1001 Songs Challenge,  1970s,  Music

1001 Songs Challenge #502: Heaven (1979)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

Talking Heads – Heaven (1979)

We’re continuing in the US today, dear reader, and we find ourselves heading over to New York for our latest offering. Formed in 1975 by a group of art students, Talking Heads would cement their place in the late 1970s and 1980s as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of their time. When we join them in 1979 they have released their third album in as many years, Fear of Music. From that record, 1001 Songs have managed to compose themselves enough to make the ascent to Heaven.

Heaven was written by band members, David Byrne and Jerry Harrison, and offers an unusual take on what it means to go to heaven. They imagine seemingly perfect elements such as a bar that plays your favourite song all the time and when the doors close, everyone leaves together at the same time. These images sound great but then in the chorus we hear that heaven is actually pretty boring and that nothing ever really happens. Each fantastical scenario playing out is essentially on repeat with the danger that eventually one will become bored of having their every whim satisfied. Where is the fun in having everything your own way all of the time? 

Talking Heads are a group I know a little about but am interested in learning more. When I complete my Pink Floyd Pilgrimage later this year I am considering maybe exploring either The Velvet Underground or Talking Heads in more detail, but I’ll see closer to the time. This was an interesting take on heaven being something mundane, especially if everything we have ever wanted is fulfilled. That’s what makes life interesting, that we can’t get all the things we want and instead have to be grateful for what we have.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Doors – The End (1967)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

Rod Stewart – Maggie May (1971)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way (1977)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

The Police – Roxanne (1978)

My name is Dave and I live in Yorkshire in the north of England and have been here all my life. I hope you enjoy your visit to All is Ephemeral.

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