Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK)… Read Full Bio ↴Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK), more popularly known under the artist name Momus (after the Greek god of mockery), is a songwriter, writer, blogger and artist. Most of his songs are self-referential or postmodern.

For more than twenty years he has been releasing, to only marginal commercial and critical success, playful and transgressive albums on labels in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In his lyrics and his other writing he makes seemingly random use of decontextualized pieces of continental (mostly French) philosophy, and has built up a personal world he says is "dominated by values like diversity, orientalism, and a respect for otherness." He is also known in certain circles outside the U.S. as a producer. He is fascinated by identity, Japan, the avant-garde, time travel and sex. Live Momus shows are rare but when he does perform he often sings the crowd favourite 'maf' from the Stars Forever LP.
He wears a patch over his right eye because he lost the use of it after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis from a contact lens case washed with Greek tap water.

Nick Currie currently resides in Osaka, Japan.

Radiant Night
Momus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm in love with Witold Gombrowicz
That sombre Polish man
I journey to the end of night with Louis F. Celine
But when I'm tired of reading novels by melancholy authors
I bounce on an enormous trampoline

'Pornographia', 'Ferdydurke', the Polish avant garde
I find Schonberg's 'Verklarte Nacht' the loveliest thing I've heard

But when I've lost my taste for the highest and the best
I bounce, I bounce, I bounce with zest

I'm very fond of Karlheinz Stockhausen
'Musique Concrete' excites me
Luciano Berio inflames my entire being
But when I've left behind the passion for serial composition
I bite at an enormous tangerine

Giacomo Leopardi, Stephane Mallarme
Diaghilev and Rilke, Lou Andreas Salome
But when I've lost my taste for the highest and the best
I bite, I bite, I bite with the best

I'm in love with Frederic Chopin and Isabelle Adjani
I play Charlotte Gainsbourg, Bambou and Jane Birkin at my party
But when the radiant night is over and the sun begins to shine
I kiss the simple lover who is mine

'Pornographia', 'Ferdydurke', the Polish avant garde
I find Schonberg's 'Verklarte Nacht' the loveliest thing I've heard
But when I've lost the taste for the highest and the best
I kiss, I kiss, I kiss with zest

Giacomo Leopardi, Stephane Mallarme
Diaghilev and Rilke, Lou Andreas Salome

But when I've lost the taste for the highest and the best
I laugh, I live, I love with the best

Overall Meaning

The song "Radiant Night" by Momus is a whimsical exploration of the artist's love for high culture and his need for levity. Momus is infatuated with the works of melancholic authors and composers such as Witold Gombrowicz, Louis F. Celine, Schonberg's 'Verklarte Nacht,' Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Luciano Berio. He revels in the beauty of the Polish avant-garde and the passion of serial composition. But when he grows tired of the weightiness of this highbrow culture, Momus turns to a simple pleasure: bouncing on an enormous trampoline or biting into an enormous tangerine.

The song even takes time to mention Giacomo Leopardi, Stephane Mallarme, Diaghilev and Rilke, and Lou Andreas Salome, all figures well known in the world of high culture. But ultimately, in the end, Momus realizes that he values love and simplicity above all. He mentions his love for Frederic Chopin and Isabelle Adjani and his fondness for the music of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Bambou, and Jane Birkin. When "the radiant night is over and the sun begins to shine," he embraces the simple lover who is his.

This playful song is a commentary on the idea that even those who are intellectuals need a break from deep thinking and high culture from time to time. It's a reminder to enjoy simple pleasures and not to take oneself too seriously.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm in love with Witold Gombrowicz
I have a strong admiration for Witold Gombrowicz, a Polish author known for his dark and serious writing style.

That sombre Polish man
Describing Gombrowicz as a man with a sombre or gloomy personality.

I journey to the end of night with Louis F. Celine
I enjoy reading the works of Louis F. Celine, especially his novel 'Journey to the End of Night.'

But when I'm tired of reading novels by melancholy authors
However, when I become weary of reading books by melancholy or somber authors like Gombrowicz or Celine.

I bounce on an enormous trampoline
I turn to something more lighthearted and fun like bouncing on a large trampoline.

'Pornographia', 'Ferdydurke', the Polish avant garde
I have a keen interest in Polish avant-garde literature, such as Gombrowicz's works 'Pornographia' and 'Ferdydurke'.

I find Schonberg's 'Verklarte Nacht' the loveliest thing I've heard
I particularly enjoy Arnold Schoenberg's composition 'Verklärte Nacht' and find it incredibly beautiful.

But when I've lost my taste for the highest and the best
However, when I become disinterested in the most acclaimed or prestigious forms of art or literature.

I bounce, I bounce, I bounce with zest
I opt to do something simple and enjoyable like bouncing on a trampoline with enthusiasm and energy.

I'm very fond of Karlheinz Stockhausen
I have a great fondness for Karlheinz Stockhausen, a German composer known for his experimental music.

'Musique Concrete' excites me
I am excited by the style of music known as 'Musique Concrete', which emphasizes using recorded sounds rather than traditional musical instruments.

Luciano Berio inflames my entire being
The music of Luciano Berio deeply moves and inspires me.

But when I've left behind the passion for serial composition
However, when I lose interest in the technical and complex style of composition known as serialism.

I bite at an enormous tangerine
I indulge in something simple and enjoyable like biting into a large and juicy tangerine.

Giacomo Leopardi, Stephane Mallarme
I have a strong admiration for poets Giacomo Leopardi and Stephane Mallarme.

Diaghilev and Rilke, Lou Andreas Salome
I also admire Sergei Diaghilev, poet Rainer Maria Rilke, and writer Lou Andreas Salome.

I kiss the simple lover who is mine
At the end of the night, I express affection towards my partner who is simple and uncomplicated compared to the intricate art and literature I enjoy.

But when the radiant night is over and the sun begins to shine
However, when the enjoyable and exhilarating time is over and it's time to face reality once again.

I kiss, I kiss, I kiss with zest
I express love with enthusiasm and energy towards my partner.

But when I've lost the taste for the highest and the best
However, when I become disinterested in the most acclaimed or prestigious forms of art or literature.

I laugh, I live, I love with the best
I choose to enjoy life, laugh and love with the best of them, regardless of the prestige of the art or literature I was formerly interested in.

Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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