Talking Heads Trivia

1. What British producer, musician, and composer co-wrote "Once in a Lifetime"?

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: Brian Eno

Born May 15, 1948 in Melton in Suffolk, England, Brian Eno is perhaps best known for his contributions to electronica music. He plays keyboard, guitar, and bass guitar as well. In addition to the Talking Heads, he has been associated with Coldplay, David Bowie, Scratch Orchestra, and U2, among others.

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: The Artistics

The Artistics mostly performied cover songs. One of the first original songs they did was "Psycho Killer", which become Talking Heads' first hit a couple of years later.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: And She Was

From 'Little Creatures'

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: 1981

The single was recorded in July and August of 1980 and released on February 2, 1981. It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. "Once in a Lifetime" did not make the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in its original release, but a live version (from the Talking Heads' 1985 concert movie "Stop Making Sense") made it to 91 in 1985.

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: Food

Recorded in the Bahamas in March and April of 1978, 'More Songs About Buildings and Food' was the first collaboration between Talking Heads and the musician and producer Brian Eno. It marked a transition from '77' in that there was more of a focus on the rhythm of the drums and bass guitar, as well as generally being regarded as more dance-oriented. Classic songs include 'Thank You for Sending Me an Angel', 'Found a Job' and 'Stay Hungry'. The album enjoyed substantial critical success despite not making a huge impact in the album charts. This was true both at the time (it was ranked NME's number four album of 1978) as well as many years after its release. 'More Songs About Buildings and Food' was named among Rolling Stone Magazine's '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' in 2003 and was declared to be among the top 50 albums of the 1970s by Pitchfork Media in 2006.

From Quiz Talking "Talking Heads"

Answer: I Zimbra

Ball's nonsense poem was entitled "Gadji beri bimba."

From Quiz David Byrne Lyrics: Talking Heads and Beyond

Answer: Dairy Queens and 7-Elevens

"I miss the honky-tonks, Dairy Queens and 7-Elevens!" This Talking Heads song, about modern cities being retaken by wilderness, was featured in the opening credits of "Clerks 2". Pizza Hut is also mentioned in the lyrics.

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: Salesperson at a shoestore

While working at the shoestore, Tina studied at Rhode Island School of Design, just like Chris and David.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: I Wish You Wouldn't Say That

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: Remain in Light

The B-side of the single contained the songs "Seen and Not Seen," "Listening Wind," and "Crosseyed and Painless." The album belongs to the new wave and post punk musical genres and was released on the Sire label.

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: Take Me to the River

'Take Me to the River' was originally written by Al Green and Mabon Hodges and recorded on the 1974 album 'Al Green Explores Your Mind'. A similar version was recorded by Syl Johnson in 1975 with many of the same musicians that appeared on the original Al Green version. Talking Heads overhauled the original version with their 1978 release, maintaining much of the soul of the original while adding their own pop-like elements to make it a new wave classic. Reaching number 26 in the Billboard Hot 100, 'Take Me to the River' was the high water mark of Talking Heads' career to that point. David Byrne's comments allude to the fact that the subject of the song is the unrequited love of a young man while the title seems to suggest a baptismal theme. 'The Big Country', 'I'm Not in Love' and 'Artists Only' are all tracks from 'More Songs About Buildings and Food'.

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: Love -> Building on Fire

Although "Love -> Building on Fire" was the bands first single, the track was not included on their debut album "Talking Heads 77". In fact, it was never released on any of the bands studio albums. The song is available on Talking Heads compilations only.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: Blind

From the LP 'Naked'

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: Robert Palmer

To record the "Remain in the Light Album," the Talking Heads held jam sessions and then the producer, Brian Eno, selected out the best parts. John Lewis, in a November 2007 article in Uncut magazine, talks about Robert Palmer's participation in the sessions. Palmer played percussion during the session. In return, Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz played bass drum on Palmer's song "Looking for Clues" for his 1980 album "Clues."

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: Life During Wartime

'Life During Wartime' was the first of three singles released from 'Fear of Music', the other two being ' I Zimbra' and 'Cities'. The song seems to describe some kind of undercover activity in the United States, perhaps political subversion. The parenthesised subtitle of the song is taken from the four-line refrain: "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco This ain't no fooling around ************************* I ain't got time for that now" Where the third line changes throughout the song, examples including "I'd like to kiss you, I'd love you hold you" and "No time for dancing, or lovey dovey". The protagonist of the song clearly has more important things to attend to. The phrase "this ain't no disco" was often cited as proof that Talking Heads didn't like disco, an opinion held by many at the time. To quote David Byrne, "...we liked some disco music!...So it was funny that we were sometimes seen as the flag-bearers of the anti-disco movement.".

From Quiz David Byrne Lyrics: Talking Heads and Beyond

Answer: "where we're goin'" and "what we're knowin'"

"Well, we know where we're goin', But we don't know where we've been, And we know what we're knowin', But we can't say what we've seen..." This intro to the song, which is from the album "Little Creatures," was only added because Byrne thought the song was too simple otherwise.

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: I Wish You Wouldn't Say That

The song was the B-side of the British "Psycho Killer" single. The American single had an acoustic version of "Psycho Killer" on the flipside.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: Don't Worry About The Government

From 'Talking Heads 77'

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: Kermit the Frog

In the episode, which aired in 1996, Kermit donned a suit similar to lead singer David Bryne and copied his dance moves from "Stop Making Sense." The Talking Heads' song was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll."

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: Once in a Lifetime

"And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful house! And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful wife!" While not breaking the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, 'Once in a Lifetime' enjoyed chart success in various other countries, reaching the top 30 in the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. Despite not being an instant hit, the song has gained popularity over the years, and two of Talking Heads' compilation albums are named 'Once in a Lifetime'. The song is often seen as holding a mirror up to middle class American life, of which David Byrne said "I can't imagine living like that". The video for 'Once in a Lifetime' features David Byrne in a suit and tie in front on a watery background, jerking around as if he can't breathe. Perhaps he is drowning? The video was reinterpreted by Kermit the Frog in a 1996 episode of 'Muppets Tonight'.

From Quiz Talking "Talking Heads"

Answer: Fashion Show

Sung by Annie McEnroe in the movie. One of my favorite songs!

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: Compass Point Studio, Bahamas

The band went to the Bahama's in February 1978 to record the album, which was released later that same year.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: Take Me To The River

From 'More Songs About Buildings and Food'

From Quiz Song by Song: "Once in a Lifetime"

Answer: The Velvet Underground

David Bryne supplied lead vocals while Tina Weymouth was on bass and backing vocals and Chris Frantz on drums. Jerry Harrison played synthesizer and added the Hammond organ climax to the song, which was taken from "What Goes On" by the Velvet Underground according to a March 27, 2000 NPR "All Things Considered" broadcast.

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: These hands

'Born Under Punches' launches straight into a funky bassline that sets the tone for the entirety of 'Remain in Light', incorporating African influences that were also present on the track 'I Zimbra' from 'Fear of Music'. The song itself seems to be about a troubled protagonist who works for the government but feels as though the world is closing in on him. Much of the second half of the song is the repeated refrain "And the heat goes on", suggested the piling on of pressure.

From Quiz Talking "Talking Heads"

Answer: Burning Down the House

"Take Me To the River" and "Wild Wild Life" both made the Top 40. Surprisingly, "Once in a Lifetime", did not even make the Top 100 in the US! However, it was a Top 40 hit in Australia, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. Source: Wikipedia

From Quiz David Byrne Lyrics: Talking Heads and Beyond

Answer: Take Me to the River

These are all Talking Heads songs, though only "Take Me to the River" made it on to the live album "Stop Making Sense." Though often covered, this song was originally written and performed by Al Green.

From Quiz Talking Heads Trivia

Answer: Based on a nonsense poem

Musically, Talking Heads experimented with African rhythms for the first time in this song. The lyrics make no sense at all; they are an extract from a dadaistic poem by Hugo Ball.

From Quiz Talking Heads Lyrics

Answer: I Zimbra

From 'Fear Of Music'.... no there are no typos in that question!

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful House!

Answer: Tina Weymouth

David Byrne and Chris Frantz met at the Rhode Island School of Design and came together on their first musical project, 'The Artistics', in 1973. Tina Weymouth was dating Frantz at the time and when The Artistics dissolved the three of them formed Talking Heads in 1975. Their first gig under that name was as support for The Ramones at the CBGB music club in New York City. Their final permanent member, Jerry Harrison, joined the band in 1977 prior to the recording of 'Talking Heads: 77'. While many other instruments and musical influences were incorporated into the band's music throughout their career, the basic setup was David Byrne on lead vocals and guitar, Tina Weymouth on bass guitar, Chris Frantz on drums and Jerry Harrison on keyboard (and guitar as required). The lineup that assembled in 1977 remained constant throughout all of their studio album releases, though various members pursued side projects; notably David Byrne as a solo artist and Weymouth and Frantz as The Tom Tom Club. The band officially split up at the end of 1991 after a three-year hiatus. Flea is the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phil Lynott for Thin Lizzy and John Entwistle for The Who.

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Last Updated May 17 2025 5:49 AM

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