The three original members first played together in 1989, but didn't come together as an established act until 2000. Perhaps to make up for lost time, they proceeded to record their first album, a self-titled effort released on Fresh Sound, after playing only three gigs together. In 2002, after playing a show at the Village Vanguard which was heard by Columbia Records representative Yves Beauvais, the band was signed to Columbia. They released their major label debut, These Are the Vistas, in 2003, and followed it up with Give in 2004 and Suspicious Activity? in 2005. Also in 2005, a live disc - Blunt Object: Live in Tokyo - was released. The band went into the studio again in September 2006 to record Prog, released in May 2007.
The trio's music combines elements of traditional and free jazz with rock and pop influences; These Are the Vistas included a version of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and "Flim" by Aphex Twin. Give contains covers of tunes by the Pixies and Black Sabbath, while Suspicious Activity contains a cover of the theme from Chariots of Fire. Prog contains a cover of Rush's "Tom Sawyer".
Heart Of Glass
The Bad Plus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Mucho mistrust, love's gone behind
In between
What I find is pleasing and I'm feeling fine
Love is so confusing there's no peace of mind
If I fear I'm losing you it's just no good
uh uh oh oh
Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Mucho mistrust, love's gone behind
uh uh oh oh
uh uh oh oh
uh uh oh oh
The Bad Plus's rendition of Heart of Glass is a poignant reflection on the pain and confusion of love. The opening line, "Once I had a love and it was a gas," is a nod to the euphoria and excitement that comes with falling in love. The song then takes a turn, as it becomes clear that something has gone terribly wrong. The line "Soon turned out had a heart of glass" is a metaphor for the fragility and vulnerability that often comes with loving someone deeply. The singer thought that they had found true love, but instead they found mistrust and disappointment.
The line "Love is so confusing there's no peace of mind" speaks to the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing. The ups and downs of a relationship can leave one feeling as if they are on an emotional rollercoaster. The final lines, "You teasing like you do / uh uh oh oh" are a reference to the manipulative and cruel behaviors that sometimes show up in toxic relationships. Overall, The Bad Plus's Heart of Glass is a haunting and thought-provoking meditation on the complexities of love and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a love and it was a gas
I used to love someone and it made me feel alive
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Unfortunately, that person was not as strong as I thought and ended up breaking my heart
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
I initially believed that our love was genuine, but eventually discovered the truth
Mucho mistrust, love's gone behind
My trust in that person was shattered and our love no longer existed
In between
As I continue to search for love, I find moments of happiness
What I find is pleasing and I'm feeling fine
I enjoy those happy moments and feel content with my life
Love is so confusing there's no peace of mind
However, the concept of love is still confusing and I struggle to find emotional stability
If I fear I'm losing you it's just no good
If I feel like I'm losing another person I care about, it only causes me pain
You teasing like you do
Sometimes the other person's behavior can be playful and flirty, which complicates my feelings even more
uh uh oh oh
The repeated vocals indicate a sense of disappointment and despair
uh uh oh oh
The repeated vocals indicate a sense of disappointment and despair
uh uh oh oh
The repeated vocals indicate a sense of disappointment and despair
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chris Stein, Deborah Harry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind