The group has released several EPs including their debut Young Liars (2003), and five studio albums: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004), Return to Cookie Mountain (2006), Dear Science (2008), Nine Types of Light (2011), and Seeds (2014).
For most of the band's existence, the core TV on the Radio lineup has been Tunde Adebimpe (vocals/loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars/keyboards/loops), Kyp Malone (vocals/guitars/bass/loops), Jaleel Bunton (drums/vocals/loops/guitars) and Gerard Smith (bass/keyboards) as official members.
The band's Bio from their website:
TV on the Radio gets to do anything. Like a small platoon whose pleasing impenetrability is their core, the band consistently confounds expectations while managing to balance respect from critics and peers alike. The result is TV on the Radio gets to do anything they want. This freedom is their engine.
“It’s about doing what feels right,” says singer Tunde Adebimpe. “I really feel like this band is something that is expansive and always changing and growing. If we wear our influences on our sleeve, it’s a pretty crowded sleeve.”
It’s no different with Seeds, the new and fifth proper studio album that Adebimpe has made along with Jaleel Bunton, Kyp Malone, and David Andrew Sitek (who also produced it). Having long outlasted that early 2000s fascination with all things Brooklyn to which the hip willfully succumbed, they continue to conquer music on their own terms. This album serves as another step in continuing to heed their reputation as “the most vital, current band in America” (Associated Press).
This go-round the songs are immediate and triumphant, textured with storytelling hooks and possibly the most honest music this band has ever composed. They’ve hit a point where they’re OK being straight-up beautiful without having to manipulate prettiness into whatever unforeseen shape.
Slate says Seeds has “TV on the Radio’s best songs in years. They are sounding sharper than ever.” And the band knows it. Adebimpe has already said this is the band’s best record. Not a boast, just an observation.
“I feel like I knew it before we were done,” he says immediately. “I was so excited by the songs while we were making them, I wanted to get more and more and more into it. The general feeling going into it was, 'We're still here. Our friendship with each other is so strong. Being in a band, at its best times, is like being... well, let’s say whenever things are going really well, we're like ‘cool, Voltron's back together.’“
The TV on the Radio guys are the type of people who go on hiatus and focus on music. They may take time between albums for their other endeavors, but they know when it’s right to come together – especially when the music comes as easily and passionately as it did with case Seeds. The band found themselves collected in David Sitek’s Los Angeles studio last year and recorded a couple of songs – “Mercy” and “Million Miles” and didn’t want to stop.
“Those were just songs that we wrote because we hadn't written songs together in a while,” says Sitek “They came out really fast and inspired us to do it again – and then ‘again’ turned into the record.”
Adebimpe and Sitek live in Los Angeles, Bunton and Malone reside in New York, but make no mistake: TV on the Radio is a quartet. To attempt to parse out exactly what each member does in the group would be to dismantle the fundamental essence of what makes TV on the Radio the monolithic anomaly they have been careful to cultivate and protect for more than a decade. They permeate beyond a wall of sound, and instead create a planetarium of music with every song. They embody many voices. Most of them can play just about anything. And sing too. They are equal partners in the creation of a type of noise that appeared seemingly out of nowhere over 10 years ago.
Throughout the years, TV on the Radio has been consistent in the standard they set for themselves. Earlier records, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and Return To Cookie Mountain stole the hearts of fans and critics alike just the same, winning the Shortlist Music Prize and Spin's Album of the Year respectively. Their breakout release Dear Science was named best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Spin Magazine, The New York Times, The Onion AV Club, MTV, even Entertainment Weekly. An embarrassment of riches, really. Their last album, 2011's Nine Types of Light, was deemed "pure heaven" by the cherubs at Rolling Stone, and earned the band a Grammy® nomination. The band has also graced the stages of Saturday Night Live and The Colbert Report.
“The band is it’s own ‘self.’ It has to be that way,” Adebimpe says. “That's been the goal for a long time. Nobody really wants to be the focal point for the band; the band should be the focal point. Not even the band: the music. We can show up and take credit for it, but ultimately it's something that maybe we helped shape and facilitate coming into the world. But that’s all.”
They happily recruit likeminded associates to help prop up this invention of theirs in the studio and on stage. (Kelis, for instance, appears on “Lazzeray”). The band has recorded and performed with other artists who’ve conquered the music world on their own terms just as much as they have. Fellow mavericks like Trent Reznor, Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs fame, Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy, Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, Martin Perna of Antibalas, Katrina Ford of Celebration, and David chuffing Bowie have all romped in the sandbox with TV on the Radio.
“If you share a material thing, it dissipates,” Adebimpe says, recalling a fragment of philosophy he once heard, or might be improvising on the spot. “If you share a spiritual thing, it just increases. It becomes more and more and more. I'm already thinking about the next record.”
Seeds is an expression of everything this band has been through in the last three years and more. They’re influential, in their prime, they’re TV on the Radio, and they’ve proven themselves to be one of the most important bands of this generation. It clicks, as it always does, and TV on the Radio is brand new again, again.
“No matter what you go through individually and collectively, when you step away from each other, you're kind of like, "I know that if we get together we can fire this thing," says Adebimpe. “It's definitely in the spirit of the punk rock we all grew up with. If you win, you're still a punk. If you lose, you're still a punk, and honestly, it's not about anybody else.”
http://www.tvontheradio.com/
Stork and Owl
TV on the Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you can't see the stars
You've probably gone too far
Like the voice that cried
On the lonesome tide
Like the wave was
the only love it ever saw
Asks the Stork that soars
With the Owl high above
Canyons mighty walls
Owl said "Death's a door
That love walks through
In and out, in and out
Back and forth, back and forth"
Turn from the fear
Of the storms that might be
Oh let it free
That caged on fire thing
Oh hold its hands
It'll feel like lightening
Oh in your arms safe
From the storms
Sky bends, the moon's dress's slung low,
slung low.
Dogstar taught a dance
It goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes
Arms out knees bend
The motion flows
Like the soft open petals
Of a Jessica Rose
So Sirius.
So it falls apart
It just reveals the perfect nothing.
Of everything you are
Of everything we are
Candle of life
Lights the blights and bruises
Oh lay it down
In the night
Let it soothe this
Oh hold its hands
And we'll know what truth is
Oh in its arms safe from the storms
The lyrics to TV on the Radio's "Stork and Owl" capture the essence of a conversation between two birds - the stork and the owl - flying high above canyons in search of meaning. The opening lines allude to the idea that when we die, we become faceless and fall from the physical world, and if we are unable to see the stars, we may have gone too far. The voice that cries on the lonesome tide could be interpreted as a call for help, and the wave may represent the only love it ever saw. The Stork then poses a rhetorical question, "what's this dying for?" to the Owl, who perceives death as a door for love to walk through, in and out, back and forth.
The conversation between the Stork and Owl is an existential reflection on life and death, with the Owl suggesting that the Stork turn away from the fear of incoming storms and let go of the caged on fire thing, implying that it is necessary to face our fears to move forward. The two birds then hold hands and dance, and the lyrics take on a poetic quality, with the sky bending and the moon's dress slung low. The dance they perform is taught by the Dogstar, and the motion flows like the soft open petals of a Jessica Rose. The lyrics conclude with the idea that everything falls apart and reveals the perfect nothing of everything that we are, with the candle of life lighting the blights and bruises, and in its arms, we are safe from the storms.
Line by Line Meaning
Faceless fall from this life and ah
People die uncelebrated and unrealized
If you can't see the stars
If you can't find hope or direction
You've probably gone too far
You're in a bad place
Like the voice that cried
Like someone who reached out for help
On the lonesome tide
In the middle of tough times
Like the wave was
Like the person was
the only love it ever saw
the only love they provided themselves
"What's this dying for"?
"Is there a purpose to this suffering"?
Asks the Stork that soars
Asking what is the point of life
With the Owl high above
With a keen sense of perception
Canyons mighty walls
Surrounded by difficulties
Owl said "Death's a door
Death is a transition
That love walks through
A means of reaching something better
In and out, in and out
A continuous process
Back and forth, back and forth"
An ongoing cycle
Turn from the fear
Don't let fear consume you
Of the storms that might be
Of the problems that may arise
Oh let it free
Let go of what's holding you back
That caged on fire thing
The intense passion that's locked up
Oh hold its hands
Take control of it
It'll feel like lightening
It'll make you feel alive
Oh in your arms safe
It'll be under control
From the storms
From the hardships of life
Sky bends, the moon's dress's slung low,
Looking at the beauty of the night sky
Dogstar taught a dance
A metaphor for learning something new
It goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes
An endless repetition
Arms out knees bend
Taking up space
The motion flows
With a natural progression
Like the soft open petals
Like something fragile and vulnerable
Of a Jessica Rose
A poetic symbol for something beautiful
So Sirius.
A pun on the Dogstar
So it falls apart
Sometimes things break down
It just reveals the perfect nothing.
Sometimes what's left is nothing at all
Of everything you are
Reflecting on one's life
Of everything we are
Reflecting on one's place in the world
Candle of life
A symbol for one's existence
Lights the blights and bruises
Shining on one's scars and suffering
Oh lay it down
Embracing one's experience
In the night
In the darkest moments
Let it soothe this
Finding comfort in life's pains
Oh hold its hands
Nurturing one's journey
And we'll know what truth is
Understanding and acceptance
Oh in its arms safe from the storms
Safe in the knowledge of one's worth and experience
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BABATUNDE OMOGORA ADEBIMPE, DAVID ANDREW SITEK, GERARD ANTHONY SMITH, JALEEL BUNTON, KYP MALONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erin Dalton
Faceless fall from this life and ah
If you can't see the stars
You've probably gone too far
Like the voice that cried
On the lonesome tide
Like the wave was
the only love it ever saw
"What's this dying for"?
Asks the Stork that soars
With the Owl high above
Canyons mighty walls
Owl said "Death's a door
That love walks through
In and out, in and out
Back and forth, back and forth"
Turn from the fear
Of the storms that might be
Oh let it free
That caged on fire thing
Oh hold its hands
It'll feel like lightening
Oh in your arms safe
From the storms
Sky bends, the moon's dress's slung low,
slung low.
Dogstar taught a dance
It goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes
Arms out knees bend
The motion flows
Like the soft open petals
Of a Jessica Rose
So Sirius.
So it falls apart
It just reveals the perfect nothing.
Of everything you are
Of everything we are
Candle of life
Lights the blights and bruises
Oh lay it down
In the night
Let it soothe this
Oh hold its hands
And we'll know what truth is
Oh in its arms safe from the storms
Baltazar EMP
Stork & Owl
TV on the Radio
Faceless fall from this life and ah
If you can't see the stars
You've probably gone too far
Like the voice that cried
On the lonesome tide
Like the wave was
the only love it ever saw
"What's this dying for"?
Asks the Stork that soars
With the Owl high above
Canyons mighty walls
Owl said "Death's a door
That love walks through
In and out, in and out
Back and forth, back and forth"
Turn from the fear
Of the storms that might be
Oh let it free
That caged on fire thing
Oh hold its hands
It'll feel like lightening
Oh in your arms safe
From the storms
[Stork and Owl Lyrics On http://www.elyricsworld.com/ ]
Sky bends, the moon's dress's slung low,
slung low.
Dogstar taught a dance
It goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes
Arms out knees bend
The motion flows
Like the soft open petals
Of a Jessica Rose
So Sirius.
So it falls apart
It just reveals the perfect nothing.
Of everything you are
Of everything we are
Candle of life
Lights the blights and bruises
Oh lay it down
In the night
Let it soothe this
Oh hold its hands
And we'll know what truth is
Oh in its arms safe from the storms
Erin Dalton
So may 23rd bitch of a day right? 13 years and I still cry sometimes when I let myself feel the infinite gain. and blessing of having known her love and the enormity of her loss that reverberates through my soul until the day I transcend this life. I hope the exit is joyful and I wish never to return. So Jenny, my love, whenever you have a moment to spare to yourself alone in quiet reflection this memorial weekend of memories....read the lyrics of the following song..I encourage you to wear some earbuds and listen to the song I am sending in remembrance of our beautiful jessi. This is absolutely most uncertainly not your brand of music necessarily, however, open your mind and ears to the beauty of its message which is death and life and the life of death. Much love from the romantic poet, yours truly...
Lyrics ~
Stork and Owl
Faceless fall from this life and ah
If you can't see the stars
You've probably gone too far
Like the voice that cried
On the lonesome tide
Like the wave was
the only love it ever saw
"What's this dying for"?
Asks the Stork that soars
With the Owl high above
Canyons mighty walls
Owl said "Death's a door
That love walks through
In and out, in and out
Back and forth, back and forth"
Turn from the fear
Of the storms that might be
Oh let it free
That caged on fire thing
Oh hold its hands
It'll feel like lightening
Oh in your arms safe
From the storms
Sky bends, the moon's dress's slung low,
slung low.
Dogstar taught a dance
It goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes, it goes
Arms out knees bend
The motion flows
Like the soft open petals
Of a Jessica Rose
So Sirius.
So it falls apart
It just reveals the perfect nothing.
Of everything you are
Of everything we are
Candle of life
Lights the blights and bruises
Oh lay it down
In the night
Let it soothe this
Oh hold its hands
And we'll know what truth is
Oh in its
maloo107
One of the most émotionnal song I've ever heard! it reminds me Kate Bush's universe!
morgan
one of the most beautiful songs i have ever had the privilege of hearing...
gronyosen
it`s a wonderful song love it much !
Luke McGregor
great song, heard it first today at work, made my day
isa roeters
Such a great song
KentMcLen
First time i heard this song i rushed up to my friend and took the CD from him and wrote down every song on my iphone, its the best thing i have ever heard it makes me feel less lonely in this world full of dipshits.... thanks for UL =)
torta
i miss listening with my mama during car rides
nowwithmorekick
This isnt my favorite sounding song but is my favorite.you have a narrator setting a scene between a stork and owl flying together the stork representing life and the owl.and in different cultures represents deatha dn the narrator mention the stork asking the owl about death saying " whats all this dying for" and the owl answers the stork and the song is about the duality of life and death.
sands7779
means everything to me
leboowski
i'm glad you liked it, it's one of my favourites