Richter is known for his prolific output: composing and recording his own music; writing for stage, opera, ballet and screen; producing and collaborating on the records of others; and collaborating with performance, installation and media artists. He has recorded seven solo albums and his music is widely used in cinema.
Richter was born in Hamelin, Lower Saxony, Germany. He grew up in Bedford, United Kingdom, and his education was at Bedford Modern School and Mander College of Further Education. He studied composition and piano at the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Academy of Music, and with Luciano Berio in Florence. After finishing his studies, Richter co-founded the contemporary classical ensemble Piano Circus.] He stayed with the group for ten years, commissioning and performing works by minimalist musicians such as Arvo Pärt, Brian Eno, Philip Glass, Julia Wolfe, and Steve Reich. The ensemble was signed to Decca/Argo, producing five albums.
In 1996, Richter collaborated with Future Sound of London on their album Dead Cities, beginning as a pianist, but ultimately working on several tracks, as well as co-writing one track (titled Max). Richter worked with the band for two years, also contributing to the albums The Isness and The Peppermint Tree and Seeds of Superconsciousness. In 2000, Richter worked with Mercury Prize winner Roni Size on the Reprazent album In the Møde. Richter produced Vashti Bunyan's 2005 album Lookaftering and Kelli Ali's 2008 album Rocking Horse.
Max Richter has created numerous film and television soundtracks over the years. He composed the score to Ari Folman's Golden Globe-winning film Waltz with Bashir in 2007 supplanting the standard orchestral soundtrack with synth-based sounds and winning him the European Film Award for Best Composer. He also scored the independent feature film Henry May Long, starring Randy Sharp and Brian Barnhart, in 2008 and wrote the music for Feo Aladag's film Die Fremde (with additional music by Stéphane Moucha).
In 2010 Dinah Washington's This Bitter Earth was remixed with Richter's On the Nature of Daylight for the Martin Scorsese film Shutter Island. In July 2010, On the Nature of Daylight and Vladimir's Blues featured throughout the BBC Two two-part drama Dive, which was co-written by BAFTA-winning Dominic Savage and Simon Stevens. On the Nature of Daylight was also featured in an episode of HBO's television series Luck. Four tracks—"Europe, After the Rain", "The Twins (Prague)", "Fragment", and "Embers"—were used in the six-part 2005 BBC documentary Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution produced by Laurence Rees.[45] Richter also wrote the soundtrack to Peter Richardson's documentary, How to Die in Oregon,[46] and the score to Impardonnables (2011) directed by André Téchiné.
An excerpt of the song Sarajevo from his 2002 album Memoryhouse was used in the international trailer for the Ridley Scott film Prometheus. The track, November, from the same album, was featured in the international trailer for Terrence Malick's 2012 film, To the Wonder, and in the trailer for Clint Eastwood's 2011 film, J. Edgar. Films featuring Richter's music released in 2011 include French drama Elle s'appelait Sarah by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, and David MacKenzie's romantic thriller Perfect Sense. In 2012 he composed the scores for Cate Shortland's 2012 Australian-German war thriller Lore and Disconnect, directed by Henry Alex Rubin. Richter latest project is the score to Ari Folman's new film The Congress, which was released in 2013.
Richter is also the composer of the original soundtrack for the HBO series The Leftovers created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, which was premiered in June 2014. Some of the compositions are included in the albums Memoryhouse and The Blue Notebooks.
In 2016, Richter composed the score to Nosedive, an episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror. His piece On the Nature of Daylight opens and closes Denis Villeneuve's film Arrival. He wrote the score to Luke Scott's debut feature Morgan, and the score to Miss Sloane. He composed all the music in BBC One's drama Taboo which was broadcast in January and February 2017.
Richter wrote the score to Infra as part of a Royal Ballet-commissioned collaboration with dancer Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie. The production was staged at the Royal Opera House in London in 2008. In 2011, Richter composed a chamber opera based on neuroscientist David Eagleman's book Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives. The opera was choreographed by Wayne McGregor and premiered at the Royal Opera House Linbury Studio Theatre in 2012. The piece received positive reviews, with London's Evening Standard saying "[it] fits together rather beautifully".[50] Their collaboration continued in April 2014 with Wayne McGregor's 'Kairos'; a ballet set to Richter's recomposition of the Four Seasons and part of a collaborative program involving three different choreographers titled 'Notations' with Ballett Zürich.[51] In April 2014 it was also announced that Richter and McGregor will collaborate again together on a new full-length ballet for summer 2015, as part of the 2014–15 Royal Opera House season.[52] In 2012/13, Richter contributed music to The National Theatre of Scotland's production of Macbeth, starring Alan Cumming. The play opened at New York's Lincoln Centre and subsequently moved to Broadway.[53] The company had previously used Richter's 'Last Days' in their acclaimed production of Black Watch.
In 2010, Richter's soundscape The Anthropocene formed part of Darren Almond's film installation at the White Cube gallery in London. The composer has also collaborated with digital art collective Random International on two projects, contributing scores to the installations Future Self (2012),[54] staged at the MADE space in Berlin, and Rain Room (2012/13) at London's Barbican Centre[55] and MOMA, New York.
Enola Gay
Max Richter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oho it can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
These games you play, they're gonna end it all in tears someday
Oho Enola gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
It's 8:15, that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
Enola gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
Oho Enola gay, it should've faded our dreams away
It's 8:15, oh that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
Oho, this you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
The song "Enola Gay" by Max Richter is a haunting meditation on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The Enola Gay was the name of the airplane that dropped the atomic bomb on the city. The lyrics tell the story of the plane and its mission, as well as the devastating impact it had on the people of Japan. The opening lines of the song, "Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday, Oho it can't describe the feeling and the way you lied," seem to suggest a sense of regret or remorse about the decision to drop the bomb. The lyrics then move on to describe how the "games you play" will "end it all in tears someday."
The song then shifts to a more factual tone, describing the time of the bombing ("It's 8:15, that's the time that it's always been") and the message received on the radio after the attack ("We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home"). The lyrics then return to a more emotional tone, asking whether "mother [is] proud of little boy today" and acknowledging that the "kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away." Overall, the song seems to be a lament for the loss of innocent lives and a critique of the decision to use atomic weapons in warfare.
Line by Line Meaning
Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
The singer suggests that the Enola Gay, a plane that dropped the atomic bomb, should have stayed grounded as it has caused immense destruction and loss of life that could have been avoided.
Oho it can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
The singer conveys the feeling of devastation and horror caused by the atomic bomb dropped by the Enola Gay and how the act was built on a lie and deception.
These games you play, they're gonna end it all in tears someday
The singer points out that the destructive and violent games nations play such as possessing nuclear weapons will ultimately lead to catastrophic consequences.
Oho Enola gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
The singer laments the fact that the Enola Gay and its devastating impact on the world could have been avoided if wiser and more peaceful decisions were made.
It's 8:15, that's the time that it's always been
The singer highlights the precise moment - 8:15 - when the atomic bomb was dropped, forever changing the course of history.
We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home
The singer invokes the official message from the Enola Gay crew after they dropped the bomb, revealing the chillingly normal, business-as-usual attitude despite the devastating consequences of their actions.
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
The singer questions the morality of the decision and actions of the Enola Gay crew, and how such an act could make a mother proud of her 'little boy'.
Oho, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
The singer expresses a sense of remorse and guilt, that the impact of the atomic bomb has left an indelible mark on the world that can never be erased.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M.F. Productions
The European State of the USA
For decades now since the 60's we have been pushed and bullied into believing that the US way was the good way and the only way to move forward. Selfishness and greed , bigger and better and more was the way forward. To me, I believe this has failed our society in a big way . The divide between rich and poor has become increasingly bigger over the last ten years. I am in no means against enriching yourself if it also benefits the community as a whole, but now we see that money is being kept abroad in safe havens to avoid being taxed . The way money is presented by the stars, making hundreds of millions of dollars, the way footballers are paid and the life style they have is just a big thump in the stomach of the people that have nothing. We have been trained and brainwashed to like these people and to adore their lifestyles.
Multi billion dollar companies like G##gle, Micr#soft , Faceb##k , Apple and Amaz#n are slowly sucking us dry to keep the stocks on a healthy level. New innovations every month and we are told how much we need to get a hold of it , we can't live without these gadgets we are made to believe. As they grow larger each week I have come to the conclusion that without these big tech companies the USA would fall to pieces as China has took up most of the export of steel and aluminum and other commodities. What would North America be without these tech companies? Apple has just reached it's 1 trillion mark. What is Apple doing for the rest of the world? Imagine you live in Africa , you buy a smartphone and you see the world from the perspective of what the big tech companies want you to see, it's a natural dream for the poor in Africa to want to fulfill this dream, the dream that the people live in Europe, many will risk their lives to be able to live that dream. Cross the dangerous sea or be a stowaway in the landing gear of a Boeing.
We are all to blame for striving to be as the USA . We are programmed to live that dream. It is in the United States interest to keep us in that dream. Facebook conned us in a big way, taking all our liberties, our most intimate feelings and selling it on to other tech companies wanting to know our inner behavior , our psychology. We fully accepted this because we just wanted to be a part of a friendly community , a place where we could have friends and share things we enjoyed. Now we not only share the good but also our most deep thoughts on religion, immigration, politics , where we go and where we eat, where we travel, who we love and who we hate. People are executed socially on sites like Facebook before they have even been arrested. Fake news is at its peak doing its best to cause divide between people . It is expected that you open up to the community and let your feelings be heard.
Companies like Netflix need to grow, need to be the absolute winners. These big companies take over other companies so that the public is left with little other option than to watch Netflix. Phone companies and providers are merging and becoming stronger . Your choice has been diminished over the last years. The strong are out to be the biggest with no competition. Google will even go as far as getting a censored search engine in China. Money is the driving force . Aliexpress was once a good bargain website but is now having to rise prices to keep profits on growth . Retail stores in Europe are beginning to take back competition from Aliexpress . People do not like waiting for orders to come from China so they will pay an extra few dollars to have it the next day. Aliexpress is not sustainable outside of Asia. Because of imposed Trump tariffs thing's will be getting a lot more difficult for the Chinese. Iran is another country most probably heading for another revolution. Hit by sanctions that will see oil prices go up eventually and possibly a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz causing only more tention and instability. Gold prices will soar in the years to come as currency becomes worthless in these countries.
Apple will only allow so called trusted apps , developers of apps that are sold on Apple app store have to pay 30% of every dollar made, 30% of ever app sold. This is absurd . This is why many developers are now selling there apps through their own websites. This is a reason I will never buy an apple. It forces me to buy apps through its own app store . I reject this . Apple boss Tim Cook sent out a memo praising his team, putting his costumers first, hell yeah with a phone priced at 1.000 dollars.
The most vunerable are the young teenagers growing up into this mad and crazy world, if your different than the 95% mainstream then your in need of a therapist. It's the 95% of the young who need therapy. What have we taught our children? All that is taught is seen through a little screen . People are engaging in this cattle like behavior. You join or your an outcast, if you can't afford to be an active member of this program then your not welcome. What we have created is what will eventually kill us all. Economies are not made to grow at such fast paces, it is not sustainable. China has been growing and extending its markets worldwide , this to the dismay of Trump. We want it all , make America great again. No your making America dive into its most darkest of times , never seen before. Civil unrest comes with divide, you against us, black against white, Muslims against Christians, poor against rich.
Israel and Iran is a fuse waiting to happen. Oil states are seeing their wealth decline because of other energy sources such as electric powered cars, wind and sun energy. These once very rich countries have no other resource to sell except tourism . Expect a rise in extremist thoughts in the middle east.
Little to mid range businesses are making little turnover, Amazon is eating away at the little slices of cake still available. Money is power , but for how long? As money will get tighter so will the human, he will have to look for other means of survival. For now we just believe what our screen is telling us. Robots and Artificial Intelligence are taking jobs , 1 day they will replace you.
Trump politics work like this, he throws the most ridiculous policies at Europe and China etc.. And he knows if he gets 25% of what he's asking for he is a winner. It's the corporate way of doing things. Come in fists flying and leave with a good deal for America. America forgets that we are quite efficient in Europe. We don't need your oil, corn or big cars. We are not afraid of Putin. We are afraid of America and its strangling hold it thinks it has on us all. Their algorithms have enslaved us. Their networks are deceiving us , robbing us .
Ask yourselves , are we not just commodities ? modern slaves , digital prostitutes . Anti Socials .
Rodrigo Franco
Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
Oho it can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
These games you play, they're gonna end it all in tears someday
Oho Enola gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
It's 8:15, that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
Oho, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
Enola gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
Oho Enola gay, it should've faded our dreams away
It's 8:15, oh that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, condition's normal and you're coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
Oho, this you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
M.F. Productions
The European State of the USA
For decades now since the 60's we have been pushed and bullied into believing that the US way was the good way and the only way to move forward. Selfishness and greed , bigger and better and more was the way forward. To me, I believe this has failed our society in a big way . The divide between rich and poor has become increasingly bigger over the last ten years. I am in no means against enriching yourself if it also benefits the community as a whole, but now we see that money is being kept abroad in safe havens to avoid being taxed . The way money is presented by the stars, making hundreds of millions of dollars, the way footballers are paid and the life style they have is just a big thump in the stomach of the people that have nothing. We have been trained and brainwashed to like these people and to adore their lifestyles.
Multi billion dollar companies like G##gle, Micr#soft , Faceb##k , Apple and Amaz#n are slowly sucking us dry to keep the stocks on a healthy level. New innovations every month and we are told how much we need to get a hold of it , we can't live without these gadgets we are made to believe. As they grow larger each week I have come to the conclusion that without these big tech companies the USA would fall to pieces as China has took up most of the export of steel and aluminum and other commodities. What would North America be without these tech companies? Apple has just reached it's 1 trillion mark. What is Apple doing for the rest of the world? Imagine you live in Africa , you buy a smartphone and you see the world from the perspective of what the big tech companies want you to see, it's a natural dream for the poor in Africa to want to fulfill this dream, the dream that the people live in Europe, many will risk their lives to be able to live that dream. Cross the dangerous sea or be a stowaway in the landing gear of a Boeing.
We are all to blame for striving to be as the USA . We are programmed to live that dream. It is in the United States interest to keep us in that dream. Facebook conned us in a big way, taking all our liberties, our most intimate feelings and selling it on to other tech companies wanting to know our inner behavior , our psychology. We fully accepted this because we just wanted to be a part of a friendly community , a place where we could have friends and share things we enjoyed. Now we not only share the good but also our most deep thoughts on religion, immigration, politics , where we go and where we eat, where we travel, who we love and who we hate. People are executed socially on sites like Facebook before they have even been arrested. Fake news is at its peak doing its best to cause divide between people . It is expected that you open up to the community and let your feelings be heard.
Companies like Netflix need to grow, need to be the absolute winners. These big companies take over other companies so that the public is left with little other option than to watch Netflix. Phone companies and providers are merging and becoming stronger . Your choice has been diminished over the last years. The strong are out to be the biggest with no competition. Google will even go as far as getting a censored search engine in China. Money is the driving force . Aliexpress was once a good bargain website but is now having to rise prices to keep profits on growth . Retail stores in Europe are beginning to take back competition from Aliexpress . People do not like waiting for orders to come from China so they will pay an extra few dollars to have it the next day. Aliexpress is not sustainable outside of Asia. Because of imposed Trump tariffs thing's will be getting a lot more difficult for the Chinese. Iran is another country most probably heading for another revolution. Hit by sanctions that will see oil prices go up eventually and possibly a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz causing only more tention and instability. Gold prices will soar in the years to come as currency becomes worthless in these countries.
Apple will only allow so called trusted apps , developers of apps that are sold on Apple app store have to pay 30% of every dollar made, 30% of ever app sold. This is absurd . This is why many developers are now selling there apps through their own websites. This is a reason I will never buy an apple. It forces me to buy apps through its own app store . I reject this . Apple boss Tim Cook sent out a memo praising his team, putting his costumers first, hell yeah with a phone priced at 1.000 dollars.
The most vunerable are the young teenagers growing up into this mad and crazy world, if your different than the 95% mainstream then your in need of a therapist. It's the 95% of the young who need therapy. What have we taught our children? All that is taught is seen through a little screen . People are engaging in this cattle like behavior. You join or your an outcast, if you can't afford to be an active member of this program then your not welcome. What we have created is what will eventually kill us all. Economies are not made to grow at such fast paces, it is not sustainable. China has been growing and extending its markets worldwide , this to the dismay of Trump. We want it all , make America great again. No your making America dive into its most darkest of times , never seen before. Civil unrest comes with divide, you against us, black against white, Muslims against Christians, poor against rich.
Israel and Iran is a fuse waiting to happen. Oil states are seeing their wealth decline because of other energy sources such as electric powered cars, wind and sun energy. These once very rich countries have no other resource to sell except tourism . Expect a rise in extremist thoughts in the middle east.
Little to mid range businesses are making little turnover, Amazon is eating away at the little slices of cake still available. Money is power , but for how long? As money will get tighter so will the human, he will have to look for other means of survival. For now we just believe what our screen is telling us. Robots and Artificial Intelligence are taking jobs , 1 day they will replace you.
Trump politics work like this, he throws the most ridiculous policies at Europe and China etc.. And he knows if he gets 25% of what he's asking for he is a winner. It's the corporate way of doing things. Come in fists flying and leave with a good deal for America. America forgets that we are quite efficient in Europe. We don't need your oil, corn or big cars. We are not afraid of Putin. We are afraid of America and its strangling hold it thinks it has on us all. Their algorithms have enslaved us. Their networks are deceiving us , robbing us .
Ask yourselves , are we not just commodities ? modern slaves , digital prostitutes . Anti Socials .
Carlos Alberto Lignay Villanueva
welcome to reality.
M.F. Productions
@brian bowes i have read this 12 times but still it does not make any sense.
M.F. Productions
@orionh3000 do you hate the truth?
Bobby Lamb
Such a sad yet brilliant song
Darren wall
A true classic!
randomtennisball
This has quite possibly the funniest audio track I've heard on YouTube.
Matthew M.
Fantástico!!!!!!! Greetings from Portugal....
robert fenton
A song and a history lesson :)
Isabel Mena
Cuando escuche esta canción, siempre recordaré la película "Vals con Bashir" (2008)