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Talking Heads — Air (Live)
Album: The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 529









Released: 0
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Air...Air
Hit me in the face
I run faster
(faster, faster, faster, faster)
Faster into the air
(I say to myself)
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Air can hurt you too
Some people say not to worry about the air
Some people never had experience with...

Air...Air
It can break your heart
So remember
(remember, remember, remember, rememeber)
When the weather gets rough
(You'll say to yourself)
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Air can hurt you too
Some people say not to worry about the air
Some people don't know shit about the...
Air...
Comments (103)add comment
Average Rating: 6.2 is very generous for this composition
 peekay wrote:
Whenever RP plays Talking Heads and/or Elvis Costello I dive to turn it off. Can't we finally say enough of those two?

 
And why, pray tell, is this nugget of information about your preferences of any interest to the rest of us? Your musical tastes are well known to be refined and pertinent to global situations, but this is one internet radio station out of many. Maybe it matters NOT?
 treatment_bound wrote:

I say no way!  Saw them both in the 70's live in Mpls.---great performers.
 


 peekay wrote:
Whenever RP plays Talking Heads and/or Elvis Costello I dive to turn it off. Can't we finally say enough of those two?

 
I say no way!  Saw them both in the 70's live in Mpls.---great performers.
LOVE! Cant help, it is the music of my generation.. Gotta love it :-)
Whenever RP plays Talking Heads and/or Elvis Costello I dive to turn it off. Can't we finally say enough of those two?
 ziakut wrote:
.. and you forget what key you're playing mid way through the song...wait...it was written that way.
 
Musicians have a technical term for changing keys in the middle of a song, they call it modulation. Try it sometime, you might like it ;-)


As a climber, I always loved this song — the words just fit perfectly:

Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Air can hurt you too
Some people say not to worry about the air
Some people never had experience with...
Air ....
PSD indeed
P oor S illy avid. 
 aspicer wrote:
Wow - chill everyone!  IMHO you're being quite harsh to an incredibly innovative band that was making music unheard of at the time......in 1977 - pre-punk and pre-new wave.  .....yes I love TH but still...?!  ;-)  .....or maybe it's just this live version that's upsetting everyone?! Hmm...
 

Pre-punk?? Not quite.
Start with "Fear of Music" listen to the whole thing they have entire albums on youtube now.
Poor David Byrne...it's so tough to be cutting edge and different when you're trying too hard and you forget what key you're playing mid way through the song...wait...it was written that way. This is worse!  This is supremely forgettable.
 RoelantSiekman wrote:
This is absolutely amazing: it's the first Talking Heads song I can endure for more than 30 seconds! In fact, it sounds great!
Must be the heat... {#Rolleyes}
(8/10)
 
Was surprised again by this song, thinking it may be the second song of TH I actually like..
The reason is probably because this song is 'carried' (is this an English expression as well?) by the music and not so much by the voice of DB. It rescues the song.
 yodasan_magoo wrote:


Its not hard to be innovative, but it is hard to make innovative music that is likable.  This is far from likable as is most of the talking heads music.  Make it go away.
 
Since you are apparently an authority on Innovation, or, at least, find it easy to "be innovative" (are you done with that flying-car/time-machine yet?), how do you explain the popularity of this band for the last 32 years if they were unable to make "likable" music.
This is absolutely amazing: it's the first Talking Heads song I can endure for more than 30 seconds! In fact, it sounds great!
Must be the heat... {#Rolleyes}
(8/10)
 aspicer wrote:
Wow - chill everyone!  IMHO you're being quite harsh to an incredibly innovative band that was making music unheard of at the time......in 1977 - pre-punk and pre-new wave.  .....yes I love TH but still...?!  ;-)  .....or maybe it's just this live version that's upsetting everyone?! Hmm...
 

Its not hard to be innovative, but it is hard to make innovative music that is likable.  This is far from likable as is most of the talking heads music.  Make it go away.
RE: the album "The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads" In case you're wondering how early 'Air' was performed, the release year for this album in incorrect (it says 1977 above). The album was originally released on vinyl in 1982, and was subsequently re-released on CD with bonus material in 2004. The material was recorded between 1977 and 1981 as part of the movie "The Name of This Band is Talking Heads". This version of Air was recorded at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey on January 17, 1979. Additional information and most performance dates can be found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Name_of_This_Band_Is_Talking_Heads
Wow - chill everyone!  IMHO you're being quite harsh to an incredibly innovative band that was making music unheard of at the time......in 1977 - pre-punk and pre-new wave.  .....yes I love TH but still...?!  ;-)  .....or maybe it's just this live version that's upsetting everyone?! Hmm...
Last night I saw David Byrne's concert film Ride, Rise, Roar.  Live concert film with very cool dancers.  This song in particular was really nifty.  The dancers were basically dancing with Strats.  Playing "Air" guitar I guess.  It's on Netflix streaming and well worth a watch.  
 Stratocaster wrote:
I've tried.

I've really tried.

But I just can't like Talking Heads. 

I can't stand them, about as much as the majority of RP music gurus and advisors can't stand Coldplay.

Not helping is the fact that there are 44 $%^&#* TH songs in rotation here.

Pretty much guarantees that they will be heard every day. 
 
I agree - I can't stomach Talking Heads, or anything by David Byrne.   Absolutely painful!  

 
Spare us the screeching car tires!
TMTH

Too much talking heads 
Check please!!  Jeeves, bring the car around.  We're leaving.  
This is just plain terrible to me. I already don't like David Byrne much...and this is just starting to really smell foul to me.
 Stratocaster wrote:
I've tried.

I've really tried.

But I just can't like Talking Heads. 

I can't stand them, about as much as the majority of RP music gurus and advisors can't stand Coldplay.

Not helping is the fact that there are 44 $%^&#* TH songs in rotation here.

Pretty much guarantees that they will be heard every day. 
 
wow. Swap out Talking Heads with Peter Gabriel, and TH to PG, not sure about the song count, but there is a shit-ton of Peter Gabriel in the rotation; and there you have my thoughts exactly.


I've tried.

I've really tried.

But I just can't like Talking Heads. 

I can't stand them, about as much as the majority of RP music gurus and advisors can't stand Coldplay.

Not helping is the fact that there are 44 $%^&#* TH songs in rotation here.

Pretty much guarantees that they will be heard every day. 
I saw , I swear to God, a Talking Heads tribute band last weekend.  They're called Start Making Sense and they are really, really good.  
 rickhoran wrote:


dates are not wrong, this came out in 1981 or 1982 and these are live recordings from 1977 to 1981.i just listened to the Vinyl version of these great recordings.
 
The release date listed above says "1977," which is clearly wrong. I believe this is a fault with the Amazon.com database, not on RP's end.

 Foot wrote:
Excellent track but I think you have your dates confused above.  "Air" was 1st released on the Heads 3rd studio album, Fear of Music, in August 1979, so I doubt it was included in a Talking Heads album called The Name of the Band is Talking Heads in 1977.

Otherwise, more Heads anytime!
 

dates are not wrong, this came out in 1981 or 1982 and these are live recordings from 1977 to 1981.i just listened to the Vinyl version of these great recordings.
Excellent track but I think you have your dates confused above.  "Air" was 1st released on the Heads 3rd studio album, Fear of Music, in August 1979, so I doubt it was included in a Talking Heads album called The Name of the Band is Talking Heads in 1977.

Otherwise, more Heads anytime!
Sounds like a ninety-year-old tone-deaf whore.  God awful.
Circuital, perhaps?
How is it that these guys are so awesome?
 peter_james_bond wrote:

Dave's actually a pretty smart guy, I just don't like that image.

 
I went and changed out the image to a more "sanitized" version that will now appear in all the threads the older image was previously in.

 h8rhater wrote:

He doesn't think much.

 
Your right, I don't think much of you at all.

 h8rhater wrote:
He doesn't think much.
 
Dave's actually a pretty smart guy, I just don't like that image.

 On_The_Beach wrote:

Thank-you! That puking image is so repulsive (does he think it's funny?).

 
He doesn't think much.

Heads Up in Air it's LIVE ! #8

fresh air, this song!
{#Propeller}

"self-absorbed, socially maladjusted idiots..."

Why then, am I not a highly talented artist. Why.


 peter_james_bond wrote:
As an antidote to the ugly image from Dave, try this:
 
Thank-you! That puking image is so repulsive (does he think it's funny?).

As an antidote to the ugly image from Dave, try this:

Beauty


 lemmoth wrote:

Very well put — and I like this song too - recording better than live.

 
trust the art not the artist

i just love the geek funk
 Marr wrote:
 Hannio wrote:



Speaking of Tina, I found this quote:

In March last year, Weymouth described Byrne as "a man incapable of returning friendship". She told Glasgow's Sunday Herald: "Cutting off attachments when a thing/person is perceived to have served its purpose or there is a perceived threat to ego is the lifelong pattern of his relations".”

That confirms some suspicions I have had of Byrne for a long time.

Nevertheless, I really like this song.




Yeah, well.... let's face the truth.
Lot's of talented artistic types (though obviously not all) are self-absorbed, socially maladjusted idiots when it comes to anything but their talent. That’s why I try really hard to ignore all but the most egregious behaviors among various artists who’s music/movies/paintings/books etc. I like. Otherwise I would have to continuously remove various media from my house when some artist did something disappointing.


 
Very well put — and I like this song too - recording better than live.

 jjbix wrote:
byrne's masturbation. . .
 
I was thinking a little more scatologically.
 sans wrote:

Don't knock masturbation... it's having sex with someone I love.

 

I think I love you, too!
 Hannio wrote:



Speaking of Tina, I found this quote:

In March last year, Weymouth described Byrne as "a man incapable of returning friendship". She told Glasgow's Sunday Herald: "Cutting off attachments when a thing/person is perceived to have served its purpose or there is a perceived threat to ego is the lifelong pattern of his relations".”

That confirms some suspicions I have had of Byrne for a long time.

Nevertheless, I really like this song.




Yeah, well.... let's face the truth.
Lot's of talented artistic types (though obviously not all) are self-absorbed, socially maladjusted idiots when it comes to anything but their talent. That’s why I try really hard to ignore all but the most egregious behaviors among various artists who’s music/movies/paintings/books etc. I like. Otherwise I would have to continuously remove various media from my house when some artist did something disappointing.


 Marr wrote:


I'm glad you took care of that one. TIna really rocks!


 

Speaking of Tina, I found this quote:

In March last year, Weymouth described Byrne as "a man incapable of returning friendship". She told Glasgow's Sunday Herald: "Cutting off attachments when a thing/person is perceived to have served its purpose or there is a perceived threat to ego is the lifelong pattern of his relations".”

That confirms some suspicions I have had of Byrne for a long time.

Nevertheless, I really like this song.

 jjbix wrote:

byrne's masturbation. . .


Kinda like your posts

 redeyespy wrote:


No points for doing your homework, buddy. Here's your "guy" on bass:





Tina Weymouth
She rocks. So does the song. So does the band.

I had to post. Your comment left a nasty residue on my screen.

 
I'm glad you took care of that one. TIna really rocks!
 jjbix wrote:
byrne's masturbation. . .

 
Don't knock masturbation... it's having sex with someone I love.

byrne's masturbation. . .
sfListener wrote:
TH twice in 4hrs. Go to the penalty box.
Listeners who complain about frequency of TH play: spend the rest of the game there.
sonofpick wrote:
Won't hear this one on idol.
Actually, I would love it if David Byrne was a mentor to next year's crop of singing clones. I'd love to hear the advice he gives them... "That was good, but you can you try it again and this time add a few yelps!"
TH was at top of their game here!
TH twice in 4hrs. Go to the penalty box.
Dreadful.
This band rocks when they leave David Byrne behind (Tom Tom Club). The buildings and food thing was cute for about 3 plays. Then it gets really old. And the way Byrne flails around with his voice in this song is truly unpleasant. It brings to mind a baby throwing a tantrum in his crib, thrashing back and forth against the bars.
auburntigerrich wrote:
Sour. Over-ripe. Bitter. About as pleasing as "Norbit". Ok, look folks. Any way you cut it, cult classic or not, this is audibly gut wrenching. Perhaps if I listened to every one of their records over and over as I was growing up so it brainwashed me, I could stomach the "cat-wailing". Only one mans opinion, but I am proud of my bell curve rating. I'll give points for the guy on bass, but that's not enough to resurrect this tune. Time to put Heads to rest.
What else would you expect from an Auburn Tiger. Bet the back-water hillbilly had to run the post through spell-check a dozen times (dozen = 12). I have to give him credit for trashing "Norbit" though.
fatcatjb wrote:
I can't decide who is more annoying...the Counting Crows or the Talking Heads
HEADS for sure, there is sooooo much of it and most of it sucks . . .
cake65 wrote:
You know, it would be great to hear something, instead, from "More Songs About Buildings and Food"... it's moodier, tighter, better than this live album...
I don't like this live album either. MSaBaF or Fear of Music would be preferable for me. (or Remain in Light, o' course)
You know, it would be great to hear something, instead, from "More Songs About Buildings and Food"... it's moodier, tighter, better than this live album...
I can't decide who is more annoying...the Counting Crows or the Talking Heads
i guess there's no getting around painfull heads on RP...
auburntigerrich wrote:
I'll give points for the guy on bass, but that's not enough to resurrect this tune.
No points for doing your homework, buddy. Here's your "guy" on bass: Tina Weymouth She rocks. So does the song. So does the band. I had to post. Your comment left a nasty residue on my screen.
Sour. Over-ripe. Bitter. About as pleasing as "Norbit". Ok, look folks. Any way you cut it, cult classic or not, this is audibly gut wrenching. Perhaps if I listened to every one of their records over and over as I was growing up so it brainwashed me, I could stomach the "cat-wailing". Only one mans opinion, but I am proud of my bell curve rating. I'll give points for the guy on bass, but that's not enough to resurrect this tune. Time to put Heads to rest.
I've lost my snokel
Follow it with "Genius of Love"... Please!
speedbump wrote:
Talking Heads??Hmmm, Sounds more like they're talking out their asses...this band is pure sh**! Sorry RP, but you spin these clowns way too often.
Holy crap, that's funny.
Talking Heads??Hmmm, Sounds more like they're talking out their asses...this band is pure sh**! Sorry RP, but you spin these clowns way too often.
This would be a great track if it was an instrumental!!! David's caterwauling destroys it completely. Zen lesson #1, sometimes less is more!!!
We love you Talking Heads.
yawn!! what the hell is this crap
Won't hear this one on idol.
Pazzat wrote:
Hey, Atrail, you've copied and pasted this comment only 28 times now! Time to write something new, perhaps? Or time to drop your prejudice and give each song a listen on its own merits?
Well, in his defense he did post all 28 comments in 16 a minute span. Oh wait... that doesn't defend his actions at all.
man, this keeps getting better with age...just like me...ha..aaaaaaaaairrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Boy, did someone drop David on his head when he was a baby...
Can't get it any higher than "10".
Pazzat wrote:
Hey, Atrail, you've copied and pasted this comment only 28 times now! Time to write something new, perhaps? Or time to drop your prejudice and give each song a listen on its own merits?
You know about click fraud? This seems like comment fraud.
Garbage. Come to think of it, I *like* Garbage. Play more Garbage, and less of this crap. Now, crap I don't like. Like this crap.
Love that lunatic lead guitar. Extra points for the crazy babbling at the end.
Faster you baster!
Xeric wrote:
I like the Heads in general, sometimes really a lot. But this cut is awful.
Some people don't know shit about the air.
Atrail wrote:
What is it with Radio Paradise and Talking Heads. I have to disconnect every time this band comes on cause it is just painful to listen; which is way too often cause you play them way too much. This is my only complaint against the station as a long time listener, but it is a big one!
Hey, Atrail, you've copied and pasted this comment only 28 times now! Time to write something new, perhaps? Or time to drop your prejudice and give each song a listen on its own merits?
Yep, songs like this are why I took so long to get into the Talking Heads. Hearing this, apparently I'm still not into them. Marginal at best.
Atrail wrote:
What is it with Radio Paradise and Talking Heads. I have to disconnect every time this band comes on cause it is just painful to listen; which is way too often cause you play them way too much. This is my only complaint against the station as a long time listener, but it is a big one!
LRC is only a click away and back again to what is your personal preference, I'm tryin' to think up an alternative meaning for the initials of lrc: suggestions welcome? ... eg. Left Rock Central? for just such moments? So much variety!
I like the Heads in general, sometimes really a lot. But this cut is awful.
Atrail wrote:
What is it with Radio Paradise and Talking Heads. I have to disconnect every time this band comes on cause it is just painful to listen; which is way too often cause you play them way too much. This is my only complaint against the station as a long time listener, but it is a big one!
Yeah that is pretty much my only big gripe. Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel get airplay at least onece a day during my working hours. I have been keeping track after a conversation with my dad on Monday. I want to see how long it goes. Although I don't really hate the Heads but really don't see the appeal.
What is it with Radio Paradise and Talking Heads. I have to disconnect every time this band comes on cause it is just painful to listen; which is way too often cause you play them way too much. This is my only complaint against the station as a long time listener, but it is a big one!
Love this one!
Nice choice. It reminds me of how amazing Fear of Music was and what a great statement it made, following up a commercial breakout album like More Songs About Buildings and Food (well, relative commercial breakout) with this...this thing that said, okay, I don't think we're going there, boys and girls. A band that succeeded on its own terms - sweet.
David Byrne is quirky, unorthodox, wierdo dude, and this time it works very favorably for Talking Heads.
g1lgam3sh wrote:
Apparently that's Radiohead. It must really gripewater Thom that David can do tortured emaciated and yet triumphant better he can can. (pimp)
"Radiohead" is a Talking Heads song... I doubt thom minds
Fear of Music an outstanding glorification of paranoia and neurosis. One of their best. The hysterics of this version aren't exactly in keeping with the driving freneticness of the original, but that's a small quibble. Byrne - the godfather of modern / alternative music
Apparently that's Radiohead. It must really gripewater Thom that David can do tortured emaciated and yet triumphant better he can can. (pimp)
Fear of Music an outstanding glorification of paranoia and neurosis. One of their best. The hysterics of this version aren't exactly in keeping with the driving freneticness of the original, but that's a small quibble. Byrne - the godfather of modern / alternative music
kismet700 wrote:
I need an emoticon head to talk for me? Got a head?
Sorry, it's the best I could do.
Talking Heads. Anytime, Anyday. This was a treat
I need an emoticon head to talk for me? Got a head?
From disc #1, '77-'79. Nice backup vocal from bassist Tina Weymouth. Heads fans need to buy this disc yesterday.