Talking Heads first appeared on the New York music scene as a trio in 1974. At the time, the band consisted only of Byrne and Frantz, and was initially called The Artistics. By 1975, the band had recorded a demo album for CBS Records and landed a gig opening for the Ramones at CBGB in June 1975, which was the first time the band used the name Talking Heads. The band was signed to Sire Records in late 1976 and the group released their first single, "Love → Building on Fire" in February 1977. In March 1977, the band added Jerry Harrison, formerly of Jonathan Richman's band The Modern Lovers.
Their first album, Talking Heads: 77 was released soon afterward and did not contain the earlier single, although it did include the underground singles Psycho Killer and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town. Despite being regulars at New York's legendary CBGB, the band only began to break through further with the landmark Brian Eno-produced, 1978 album More Songs About Buildings And Food, an album which continued in the same vein, but with a more accessible style, wittier lyrics, and ultimately better songs. It was a great critical hit with subject matter ranging from home movies to the art world. It also included their cover of Take Me To The River. On the following year's Fear Of Music the band started to dabble in African rhythms, notably on I Zimbra, and more straightforward pop styles, on Life During Wartime and Cities.
1980 brought the band's fourth and most innovative effort Remain In Light. Notable for the single Once In A Lifetime, which became an early MTV staple, Remain In Light saw the band experiment with ambient sounds, fugal structures, polyrhythms, and about everything under the sun to make the body groove. Following this, the group split with Brian Eno, enjoying greater commercial success with 1983's Speaking In Tongues. It took the musical innovations of its predecessor and refined them into pop songs, most notably Burning Down The House, Girlfriend Is Better and This Must Be The Place. This period was topped off with a live album, from Jonathan Demme's documentary, Stop Making Sense. The documentary, with its name taken from a line in Girlfriend Is Better, was a great success, and took their inimitable style to a wider audience.
1985's Little Creatures was an even bigger hit, and exhibited another stylistic shift for the band. It saw the punk styles of '77 almost completely abandoned for simple, three or four chord pop songs. The album produced the singles And She Was, and Road To Nowhere. The following two albums, True Stories and Naked, were both moderate successes, the former producing their biggest radio hits, Love For Sale and Wild Wild Life, and the latter focusing more on Latin influences with hits like (Nothing But) Flowers. After this, a long quiet period followed, with the band eventually officially announcing their break up in 1991. Since the split, Byrne continued his solo career and Weymoth and Frantz continued to record and tour as Tom Tom Club. Weymouth, Harrison and Frantz reunited for an album, "No Talking, Just Head", recorded under the name The Heads in 1996.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. The band reunited for a three song performance at the ceremony. Due to personality conflicts between Byrne and the other members, further reunions are unlikely.
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Electricity
Talking Heads Lyrics
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Some are smeared and some are spots
Feels like a murder but that's alright
Somebody said, there's too much light
Pull down the shade and it's alright
It will be over in a minute or two
Don't feel like talking, don't mess around
I feel mean, I feel okay
I'm charged up, electricity
The boys are making a big mess
This makes the girls all start to laugh
I don't know what they're talking about
The boys are worried, the girls are shocked
They pick the sound and let it drop
Nobody know what they're talking about
I'm charged up, I'm kinda wooden
I'm barely moving, I study motion
I study myself, I fooled myself
I'm charged up, it's pretty intense
I'm charged up, don't put me down
Don't feel like talking, don't mess around
And I feel mean, I feel okay
I'm charged up, electricity, that's what I call it
The lyrics to Talking Heads' "Electricity" are a commentary on the excesses of modernity and the disorienting effects of technology. David Byrne sings of feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of information and stimulation, describing the sensation as "little dots" and "too much light." He feels "charged up" and "mean," but he is also detached from his surroundings, unable to make sense of the "big mess" the boys are making and the "sound" the girls are dropping. In the end, he embraces this feeling of chaos and intensity, reveling in the raw power of electricity.
Byrne's lyrics are driven by a propulsive beat and a barrage of guitars that evoke the crackle and hum of electricity. The song's sharp, angular structure mirrors the feeling of being jolted by a live wire. The repeated refrain of "I'm charged up" underscores the sense of energy and momentum that characterizes the song.
Line by Line Meaning
And all I see is little dots
The world is too bright and blurry, making it hard to see clearly.
Some are smeared, some are spots
The visuals have a mix of clear and blurry components.
Feel like a murder but that's alright
The singer's frustration with the overstimulating environment makes them feel like they want to lash out.
Somebody said there's too much light
A voice within the artist's head agrees that the overwhelming brightness is a problem.
Pull down that shade and it's alright
Blocking out the light eases the frustration temporarily.
It'll be over in a minute or two
The hope is that the frustration will subside soon.
I'm charged up, don't put me down
The singer is feeling energized and doesn't want anyone to dampen their spirit.
Don't feel like talking, don't mess around
The artist is focused on their energy and isn't interested in idle banter.
I feel mean, but I feel okay
The artist is aware that their intensity may come across as aggressive, but they still feel fine overall.
I'm charged up, electricity
The artist's energy feels electric and intense.
Is that what you calling
The singer is questioning if others are labeling their energy as 'electricity'.
The boys are making a big mess
The males are acting up and being disruptive.
This makes the girls all start to laugh
The females are amused by the males' antics.
I don't know what they're talking about
The singer is confused by the conversation happening around them.
The boys are worried, the girls are shocked
The men are anxious about something and the women are surprised by their behavior.
They pick the sound and let it drop
The group selects a sound or idea, but doesn't follow through with it.
Nobody knows what they're talking about
The conversation amongst the group seems aimless and pointless.
I'm charged up, [Incomprehensible]
The singer is still feeling energized, but the lyrics are unclear.
Don't tell the truth, I just tell lies
The singer is in a heightened emotional state and may not be honest with their words.
I'm picking up, but I left off
The artist is trying to keep up with their energy, but may also have moments of burning out.
It's pretty intense
The energy level is very high.
That's right, [Incomprehensible]
The artist is affirming their own energy, but the lyrics are unclear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE, BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind