MFA in sculpture from Columbia University.
She performed in New York through the 1970s. Two early pieces, "New York Social Life" and "Time to Go," were included in the 1977 compilation New Music for Electronic and Recorded Media, along with works by Pauline Oliveros and others.
She became more widely known in 1982 with the single "O Superman," originally released in a limited quantity by One Ten Records; a sudden influx of orders from the U.K. (prompted by British DJ John Peel playing the record) led to Anderson signing with the Warner Brothers label, which re-released the single. "O Superman" reached number two on the national pop charts in Britain.
"O Superman" was part of a larger stage work entitled United States and was included on her following album, Big Science. Her more recent stage work includes a multimedia presentation inspired by Moby Dick. She starred in and directed the 1986 concert film, Home of the Brave, and also composed the soundtracks for the Spalding Gray films Swimming to Cambodia and Monster in a Box. All of Anderson's albums from the 1980s sold very well despite being labeled "avant garde". Her varied career has even included voice-acting in the animated film The Rugrats Movie. In 1994 she created a CD-ROM entitled Puppet Motel.
She wrote a supplemental article on the cultural character of New York City for the Encyclopædia Britannica and in the late 1980s hosted the PBS series, Alive from Off Center, for which she produced the short film, What You Mean We?.
One of the central themes in Anderson's work is exploring the effects of technology on human interrelationships and communication.
Anderson has collaborated with William Burroughs, Mitchell Froom, Arto Lindsay, Peter Gabriel, Perry Hoberman, David Sylvian, Jean Michel Jarre, Hector Zazou, Nona Hendryx, David Van Tieghem, and husband Lou Reed. She also worked with comedian Andy Kaufman in the late 1970s (with a romantic involvement hinted at in some of her spoken word performances about him).
Anderson, who rarely revisits older work (though themes and lyrics occasionally reappear) went on tour performing a selection of her best-known musical pieces in 2001. One of these performances was recorded in New York City only a week after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and included a performance of "O Superman". This concert was released in early 2002 as the double CD, Live in New York, which remains her most recent album release.
In 2003, Anderson became NASA's first and so far only artist-in-residence, which inspired her most recent performance piece, The End of the Moon.
Rumors emerged of a possible new album release in the fall of 2004, but this turned out to be false as Anderson seems too busy mounting a succession of themed shows, as well as composing a piece for Expo 2005 in Japan.
In February 2010, Laurie Anderson premiered a new theatrical work, entitled Delusion, at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. This piece was commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and the Barbican Centre, London.
In May/June 2010, Anderson curated the Vivid Sydney festival in Sydney, Australia together with Lou Reed
In late June 2010, with the production assistance of husband Lou Reed, as well as Roma Baran. Laurie Anderson released her first full length studio album in near a decade with that of: "Homeland" on Nonesuch Records. Receiving much critical acclaim, "Homeland" has been lauded by many as Anderson's crowning auditory achievement. A conglomerated assimilation of her many persona's, characters and decades work exploring and experimenting in a multitude of artistic mediums.
Also featured on the "Homeland" album are a number of famed collaborators, including John Zorn (saxophone on tracks 8 & 11), Kieran Hebden of "Four Tet" fame (keyboards on track 5), Antony Hegarty (vocals on track 4), Husband Lou Reed himself on some guitar, and Tuvan throat singers. At 66 minutes, it is also Anderson's longest studio album.
Sites: Wikipedia
Born
Laurie Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full of people.
All kinds.
And they had all arrived at the same buidling at more or less the same time.
And they were all free.
And they were all asking themselves the same question:
What is behind that curtain?
You were born.
So happy birthday.
The lyrics of Laurie Anderson's song, "Born, Never Asked," contain a beautiful blend of existentialism and freedom. The first stanza sets the scene and creates imagery of a large room with diverse people who have all arrived at the same building at the same time. They are all free, and as they all ponder what is behind the curtain, the lyrics then directly speak to the listener, "You were born. And so you're free. So happy birthday." This simple statement serves to remind the listener that one's existence alone brings them freedom.
The song encourages listeners to embrace their freedom and find purpose in their lives. There are no limitations, only what individuals choose to create for themselves. The lyrics suggest that one's existence constitutes freedom, and it is up to the individual to find their own purpose and path in life. This message is both empowering and inspiring, as it encourages the listener to think beyond their current circumstances and take advantage of the freedom they possess.
Overall, Laurie Anderson's song, "Born, Never Asked," serves as a beautiful reminder of the power of freedom and the importance of personal agency. Through the use of vivid imagery and existentialist philosophy, the song encourages the listener to embrace their independence and find purpose in their existence.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a large room.
The space was vast.
Full of people.
Crowded with individuals.
All kinds.
Representing diverse types.
And they had all arrived at the same building at more or less the same time.
They came to the same location around the same time.
And they were all free.
Without restrictions or limitations.
And they were all asking themselves the same question:
All had a common query in mind:
What is behind that curtain?
What lies concealed behind the drapes?
You were born.
Birth occurred.
And so you're free.
Therefore you experience liberty.
So happy birthday.
Celebratory wishes on your birthday.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LAURIE ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yaninaromero8065
In Argentina there was a tv commercial with this song in 1987, and they played it for more than 5 years and for me it is perfect until today!!! I love this song ❤️
@andresandres113
el mejor , el de colbert
@edubracco761
@@andresandres113 todos queriamos ser como el flaco de la propaganda.....😃
@rubirete
@@edubracco761 jajaja era así siempre quise ser ése
@AnaDetlova2012
I remember the commercial! I love this song!
@LolitaSalaPND
de que era la propaganda?
@armandobarreda6472
todo argentino cuarentón (sobre todo hombres), recordamos esta canción con nostalgia, cuando de niños al escucharla soñábamos con una vida adulta en plena libertad y sin rendirles cuentas a nadie.
@annaheer2844
But. @Armando Barreda
(°sigh° you'll never get this...no highlight)
I have lived as long! The Tell. The Tale. Before we were born we were free. Yes? Yes.
The song title: BORN, NEVER ASKED.
Never asked to be born here? Maybe. Maybe not.
Never asked if we MAY be born here? Maybe, maybe not. Either way. It is our curiosity and our COURAGE that led us to look behind that curtain. And the sight then, that we chose to be born. Only. Before we were born we were free. Born we were still free. Something. What? made us FORGET. DENY. we are free. Every memory of our birth must bring the memory that we are free. But. There is a sad sarcasm in " happy birthday"
Is it forgetting our free choice of courage. Every moment of freedom is an act of courage.
@papurey
Jajaja Tal cual!!! Tenía unos 8 años y me atrapaba ese comercial cuando lo pasaban un viernes a la noche y nos quedábamos mirando tele con mi viejo…alguna peli..en tv aire ( claro) ja.
@marianodiaz2946
Totalmente. Todos soñábamos con el loft la moto las pesas y la heladera siam indestructible 😂😂😂